Tag Archives: privacy

What you need to know about GPS and the Apple Watch Series 2

Now playing: Watch this: The new Apple Watch Series 2 comes with built-in GPS… 1:25 The Apple Watch Series 2 boasts built-in GPS capabilities, so you can leave your iPhone at home or in your gym locker during a workout. The watch will take care of tracking all of the important details. Previously, you had …

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Pinterest is now blocked by China’s Great Firewall

It seems Pinterest has now joined Facebook and Twitter as another popular media site that’s blocked in China. The popular scrapbooking site hasn’t been accessible in China for the past seven days, according to GreatFire.org. The censorship monitoring organization aims to bring transparency to China’s Great Firewall, a tool Chinese government uses to keep its citizen from accessing certain part …

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Google’s Family Link unlocks Android for kids

About six years ago, a 5-year-old girl asked her mother why her Google search for “train” failed to show her anything about Thomas the Tank Engine, the cheeky cartoon character that’s a favorite for kids. It was just a small shortcoming, but it set in motion a project that now means the tech giant is opening its doors to tens …

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​Facebook bans use of its data for surveillance tools

Heavily nudged by the ACLU, Facebook on Monday said it has updated its policies to explicitly ban developers from using its data for surveillance tools. “Today we are adding language to our Facebook and Instagram platform policies to more clearly explain that developers cannot ‘use data obtained from us to provide tools that are used for surveillance,'” Rob Sherman, Facebook’s …

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PayPal’s Venmo is the super

Now playing: Watch this: CNET asks New Yorkers: How do you Venmo? 3:29 When Sarah Mellema wanted to shoot a quick, encouraging message to her friend Sam, she didn’t open Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat or WhatsApp. She didn’t email, text or call. She used Venmo. “Miss you boo. Here’s a kiss and some money,” the 26-year-old Chicagoan wrote, attaching a …

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How to mute abusive Twitter trolls: Try these new notification settings

Just because trolls exist on the internet doesn’t mean you have to listen to them. Twitter now lets you mute notifications from abusive anonymous Twitter accounts. The feature was announced last week and went live Thursday for Android and web versions. No word yet on when the feature will come to iOS. Twitter has previously stated its commitment to help …

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Playing the ‘fear card’: UN privacy expert slams online spying

Think the CIA is the only government agency that could be listening in? Governments the world over are playing the “fear card” with their citizens, pushing through “extremely intrusive” surveillance laws that are a major threat to privacy. That’s the verdict of the United Nations’ special rapporteur on the right to privacy, Joseph Cannataci, who has released a scathing report …

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Facebook Messenger Day: Tips for using the newest Snapchat clone

Now playing: Watch this: Facebook Messenger copies Snapchat Stories to stay hip 1:46 At some point, you have to feel bad for Snapchat. WhatsApp and Instagram each have released a feature that’s nearly identical to Snapchat’s Stories feature, which lets you post photos and videos that disappear after 24 hours. Now here comes Facebook Messenger with a new feature called …

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Weeping Angel: Did the CIA really hack into TVs?

Weeping Angel (noun): 1. A terrifying monster from the popular UK sci-fi series “Doctor Who,” which resembles a harmless winged statue — until you blink or look away. 2. An alleged spying tool, co-developed by the CIA and the UK’s MI5 security agency, which lets a Samsung Smart TV (specifically, the F8000 Smart TV) pretend to turn itself off — …

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FCC battle over online privacy: What you need to know

Republicans are doing all they can to make sure the Federal Communications Commission can’t tell broadband companies how to handle your personal data online. In the latest move, Republican Senator Jeff Flake of Arizona on Tuesday evening introduced a resolution that would kill rules the FCC passed in October to regulate consumer privacy for internet service providers. The measure, which …

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