EU data protection regulation overhaul inches closer
The 28 EU member states have taken a significant step towards a historic overhaul of EU-wide data protection laws, first proposed three years ago.
Privacy
Wikipedia switches to HTTPS by default
Wikimedia has announced that all of its web properties – including the enormously popular crowd-sourced dictionary Wikipedia – will now use HTTPS encryption by default.
Snapchat bolsters security with optional Two-factor authentication
Snapchat has added an option for two-factor authentication in its latest update, followed in the footsteps of Apple, Twitter and Facebook.
Is your GoPro camera secretly spying on you?
Poor choices of passwords can lead to your privacy being breached, after researchers revealed just how easy it could be for hackers to break into GoPro cameras.
IRS hacker attack puts US tax payers at risk
The IRS has admitted that for more than two months malicious hackers targeted its systems, and managed to gain access to information about more than 100,000 tax payers.
Bluetooth fitness trackers ‘a threat to privacy’
Devices using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) to transmit their data can be intercepted by hackers, potentially exposing a trove of fitness data from wearables, IT Pro reports.
Adult dating site hacked, leaking private information
Casual dating website 'Adult FriendFinder' has been hacked, leaking data from as many as 3.9 million accounts, according to an investigation by Channel 4 News.
What app permissions should I be wary of?
Mobile applications increasingly want access to various functions on your smartphones and tablets, such as your location and contacts book. But some of these app permissions should not be granted.
Google and Apple among tech giants urging Obama to block phone surveillance
Google and Apple have signed a letter to President Barack Obama urging him to reject any proposal that would grant police access to encrypted phone data.
UK government amends hacking laws to give intelligence service immunity
The British government has passed legislation amending the Computer Misuse Act to prevent GCHQ, the police and intelligence services from prosecution over any hacking into mobile phones and computers.
Apple seeks to block sale of RadioShack customer data
Apple has filed a court objection against the sale of RadioShack customer data for those who had purchased its products, reports Ars Technica.
Google turns down 60 percent of ‘right to be forgotten’ requests
A year after Google introduced its controversial 'right to be forgotten' feature, the search giant has published some statistics about its implementation.
Photobucket hackers face charges over photo-stealing app
Two men were arrested last week for allegedly developing hacking software that steals user information and photos from the image-hosting website Photobucket.
NSA phone surveillance ruled illegal by US appeals court
The mass collection of American phone records and metadata by the National Security Agency (NSA) has been ruled illegal by a US appeals court.
Security concerns prompts ‘gold rush’ for Chinese enterprise computing market
Concern over the security of Windows in China has led to a 'gold rush', as Chinese firms race to fill the gap left by Microsoft's operating system, reports Reuters.
Hackers spy on Kansas family through unsecured baby monitor
A Kansas family are the latest victims of a hacked nanny cam, after noticing the device purchased to monitor their three-month-old baby was also monitoring them.
The dirty secrets of webcam-hacking peeping toms and sextortionists
Virtually every computer sold today comes with a dirty little secret. It can spy on you. Learn more, and how to protect yourself.
Emails and documents leaked during Sony hack released by WikiLeaks
Hundreds and thousands of documents and emails breached during last Christmas' cyberattack on Sony Pictures have been published on WikiLeaks, reports the BBC.
Data breach bill passes House committee despite concerns
The Data Security and Breach Notification Act has passed The House Energy and Commerce Committee by a vote of 29-22, reports The Hill.
Your identity has already been stolen, ‘Catch Me If You Can’ subject warns US citizens
The reformed conman that the 2002 film 'Catch Me If You Can' is based on has told The Times that anyone living in the US or UK has already had their identity stolen.