TECHNOLOGY AIM

Libby's father says he reported disturbing content to Instagram, but the company did nothing. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2t2rtpz

Guidelines about what constitutes "obscene" pornography have been relaxed in England and Wales. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2GbfmOU

Apple has blocked a Facebook app that paid users for total access to all network data passing through their mobile phones. Facebook had been paying users $20 a month for root network access to their phones. Facebook was on-boarding users of its Research program, which included teenagers, through Apple's Enterprise system, which Apple said was a violation of its policy. The Enterprise system is supposed to be used only for the distribution of internal corporate apps to employees, not to paid external testers. from TechNewsWorld http://bit.ly/2G1NVIa

Nintendo announces the Mario Kart Tour app will be delayed until summer 2019. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2G1broD

Hackers are trying to discredit the inquiry into alleged Russian interference in US politics, prosecutors say. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2Rujpbd

Tonnes of poison was laid down by drones in a project to get rid of the invasive species. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2CXz8KE

Facebook's approach to parental consent was "most concerning", says a member of its Safety Advisory Board. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2MGEtug

Those breaching sanctions aimed at cutting rising violence could face up to two years in prison. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2S9v6bN

A cross-party committee says social media companies should have a legal "duty of care" to children. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2BaE9iK

The number of people who logged into the site at least once a month rose 9% last year. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2Uu7wUu

The move comes after the Belgian Gambling Commission threatened legal action over in-game loot boxes. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2MFq3uk

The car repair chain's IT system went offline on Saturday and has been experiencing problems since. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2Bbhenr

The world's bestselling drone-maker says it must tackle cases of employee theft. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2BbV4Sh

Avast Secure Browser is fast growing an esteemed reputation. Built by security experts, this product sets out to excel in three vital areas; privacy, protection and performance. It’s fair to say Avast Secure Browser delivers on all three pledges. We here at FileHippo have had a play around with it, examining all its exciting features, to find that out for ourselves. The browser’s architects describe it as ‘your passport to the web’, no less. It was created as they felt it was time to stop the internet, and your browsing, being exposed and vulnerable. “As experienced engineers of consumer security products, Avast strives to secure every aspect of the users’ digital life,” Avast say, in a frank summary of the product. “Since most of us spend an increasing portion of those lives online, we’ve focused on transforming the power of our world-leading software expertise into a simple, secure, all-in-one browser.” Has Avast delivered on these big promises? We think so, and in this review...

The app bans images of men in underwear and swimwear after "repeated suspensions by app store distributors". from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2SgJDCi

Apple has suspended its Group FaceTime application following reports that a bug in the software allowed callers to eavesdrop on the people they were calling. The flaw let a person making a FaceTime call listen through the phone of the person called before the call was accepted or rejected. It reportedly also allowed access to the front-facing camera in an iPhone. After making a FaceTime call from an iPhone X to an iPhone 8, a user could hear audio from the iPhone 8 before any action was taken on the call. from TechNewsWorld http://bit.ly/2DJ6e2c

Saoradh claims the social media giant removed a number of its pages from its platform. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2FYq7oy

England's children's commissioner writes to social media companies, urging them to tackle disturbing content. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2TlA6Hr

Crowdfunding site PledgeMusic seems to have run out of money, leaving musicians wondering what to do. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2sShPG9

They might not have been born when it was made, but Friends is a favourite programme for the young. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2HHdvUq

Revenue from the tech giant's signature iPhone fell 15% in the most recent quarter. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2B9bL0A

The epilogue is downloaded only once the 40 hours of game-play is completed. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2FWmuzy

One of the world's favourite phone makers is fighting for its reputation. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2B8O7RS

The judge is unhappy about the sum involved and the vagueness of promised cyber-security fixes. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2TmCtdg

A 'Netflix for Games' type of service may be in Apple's future. Apple has been developing a subscription games service that will function much like Netflix does for movies and TV series, according to a report. It's still unclear what the subscription fee would be or what kinds of games would be offered on the service. Whatever the fee for the offering, it could be tough for Apple to find an audience for a streaming service, maintained David Cole, an analyst at DFC Intelligence, a market research firm in San Diego. from TechNewsWorld http://bit.ly/2Ul4AJC

More than 14,000 people are affected, including thousands of visitors, Singapore's health ministry says. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2CNv1AO

Receiving phishing emails or texts is never fun. We all get them and, hey, most of us will be caught out too at some point. But how likely are you to fall for a scam? That’s what a new quiz, designed by Google’s Jigsaw team , hopes to find out. To see if you can spot the tell-tale signs of phishing, they have come up with a new interactive challenge – and it’s catching a lot of people out! “Every day millions of people click on bogus links in phishing emails,” said Justin Henck, Jigsaw Product Manager, in a statement . “[They are] messages designed to steal your password or make you download malware. “That’s why we created a quiz that helps you learn to better spot phishing emails, complete with the latest tricks and techniques. How can I take this quiz? It’s simple. Head over to this link (Don’t worry, no phishing here!) and all will be explained. You will get eight example messages to tackle, some are legitimate others are scams. Google has created a quiz to explain the issu...

