If you care about privacy and security, Brave should be your browser of choice
Chrome might be the default choice for most, but as security and privacy become increasingly important, some are looking for alternatives. Brave has finally come out of beta and been officially released, offering an interesting mix of security features.
Facebook will protect your data — as long as no one’s paying them for it
Facebook pushed back against a request from three major world governments to halt plans to provide end-to-end encryption for its Messenger app. The move has been heralded by privacy rights groups over law enforcement objections, but Facebook still makes money off of your data.
Apple admits iPhone 11s are sharing user location data — but not collecting it
Security reporter Brian Krebs raised concerns that the iPhone 11 line of devices keep sharing location data, even when the feature is deactivated for each app and service in the smartphones. Apple finally gave a clearer explanation on what is happening and says it involves new technology.
How to control the ads you see online
Learn how to control the ads you see online with our ad settings guides. If you're tired of ad targeting, ads following you around online, or seeing just lots of ads that you'd rather not see, there are key settings you can change to make a difference. We'll go over Google, Facebook, and Ad Blockers to show how they can help!
6 things you should stop doing online
We've all grown used to browsing the internet in a certain way. But you and your personal data are today more vulnerable than ever. Therefore, it's time to switch things up a little. Here are a few steps you can take to have a more secure experience while browsing the internet.
Freaked out by the FBI’s smart TV warning? Here’s what you should do
A recent warning from the FBI is the latest suggestion smart TVs could be used to spy on you. But what is the real risk? Should you return that brand new TV you just bought on Black Friday, or is there a way to keep and keep yourself safe? We have some helpful suggestions.
Twitter’s new Privacy Center lets you know what’s happening with your data
Twitter said this week there’s “room for improvement” when it comes to communicating with its users about how it protects their privacy. A new Privacy Center aims to change that. Twitter’s new offering provides information about privacy and data protection work, new privacy products, and news about security incidents.
OnePlus customer data stolen in second data breach in two years
Phone company OnePlus has suffered another data breach, with an undisclosed number of names, contact numbers, email addresses, and shipping addresses of customers having been stolen by an unnamed third party. This comes less than two years after up to 40,000 customers' information was stolen from OnePlus.
Sen. Ron Wyden wants to protect your data from Big Tech, if Congress lets him
Sen. Ron Wyden's latest bill, the Mind Your Own Business Act, could fix a lot of the privacy problems that internet users currently face. The only problem? It's probably not going to move forward until we have another major privacy disaster, Wyden said in an exclusive Digital Trends interview.
An iOS bug gives Facebook background access to your iPhone’s camera
A new iOS bug allows the Facebook app to access your iPhone’s camera in the background. The issue keeps the camera active in the background when you scroll through your personal feed. The glitch becomes apparent when you open a picture on the Facebook app and swipe it down to return to the feed.
Third-party devs improperly accessed some Facebook groups’ private data
Facebook has revealed that about 100 third-party app developers had improper access to personal data of several groups’ members, such as their profile pictures and names, despite the fact that the social network overhauled its APIs to prevent this exact behavior last year.
Google Maps’ Incognito mode finally goes live for Android users
Six months after discussing the privacy feature at its Google I/O conference, the company is finally rolling out Incognito mode for Google Maps on Android. It can be turned on in a few taps, but keep in mind that when it’s on, you’ll lose access to things like Offline Maps and Your Places.
Microsoft’s Secured Core PCs could be the most hacker-resistant laptops ever
Microsoft has announced a new Secured Core designation which will guarantee certified devices offer firmware-level protection against hacking, by implementing a hardware secure core that checks the firmware before posting to make sure that it hasn't been infected by malware or other nefarious code.
Google VP says guests should be informed if you have smart devices in the home
In an interview with the BBC, Google VP Rick Osterloh said that homeowners should inform guests if they have smart devices that might film or record their conversations, a statement that has raised concerns over privacy. The statement follows several incidents in the previous months surrounding smart devices.
U.S. senator introduces radical bill to protect people’s private data
A U.S. Senator has called for a radical new approach to consumer privacy to be adopted following revelations about the sale and misuse of data by various technology companies. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) has introduced a new bill as an even stronger update to his privacy legislation proposed last year.
Avoid the Krack attack that could break your Amazon Echo and Kindle’s back
A smart home research team discovered that the first-generation Amazon Echo and the eight-generation Amazon Kindle were vulnerable to Krack attacks, a type of cyberattack that would allow hackers access over Wi-Fi. Amazon says the vulnerabilities have since been patched.
Apple might be sending your browsing data to China’s Tencent by default
Apple’s Safari browser sends user browsing data to Tencent, a Chinese internet conglomerate, via a feature within the web browsing app. The feature was meant to help provide secure browsing, but has instead raised privacy concerns, since Tencent is allowed to log IP addresses via this feature.
