Police covert hacking capabilities, Google's new security feature, Tutanota's quantum-resistant security, recent data breaches, browser fingerprinting for price discrimination, and concerns about transparency in hacking technology.
Police agencies worldwide have been using secret phone hacking technology, raising concerns about transparency and protection of defendants' rights.
Several high-profile data breaches, including those affecting government agencies and major companies, highlight the ongoing challenges of personal data security.
Deep dives
Police hiding phone hacking tools raises concerns about transparency and legal rights
Police agencies worldwide have been using phone hacking technology provided by Celebrate, which has requested that users keep its use secret. Legal experts argue that transparency is important for proper legal authorization and protection of defendants' rights. The use of this technology could potentially compromise public rights and the rights of defendants, as it is not subject to scrutiny. Disclosing the use of such technology could help criminals and make law enforcement efforts more challenging.
Data breaches expose sensitive information of millions of people
Several high-profile data breaches occurred recently, exposing the personal information of millions of individuals. These breaches include those affecting a French government agency, Duolingo, an Indian EdTech startup, Tesla, and a Japanese watchmaker, Seiko. Among the exposed data were full names, social security numbers, email addresses, phone numbers, passwords, and banking data. While some information was compromised due to a breach in an IBM cloud infrastructure, the full extent and impact of these breaches are still being investigated.
Browser fingerprints contribute to price discrimination
Multiple studies have found evidence of price discrimination based on browser fingerprints. Popular travel websites charge more to book the same hotel room depending on the country's IP address and the language settings of the browser. Some companies charge higher prices to PC users than mobile users, and even the type of browser used can influence the price. Instances of price discrimination have also been observed based on the user's physical location, where people near a store may be charged more compared to those near a competitor. These practices raise concerns about fairness, transparency, and the abuse of personal data.
Firefox enables importing Chrome extensions
Firefox now allows users to import Chrome extensions, making it easier for users to transition between browsers. This functionality can be enabled by all users of the latest stable version of Firefox. While the feature is currently limited to Google Chrome extensions, Mozilla plans to expand the list of supported extensions for importing purposes. This move aims to make cross-browser extension usage more accessible and convenient for users.
Police are keeping "hush hush" about their phone hacking capabilities, Google adds a new security feature to Pixel devices, Tutanota pushed further into quantum-resistant security, and more!