The FTC has just bucked its own trend, eschewing its tendency to avoid talking about on-going investigations so that it could talk about one investigation in particular: its own probe into the Equifax data breach. The breach is a severe one, potentially affecting approximately 143 million people throughout the US and select other locations.
Controversy over warrantless laptop and smartphone searches at the border abound, and now the ACLU and Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) are going after the Department of Homeland Security over it. Both organizations have filed a lawsuit against the DHS on behalf of 11 people -- 10 US citizens and one green card holder -- who were subjected to these warrantless devices search when attempting to enter the US from abroad.
![DHS bans Kaspersky on federal PCs over Russia fears [Updated]](https://c.slashgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/35021724110_1d62d45907_k-980x620.jpg)
The US Department of Homeland Security has issued a blanket ban on Kaspersky anti-virus software, informing all Federal Executive Branch departments and agencies that they need to stop using the apps. Citing concerns that the anti-virus, malware protection, and other software Kaspersky Labs offers has "elevated privileges" on government computers, the DHS says that its new directive is based on fears that the company's Russian base might leave American data exposed.
PC users will no longer be able to find the well-known internet security software from Kaspersky Lab at Best Buy, as the electronics retailer has pulled the products, both from store shelves and online. As the cybersecurity firm is based in Moscow, Best Buy says its decision is based on concerns over connections Kaspersky has to the Russian government.
Uber is being investigated by the FBI over its defunct internal program that spied on competitor Lyft, according to sources. The program went under the moniker 'Hell' and it revolved around tracking drivers working for Lyft, the pink-themed ridesharing service that holds the distinction of being Uber's biggest competitor. The feds are investigating whether Uber's program violated any laws, the sources say.
The substance MDMA, best known as a party drug recreationally used by ravers, has been an unofficial (and illegal) treatment in some PTSD circles. Anecdotal reports of the drug's efficacy in helping free PTSD sufferers from their trauma have circulated for years, but conducting studies and offering official MDMA treatments in medical environments hasn't been possible. That all may be changing.
The last week has seen Apple pulling a number of popular Iranian apps from its App Store platform, resulting in criticism and backlash both from the country's government and its developers. The recent aggressive changes in Apple's stance are a result of increasing US sanctions against Iran, however, which restrict how the Cupertino company operates within the country, including limit it from hosting apps.
Donald Trump stared at the solar eclipse without protective eyewear yesterday afternoon, just like hundreds of other Americans. Despite the repeated warnings about damage to one's eyes - and even damage to the insides of top-end cameras - Trump decided it was OK to go ahead and look at the solar eclipse without the protective eyewear he had available to him. He was not the only one who did this.
President Trump, it seems, is going to war with corporate America. At the same time three executives are making news for exiting Trump's manufacturing council - garnering some negative reactions from the President on Twitter - Trump has renewed an attack on Amazon. Earlier today, President Trump laid into Amazon, criticizing it for doing damage to retailers across the US.
Now's your chance, brands - a study released this morning on Brand Influence showed that leaving Trump's councils had a positive effect on their public image. This includes Intel and Under Armour this week - both having left a manufacturing council made for Trump. The companies that remain on Trump's various councils must be seriously considering their position and legacy right this minute. UPDATE: Trump ends councils with a Tweet.
Four individuals have been arrested in India over allegedly leaking a new episode of Game of Thrones. According to a statement from local police, these individuals were in possession of official credentials that gave them access to the new episode. The group is said to have worked for an entertainment company located in Mumbai that would provide access to the episode once it aired in the country.
DreamHost has revealed that the US Justice Department is demanding the records of visitors to a certain anti-Trump website on its network. The website in question is Disrupt J20, which helped organize inauguration day protest to oppose the Trump administration. According to DreamHost, the amount of data the Justice Department is demanding could infringe the rights of those Disrupt J20 visitors.
