TECHNOLOGY AIM

Jan Koum says he wants to pursue new projects, but reports say he clashed with parent company Facebook. from BBC News - Technology https://ift.tt/2FuuhzS

Canonical has released the Ubuntu 18.04 LTS platform for desktop, server, cloud and Internet of Things use. Its debut followed a two-year development phase that led to innovations in cloud solutions for enterprises, as well as smoother integrations with private and public cloud services, and new tools for container and virtual machine operations. The latest release drives new efficiencies in computing and focuses on the big surge in artificial intelligence and machine learning, said Canonical CEO Mark Shuttleworth. from TechNewsWorld https://ift.tt/2rb1dbk

I spent a day with BlackBerry last week and it brought back memories of how Apple displaced the company around a decade ago. I, like a lot of folks at the time, thought what Apple was attempting was impossible. However, after the fact, it didn't even look difficult. BlackBerry largely has completed its pivot to software and services, but a wave of new phones from its partners apparently will be coming to market shortly. Now, BlackBerry isn't even going to try to displace Apple, so what follows is "what if" speculation. from TechNewsWorld https://ift.tt/2I4Lo0i

Hacker group’s activity first picked up by Symantec cybersecurity. When patients think of cutting edge medical innovation, things like the Leonardo camera-guided robotic surgery come to mind, or the ability to send a capsule-sized camera through the digestive tract to diagnose potentially life-threatening medical conditions. Most people probably aren’t envisioning diagnostic equipment that’s still running Windows XP, and is therefore highly vulnerable to cyberattacks. Symantec first noticed the activity of a hacker group called Orangeworm in 2016, but its standard method of exploiting backdoors to install the same malware is on the rise. Of the recent targets, found in more than 20 countries, 40% of the businesses hit by their attacks were in the medical industry. This is largely possible because equipment like x-ray machines, MRI scanners, and other installed high-dollar diagnostic tools are often still running older operating systems that don’t have the capability to recognize and...

The popular video creator says he will no longer post daily updates after 536 uploads. from BBC News - Technology https://ift.tt/2r9LoSo

The cheats helped players survive longer in the hugely popular survival shooter game. from BBC News - Technology https://ift.tt/2r9msdC

Facebook says the tool, now being trialled in New Zealand, is not a "dislike" key. from BBC News - Technology https://ift.tt/2FslrT6

A man who has run the France.com website since 1994 is suing after it was given to the French government. from BBC News - Technology https://ift.tt/2HDvEhr

He said he was the "unlucky one who got caught" after being seen in the passenger seat on the M1. from BBC News - Technology https://ift.tt/2Foam5D

The new rules which might help stop private information being shared without our knowledge. from BBC News - Technology https://ift.tt/2JG9YC1

The US telecoms firms could win more customers through the deal, as long as regulators approve it. from BBC News - Technology https://ift.tt/2w5RWr1

The EU's new satellite pollution-tracker will be a powerful tool to monitor vessels' emissions. from BBC News - Technology https://ift.tt/2HQ43gv

Security staff at five of Wales' health boards now wear recording devices to try to deter violence. from BBC News - Technology https://ift.tt/2JFtdeH

Soon you'll have to prove you're 18 years old if you want to watch pornography online. Here is all you need to know. from BBC News - Technology https://ift.tt/2HU3TV3

Christopher Judge, who plays Kratos in the new God of War, talks about the jump from the silver screen to games. from BBC News - Technology https://ift.tt/2w793Zx

How cyber security firm Darktrace was set up by former members of the UK security services and maths professors. from BBC News - Technology https://ift.tt/2Kpbz0j

Christopher Judge the actor who plays Kratos in the new God of War speaks to Newsbeat about the jump from the silver screen to games. from BBC News - Technology https://ift.tt/2JCMXQk

Kyle Jackson from Sidcup in Kent is set to compete for cash prizes in events all over the world. from BBC News - Technology https://ift.tt/2JAo33K

