Technology news

• AP Interview: Coelho says Sony hack threatens all

  19-12-2014 23:55
  
  GENEVA (AP) — Brazilian author Paulo Coelho says the Sony hack threatens us all if society doesn't enforce important values against anonymous terrorists.
  
  Read more

• Antarctica Tourism Could Be Making Penguins Sick

  19-12-2014 23:44
  
  Antarctica remained largely untouched until roughly 200 years ago, and now, more than 10,000 people travel there every year. But tourists bring more than cameras. Scientists are warning that pathogens brought by visitors could threaten the continent’s most iconic inhabitant: the penguin.
  
  Read more

• Staples says security breach may have affected 1.16 million cards

  19-12-2014 23:25
  
  (Reuters) - Office-supply retailer Staples Inc said about 1.16 million payment cards might have been affected by the data breach announced in October. An investigation by external data security experts showed that criminals deployed malware to some point-of-sales systems at 115 U.S. stores, Staples said. The company said it has since eradicated the malware. Staples, which has more than 1,400 stores in the country, said the malware might have allowed access to some transaction data, including car
  
  Read more

• Women rule at President Obama's final press conference of 2014

  19-12-2014 23:06
  
  All eight questions he answers are from female print and radio journalists
  Social media all a-Twitter about president’s preferential treatment
  Obama on Sony pulling The Interview: ‘They made a mistake’Obama: Sony should have spoken to me before pulling film - live blog Continue reading...
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Kim Jong Un game spoof 'Glorious Leader!' moving forward

  19-12-2014 22:50
  
  LOS ANGELES (AP) — The creator of a satirical video game that depicts Kim Jong Un as a gun-toting, unicorn-riding hero has no plans to cancel his zany creation following a cyberattack and threats of violence against Sony Pictures that the FBI has attributed to North Korea.
  
  Read more

• BlackBerry works with Boeing on phone that self-destructs

  19-12-2014 22:31
  
  WATRERLOO, Ontario (Reuters) - BlackBerry Ltd is working with Boeing Co on Boeing's high-security Android-based smartphone, the Canadian mobile technology company's chief executive said on Friday. The Boeing Black phone being developed by the Chicago-based aerospace and defense contractor, which is best known for jetliners and fighter planes, can self-destruct if it is tampered with. The Boeing Black device encrypts calls and is aimed at government agencies and others that need to keep
  
  Read more

• Sony hack: How cybercrime just got even more complicated

  19-12-2014 22:25 via zdnet.com
  
  Analysis: Standard cybercrime is complicated enough to deal with already, without throwing in some international politics too.
  
  Read more

• Facebook doubles its next F8 conference for a two-day extravaganza

  19-12-2014 22:12
  
  After resurrecting the once-annual F8 developer conference in early 2014, Facebook has announced it's expanding the event for a two-day extravaganza next March.The 2015 F8 Facebook conference will mark the first time the event has gone longer than one day."Facebook's developer community is bigger today than it ever has been," reads an announcement Facebook sent out today. "The scope of the company's products has broadened, and there's more content to share than can fit into a sing
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Blackberry in revenue slide

  19-12-2014 21:57 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Troubled smartphone maker Blackberry reports a larger than expected drop in revenue, as it struggles to convince consumers to buy its phones.
  
  Read more

• Obama says North Korea hacked Sony, vows response

  19-12-2014 21:44
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama said Friday that Sony Pictures Entertainment "made a mistake" in shelving a satirical film about a plot to assassinate North Korea's leader. He declared the United States would respond "in a place and manner and time that we choose" to a hack attack on Sony that the FBI blamed on the communist government.
  
  Read more

• What is FBI evidence for North Korea hack attack?

  19-12-2014 21:04 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Why the FBI linked North Korea to the Sony hack attack
  
  Read more

• Obama vows U.S. response to North Korea over Sony cyberattack

  19-12-2014 20:54
  
  By Aruna Viswanatha and Steve Holland WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama vowed that the United States will respond to the devastating cyberattack on Sony Pictures blamed on the North Korean government. Obama said the cyberattack "caused a lot of damage" to Sony but that he believed the company made a mistake in canceling the release of "The Interview," a comedy portraying the assassination of the North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un. "We will respond," Obama
  
  Read more

• FBI blames North Korea for Sony hack

  19-12-2014 20:39
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama said Friday that Sony Pictures Entertainment "made a mistake" in shelving a satirical film about a plot to assassinate North Korea's leader, and he vowed the United States will respond "in a place and manner and time that we choose" to a hack attack the FBI blamed on the secretive Communist regime.
  
