Today’s Tech Sightings:
People sit at computers in the 24- hour Operations Room inside GCHQ, Cheltenham in Cheltenham, UK, Nov. 17, 2015.
UK Spies Have Been Snooping on Citizens Since 1998
Britain’s Investigatory Powers Tribunal found that intelligence agencies have been running bulk data-collection programs for the last 17 years, in violation of EU privacy protections in many cases. Web traffic, location and device data, biographies, and financial activities were all collected for years without the knowledge or consent of their owners
Bill Gates, Tim Cook Were on Hillary Clinton’s Possible VP List
Apple CEO Tim Cook, Microsoft’s former CEO Bill Gates, and Melinda Gates, co-founder of the Bill & Melinda Gates foundation, were on Hillary Clinton campaign’s shortlist for vice president. The revelation in an email from Clinton’s campaign manager, John Podesta, is part of a batch of documents released by WikiLeaks.
Study Suggests Selfies Are the New Prozac
Computer scientists at the University of California-Irvine believe selfies can make people happier. A limited study documented the moods of 41 students for a week, then asked them to take pictures and record their emotions for the following three weeks. The assignment involved taking pictures, including selfies, that make the students happy. After collecting more than 2,000 mood measurements, the scientists found that all participants experienced increased positive moods.
More:
- Google: Race, Gender Gaps Persist in Computer Science Education
- Say Hello to Google and Other Branded Internet Addresses
- Why Is Java So Insecure? Buggy Open Source Components Take Blame
- Ransomware Attacks Target Workers in London’s Square Mile
- This Viral Facebook Privacy Hoax Is Back – Don’t Fall for It
- Microsoft: Tech Support Scams Are Everywhere
- Apple May Ditch Traditional USB Ports on MacBook Pro
- The Cautionary Tale of WhatsApp Slipping on Strong Default User Security
- Marissa Mayer’s Diminishing Legacy at Yahoo
