Posts By: David Firth

Deutsche Telekom fault affects 900,000 customers

Posted by & filed under Consumer Technology, Cybersecurity, Denial of service.

Deutsche Telekom has confirmed up to 900,000 customers have had their broadband service cut off following a possible hack of its hardware.  Internet access, phone connections and TV reception for those with a certain router have been affected. Source: BBC Technology News Date: November 29th, 2016 Link: http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-38130352 Discussion 1) Is there anything you could do if you… Read more »

Transport Canada proposing rigourous rules for recreational drone flyers

Posted by & filed under Consumer Technology, Drones.

Transport Canada is proposing that anyone flying a drone bigger than a tiny toy should have to register their devices, pass a knowledge test and pay for liability insurance.  The department is proposing that anyone operating a drone weighing more than 250 grams, including recreational users, should fall under more rigorous regulations expected to be introduced in 2017…. Read more »

Why hackers might be drawn to your smart light bulbs

Posted by & filed under Consumer Technology, Cybersecurity, Emerging Technologies, Internet of Things.

The technology that can turn on the lights in your home with a simple swipe on your smartphone may seem really cool. Thing is, hackers could have their eye on the same thing.  New research by Dalhousie University PhD student Colin O’Flynn and colleagues in Israel has found smart bulbs could be susceptible to infiltration — so… Read more »

Great. Now Even Your Headphones Can Spy on You

Posted by & filed under Civil Liberties, Ethical Issues.

CAUTIOUS COMPUTER USERS put a piece of tape over their webcam. Truly paranoid ones worry about their devices’ microphones—some even crack open their computers and phones to disable or remove those audio components so they can’t be hijacked by hackers. Now one group of Israeli researchers has taken that game of spy-versus-spy paranoia a step… Read more »

Behold China’s Answer to Amazon Echo: The LingLong DingDong

Posted by & filed under China, Consumer Technology.

THE AMAZON ECHO is remarkably useful. Alexa, the digital personal assistant within the cylindrical black gadget, plays music, helps with recipes, and orders stuff online. One thing it cannot do, however, is speak Chinese.  The LingLong DingDong can. Source: Wired Magazine Date: November 23rd, 2016 Link: https://www.wired.com/2016/11/behold-chinas-answer-amazon-echo-linglong-dingdong/ Discussion 1) Why did Amazon not develop this device for the… Read more »

Tech firms seek to frustrate UK internet history log law

Posted by & filed under Censorship, Civil Liberties, Cybersecurity, Emerging Technologies, Ethical Issues.

Plans to keep a record of UK citizens’ online activities face a challenge from tech firms seeking to offer ways to hide people’s browser histories.  Internet providers will soon be required to record which services their customers’ devices connect to – including websites and messaging apps.  The Home Office (the UK department responsible for the… Read more »

Facebook made China censorship tool

Posted by & filed under Censorship, China, Civil Liberties, Cybersecurity, Ethical Issues, ethics.

Facebook worked on special software so it could potentially accommodate censorship demands in China.  Since 2009, the only way to access Facebook in China has been via a virtual private network – software designed to “spoof” your real location and avoid local internet restrictions.  Facebook, which has 1.8 billion active users, is aggressively looking to… Read more »

Canadians want judicial oversight of any new digital snooping powers for police

Posted by & filed under Civil Liberties, Cybersecurity, Ethical Issues, IT and Politics, IT and the law.

Most Canadians feel strongly about their right to privacy online, but a new poll shows the vast majority are willing to grant police new powers to track suspects in the digital realm — so long as the courts oversee the cops. Source: CBC Date: November 17th, 2016 Link: http://www.cbc.ca/news/investigates/police-power-privacy-poll-1.3854186 Discussion 1) In the US, leaks by a whistleblower, Edward… Read more »