Facebook has already been on the wrong end of a privacy investigation in Germany, but it looks like the company's legal woes aren't quite over yet. The New York Times reports that German data protection officials have reopened their investigation into Facebook's facial recognition technology after it became apparent that Facebook wasn't going to change its policy. According to data protection commissioner Johannes Caspar, Facebook is building a database of user photos for its facial recognition feature, something that is illegal under European privacy law.
Read The Full Story
- Solar Impulse: interviewing a man on an 18-hour solar-powered flight
- Chrome 27 brings desktop features to Android, we go hands-on
- Verizon invites Jennifer Lopez on stage for Viva Movil team-up
- Google Glass team talks hardware principals: Lightness, Simplicity, Scalability
- Google Glass creators talk “staring” and the social implications of wearables
- Xbox One vs Xbox 360: What’s Changed?
- Xbox One: Everything you need to know
‘Data Security’ Stories
Germany going after Facebook’s facial recognition again
Researchers develop Gauss detection tools
Kaspersky Labs discovered a new computer virus recently dubbed Gauss that targeted banking systems and financial information. According to Kaspersky Labs, the virus has infected over 2,500 computers, primarily located in Lebanon, and targets specific banks and financial institutions such as BlomBank and Credit Libanais. Now, web-based tools have been released that allows anyone to check if they’ve been infected by Gauss.
Read The Full Story
Facebook: Forward us your phishing emails
Take a look inside your spam folder and you’ll find a variety of phishing emails from the likes of eBay, PayPal, and Facebook. The social network has decided to take matters into its own hands, setting up an email address (phish@fb.com) that users can forward phishing emails to. Facebook will then investigate the emails, trying to determine where it came from and who sent it.
Read The Full Story
Apple freezes over-the-phone password resets
The hack performed against Wired writer Mat Honan serves as a cautionary tale for others to ensure they back up their data, but what about the security issues found with the companies that helped facilitate the crime? Amazon fixed its own security hole yesterday, and now Apple has blocked customer service representatives from issuing password changes over the phone for Apple IDs.
Read The Full Story
Massive Amazon security hole “fixed” without comment
If you use the internet – and we know you do – you need to read about the massive “hacker” meltdown experienced by an online journalist this week due to security holes between cloud systems in two major networks. The “hack” as some are calling it – rather a clever realization, when it comes down to it – had one user’s account opened up with a simple phone call to Amazon. Once Amazon allowed the fake user to access one simple element in the victim’s account, the rest came tumbling down like a house of cards.
SlashGear Morning Wrap-up: August 7th, 2012
This morning we're inside a week of the OUYA Android-powered gaming console being done on Kickstarter - check out the games that are ready for it now, and get ready for some XBMC support as well! There's a Nokia Windows Phone 8 device out there that looks rather similar to the past generation. And what's perhaps the most important news this week continues here: When iCloud becomes the Perfect Storm - change your passwords!
Read The Full Story
Google in trouble with France over Street View data
Google is finding itself in a bit of hot water today, as French privacy agency CNIL has asked the company to turn over Street View data which was collected on French citizens. Google initially promised it would delete this information after a 2010 investigation, but last week it told European privacy agencies that it still had some of the data it said it would purge. As a result, the UK's Information Commissioner's Office asked that Google turn this information over, and now CNIL is asking the same thing.
Read The Full Story
Major security vulnerability discovered in Ubisoft UPlay DRM
It's already pretty easy to hate Ubisoft's UPlay DRM, which requires PC gamers to remain connected to the Internet at all times while playing, but today hating it got a whole lot easier. As it turns out, the UPlay client has a pretty major security vulnerability that could allow malicious websites to take control of your computer. The problem stems from the browser plugin that is installed by the UPlay launcher - instead of only granting access to UPlay, the plugin could potentially give a wide range of websites privileged access to your computer.
Read The Full Story
Apple purchases security firm AuthenTec for $356m
Apple has today purchased mobile security firm AuthenTec for the sum of $356 million. AuthenTec provides mobile security solutions for various platforms, including Android, and the company has worked with Apple in the past for security solutions for Mac OS. AuthenTec has provided fingerprint scanning solutions for Mac OS X, and more recently signed a mobile VPN agreement with Samsung for its Android devices.
Read The Full Story
Android and Nokia NFC exploits detailed at Black Hat
The Black Hat security conference kicked off yesterday in Las Vegas, and one researcher has demonstrated an NFC exploit that affects Android and certain Nokia phones. Charlie Miller showed how NFC is typically enabled by default on most Android phones, and by getting close enough to the device it could be redirected automatically to malicious websites. In addition, he was able to send malware over to the device that exploits the browser, allowing the attacker to read cookie data, view web history, and even hijack the phone.
Read The Full Story
Former FBI agent urges hackers to help US fend off cyber-threats
As the world becomes more and more connected, the United States obviously faces threats that are purely cyber in nature. During his keynote at the Black Hat conference in Las Vegas today, former FBI agent Shawn Henry made a point of discussing cyber-threats and how the US government can defend against them. The government can't do it alone, however, which is why Henry called on hackers with the know-how to help the country out when it comes to fending off cyber-attacks.
Read The Full Story
Latest ATM skimmers get thinner
ATM skimmers lift credit and debit card information by attaching to the card slot on the machine, although such modifications have typically been spotted quickly due to their bulky and obvious nature. Over the years, skimmers have become increasingly hard to detect, resulting in mass fraud until the banks fix the affected ATM. The latest generation of ATM skimmers are said to be so thin that they can be inserted directly into a card slot without arousing suspicion.
Read The Full Story
REVIEWS
![JH Audio JH16 Pro with Freqphase Custom In-Ear Monitor Review [2013]](http://cdn.slashgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/P2111170-sg-320x80.jpg)
- POPULAR STORIES THIS WEEK
- Xbox One release date "later this year"
- Big Xbox Dashboard update tipped to pave Xbox 720 transition
- Xbox 720 prototype secrets leak: TV, DVR, streaming, AR and more
- Verizon HTC One tipped for today's press event [UPDATE: Nope]
- Hisense Sero 7 Pro Tablet leaks to take on the Nexus 7
- Verizon HTC One speculation returns as DROID DNA offer arrives
- Xbox 720: what's to be expected at tomorrow's announcement
- Xbox One vs Xbox 360: What's Changed?
- RECENT COMMENTS