The Chinese telecoms giant said it was "disappointed" by the US charges, which include theft and fraud. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2CPr1jb

Facebook's popularity among children fell during 2018, according to the media regulator Ofcom. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2FVye5j

Among the charges are accusations of fraud, obstruction of justice and theft of technology. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2DDWeYi

Intel released earnings last week. It beat expectations on the bottom line, but it missed big on the top line and the outlook was dismal. Looking under the covers, the company is a mess. The expected CEO announcement didn't occur. AMD's earnings are expected to be very strong, and AMD just made some organizational changes that suggest an increase in its competitive attack in view of Intel's weaknesses. I'll walk you through what is wrong with Intel -- why it missed, and why its outlook is so grim. from TechNewsWorld http://bit.ly/2MElLmO

A new Linux OS gets to the core of Linux computing with a revamped desktop environment and a new way to have fun with your daily computing tasks. Developer Jacque Montague Raymer has debuted the MakuluLinux Core OS, and hopes it becomes the crown jewel of the Series 15 release family. MakuluLinux released the latest versions of family members LinDoz and Flash several months ago. While the Core entry integrates some of the features of its two cousins, it offers something new and exciting that brings MakululLinux to a higher level of usability. from TechNewsWorld http://bit.ly/2sSktM8

James Charles tells LBC his career has been "a wild ride", following gridlock in Birmingham. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2CO5eZ1

A security researcher says he found a database listing names and details of suspected culprits. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2RQtlAR

The former deputy prime minister has given his first speech since joining the technology giant as head of communications. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2DDRYb7

Daniel Kelley has already admitted involvement in the major hack attack on the telecoms firm in 2015. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2Sa497H

Epic Games will now let players see what is inside loot llamas before they buy them. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2sSZt81

Products such as Fitbits overestimate the amount of calories burned while walking, research finds. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2Wlmq14

Police agency Action Fraud said money lost by victims increased by 24% over a six-month period. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2sNMvZ2

Consumer group Which? found the Ford Fiesta, VW Golf, Nissan Qashqai and Ford Focus were all at risk. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2UjO78A

Mysterious musicians have cropped up on Spotify accounts. How did they get there - and do they point to a security problem? from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2CLEUit

It comes after the father of 14-year-old Molly Russell blamed Instagram recommendations for her death. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2RjICov

The airport that helped a drone fly within its exclusion zone in a world-first technology test. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2G2Nmgc

Facebook plans to integrate its messaging services on Instagram, WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2MwyFn4

The tax authority collected voice data over the phone and originally gave people no way to opt out. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2FXnRNu

Messages tailored to look like they come from YouTube stars are seeking to trick subscribers. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2DyE2is

The mobile operator "pauses' deployment of Huawei equipment in its core networks in Europe. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2sJf75R

Twitter has apologised to certain subscribers after it emerged that a bug had exposed a number of protected tweets for years. It was discovered that the tweets of some Android phone users, who made the decision to keep their accounts private, were actually left open for all to see. The ‘Protect your Tweets’ feature does exactly what it says on the tin, or so we thought. Instead of hiding these tweets from the public realm the tool encountered an issue. The bug affected the accounts between November 2014 and last Tuesday, it has now been revealed. We’ve become aware of and fixed an issue where the “Protect your Tweets” setting was disabled on Twitter for Android. Those affected have been alerted and we’ve turned the setting back on for them. More here: https://t.co/0qM5B1S393 — Twitter Support (@TwitterSupport) January 17, 2019 What has Twitter said about the issue? A spokesman took to the Twitter online help page to clear things up on Thursday January 17. “We’ve become awa...

The Chinese telecoms company is facing a PR crisis, but its executives say it's business as usual. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2sKRRnZ

The firm said its site in China was now accessible after an outage raised concerns it had been censored. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2UguZrZ

How retailers are trying to make in-store shopping more exciting and fun with interactive experiences. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2CHhRFt

YouTube TV will be rolling out to an additional 95 markets in the U.S., almost doubling its coverage. The streaming video service already covers the top 100 markets in the country, and the expansion will enable it to reach more than 98 percent of households in the U.S., YouTube said. The rest will follow shortly thereafter. There are roughly 120 million TV households in the United States, but only about 108 million households have broadband, which is a prerequisite for YouTube TV, noted Michael Goodman, research director at Strategy Analytics. from TechNewsWorld http://bit.ly/2DxpDU4

Three men are accused of aiding a hoaxer who tricked armed police into attending fake emergencies. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2DvBmCu