A trade in false online reviews relied upon by millions is identified by a BBC investigation. from BBC News - Technology https://ift.tt/2HzKidI

Aleksandr Kogan considers his position in the wake of the Cambridge Analytica scandal. The recent Facebook data breach–which Facebook has taken great pains to point out was not a typical data breach –has metaphorically opened a lot of people’s eyes to how their data is gathered, stored, and used by outsiders. With more than 50 million user profiles accessed in violation of Facebook’s terms, both the public and the government want answers. Cambridge University researcher Aleksandr Kogan is due to face questions. Next up While Mark Zuckerberg has already had his awkward day in front of Congress, the Cambridge University researcher sitting at the heart of the entire matter will soon speak before a parliamentary committee about the illegal use of data, namely how it was used, and more importantly, was it used to unfairly influence both the US presidential election in 2016 and the Brexit vote. Not me For his part, Aleksandr Kogan says not only his a victim of defamation in all of th...

The central bank of Iran has banned domestic banks and other financial institutions from dealing in cryptocurrencies, claiming that the digital currency is being used for money-laundering, and also in an attempt to halt an emerging currency crisis. The Iranian State News Agency, IRNA, reported the news two weeks ago, quoting a quoting an apparent leaked central bank document from Iran’s anti-money laundering body. “Banks and credit institutions and currency exchanges should avoid any sale or purchase of these currencies or taking any action to promote them”, the IRNA report said. A leak from another source quoted by Coin Telegraph , said that: “All cryptocurrencies have the capacity to be turned into a means for money-laundering and financing terrorism and in general can be turned into a means for transferring criminals’ money”. Iran is believed to have banned all trading in cryptocurrencies. Raft of measures The ban has been implemented alongside several other fiscal measures...

Snap, the company behind Snapchat, on Thursday released the second generation of its Spectacles, a wearable video camera that captures short clips that can be synced to a smartphone. The new version also takes still photos and is designed to be water-resistant. The new Spectacles sport the same basic Ray-Ban style design as the first iteration, but they have been slimmed down and are less bulky -- a good thing both for wearing the glasses and transporting them. In addition, users have more color options. They include the ever-fashionable onyx, as well as ruby and sapphire. from TechNewsWorld https://ift.tt/2I5q8p1

A High Court judgement calling for changes came out of a legal challenge mounted by rights group Liberty. from BBC News - Technology https://ift.tt/2vN2KKe

Meet the British firm making its mark in the sex tech sector. from BBC News - Technology https://ift.tt/2r25A9E

Deputy Information Commissioner answers questions from BBC Radio 5 live listeners about changes to law. from BBC News - Technology https://ift.tt/2HwMdvy

Zuckerberg’s promise to uphold ‘spirit’ of new EU data protection rules quietly put to the side just days after making it… The social media giant, Facebook has begun moving user data from its servers in Ireland back to the USA in order to avoid having to comply with new European legislation and to take advantage of laws that favor corporate entities over the rights of individuals. By changing its terms of service, and moving the data States side, some 1.5 billion members will not be protected under tough new privacy protections coming to Europe.  According to the BBC , the move will “affect more than 70% of its more than two billion members. As of December, Facebook had 239 million users in the US and Canada and 370 million in Europe”. Facebook is moving millions of users data to the USA so it doesn’t have to comply with new data protection laws. GDPR: European law change The move is due to come into effect shortly before General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) comes into ...

Credit reference agencies respond to data breaches with new software and tech.  Last year, one of the three major US credit reporting agencies experienced a data breach that compromised the complete identities of more than 145 million people worldwide. Interestingly, not only were the victims not informed in a timely manner, the very nature of credit reporting agencies means you have no choice but to let them gather and store your data. If you exist as a shopper, you have (or do not have, as the case may be) a credit file; the information contained in it was not necessarily handed over to them voluntarily, but rather came through some form of application process. Experian now uses a suite of identification tools on its website and mobile app. Equifax When Equifax was hacked , it took a significant amount of time for the public to be made aware. As a result of their lax security, the agency is responsible for providing free credit monitoring for the affected victims. Some advo...

