Today’s Tech Sightings:
Women perform behind a “Glass Celling” during a rally to mark International Women’s Day in Tbilisi, Georgia, March 8, 2017. (Reuters)
Microsoft, LinkedIn Encourage Girls to Pursue STEM on International Women’s Day
The World Economic Forum notes that only 16 percent of female students graduate from STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) curricula. In the U.S., only 26 percent of employees in computer and mathematics jobs are women, according to the Department of Labor. In an effort to boost the numbers, Microsoft and LinkedIn have launched a campaign to encourage more women to go into STEM fields, aided by a tool called Career Explorer, which is designed to inspire women to pursue STEM studies.
Connecting Everything to the Internet: What Could Go Wrong?
Like it or not, Wi-Fi is about to connect every gadget in your life, regardless of how useless or unsafe. Writer Max Eddy argues Internet of Things (IoT) devices are lacking in utility as manufacturers roll them out without regard to privacy or security. But they are unsafe not just because they could be hijacked or compromised, but because manufacturers are siphoning off volumes of user data indiscriminately without being transparent about how this personal information is used and stored.
Hundreds of Millions of Android Devices at Risk
The fallout from Tuesday’s WikiLeaks’ dump of thousands of documents allegedly exposing a trove of U.S. Central Intelligence Agency hacking tools has sent gadget makers scrambling. Apple said it will quickly address all iOS vulnerabilities that supposedly allow the CIA to siphon off data from iPhones and iPads. But Samsung smart TVs and other Android devices are also said to be at risk. Several vulnerabilities still need to be addressed, mostly targeting Android 4.4 and earlier versions. Up to 33.4 percent of all active Android devices run Android 4.4 or older, according to Google.
More:
- 12 Unstoppable US Women Making Tech a Better Place
- The Internet Without a Woman
- CIA False Flag Team Repurposed Shamoon Data Wiper, Other Malware
- Messaging App Used by Trump Aides ‘Riddled With Security Bugs’
- Credit Payments Giant Verifone Investigating Breach of Internal Network
- US Senate Resolution Aims to Let ISPs Share Your Private Data Without Permission
- The Battle for Online Privacy: What You Need to Know
- How Mobile Tech Is Failing Workers and Hurting Productivity, According to New Survey
- Period Tracker Secretly Gives Iranian Women Access to Vital Info