From slaughtering goats to prepping for the apocalypse, their habits aren't exactly normal. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2U88tSi

The youth charity says it will not accept new financial donations from the firm. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2WgQpHj

Users could be defenceless against intrusive ads if proposed changes to Chrome happen, warn developers from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2R6ZMFX

The online retail giant is latest to experiment with delivery via pavement robot. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2RLXukL

It comes after it emerged a teenage girl took her own life after viewing disturbing content online. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2MyF6pP

Teachers say they can't stay up all night answering individual email queries from parents. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2FSmH5T

The system used by nine forces regularly crashes, causing cases to be dropped, officers say. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2FNdooy

The outage has raised concerns that Bing is the latest foreign website to be blocked by censors. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2sGj7Eb

Blackbird, Netrunner's version 19.01 release, hit the download servers on Jan. 14, and this distro deserves to be considered bleeding-edge. Netrunner is a step ahead of other KDE distros, thanks to its solid integration of classic KDE desktop performance with Web-based applications and cloud services. That said, if you aren't fondness of the K Desktop, Netrunner may leave you wanting more desktop simplicity. For that you must look elsewhere. KDE is the only desktop available from the Germany-based Blue Systems development team. from TechNewsWorld http://bit.ly/2MrDyxC

Tiantian Kuaibao was singled out for criticism by the country's internet regulator. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2HCGJDI

Google must remove search results about medical regulators' conditional suspension of a Dutch physician in the first "right to be forgotten" case of its kind in the European Union. After Google and Dutch data privacy watchdog Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens rebuffed the doctor's initial attempts to get disciplinary actions purged from online search results, a district court in Amsterdam sided with the surgeon. The physician had an interest in preventing her full name from appearing in Google search engine links connected to a blacklist of doctors, the court found. from TechNewsWorld http://bit.ly/2WdI9YH

A built-in tool in Microsoft's Edge app says the Daily Mail's journalism is often inaccurate. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2Uc5QPc

The Chinese tech giant confirms it has developed a smartphone-tablet hybrid with a flexible display. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2AXN7ja

Will Novak was accidently invited to a stranger's bachelor party. He decided to attend and went viral. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2RF0iQu

The consumer rights campaigner had claimed fake ads on Facebook had caused reputational damage. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2MpMYtA

Vlogger Zoella and pop star Rita Ora must declare if they are paid or sponsored. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2Wef5Af

The US must file a formal extradition request by 30 January for the Chinese telecoms executive. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2WcniVy

The Japanese firm will move its European headquarters to the Netherlands to avoid customs issues. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2FURXRU

Chinese tech giant warns it might transfer activities to countries "where we are welcomed". from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2T5OwLD

Two senior executives will move from Wiltshire but no jobs will be lost in the process. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2DpyKpu

The IT failures have meant that trials have been delayed and jurors are unable to enrol, reports say. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2HqXG4e

Automated software is now scouring social media posts looking for evidence of ape trafficking. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2MnHUG6

Two new documentaries about the failed event have thrown a spotlight on the influencers and celebrities who promoted it. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2CDM5c6

The prices will still go up but by 10% less than originally planned. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2sF8z84

Facebook has begun rolling out a new feature that's bound to charm the political activists among its users. Called "Community Actions," it lets Facebook members create an action page where they can describe what they'd like done, and set up a button that like-minded members can click to show their support. The page will show the government agencies and officials notified about the action, as well as the number of its supporters. When you support an action, you'll be able to see any of your friends who also support it. from TechNewsWorld http://bit.ly/2Hr2k24

We all knew that Fortnite was popular, but a new report has proven its true worth to the computer gaming industry. Smashing all records, it topped the charts ahead of other huge gaming sensations. Fortnite also made A LOT of money; around $2.4 billion was amassed, according to SuperData’s recent findings . This means that Fortnite, in annual revenue terms, is officially ‘the most profitable game ever’. The report also noted that the games industry made $109.8 billion last year. To put that into context, the global box office revenue for films was work $38.3billion. It’s thought that this success is down to an embarrassment of top-quality gaming riches. Pokemon Go and Red Dead Redemption 2 also enjoyed a tremendous 2018. The games and interactive media industry grew 13% in 2018 as #Fortnite disrupted the status quo. Read more: https://t.co/7qWBUrcse2 pic.twitter.com/8vCOKRT8qP — SuperData (@_SuperData) January 17, 2019 What is Fortnite? Have you been living under a rock? Fo...