How best to make sense of revamped privacy terms issued ahead of the EU's data protection shake-up. from BBC News - Technology https://ift.tt/2HvornN

The EU police agency says it has "punched a big hole" in Islamic State propaganda. from BBC News - Technology https://ift.tt/2r4wuN1

Wildlife Photographer of the Year excludes a winning image for featuring a taxidermy specimen. from BBC News - Technology https://ift.tt/2r32xhd

Investigators hunting the Golden State Killer say they matched DNA to data from ancestry websites. from BBC News - Technology https://ift.tt/2Fl5jmi

The Japanese company's fast-selling console boosts profits, as a new president is announced. from BBC News - Technology https://ift.tt/2HRUddH

The role of a small Canadian firm in the Cambridge Analytica scandal is becoming clearer. from BBC News - Technology https://ift.tt/2I6JAlj

Canonical on Thursday released Ubuntu Linux 18.04, which utilizes live patching and a new metric data collection system. Notably missing is the Unity desktop that had distinguished the distro but was poorly received. Canonical last year made the switch from Unity 7 to upstream GNOME as Ubuntu's default desktop environment. Unity is not an option in Ubuntu 18.04 and will not be available in desktop offerings moving forward. "The overall response was positive," said Will Cooke, engineering director for desktop at Canonical. from TechNewsWorld https://ift.tt/2Fk3TIO

The notorious Anon-IB site was the source of nude images of celebrities shared widely in 2014. from BBC News - Technology https://ift.tt/2vUCOg2

Rick Dickinson, who drew up designs for the Sinclair computers, has died in the US. from BBC News - Technology https://ift.tt/2JxfDKG

The Belgium Gaming Commission finds video game loot boxes violate its gambling legislation. from BBC News - Technology https://ift.tt/2HzeGks

Google has rolled out a number of new features designed to make its G Suite collaboration and productivity apps more efficient and safer to use. G Suite currently has more than 4 million paying business customers, according to Google. The updates include a new design, enhanced security and artificial intelligence components, and better integration of G Suite apps -- including Gmail, which is getting a brand new look. The overhaul already has been rolled out to some businesses via the G Suite Early Adopter Program. from TechNewsWorld https://ift.tt/2vOnIZ5

Over a year after the first version's launch, Spectacles 2.0 are released with new features. from BBC News - Technology https://ift.tt/2r19hwh

Chief technology officer Mike Schroepfer faces tough questions on political ads and Cambridge Analytica. from BBC News - Technology https://ift.tt/2r08fQj

Iranians fear the restriction will be followed by a total block on the popular messaging app from BBC News - Technology https://ift.tt/2I2rf8L

The firm reported a near 50% revenue rise and said it is taking a broader review of responsibility. from BBC News - Technology https://ift.tt/2Ka8dhv

The firm has been criticised for using algorithms not human judgment to curate the app. from BBC News - Technology https://ift.tt/2HrWHAp

Devices built on Nvidia's Tegra X-1 mobile processor are at risk of attack from a flaw security researchers have revealed. The exploit chain discovered by Katherine Temkin and others affects any device running the chip, including the Nintendo Switch gaming console and some Chromebooks. Called "Fusée Gelée," the vulnerability allows anyone to run code on the chip by overloading a critical buffer when a system boots. "Fusée Gelée isn't a perfect 'Holy Grail' exploit -- though in some cases it can be pretty damned close," Temkin wrote. from TechNewsWorld https://ift.tt/2KfKCf9

The series, which launches in July, will go behind-the-scenes as journalists pursue stories. from BBC News - Technology https://ift.tt/2qXQhhZ

A good manners feature will praise children if they ask questions politely. from BBC News - Technology https://ift.tt/2KfuAlt

