Tag: Security
Smart thermostat tops smarthome gadget list, survey shows
A smart thermostat, available from companies such as Google and Nest, tops the list of smart home products that Brits expect to own this year, according to a survey from house buying company Sellhousefast.uk It surveyed 1,462 UK households to discover the smart home products they intend to own in 2020 and found that thermostat…
Google bug hunters discovered 6 flaws in Apple iMessage
A team of Google bug researchers called Project Zero say they discovered six flaws in Apple’s iMessage app - one of which is yet to be fixed. The firm’s Project Zero is made up of security analysts who hunt for serious vulnerabilities in various software before hackers find them, providing manufacturers with a 90-day deadline…
Walkie Talkie app returns to Apple Watch after security update
The Apple Watch Walkie Talkie app has been reactivated after Apple confirmed that a security flaw which could have allowed people to eavesdrop on the conversations of others has been fixed. Earlier this month, the technology firm announced it was temporarily disabling the app until the issue could be resolved. As part of the latest…
Mozilla Firefox boss warns that public turning on tech firms over privacy
Public opinion is turning against big technology firms over their mishandling of user data, the head of non-profit tech firm Mozilla has warned. Mitchell Baker said the public realisation of how much data was being gathered by tech giants such as Facebook and Google and how that data could have an impact on democracy was…
Ford security technology blocks illegal hacking of key fobs
Ford is introducing new security technology to its Fiesta and Focus models which prevents illegal hacking of the keyless entry fobs when not in use. Keyless entry fobs of all makes of cars have been targeted by thieves with “relay box” equipment, used to extend the signal from fobs in homes to unlock and start…
5 Apps Every Android Geek Must Have on Their Phone
How secure is your phone or tablet? If you needed to send private information right now, could you be sure that your information is protected? For people who use public Wi-Fi or poorly-maintained mobile data, the answer is no. Security for most people means luck, a bit of hope that they won’t be the target of random…
Half of us now using smart speakers, Accenture study finds
Half of online consumers globally now use digital voice assistants, or smart speakers, with emerging markets leading the way in adoption. This comes after Amazon announced that it had been selling out of its popular digital voice assistant over the festive period and that 100m devices have now been sold around the world Standalone voice assistants – or…
Police’s facial recognition technology only accurate three quarters of the time
A police force’s use of facial recognition technology requires “considerable investment” to deliver consistent results, a study has concluded. Crashing computer systems and poor quality images are among the challenges South Wales Police officers have faced since rolling out the technology. The force first deployed automated facial recognition (AFR) at the 2017 Champions League final and…
Over the next few months, we will be supporting The Economist in its drive to get its content in front of a wider audience. During this time we will share access to some of their key articles, usually only available to subscribers and registered users. These articles have been chosen as we believe they will be of interest…
Can smart home security measures prevent burglaries? Ring claims 100 arrests from video doorbell
In a smart move designed to promote its video doorbell system, smart home security company Ring has just released video footage captured by its device of burglars caught in the act. Using footage from Ring video doorbells as criminal evidence, it claims that police have made approximately 100 arrests in the past year. Suffolk Police…
