Facebook, Google and Twitter could face EU legal action for unfair terms and conditions, and failing to tackle scams
Having expressed concerned about privacy in Windows 10 and the scanning of Yahoo emails, the European Commission is now turning its attention to Facebook, Google+ and Twitter. The commission is concerned about a rising number of complaints from people who have fallen victim to scams on social media, and being subjected to terms and conditions that are incompatible with European law.
Having already written to the three companies back in November, the European Commission, along with EU consumer authorities, met to discuss how they will move forward. The commission says that if the proposals are unsatisfactory, "enforcement action" may be required.
Surprise! Windows 10 Creators Update Build 15061 for PC arrives on the Fast ring
Microsoft is in the final stages of preparing the Windows 10 Creators Update, and rolling out Insider Builds at an accelerated rate. On Tuesday, it released Build 15058 for PC, followed by Build 15060 yesterday.
And today, barely giving anyone the chance to install the last build, let alone test it, Microsoft rolls out yet another new update. Like the previous two releases, Build 15061 is PC only. Microsoft was hoping to release a Mobile build this week but was prevented from doing so thanks to a pesky blocking bug.
Huawei MateBook Windows 10 PCs and MediaPad Android tablets get price cuts
Huawei isn't a very well known brand in the USA, but it should be -- and probably will be. The Chinese company makes very elegant products, such as smartphones, tablets, and PCs. In fact, its MateBook portable was my pick for best Windows 10 device of 2016. Why? It is beautiful, fanless, and affordable. Seriously, it is an amazing machine with a gorgeous screen.
Today, Huawei announces some big price cuts for the MateBook, but the savings don't stop there. In addition to its Windows 10 portable, the company also shares some great deals on its MediaPad Android tablets too. Best of all, the sales can be had at quality retailers, such as the Microsoft Store, Newegg, and Amazon.
Riot Isolator is a versatile but quirky security toolkit
Riot Isolator is an unusual application which offers a host of powerful privacy and security tools in a single free package.
The program should normally be installed to deliver the best protection, but there’s an option to run it stand-alone, convenient for testing.
Amazon makes it cheaper to build and host Alexa skills
Thousands of Alexa developers can now build and host most Alexa skills for free using Amazon Web Services (AWS), thanks to a newly released Amazon program.
Previously, developers have had at their disposal the AWS Free Tier, offering a million AWS Lambda requests and a total of 750 hours of Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (Amazon EC2) -- monthly, for free. However, exceeding these limits also meant monthly fees.
Philips launches E14 Hue bulbs
I never thought I'd be talking passionately about lighting, but I hate E14 bulbs. Not only do most options have low power but the selection is limited as well -- at least when compared against E27 bulbs. With the launch of new Hue bulbs, however, Philips is trying to change that.
Referring to it as the "candle light bulb", the new smart E14 Hue lights that Philips just announced were "one of the most requested products by Philips Hue customers." And it's easy to understand why, as the Dutch company says that they're used in more than 80 percent of households worldwide.
How big data is being used and what's holding it back
Big data has been something of a buzz word in IT and in enterprises in recent years, but while many people are enthusiastic about its potential there are fewer examples of its tangible benefits.
Canadian printing company Colourfast has produced an infographic looking at what benefits big data is actually bringing to companies.
Cyber security spending to reach $90bn in 2017
This year, the cyber-security focus is shifting from prevention only, into detection and response territory. This is according to a new Gartner report, which also says cyber-security spending will hit the $90 billion mark this year.
That’s actually a 7.6 percent increase year-on-year. Spending will keep on growing, Gartner says, up to $113 billion in 2020.
What hacking RSA access points teaches us about enterprise VPNs
News that multiple access points at the RSA security show may have been hacked made for great headlines, and that’s about it. The attack poses little actual risk to most corporate users, but it does underscore the importance the cloud can play in corporate VPNs.
Security researchers at Pwnie Express discovered the attack when scanning the conference floor. They found a rogue access point posing as a known, trusted network -- what’s called an EvilAP attack. In an EvilAP attack, the attacker impersonates a known wireless network by intercepting the SSID a user’s device discloses when searching for a WLAN. The attack is available from several hacking tools, including KARMA.
Pakistan risks privacy concerns by asking Facebook and Twitter to identify users suspected of blasphemy
Pakistan is seeking help from Facebook and Twitter to help execute its incredibly strict blasphemy laws. Anyone found guilty of insulting the Prophet Muhammed, or Islam in general, risks being sentenced to death, and the country is keen to track down offenders both at home and abroad.
The two social networks have only been asked to identify Pakistanis, but the move is likely to raise concerns about privacy. Of equal concern will be not only what is deemed to be blasphemous, but who makes that judgement -- particularly when Pakistan is seeking to identify offenders in other countries.
Storm Stella leads to spike in malware infections
Earlier this week, Storm Stella not only left parts of the North East US with up to three feet of snow, it led to an increase in malware infections too.
According to data released by Enigma Software, the company behind SpyHunter, infections jumped by between 15 and 90 percent in some areas hit hard by the storm.
Best Windows 10 apps this week
Two-hundred-and-twenty-three in a series. Welcome to this week's overview of the best apps, games and extensions released for Windows 10 on the Windows Store in the past seven days.
This week saw only a handful releases. It was a rather slow week all in all when it comes to app and game releases.
Google scrabbles to appease advertisers after drawing ire for inappropriate ad placements
Yesterday, the Guardian withdrew advertising from Google and YouTube after its ads were placed next to extremist content. The British newspaper was not alone -- broadcaster Channel 4, and even the British government soon followed suit.
Now Google is scrabbling to calm down the situation. Advertisers are unhappy that their ads have been placed next to extremist content and hate speech, and Google says it will improve the controls advertisers have over ad placement. At the same time, the company says: "we believe strongly in the freedom of speech and expression on the web -- even when that means we don't agree with the views expressed."
Workplace collaboration survey finds employees want a more interactive approach to solving business problems
Advanced technology and flexible work environments have changed the face of the workplace in recent years. Businesses that seek to empower teams with collaborative tools and environments are not only proving to be more productive, but are better attracting and retaining talent, too.
We at Oblong Industries recently set out to better understand how business people feel about the state of their current workplace collaboration and technology. We developed and conducted a survey of attendees at the Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) conference in mid-February, one of the largest AV and systems integration shows in the world with over 73,000 attendees this year. The survey found that most employees want a more interactive approach to solving business problems. Respondents also revealed challenges with existing meeting room collaboration tools but saw potential for greater engagement and productivity through more immersive technology.
UK cloud adoption rises five percent
The overall cloud adoption rate in the UK now stands at 88 percent, according to a new report by the Cloud Industry Forum. The report also states that there has been a five percent increase year-on-year, and an 83 percent increase since 2010, when the first stats were taken.
What’s also interesting in this report is that two thirds (67 percent) of users expect to increase their cloud service adoption over the coming year. A "vast majority," the report claims, will maintain a hybrid IT estate for some time.
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