Optimized for 4K DHR PowerDVD18 plays much more than just DVDs and Blu-rays. This year’s CyberLink PowerDVD is here, and as you would expect it’s still a fantastic solution for anyone wanting to play media at its highest quality. In essence, PowerDVD is the sort of premium media player that just a few years ago would have had people paying several hundred dollars for. As you would expect, it can handle media from just about any source, either local or online. As publisher Cyberlink states, ‘for video, audio, photos, VR 360° content and even YouTube or Vimeo, PowerDVD18 is your essential entertainment companion’. New features for 2018 include: Optimized for 4K DHR Supports Ultra HD Blu-ray, 4K, HEVC/H.265 and HDR10 content Watch 2.35:1 movies on 21:9 monitors in full screen mode Watch YouTube Live with always on mini view Playback 4K HDR and 360 videos on YouTube and Vimeo Better VR experience: Supports Microsoft Mixed Reality headsets, HTC, VIVE, and Oculus Rift Support fo...

Cyber-security researchers found a way to unlock rooms across the world without leaving a trace. from BBC News - Technology https://ift.tt/2vJtBa3

Google adds security measures to minimise the risk of data-protection breaches in its mail service. from BBC News - Technology https://ift.tt/2KfovFW

Facebook is expected to follow suit after internet giant falls into line with most other major platforms. from BBC News - Technology https://ift.tt/2qZmgxq

Apple Watch warranty now extended to cover battery replacement – on some models, at least. No matter how great a product is, nothing is completely infallible; that’s when a great warranty and great customer service come in to smooth the hurt that a defective, expensive gadget causes. Apple came under fire last year when they essentially admitted to self-destructing the power capability to preserve battery life on their iPhone 6 models. The new feature was well-intentioned, the company claimed at the time, as it was meant to prevent a sudden shutdown as the battery began to age and not charge as efficiently. Apple will repair select Apple Watch Series 2 models that do not power on or have a swollen battery free of charge. Poor communications According to some sources , Apple is merely guilty of a lack of communication rather than an intentional effort to nudge customers into purchasing a newer phone. As a show of legal good faith, Apple offered steeply discounted battery replaceme...

Customers can access their accounts, but only a limited number can get in at any one time. from BBC News - Technology https://ift.tt/2HWZMW7

The Canadian government has invested $2.7m in a project developed by the University of Waterloo. from BBC News - Technology https://ift.tt/2HqFvqJ

Amazon plans to bring a home robot to market as early as 2019. Codenamed "Vesta," after the Roman goddess of home and family, the project is several years old, but hiring for it recently has ramped up with an eye toward placing prototypes in employees' homes by the end of the year, according to a report. The robot could be a mobile smart speaker. Some versions of the product apparently have cameras and computer vision software that allow them to travel through a home like a self-driving car. from TechNewsWorld https://ift.tt/2vHv2pn

Microsoft believes it may be closer to commercially-viable error free quantum computing, by using elementary sub-atomic particles known as Majorana fermions . If scientists at the tech giant are right, then Microsoft could find itself leaping past other rivals such as Google, IBM, and Intel, in the quantum computing race to build a fully viable quantum computer. By trying to utilize Majorna particles however, Microsoft has taken a gamble and is following a different approach than others in the field. The major difference is that Microsoft believe their method will allow them to make quantum computers that are not only produce less errors, but will allow them to produce quantum computers that can be used for a variety of purposes.   Microsoft hope Majorana fermions will make their quantum computers error free. Different approach Majorana fermions could prove to the special missing ingredient in quantum computing, because they are particles that can be their own antiparticle, a...