However, the decline was offset by strong sales of supersize TVs and in gaming. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2FHGeGW

The drone sightings at Gatwick airport led to flight cancellations and payments to customers. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2T5PdEX

The shark's teeth resemble alien spaceships from the game, Galaga, according to US scientists. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2W2QY7L

MPs have backed demands led by model Katie Price for changes to the law. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2S76QXP

To suggest that electric cars are having a painful birth would be a colossal understatement. Tesla clearly plowed this field and quickly recognized that the lack of a charging infrastructure was going to be a problem and, with reasonable effectiveness, dealt with it tactically. However, those "tactical" chickens are about to come home to roost and it probably won't be pretty. Jaguar, the first company to offer a true alternative to the Tesla, did some things very right and some very, very wrong. from TechNewsWorld http://bit.ly/2sC1xB4

Google has been fined 50 million euros (£44m) by the French data regulator CNIL. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2MlrEoV

The entertainment streaming giants are accused of breaking the EU's data protection rules. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2RDxmZp

The seller says the parts "may even have Phil's DNA on it, if you wanted to clone him or anything". from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2MkR464

The chat app will only allow users to forward messages five times to limit the spread of false news. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2FCUnFb

George Rusu is accused of using a drone on a field near the runway days after a scare at Gatwick. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2FDoWuB

Independent software vendors, along with Internet of Things and cloud vendors, are involved in a market transformation that is making them look more alike. The similarities are evident in the way they approach software security initiatives, according to a report from Synopsys. Synopsys has released its ninth annual Building Security in Maturity Model, or BSIMM9. The BSIMM project provides a de facto standard for assessing and then improving software security initiatives, the company said. from TechNewsWorld http://bit.ly/2Hl0uQl

A man is accused of using the hit video game Fortnite to initiate sexual activity with children. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2CtbTaT

At least three people have been killed and 600 people arrested over protests against new fuel prices. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2Cw8vMm

The Chinese telecoms giant was the focus of international scrutiny even before a senior executive's arrest. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2T68h64

A security flaw meant many private messages were readable for years said Twitter. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2ASB7jf

The streaming firm gained 8.8 million customers in the quarter that ended in December. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2RDexpf

Other countries have barred the Chinese firm from their network infrastructure over security concerns. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2W14sAU

The institution suspends donations from the Chinese telecoms giant amid continuing spying controversy. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2QTWxS3

How 3D software supercharged with real-time data can simulate complex designs before they're built. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2Cr2OQ1

The suspension has been imposed because the channel had broken rules governing adverts, YouTube says. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2QQRKkp

A shoe scanner that works on passengers queuing at airport security is on show in London. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2RRuW8J

The public is warned of an email-based campaign that uses a fake BBC News article to seek funds. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2T1Rhhg

The Motorola Razr -- once the hottest flip phone available -- is being revived as a smartphone with a foldable screen, according to reports. It will be offered exclusively through Verizon in the United States, possibly in February, although the device is still being tested and the launch date is not firm. Its starting price reportedly will be $1,500. Unlike Apple and Samsung, Lenovo may not have the chops to push a $1,500 smartphone, suggested Ramon Llamas, a research director at IDC. from TechNewsWorld http://bit.ly/2Hfc1jR

The pages campaigned for months creating and sharing stories that were fake, said Facebook. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2AOJsV8

The investigation, reported by US media, adds to pressure facing the Chinese technology giant. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2FEl8bJ

The UK's intelligence services say there are too few young women working in cyber-security. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2DeYFjK

Two Netflix productions used stock images of the Lac-Megantic rail disaster in a fictional context. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2ANYZoa

A university is switching off its social media channels to promote a healthier online culture. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2HcvSQJ

People with Parkinson's can freeze when they walk but laser shoes are helping them to keep moving. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2CpnkAE

The latest version of the game Ace Combat 7 has a new VR mode for more realistic aerial acrobatics. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2MdNZok

Authorities can't force people to unlock their biometrically secured phones or other devices, according to a federal judge. "The Government may not compel or otherwise utilize fingers, thumbs, facial recognition, optical/iris, or any other biometric feature to unlock electronic devices," Magistrate Judge Kandis A. Westmore wrote. An attempt by law enforcement authorities in Oakland, California, to force two suspected extortionists to unlock their mobile phones with biometrics violated Fifth Amendment protections against self-incrimination. from TechNewsWorld http://bit.ly/2TTGaqp

Australian authorities complain that Google Maps wrongly makes remote destinations seem inaccessible. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2HfzBNJ

The facility only opened in 2017 but 80 jobs are now at risk after production targets are not met. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2stsHKe

A blind man had complained that he was unable to change toppings or complete his order online. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2QWNhNe

On the Rocks, starring Bill Murray, will be the tech giant's first venture into feature film-making. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2TRcWso

The fee will add about 45p to the average London journey, the ride-hailing firm says. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2QRsYka

Microsoft-owned Forza removes dances as Fortnite faces fresh legal action over dance moves. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2FwADmN

A woman took her campaign to MPs after a man took pictures of her at a gig in London's Hyde Park. from BBC News - Technology https://bbc.in/2QSEpIa