Government requests for private Facebook data up 24%
Government requests for private Facebook data have increased by nearly 25% since the second half of 2013, the social networking giant has reported.
Privacy
British intelligence service echoes FBI’s call for mobile backdoors
Echoing sentiments from across the Atlantic earlier in the year, the head of British spy agency GCHQ as made calls for crypto backdoors into phones to tackle crime, stating, "privacy has never been an absolute right."
Facebook welcomes private browsers with dedicated Tor link
Facebook has opened its doors to privacy concerned users, but opening up a dedicated Tor link, guaranteeing that people who visit the social networking site through anonymous browsers aren't mistaken for botnets, Gizmodo reports.
Police can make you unlock your phone with a fingerprint – judge
A judge in Virginia has ruled that the police can require you to unlock your smartphone with a fingerprint, but not with a passcode, Mashable reports.
Wearable tech and security – can watches help?
So far, wearable tech has been of interest mainly to fitness fiends - but a new generation of hi-tech wearables comes armed with built-in scanners, biometrics and even 'three-factor security'. Can a watch really keep secrets?
British job centers to introduce biometric recognition
Job centers across the United Kingdom are due to get a technological makeover, courtesy of biometric and signature recognition pads, reports IT Pro Portal.
Internet trolls – how to deal with online abuse
Most internet users have faced some kind of problems with internet trolls - and a new study has thrown light on who they are. We discuss how best to deal with the online pests.
New Tor routers seeking crowdfunding by Kickstarter
A selection of rival privacy conscious Tor routers have appeared on crowdfunding sites after the Anonabox was surprisingly pulled just days after smashing its modest funding targets.
Counter surveillance tech – can gadgets spy‑proof your life?
Over the past few years, counter surveillance gadgets which might have been the preserve of secretive government departments a decade ago have suddenly hit mainstream shops - from Mission Impossible-stlye self-destructing drives to some rather eerie counter-surveillance masks.
iCloud users in China under attack. But who could be after their passwords?
Make sure you are running a half-decent browser, don't ignore browser security warnings, and enable two-factor authentication. That appears to be the lesson to learn from the latest attack on Chinese internet users.
Privacy online – what you can do (and what you can’t)
Many of us have moments when we need, or want, to be more private online - when searching for a new job, for instance, or when having a private business conversation.
iPad Air 2 – fingerprint security is here to stay
The latest version of the Apple iPad is due to be announced at an event later today, and according to Gizmodo, the Californian tech company are planning on bringing the fingerprint security system implemented in recent iPhones to its tablet market for the first time.
Hungarian soccer fans protest against stadium’s new biometric security
Fans of Hungarian soccer team Ferencvaros have come "en masse to their home stadium in Budapest" to protest the club's new biometric ID equipment, which controls turnstile entry to the stadium, according to Biometric Update.
$50 Anonabox provides portable privacy via Tor
A portable network device that sits between computer and router to offer anonymized browsing from any computer via the Tor network has smashed its Kickstarter fundraising goal just days after hitting the crowdfunding platform.
200,000 ‘deleted’ Snapchat images leaked from third party website
A breach of a third-party Snapchat site that allows users to bypass the app's privacy has led to the leaking of some 200,000 images to the internet, The Guardian reports.
Week in security: Dubai Police use Google Glass facial recognition, Bugzilla gets bugged and ‘Unpatchable’ USB exploit lands on GitHub
This week in security, we covered a full range of privacy and malware, with controversial plans to equip police officers with facial recognition packed Google Glass in Dubai, and the BadUSB malware finding its way on to GitHub.
Ello privacy – what you need to know
For any security-conscious user, there are a few things worth remembering once you have secured that crucial invitation - we offer a few tips on how to get the most from the emoji-heavy network here.
Google Glass facial recognition used by Dubai Police force
The police force of Dubai will soon be equipped with crime-fighting face recognition technology via Google Glass, according to Reuters. The software, "developed by Dubai police would enable a connection between the wearer and a database of wanted people," Reuters reports.
Bing: no plans to offer search boost for encrypted websites
Over the summer, Google introduced plans to start giving preference to websites that use HTTPS encryption to try and incentivize good online security practices. PC World reports that Microsoft's search rival, Bing, has no plans to follow suit with its own search algorithm.
Ultra‑secure hard drive ‘shatters on demand’
A new gadget from British drive maker Secure Drives forges off into Mission Impossible territory with a genuine, physical 'self-destruct' command which can be triggered from anywhere on Earth.