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Latest by Andrew Couts

UK authorities forget how computers work, smash a MacBook Pro to stop Snowden leaks

U.K. authorities smashed a MacBook Pro owned by the Guardian newspaper in an attempt to stop reporting on NSA documents leaked by Edward Snowden.
nsa privacy is winning uncle sam email

Don’t care if Uncle Sam reads your email? New studies show you’re now a minority

The public opinion about digital privacy and the NSA's spying efforts seems to have flipped – and that's a shocker.
hyperloops driverless cars and the future of dangerous travel header

Hyperloops, driverless cars, and the boring future of safe travel

Elon Musk's Hyperloop and Google's driverless cars promise to make the future of travel far safer. How boring!

Simple typo led NSA to collect tons of extra US phone call data, secret audit shows

An NSA audit exposed by the Washington Post shows that the NSA commits thousands of errors each year that lead to unintended surveillance of U.S. citizens.

‘451 Unavailable’ error: Campaign seeks to expose government censorship of the Web

A new 451 Unavailable error code is needed to tell Web users when sites or pages are blocked for legal reasons, according to a new Open Rights Group campaign.

Should Gmail users expect any privacy? Untwisting Google’s claim

Google has argued in court that Gmail users have "no legitimate expectation of privacy." Why did it say that – and, more importantly, is the company right?
What my dog taught me about my bad technology habits

My dog smells stress (and it’s coming from my gadgets)

Who knew my smartphone use was stressing me out? My dog.

Could you live without tech? You might have to

Modern technology is great ... until things go wrong.

‘Disconnect Kids’ iOS app stops apps and trackers from following your children

Disconnect Kids, and Apple iOS app, blocks 20 of the biggest Internet tracking companies from keeping tabs on your kids' mobile activities.
lay off chrome firefox has the same password security flaw screen shot 2013 08 at 2 41 46 pm

Lay off Chrome – Firefox has the same password security ‘flaw’

Google Chrome has come under fire for a so-called 'flaw' in its saved password security. Why? It's been that way for ages, and Firefox does the same thing.

How to buy fine art on the Web without getting ripped off

Amazon Art, the online superstore's new marketplace for fine art, lets anyone become an art collector. Here's how to get started without getting scammed.

Internet free speech: We’re doing it wrong

A pattern of abuse has developed in the way we exercise our right to free speech on the Web. And if we don't put a stop to it, we might not like the outcome.

Meet the $250 Verizon device that lets hackers take over your phone

Femtocells can help boost your cell phone signal. They can also make you vulnerable to hackers, according to new research.
gps spoofing white rose yaght

Want to see this $80 million super yacht sink? With GPS spoofing, now you can!

GPS spoofing has been used to successfully drive an $80 million yacht off course, with the captain none the wiser. Is it time to worry about GPS spoofing?

‘Creepy’ spy computer turns your real big brother into the NSA

CreepyDOL mini spy computer is the latest creation from security consultant Brendan O'Connor that proves just how flimsy our digital privacy really is.

YouTubers create world’s first terrible ‘movie’ about Edward Snowden

The world's first film about NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden has hit YouTube.
Why does the NSA need your phone records

Why does the NSA need your phone records to track terrorists?

NSA telephone metadata collection: Why do they need to collect it on everyone? Here's the answer.
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How long until Britain’s anti-porn measures are thwarted? 5 minutes? 10?

Here’s a funny joke: The United Kingdom plans to block Internet porn – from kids! (Hint: That's not gonna happen, sorry.)
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Sorry Reddit, Digg’s new model proves community rule is overrated

Reddit no longer deserves its place as the "front page of the Internet." Digg, on the other hand, has proven itself to be a worthy replacement.
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Guns, drugs, and timeshares: 14 things PayPal won’t let you buy

Want to buy a house with your eBay earnings? Think again. Here are 14 things PayPal won't let you purchase.
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Google Glass could have saved Trayvon Martin (and George Zimmerman)

The deadly Martin-Zimmerman encounter could have been avoided if either party were wearing Google Glass. Will the wearable tech become the new self-defense?
want to encrypt your way past the nsa good luck pixelated

Want to encrypt your way past the NSA? Good luck with that

Using strong encryption is the only real protection you have against skilled snoops. Too bad figuring it out will make your brain melt.
Restore the Fourth

Restoring a law from 1789 may be impossible with technology from 2013

The Restore the Fourth anti-NSA surveillance movement has begun to pick up steam. But advancing technology and sluggish laws may make progress impossible.
Online Privacy

Forget ‘privacy,’ we need a new term for control of our online lives

Privacy is a bad word. And it’s high time we stopped using it to describe the anything that most people actually care about.
Impossible to get lost with a smartphone? We’re not out the woods yet

Impossible to get lost with a smartphone? We’re not out of the woods yet

Modern consumer technology is not always the answer to all our problems. Even a good app like Google Maps can leave a woman lost in the woods.
terms and conditions wikipedia

Terms & Conditions: Wikipedia is open, but your user data isn’t

Wikipedia is all about openness. But its Terms of Use and Privacy Policy keep users' identities a secret.
The Digital Self Can the 4th Amendment fit in 140 characters

The Digital Self: Can the 4th Amendment fit in 140 characters?

When it comes to social media, the U.S. Constitution's Fourth Amendement remains just out of reach.

John McAfee explains how to uninstall McAfee Antivirus – with strippers, coke, and guns

John McAfee hasn't had anything to do with McAfee Antivirus for more than 15 years – but that isn't stopping him from "explaining" how get rid of it.

Google fights secret court over right to reveal user data request stats

Google has filed a motion with the secret Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC), arguing that gag orders over data requests are unconstitutional.
online life under the microscope

The Digital Self: Are you prepared to put your online life under the microscope?

You don't have to leak classified documents to the NSA for your online life to come under harsh scrutiny.

What we learned from NSA leaker Edward Snowden’s live Q&A

NSA leaker Edward Snowden gives the world more information about U.S. government surveillance, his reasons for fleeing to Hong Kong, and more.

Facebook: U.S. gov’t requested data on 18K-19K users in last half of 2012

Facebook has released more details about government requests for user data in the United States, including requests by the NSA.
Terms and Conditions Vizify

Terms & Conditions: Vizify knows everything about you (updated)

Vizify collects a ton of personal information about its users. Luckily, it's data-sharing policies are no worse than any other site on the Web.

High-tech, $20,000 TrackingPoint ‘smart rifle’ turns anyone into a sniper

TrackingPoint's new XactSystem firearms pack fighter jet-like targeting into a rifle, allowing even beginners to shoot like a professional sniper.