ProtonVPN open sourced its code this week, ZDNet reports:
On Tuesday, the virtual private network (VPN) provider, also known for the ProtonMail secure email service, said that the code backing ProtonVPN applications on every system — Microsoft Windows, Apple macOS, Android, and iOS — is now publicly available for review in what Switzerland-based ProtonVPN calls “natural” progression. “There is a lack of…
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Free Software Foundation Suggests Microsoft ‘Upcycles’ Windows 7 As Open Source
The Free Software Foundation (FSF) is urging Microsoft to open source Windows 7, which is no longer supported by the company. The Register reports: On the face of it, the logic seems pretty simple. On January 14, Windows 7 reached its end of life as Microsoft turned off the free security update taps with a final fix. “Its life doesn’t have…
Huge PS5 Leak Spills a Bunch of Info On Sony’s Reveal Event
A PS5 leak posted on 4Chan, which was later reposted on Reddit, spills a bunch of information on the PlayStation 5 reveal event which is expected to take place in February. According to the leak, the PS5 will be unveiled on February 5 at a PlayStation Meeting event for the media. “The console design, controller, UI/home screen, certain features, console specs,…
Audible Settles Copyright Lawsuit With Publishers Over Audiobook Captions
After months of back and forth, Audible has settled in a copyright lawsuit with major publishers over its plan to introduce captions to their recordings, a proposal that the publishing houses argued was simply reading. The Guardian reports: In July, the audiobook company owned by Amazon announced Captions, an additional function for the existing app that would allow customers to read…
Dating and Fertility Apps Among Those Snitching To ‘Out of Control’ Ad Tech, Report Finds
The Norwegian Consumer Council published an analysis of how popular apps are sharing user data with the behavioral ad industry. TechCrunch reports the findings: A majority of the apps that were tested for the report were found to transmit data to “unexpected third parties” — with users not being clearly informed about who was getting their information and what they were…
CNN To Pay Largest Labor Fine In History For Firing Technicians
DesScorp writes: The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has handed down a ruling against CNN for firing video technicians illegally back in 2003. From the NLRB: “As part of a settlement signed today, CNN has agreed to pay $76 million in backpay, the largest monetary remedy in the history of the National Labor Relations Board. The backpay amount, larger than what…
Fitbit and Garmin Are Under Federal Investigation For Alleged Patent Violations
U.S. trade regulators said on Friday they will investigate wearable monitoring devices, including those made by Fitbit and Garmin, following allegations of patent violations by rival Koninklijke Philips and its North America unit. Reuters reports: The U.S. International Trade Commission, in a statement, said the probe would also look at devices by made by California-based Ingram Micro as well as China-based…
Self-Sovereign ID Tech Is Being Advanced By Security Failures, Privacy Breaches
Lucas123 writes: There is a growing movement among fintech companies, banks, healthcare services, universities and others toward disintermediating the control of online user identities in favor of supporting end-user controlled decentralized digital wallets based on P2P blockchain. Self-sovereign identity (SSI) is a term used to describe the digital movement that recognizes an individual should own and control their identity without intervening…
US Retailers Rush To Comply With California Privacy Law
U.S. retailers including Walmart will add “Do Not Sell My Info” links to their websites and signage in stores starting Jan. 1, allowing California shoppers to understand for the first time what personal and other data the retailers collect, Reuters reported Tuesday citing sources. From the report: Others like Home Depot will allow shoppers not just in California but around the…
How Should Students Respond To Their School’s Surveillance Systems?
Hundreds of thousands of American students are being tracked by their colleges to monitor attendance, analyze behavior and assess their mental health, the Washington Post reported this week. That article has now provoked some responses… Jay Balan, chief security researcher at Bitdefender, told Gizmodo that the makers of the student-tracking apps should at least offer bug bounties and disclose their source…