Dr Kogan also accused Cambridge Analytica boss Alexander Nix of fabrication. from BBC News - Technology https://ift.tt/2qWIJet

A rugby match was livestreamed via iPlayer in a trial featuring the high-quality TV formats. from BBC News - Technology https://ift.tt/2Ka6Y1J

Customers remain locked out of their accounts and are unable to make payments as chaos continues. from BBC News - Technology https://ift.tt/2KcXmn0

Hackers have taken Ukraine's energy ministry website offline, demanding a Bitcoin ransom to release encrypted files. from BBC News - Technology https://ift.tt/2HqaKGA

The mobile phone giant is ranked lowest for the seventh year in a row by consumer body Which?. from BBC News - Technology https://ift.tt/2vIwmbK

Hack exposed 150 million users’ accounts, but could have been much worse. As data breaches go, a company and the victims are lucky if only a couple million accounts were stolen, or if the data was nothing more than passwords and some birth dates. Recent large-scale events have included the loss of tens of millions of complete identities, including permanent, sensitive information like Social Security numbers, the answers to security questions, and other crucial data. In some ways, the MyFitnessPal hack that exposed 150 million users’ accounts is somewhat insignificant. The only things accessed were usernames, passwords, and email addresses, and if those victims have been practicing good password security, the worst that happens is they have to change their passwords. At worst, they reused their username and password combination on other more sensitive accounts, and will need to hop around the internet and tighten up their security. MyFitnessPal is owned by Under Armour. No small...

Some adverts offered "men only" jobs while others wanted "trim" women applicants, Human Rights Watch found. from BBC News - Technology https://ift.tt/2qWdgJD

A robot carried on to the pitch feeds panoramic live images and sound back to Jack McLinden's tablet. from BBC News - Technology https://ift.tt/2Hojh8W

The trial feature skips explicit tracks but only works on Apple devices and lacks a parental lock. from BBC News - Technology https://ift.tt/2vDs0CF

What we do about fake news today could have a major impact on our future. Two new initiatives -- a concerted effort by Apple and a massive educational effort called the "Pro-Truth Pledge" -- could help eliminate much of the fake news BS that is really messing up the United States at the moment. On another front, President Donald Trump's plan to meet with Kim Jong-un, the supreme leader of North Korea, reminds me a bit too much of a pivotal meeting between Carly Fiorina, who was CEO of HP at the time, and Steve Jobs, who was then CEO of Apple. from TechNewsWorld https://ift.tt/2HnfrB1

Google and Amazon have been caught up in Russian attempts to block the Telegram messaging app. from BBC News - Technology https://ift.tt/2qSg620

Police in Florida are criticised for allegedly entering a funeral home to use a dead man's finger to unlock his smartphone. from BBC News - Technology https://ift.tt/2HlKc9x

Seven countries asked the European Commission to review the purchase of the music identification app. from BBC News - Technology https://ift.tt/2JiwFMd

Microsoft Office is the most popular suite of productivity tools in the world, but it’s not the only player in the game. Check out our awesome free office software alternatives. It’s fair to say, when it comes to productivity tools, the term is synonymous with the suite of software put out by the world’s 28 th largest company – Microsoft. However, while Microsoft Office may still be the favourite steed in the derby, it’s far from the only office software with a horse in the race. With Microsoft recently moving its Office software into a software as service (SaaS) subscription-based business model, it’s a time of great change for the way the tech behemoth serves its users. This is leading many people to start shopping around and looking at what other productivity tools are available as an alternative. Whether you’re looking for word processing software, spreadsheet apps, or a great PDF reader (PDF viewer) or PDF converter, the good news is that there are plenty to choose from. Fro...

Iran bans its banks from using Bitcoin, amid money-laundering concerns. from BBC News - Technology https://ift.tt/2F9XbVB

Mark Meechan put footage on YouTube of the dog reacting to statements such as "Sieg Heil" by raising its paw. from BBC News - Technology https://ift.tt/2vxWWEi

The battle over the notoriously dreaded concept of “fake news” has a new, strange ally, though: the US Department of Defense. It only takes one video, one image, one viral “news” story to turn the tide of public opinion, so it comes as no surprise that months of bombardment with countless viral images–often shared by well-intentioned but ignorant social media users–can also turn the tide of an election. Case in point: an AI-generated video of former US President Barack Obama using profanity to emphasize a contradictory viewpoint began circulating in the past few days, one that was openly admitted to being computer simulated. That admission hasn’t stopped his critics and opponents from pouncing, with many sharing the completely fabricated video to revive a long-simmering hatred for him and his policies. The US Department of Defense, or more specifically, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DAPRA) is fighting fake news. New ally The unit of the DoD is more precisely...

