For the most up-to-date news and information about the coronavirus pandemic, visit the WHO and CDC websites. When the coronavirus pandemic gripped the US, California was one of the first states to act, issuing a stay-at-home order in March that covered its roughly 40 million residents. At the time, there wasn’t much public information on …

You might not ever have heard of a digital signal processor, but there’s a good chance you’ve reaped the benefits of one on your phone. These processors, described as a “complete computer in a single chip,” are the reason phones can fully charge within five minutes or launch augmented reality for games like Pokemon Go.   The chip’s wide range of possibilities, however, …

Apple unveiled a new kind of iPhone on Wednesday, but it’s not one that just anybody can get ahold of. The new batch of modified iPhones are tweaked specifically for security researchers as part of the tech giant’s new Security Research Device program.  At last year’s Black Hat cybersecurity conference, Apple first said it would be providing modified iPhones for …

For the most up-to-date news and information about the coronavirus pandemic, visit the WHO and CDC websites. COVID-19 tracking technology being rolled out by Apple and Google has an expiration date, the tech giants say. The companies say Bluetooth interoperability they’re developing for Android and iOS devices won’t be used after the public health crisis caused by the respiratory disease …

Editor’s note: A spokesman for data tracking company Inpixon originally said its technology is in schools. After publication, the company contacted CNET with an updated statement that Inpixon is in “various stages of contract negotiations” and noted that the service wasn’t live in any school. We’ve updated the story accordingly.  Teachers often lament that phones can be a distraction in …

When you download an app, the permissions requests and privacy policy are usually the only warnings you’ll get about the data it’s taking. Usually, you just have to take the app’s word that it’s grabbing only the data you’ve agreed to give it. Often, though, there’s more grabbing going on than you were led to believe, security researchers have determined. …

Security researchers have discovered serious vulnerabilities with a series of childrens’ smartwatches. Potential hackers can use these security flaws to take over the devices and essentially track children and have conversations with them, researchers warn.  Security company Rapid7 disclosed vulnerabilities with three smartwatches sold on Amazon: the GreaSmart, the Jsbaby and the Smarturtle. All three smartwatches are targeted at children …

The holiday season is for sharing, but with some gifts, people could be sharing too much of their own personal data. That voice assistant that’s half off on Black Friday might seem like a great gift to you, but you may want to be more cautious for a person focused on their privacy.  Navigating the privacy terms for every single tech …

Cybersecurity companies are partnering with domestic violence prevention organizations to take on stalkerware — tools widely used by abusive partners to track victims without their knowledge. In October, the Federal Trade Commission settled its first case against a stalkerware company, but this new coalition is looking to do more.  On Tuesday, ten groups announced they were creating the Coalition Against …

Voice commands for Google Assistant and Samsung’s Bixby are designed to make tasks easier for people — but they’ve also opened up ways for potential hackers to take advantage of your phone.  On Tuesday, researchers from cybersecurity company Checkmarx disclosed vulnerabilities in several Android devices, including Google’s Pixel line and Samsung’s Galaxy series. The security flaws would have allowed attackers …