  Read more

• Alleged Sony Xperia E4 gets pictured next to a predecessor

  19-12-2014 20:24
  
  It's been less than a week since we first caught wind of the Sony Xperia E4, an unannounced budget handset that's rumored to be launching at MWC 2015.Already, though, Polish site Teleguru has published a sizable gallery of photos of the phone, including some with it posing next to the Sony Xperia Z1 Compact.The Xperia E4 is rumored to have a 5-inch screen, but with its thin bezels it appears only slightly larger in overall size than the 4.3-inch Z1 Compact.No one will complain about getting a lo
  
  Read more

• Guns, drugs, hitmen and child porn: The dark web thrives despite Operation Onymous crackdown

  19-12-2014 20:03
  
  There is a part of the web that is still hidden from the majority of the internet users, a so-called dark web that cannot be found by conventional search engines or accessed by standard browsers.
  
  Read more

• Microsoft delivers Power BI mobile app for iPad

  19-12-2014 20:01 via zdnet.com
  
  Microsoft is releasing a number of new Power BI business intelligence features in preview form, as well as rolling out a new native Power BI app for iPad.
  
  Read more

• Microsoft confirms it is dropping Public Website feature from SharePoint Online

  19-12-2014 19:58 via zdnet.com
  
  As rumors suggested, Microsoft is deprecating Public Websites from SharePoint Online and Office 365 in January 2015. Here's more on why and what happens next.
  
  Read more

• Updated: CES 2015: what to expect from the biggest tech show of the year

  19-12-2014 19:52
  
  What we expect to see: Samsung, Sony, LG and HTCKeep checking back in the days leading up to the show for more CES 2015 news and rumors!CES invades Las Vegas January 6 - January 9, 2015. Those dates are fast approaching - hell, the annual tech fest to end all tech fests will be here before you can say, "Happy New Year." Already we've had info coming in revealing what CES 2015 will hold, though of course many mysteries still await in those desert conference corridors.Read on for a compa
  
  Read more

• Ebay joins Google and others in dumping Alec over climate stance

  19-12-2014 19:46
  
  The online retailer is the latest tech giant to leave the right wing lobbying group over its position on climate change Continue reading...
  
  Read more

• U.S. blames North Korea for Sony cyberattack, vows 'consequences'

  19-12-2014 19:43
  
  By Aruna Viswanatha and Steve Holland WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. government on Friday blamed North Korea for a devastating cyberattack against Sony Pictures, calling it an unacceptable act of intimidation and vowing to impose "costs and consequences" on those responsible. It was the first time the United States had directly accused another country of a cyberattack of such magnitude on American soil and sets up a possible new confrontation between longtime foes Washington and Pyong
  
  Read more

• Sponsors pay big bucks to join college bowl games

  19-12-2014 19:42
  
  SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Ready! Set! Hut, hut: This holiday season's blitz of college football bowl games will feature a reshuffled roster of corporate sponsors spending millions to thrust their names in front of fans watching on TV and in the stands.
  
  Read more

• Judge gives customers go-ahead to sue Target over data breach

  19-12-2014 19:39
  
  A US district judge has ruled consumers whose private information was compromised by the 2013 breach have a right to sue the retailerTarget data breach: what you need to know about identity theft
  Continue reading...
  
  Read more

• BlackBerry hit by worse than expected sales

  19-12-2014 19:28
  
  Smartphone maker slashes losses to $148m for three months to 29 November but sales of $793m disappoint analystsBlackBerry Classic goes back to the old way of doing things Continue reading...
  
  Read more

• Hackers warn not to release 'The Interview' in any form

  19-12-2014 19:05
  
  NEW YORK (AP) — Hackers have sent a new email to Sony Pictures Entertainment, gloating over the studio's "wise" decision to cancel the release of "The Interview" and warning not to distribute the film "in any form."
  
  Read more

• 2012 movie massacre hung over 'Interview' decision

  19-12-2014 18:50
  
  LOS ANGELES (AP) — When a group claiming credit for the hacking of Sony Pictures Entertainment threated violence against theaters showing "The Interview" earlier this week, the fate of the movie's big-screen life was all but sealed.
  
  Read more

• Apple chief: Panorama report on Chinese workers deeply offensive

  19-12-2014 18:39
  
  Tim Cook hits back at claims in undercover BBC report that workers in iPhone and iPad factories are being mistreated Continue reading...
  
  Read more

• U.S. blames North Korea for Sony cyber attack

  19-12-2014 18:33
  
  By Aruna Viswanatha and Steve Holland WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. government on Friday blamed North Korea for a devastating cyber attack against Sony Pictures, calling it an unacceptable act of intimidation and vowing to impose "costs and consequences" on those responsible. It was the first time the United States has directly accused another country of a cyber attack of this nature on American soil. ...
  