One man was credited with £13,000 he didn't have, and could see details of someone else's account. from BBC News - Technology https://ift.tt/2qVZMxA

South Korea says silencing the propaganda broadcasts will help set the mood for the inter-Korean summit. from BBC News - Technology https://ift.tt/2qXoKwz

The health secretary wants action from the sites on underage use, bullying, and screen-time limits. from BBC News - Technology https://ift.tt/2qS4oER

Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee member, Elizabeth Pierce, arrested and then resigns. The current US presidential administration has faced a lot of backlash over some of its more notable appointees, but when its troubles with the tech industry collided with those appointees, it made news. Following last year’s net neutrality fiasco, the Federal Communications Commission’s Ajit Pai established a federal advisory board to purportedly help the FCC make better decisions where consumers and their communications are concerned. Unfortunately, his top dog for broadband has been arrested for fraud. FCC chairman Ajit Pai has greeted controversy thanks to net neutrality. Over and out Elizabeth Pierce, one of the 30-member panel members on the Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee, was the CEO of fiber optic cable supplier Quintillion. Unfortunately, a few alleged forged customer contracts for around $1 billion in service led to investment deals with other companies in the amou...

How does a free app with no adverts go about becoming a success with Hollywood actors whilst giving away thousands in cash? from BBC News - Technology https://ift.tt/2JeCOcz

Amazon has introduced Alexa Skill Blueprints, adding personalization capabilities to its smart speaker devices. The new tool provides pre-crafted templates for users to create customized experiences. Among the possibilities are answers to specific questions, or skills for particular users. With Alexa Skill Blueprints, users can build into their devices experiences that are personalized for themselves, their friends and their families. The experiences they create will appear only on the devices registered to their Amazon account. from TechNewsWorld https://ift.tt/2HeQqnn

Audacious escape by cybercurrency criminal like a movie plot. The alleged criminal mastermind behind the theft of 600 bitcoin mining computers in Iceland  escaped from custody, and wrangled his was to Sweden on the same jet that was carrying the Icelandic prime minister. Sindri Thor Stefansson was one of 22 suspects initially arrested over the recent theft of 600 bitcoin-mining computers. In a move r eminiscent of a blockbuster film, t he ticket he used had another person’s name on it, and he reportedly managed to board the flight without having to show his passport.  Iceland has become a hub of activity for Bitcoin mining thanks to its geothermal and hydroelectric power plants. Not a flight risk… “Swedish police spokesman Stefan Dangardt says no arrest has been made in Sweden, but Icelandic police have briefed them on the situation and issued an international arrest warrant”, the Associated Press reported. The English-language  Reykjavik Grapev...

Organisations have just seven weeks to prepare for a major shake-up to EU data privacy laws. from BBC News - Technology https://ift.tt/2HiQdDF

The media regulator says launching more local TV stations in the UK is not viable. from BBC News - Technology https://ift.tt/2HeD7HB

Publishing giant Axel Springer has lost a long-running case seeking to limit the use of Adblock Plus. from BBC News - Technology https://ift.tt/2HisJdM

An investigation found groups offering free accommodation for young men in exchange for sex. from BBC News - Technology https://ift.tt/2qMFJSN

Android phones are beginning to receive Google's feature-rich new service called Chat. from BBC News - Technology https://ift.tt/2HO48i3

Popular Chinese social media platform had targeted content that it deemed ‘illegal’ including ‘videos with pornographic implications, promoting violence or (related to) homosexuality’. Sina Weibo, one of China’s most popular social media sites , stated that the new guidelines were solely put in place to “create a bright and harmonious community environment”. However within hours of the announcement last week, Weibo, found itself climbing down from its new ‘clean’ stance after an online public backlash gathered unprecedented online support. Weibo has a reported 400 million active monthly users. Within hours, the announcement had been read by millions and shared more than 100,000 times.  Shared more than 100,000 times Within hours, the announcement had been read millions of times and shared more than 100,000 times.   Users then began protesting the censorship of material depicting homosexuality, inundating the site with posts containing the equivalent of Twitter’s ha...

