Does Facebook listen in via your microphone to tailor your ads?
It's something that has been rumored for years -- that Facebook is using the microphones on smartphones and computers around the world to listen in on conversations. Is it that the social network is particularly interested in hearing what everyone has to say? Sort of -- rumor has it that the company wants to know what you're talking about so it can deliver carefully targeted ads.
A surprising number of Facebook users believe that Facebook is listening to them. They say that following conversations about a topic, they then see ads related to it. But is this really because of Facebook?
Google makes it harder to search for results from other countries
For a long time, there was an easy way to conduct a Google search in a country other than the one you're in. If you wanted to get results specific to Japan, for instance, you would visit www.google.co.jp; to get Australian results you would visit www.google.com.au -- but this trick no longer works.
Google has announced that it will now always serve up results that are relevant to the country that you're in, regardless of the country code top level domain names (ccTLD) you use. The reason given is a little bizarre.
New York Times launches Tor Onion Service to overcome censorship and ensure privacy
The New York Times has announced that it is launching a Tor Onion Service version of its website. The new, more secure way to access the site will open it up to people around the world whose internet connections are blocked or monitored.
It also caters to a growing breed of people who are concerned about what their web browsing habit might reveal and who have turned to Tor to protect their privacy.
Now you can delete sent messages in WhatsApp
It's a feature that users have been practically begging for forever. It's a feature that has been rumoured as being in the works for quite some time, and tested for a number of months. Now it has finally arrived. You can, at long last, delete sent messages in WhatsApp thanks to "Delete for everyone."
Whether you've sent a message in anger, under the influence, or just by mistake, there are numerous reasons for wanting to erase a message you've sent. While the ability to recall or revoke messages will be welcomed, it may well not go quite as far as people had been hoping.
McAfee will no longer let foreign governments see its source code
Just as Kaspersky says that it will open up its source code in the name of transparency, so McAfee has indicated something of a step in the other direction. The security software manufacturer has announced that it is no longer going to allow foreign governments to scrutinize its code.
The practice was originally introduced to help convince other countries -- particularly Russia -- that its software did not include backdoors that could be used for espionage. But there have been concerns that opening up source code to examination could also give foreign powers the ability to detect and abuse vulnerabilities.
You can finally view your saved passwords in Chrome for Android
One of the great things about modern web browsers -- desktop and mobile variants -- is that they can store your passwords for you to save you from ever having to type them in. But this does have its drawbacks; stripped of the need to enter passwords, it's very easy to forget what they are!
The desktop version of Chrome has long given users the option to view the passwords they have saved, and now this same feature has made its way to the Android version of the browser. There's now no need to use the Google website to manage your passwords.
Pre-order your iPhone X now
If you're interested in buying an iPhone X, you probably don't need a reminder that pre-orders are now open. Nevertheless, here it is: iPhone X pre-orders are now open!
Starting at $999 for a 64GB model, the iPhone X is due to ship out to customer on November 3, but depending on the level of demand, it's possible that for many people this date will slip further back into the month -- or even beyond.
Samsung announces the 'versatile' Galaxy Tab A (8.0") tablet
Samsung has announced an upcoming tablet, the latest addition to the Galaxy range. The Samsung Galaxy Tab A (8.0") -- also known as the Galaxy Tab A (2017) -- has been "designed for the whole family" and is a budget tablet that you won't mind sharing it with, or giving to, the kids.
The specs are, generally speaking, nothing to get too excited about, but that's not the aim of this tablet. The metal body gives an air of quality to what Samsung describes as "an everyday, versatile tablet," and a 5,000mAh battery can power the device for up to 14 hours. Although this is pitched as a family device, there is a strong focus on children.
Google partners with International Fact Checking Network to further tackle fake news
These days just about every tech company with the slightest connection to news is doing what it can to stem the flow of fake news. Mozilla, Microsoft and Facebook have all taken steps, and Google has already rolled out its Fact Check tag to highlight verified stories.
Today the search giant announces that it has joined forces with the International Fact Checking Network (IFCN) to take the battle even further.
Facebook launches dedicated used car Marketplace section, complete with Kelley Blue Book pricing
Facebook Marketplace has been with us for a little while now, giving users of the social network a handy place to buy and sell goods in the same place they chat with friends and post holiday photos. The company today announced a series of changes designed to make it easier to buy cars through Marketplace.
A year after the launch of the platform, used cars now have their own dedicated Marketplace section. More than this, it is possible -- in the US at least -- to filter vehicles in a variety of ways to home in on the perfect car, as well as seeing valuations from Kelley Blue Book.
Kaspersky says it accidentally obtained secret NSA files from a US computer
Earlier in the month, news emerged that Kaspersky software had been used by Russian hackers to identify and steal sensitive NSA files from a US computer. Following the revelation, Kaspersky Lab started an investigation, and now the company has published its findings.
Kaspersky concedes that its software had indeed identified classified NSA data -- specifically a hacking tool -- but says that it was unintentional. The unearthed source code was attributed to the Equation Group, and company head Eugene Kaspersky ordered the code be destroyed when the matter was reported to him.
Apple vehemently denies Bloomberg's suggestion of reduced Face ID accuracy
Yesterday, Bloomberg ran a story suggesting that Apple had faced problems getting the iPhone X to market on time. In an attempt to speed up production, Bloomberg said Apple gave suppliers permission to reduce the accuracy of its Face ID face recognition feature.
But Apple refutes this claim, dismissing it as "completely false" -- but Bloomberg is standing by its story.
Google releases Android Oreo 8.1 Developer Preview beta
It's not all that long since the launch of Android 8.0 Oreo -- not that many people have it on their phones -- but Google has already pushed out a developer preview of Oreo 8.1.
As this is an early beta, there are not a huge number of changes to see in Android Oreo 8.1 developer preview -- but under the hood, there's quite a lot going on. For now, compatibility is limited to the Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Pixel C, Pixel, Pixel XL, Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL, but for these handsets new features include a Neural Networks API to improve machine learning, improved autofill, and Android Go optimizations.
How to protect yourself against Bad Rabbit ransomware
News broke earlier about the spread of a new form of ransomware going by the name of Bad Rabbit. It name drops Game of Thrones and bears more than a passing resemblance to WannaCry and Petya.
While the main impact of Bad Rabbit has been felt in Eastern Europe, some instances of the ransomware have also been detected in the US. Thankfully, it's relatively easy -- and free -- to protect your computer. By simply tweaking a couple of files, you can stop the ransomware in its tracks.
Bad Rabbit ransomware spreads across Eastern Europe with echoes of WannaCry and Petya
A new strain of ransomware -- dubbed Bad Rabbit -- has struck in Russia, Ukraine and other parts of Eastern Europe. It is thought to be a variation on Petya due to a number of similarities, and it is wreaking havoc with media outlets and transport systems, including an airport in Ukraine, and the underground in Kiev.
Like many other forms of malware, Bad Rabbit was initially spread through a fake Flash installer, but it was then able to spread via networks to hit a larger number of machines. The spread of the ransomware is further facilitated by using the open source Mimikatz for extracting credentials, and DiskCryptor for encrypting data.
Sofia Elizabella's Bio
Sofia Wyciślik-Wilson is a queer, transgender journalist based in Poland. She has been writing about technology for more than two decades, and after years working for magazines, her writing moved online. She is fueled by literature, music, nature, and vegetables. You can find her on Bluesky and Mastodon. If you like what you read, you can Buy her a Coffee!
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