  Read more

• Flickr scraps plan to sell users' photos as wall art after licensing row

  19-12-2014 18:01
  
  Company apologises for service that profited off its sharing community and admits it wasn’t in the “spirit” of Creative Commons•Facebook has likes. Instagram has hearts. But Flickr had them (and me) first Continue reading...
  
  Read more

• FBI concludes North Korean government responsible for Sony cyber attack

  19-12-2014 18:00
  
  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States on Friday blamed North Korea for the devastating cyberattack against Sony Pictures, formally acknowledging the involvement of the Pyongyang government and saying the tools and infrastructure used in the attack were similar to previous activity from North Korea. The "destructive nature" of the attack, which led the big Hollywood studio to pull a movie depicting North Korea's leader amid threats, coupled with "its coercive nature,"
  
  Read more

• Suspects deny 'sextorting' teenager

  19-12-2014 17:59 via bbc.co.uk
  
  The BBC goes to the Philippines to investigate a rise in blackmail of people duped into taking part in explicit online chats and videos.
  
  Read more

• Unmanaged WordPress not usually worth the risk or trouble

  19-12-2014 17:53 via zdnet.com
  
  The main lesson I take from the WordPress RevSlider attacks is that, for self-hosters, vigilance is absolutely necessary, but perhaps not enough, to keep your WordPress site secure from attack.
  
  Read more

• Amazon staff in Germany extend strike to Christmas Eve

  19-12-2014 17:51
  
  FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Amazon staff at three German warehouses will extend their strike until Christmas Eve to increase pressure on the online retailer in a long-running dispute over pay and conditions, labour union Verdi said on Friday. Verdi also filed a lawsuit against a decision by regional authorities to allow Amazon staff in two German cities to work this Sunday as the mail-order group steps up efforts to deliver orders to customers before the Christmas holiday. ...
  
  Read more

• U.S. expected to formally blame North Korea for Sony cyber attack

  19-12-2014 17:28
  
  By Steve Holland and Aruna Viswanatha WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. authorities were expected to announce on Friday that investigators had determined that North Korea was behind a devastating cyber attack against Sony Pictures, setting up a possible confrontation between Washington and Pyongyang. The probe into the hack found North Korea was involved and that there may also be a Chinese link, either through collaboration with Chinese actors or the use of Chinese servers to mask the origin of the a
  
  Read more

• Instagram purge costs celebrities millions of followers

  19-12-2014 17:18
  
  The photo-sharing app has upset high-profile users by cracking down on spam accounts and bots, with Justin Bieber hardest hitTeenagers and celebrities are up in arms after photo sharing app Instagram scrubbed millions of spam accounts and bots.The crackdown has been called the “Instagram Rapture” or “Instagram Purge” as accounts dropped thousands, and even millions, of followers overnight.Instagram feels right now hay haha #InstagramPurge pic.twitter.com/TRUIqEL7BqIM SO ANGRY I LOST 1900
  
  Read more

• Islamic State suspected of cyber-attack on Raqqa opponents

  19-12-2014 16:48
  
  Report by cyber-security group finds ‘plausible link’ between Isis and malware attack on citizen media outlet in Syrian city Continue reading...
  
  Read more

• BlackBerry third-quarter revenue falls more than expected, shares drop

  19-12-2014 16:35
  
  By Allison Martell and Alastair Sharp TORONTO (Reuters) - BlackBerry Ltd on Friday reported a bigger-than-expected drop in third-quarter revenue, sending shares of the struggling smartphone maker lower, even as it eked out a small adjusted profit and began generating cash flow again. Revenue fell to $793 million (506 million pounds) from $1.19 billion a year earlier, falling short of analysts' expectations of $931.5 million. ...
  
  Read more

• Blackberry posts 3Q adjusted profit, revenue down

  19-12-2014 16:31
  
  NEW YORK (AP) — Blackberry reported an adjusted profit for its fiscal third quarter but its revenue fell, missing analysts' estimates.
  
  Read more

• North Korea behind Sony hack, with possible China link - U.S. official

  19-12-2014 16:20
  
  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. investigation into the hack of Sony's computer system has determined that North Korea was behind the operation with a possible Chinese link, a U.S. official said on Friday. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the conclusion was to be announced later by federal authorities. The probe into the hack found North Korea was behind it and that there may be a Chinese link either through collaboration with Chinese actors or by using Chinese servers t
  
  Read more

• Apple 'deeply offended' by BBC story

  19-12-2014 15:05 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Apple has said it is "deeply offended" by a BBC investigation into conditions for workers involved in manufacturing its devices.
  