Biplap Deb cited the ancient Hindu epic Mahabharata but his statement has attracted ridicule. from BBC News - Technology https://ift.tt/2vqDppr

NixOS is a modern and flexible GNU/Linux-based distribution that is both archaic to install and maddening to set up. That combination makes NixOS a reach too far for new users. That result may be an unintended consequence for a Linux operating system that is built around a very novel design approach. It is far more complex than other innovating options such as Qubes Linux, which is designed for heightened security, and rigid Arch Linux distros that lack a graphical user interface for managing installations. from TechNewsWorld https://ift.tt/2qKIdRI

Facebook has unveiled a comprehensive series of privacy enhancements designed to extend protections required by Europe's GDPR to all of the social media company's users around the world. The updates, which include major changes to the company's terms and data policies, fulfill promises CEO Mark Zuckerberg made to House and Senate members in Washington D.C., Facebook officials said. The congressional grilling followed disclosures that Facebook had allowed political data firm Cambridge Analytica to gain unauthorized access to user data. from TechNewsWorld https://ift.tt/2HwenKe

Rising tensions between China and the U.S. have led to growing concerns that a tariff war will have a negative impact on the electronics industry. Amazingly, the industry has been spared thus far, and with good reason. However, even if tariffs aren't imposed, there is a silent battle between the two countries that already has impacted the global electronics ecosystem. Watching the countries levy their recent tariffs has been like watching two opponents playing chess. Each has made a move intended to weaken the other's political position. from TechNewsWorld https://ift.tt/2J8ELab

A total of 1.5 billion international Facebook users will not be protected under GDPR. from BBC News - Technology https://ift.tt/2JX6Wu4

TalkTalk, Vodafone and BT drew the most complaints for their services, the regulator says. from BBC News - Technology https://ift.tt/2JYYTNa

The odd jobs marketplace has been investigating a "cyber-security incident". from BBC News - Technology https://ift.tt/2JbibxU

Quicks ways to improve your digital images using photo editing apps. With a little image editing, an otherwise underwhelming digital photo can be elevated into something truly striking. However, whether you use Photoshop or one of the dozens of free photo editing apps available, navigating picture editing for the first time can be daunting. (Image source: youtube.com ) Don’t be discouraged though. With a couple of great free tips to go alongside your great free photo editing software, you’ll soon be creating beautiful images from your digital images. #1 Optimising sharpness The first step is to orientate the subject of the photo into the location where it will have the most impact. Once you’ve rotated the image to an appropriate orientation, apply a cropping tool to cut out any extraneous background imagery. Finally, lighten the image using your software’s exposure settings. The next step is to refine the settings of the panel tones. To achieve this, increase the contrast and li...

Latest in record-setting number of data breaches and hacking events. The April tax filing deadline is here for US consumers, and that generally means one thing. No, not a panicked, last-minute line at the post office to get that important postmark date (although that certainly happens), but rather an uptick in the numbers of reported tax-based scams and hacking events. Thanks to the record-setting numbers of data breaches, hacking events, and compromised consumer records each year, as compiled by the Identity Theft Resource Center , there are hundreds of millions of complete consumer identities floating around out there. That has resulted in higher than ever numbers of tax return fraud and stolen tax refunds. In recent years, the Internal Revenue Service has fought back against this kind of fraud with new policies that help flag suspicious tax returns. The IRS… everyone’s favourite. Simple, but effective Of course, that just means scammers have had to evolve in order to stay ahe...