Tag Archives: privacy

All Apple iOS apps must have privacy disclosures in the future, reportedly

You probably never click on that “Privacy Policy” link as often as the “In-App Purchases” info that appears above it, especially for apps like Fortnite which you’re going to install not matter what. But for those of us who do, this is good news: Apple has extended its privacy policy disclosure rules to cover all …

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Firefox to block some technology that tracks you on the web

Firefox, a browser billing itself as the choice for anyone valuing privacy on the web, is following rivals that led the way with a technology called tracking protection. With the 2017 release of Firefox 57 — the first “Quantum” version geared to reinvigorate Firefox’s competitiveness with Google’s Chrome — Mozilla made it possible to block website software that tracks you …

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Yahoo Mail scans your inbox for receipts, but its competitors don’t

If you use your Yahoo email account for online shopping, listen up. Oath, the Verizon-owned company that runs Yahoo’s web properties, is scanning your inbox for commercial emails, according to a report Tuesday from The Wall Street Journal. Verizon bought Yahoo last year. The emails would appear to include order confirmations and other such messages from online retailers. Oath uses …

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Firefox data shows we’re blocking ad trackers now, not just ads

Millions of us have discovered browser extensions like AdBlock Plus and uBlock Origin can declutter web pages. Now, judging by new data released by Mozilla, it seems we’re also discovering we can block website software that tracks us on the internet, too. With the November release of Firefox 57, the first Firefox Quantum version, Mozilla added an option to let …

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Wickr may have a workaround for Russia’s crackdown on encrypted chat

Encrypted chat apps aim to keep you communicating securely, but they have a problem: Some governments want to block them from operating entirely. What’s more, some parts of their services can be easily blocked on a local level by anyone with a Wi-Fi network. To keep conversations flowing, encrypted communications app maker Wickr said Thursday it’s implementing new tools that …

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Send self

Google overhauled the web version of Gmail this past spring, adding tons of new features and a splashy new look. One of the new tools that new Gmail introduced was confidential mode, which lets you set an expiration date or revoke access for sensitive emails that the recipient also can’t forward, copy, print or download. Now, you can send such …

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Facebook pulls its Onavo security app from Apple App Store

Facebook has removed its Onavo security app from Apple’s App Store after the iPhone maker reportedly determined the app violated its privacy rules. Apple officials told Facebook last week that Onavo violated the company’s policies on data collection by developers and suggested Facebook voluntary remove the app, the Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday. The app, which bills itself as a …

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Google sued over tracking user location amid privacy concerns

Google is facing a lawsuit for its collection of location data even when users turned off location services. The suit came just four days after a report from the Associated Press about Google’s data collection practices. Google user Napoleon Patacsil’s response was to go to court.  “Google expressly represented to users of its operating system and apps that the activation of certain …

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Why you need a better handle on the WhatsApp, Signal and Telegram apps

You’ve likely heard by now that encrypted messaging apps are a good way to keep your communications private. But there’s a good chance you’re not totally sure what makes them so safe. It’s OK. You have company. New research from experts in computer science has found that even though many people are using secure messaging apps like WhatsApp, Signal and …

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Google is probably tracking your location, even if you turn it off, says report

Going off the grid with Google is harder than you might expect. Google services on Android devices and iPhones track and store your location data even if you turn location history off in your privacy settings, according to an Associated Press investigation. You can turn off location history any time, but some Google apps still store your time-stamped location data, …

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