  Read more

• Why smartphone scent transmission will not be the next big thing

  19-12-2014 14:39
  
  Sending aromas alongside messages in cyberspace is said to be one of the digital trends for 2015, but smartphone users may disagree Continue reading...
  
  Read more

• Bitcoin hit with tax blow in Australia

  19-12-2014 14:15
  
  Purchases of bitcoin will now be viable for sales tax, making life more difficult for startups Australia’s tax authorities have ruled that bitcoin transactions are subject to the goods and services tax (GST), suggesting that the cryptocurrency is not likely to be classed as “money” in the near future.The ruling mainly applies to Australian businesses running bitcoin exchanges, which let customers trade real money for the digital currency. The decision means that when bitcoin is bought from
  
  Read more

• Review: CoPilot Premium sat nav app

  19-12-2014 14:11 via feedproxy.google.com
  
  If you're reading Tech Radar you've surely got a smartphone in your hands now, reading this, or it's warming the front area of your jeans. And guess what? Your Android or iThing's combination of GPS tracking, chips and apps makes it an ideal platform for satnav. You will, of course, have to invest in a car kit – charger and cradle, as it won't be as effective rattling around in your car's footwell. I'd recommend Montar's universal mount (£17.49) and a Belkin charger (£3.99). Then head to App
  
  Read more

• Google slams secret Hollywood attempt to ‘censor the internet’

  19-12-2014 13:59
  
  Search company hits out at the Motion Picture Association of America after claims it is trying to revive the failed Stop Online Piracy ActGoogle has accused Hollywood of attempting to “secretly censor the internet” by reviving the failed Stop Online Piracy Act (Sopa) to enable wholesale site-blocking.
  The search company alleges that Hollywood studios, through the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), conspired to push through the effects of Sopa through non-legislative measures. Co
  
  Read more

• Microsoft takes on tech scammers

  19-12-2014 13:33 via bbc.co.uk
  
  The US software giant takes legal action against firms it alleges have been offering bogus tech support in its name to unwitting consumers.
  
  Read more

• BlackBerry reports small adjusted profit, positive cash flow

  19-12-2014 13:16
  
  TORONTO (Reuters) - BlackBerry Ltd reported a quarterly net loss but eked out a small adjusted profit and positive cash flow on Friday. The Waterloo, Ontario-based company reported a net loss of $148 million, or 28 cents a share in the quarter ended Nov. 29. That compared with a year earlier loss of $4.4 billion (3 billion pounds), or $8.37 a share. Excluding one-time items the company earned 1 cent a share. (Reporting by Euan Rocha and Allison Martell Editing by W Simon)
  
  Read more

• BlackBerry closes acquisition of Germany's Secusmart

  19-12-2014 13:12
  
  TORONTO (Reuters) - BlackBerry Ltd said Friday it has completed its acquisition of Secusmart, a privately held firm that specialises in voice and data encryption. Waterloo, Ontario-based BlackBerry agreed to buy the German maker of encryption and anti-eavesdropping services in July, in a move to burnish its credentials with highly security-conscious clients like government ‎agencies. The terms of the deal were not disclosed. ...
  
  Read more

• Year in review: storage highs and lows

  19-12-2014 13:10 via zdnet.com
  
  The pace of change continues to accelerate as Big Data, IoT and video create growing demand. New technologies are emerging while cloud storage erodes traditional business models.
  
  Read more

• Sony hack adds to security pressure on companies

  19-12-2014 12:43
  
  BEIJING (AP) — Faced with rising cybercrime like the attack on Sony Pictures Entertainment, companies worldwide are under pressure to tighten security but are hampered by cost and, for some, reluctance to believe they are in danger.
  
  Read more

• Millions deleted in Instagram purge

  19-12-2014 12:30 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Photo-sharing app Instagram has removed millions of accounts believed to be posting spam, angering many legitimate users.
  
  Read more

• Touch ID's next big trick may get thumbs wriggling

  19-12-2014 12:29
  
  Touch ID, the fingerprint-sensing technology Apple ushered in with the iPhone 5S, has simplified the process of securely unlocking today's iPhones and iPads, but the Cupertino company wants to take the tech further.A new patent filing unearthed by Patently Apple reveals the firm's plans to add motion input to a Touch ID-enabled Home button — essentially, you'd be able to draw out a pin code to unlock your device without touching the screen.The diagrams accompanying Apple's filing show a user d
  
  Read more

Follow @TechnologyUKnws on Twitter!