Shades of Big Brother? Study finds smart TVs are keeping tabs on us
Turns out that our televisions may be watching us, too. A study by Princeton University found that internet-connected TVs have data trackers that collect things such as your location, what type of device you have, Wi-Fi network, and advertising ID. Another study shows that this isn't uncommon.
Doordash data breach affects 4.9 million people, divulges physical addresses
Doordash has disclosed a data breach that occurred earlier this year and affected a massive 4.9 million people. Compromised information included names, email addresses, and even physical addresses. The data breach occurred in May, and does not affect users who signed up for the service after April 5, 2018.
Psst! Google Maps’ privacy-focused Incognito Mode is nearly here
Desperate to cover your tracks in Google Maps? Keen to keep some of your trips secret? Well, Google Maps' Incognito Mode is currently being tested with select users, so it shouldn’t be too long before you can start using it. Enabling the feature prevents Maps’ location data from being saved to your Google account.
University of Alabama is tracking students to see if they leave football games
The University of Alabama's Crimson Tide football team has launched a loyalty program to encourage students to stay watching until the end of the game. The app hands out bonus points if students stay until the fourth quarter — but it involves tracking them on their smartphones.
Private Instagram posts turn out not to be as private as you thought
Instagram accounts set to private aren't as private as you might think. Researchers have found that web links to images and videos in private posts can be located by followers who delve into the page’s source code. The links could then be shared — or the content downloaded — without the account owner’s knowledge.
Period-tracking apps are sharing people’s intimate data with Facebook
Some period-tracking apps are reportedly sending Facebook personal information about the women who use them. The apps MIA Fem and Maya sent information about contraception use, when women's monthly periods were, and whether or not they experienced symptoms like cramps swelling to the social network.
In the race to protect our kids, we’re throwing privacy out the window
You can track your kid’s location with a phone or smartwatch, you can review their online activity with parental controls, and it’s all in the name of child safety, but who else is surveilling our children? Maybe we’re giving up too much privacy to take advantage of this tech.
Google to increase privacy online via its new Privacy Sandbox initiative
Google has announced a new initiative in which it will address online privacy concerns while also supporting the use of advertising by publishers to produce revenue. Referred to as a Privacy Sandbox, the initiative includes plans to block fingerprinting and develop new web standards.
Bernie Sanders calls for a ban on police use of facial recognition
Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Bernie Sanders is calling for a complete ban on the use of facial recognition by law enforcement. While other candidates have also expressed concerns about facial recognition software and how it’s been used, Sanders is the first to specifically call for a ban.
Amazon customers are getting emails with someone else’s order information
Some Amazon customers say they’re receiving emails from Amazon about orders placed by other people. Those emails contain personal information like the person's address and what they purchased on Amazon. One Amazon customer service rep said the problem is common
Microsoft contractors are listening to some Skype calls and Cortana commands
Microsoft’s contractors are listening to some Skype calls and Cortana voice commands. According to a recent report published by Motherboard, some Skype calls made via Skype’s Translator feature are being recorded and sent to contractors to be reviewed as part of Skype’s translation service.
The U.S. military is using solar-powered balloons to spy on parts of the Midwest
The U.S. military is using balloons to monitor activity in the Midwest. The 25 solar-powered balloons are reportedly being launched from South Dakota and used to monitor portions of Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, and Wisconsin. They're also capable of tracking multiple individuals or vehicles during the day or night
You’re not paranoid. Everyone is tracking you wherever you go, even Netflix
Add Netflix to the list of apps to watch out for. A security researcher has discovered that Netflix is using a new Android Q feature to track the physical activity data for select Android phone users, raising privacy concerns and one big question: Why does a streaming service need to know your step count?
Privacy group sues FTC, says $5 billion Facebook fine is chump change
Earlier this week Facebook settled with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) over privacy violations to the tune of $5 billion, the largest fine in the history of the FTC. While certainly huge, one privacy group thinks that the $5 billion fine doesn't go far enough to address consumer concerns.
Facebook admits to Messenger Kids security flaw but insists it’s fixed
Facebook has confirmed that it missed a design flaw in its Messenger Kids app that meant children could have communicated with users who hadn’t been parent-approved. The error involved group chats, though Facebook says it has now fixed the issue and contacted those affected.
Worried about how FaceApp is using your photos? Here’s how to delete your data
Are you concerned about how FaceApp is using your photos? If so, there's a way to remove your data from the app. FaceApp now says it will delete user data upon request, but it's already facing a major backlog.
Random people might have listened to your Google Assistant commands
The Belgian public broadcasting network VRT NWS issued a report that confirms Google uses professional contractors to transcribe commands given to their smart assistants. The problem is that not all of these commands were intentional and Google Assistant overheard private conversations.