25/05/18

[Maik]

Amazon Alexa 'heard and sent private chat'

A couple in Portland, Oregon joked that their Amazon Alexa might be listening in to their private conversations.

The joke came to an abrupt end when they discovered a conversation was indeed recorded by Alexa - and then sent to an apparently random person in their contact list.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-44248122

 

[Maik]

Malware Found in the Firmware of 141 Low-Cost Android Devices

Two years after being ousted, a criminal operation that has been inserting malware in the firmware of low-cost Android devices is still up and running, and has even expanded its reach.

Avast published a list of over 140 Android smartphones and tablets on which it says it found the group's malware —which they named Cosiloon.

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/malware-found-in-the-firmware-of-141-low-cost-android-devices/

[Maik]

Sites block users, shut down activities and flood inboxes as GDPR rules loom
Some companies push new onerous terms of service on users as GDPR rules come into force on Friday

American media network A+E has blocked EU visitors from all its websites, including History.com

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/may/24/sites-block-eu-users-before-gdpr-takes-effect


All the emails are a pain in the bum. No-one has time to read through all the T&C of each one. One site I use wants me to accept third-party cookies or it doesn't function... that's one less site I visit.

[Maik]

Uber to develop flying taxis in Paris with new €20m research centre

The app-based taxi firm has had multiple set backs in its efforts to develop the next generation of transport vehicles. It recently shut down its self-driving car testing in Arizona, pulling back to Pittsburgh and San Francisco, following the first fatal crash involving an autonomous vehicle.

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/may/24/uber-develop-flying-taxis-elevate-paris-research-advanced-technologies-centre

Self-driving Uber's automatic emergency brake was switched off before fatal crash, report says

https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/uber-crash-arizona-tempe-selfdriving-autonomous-collision-fatal-a8367926.html

Flying taxis... 

[Maik]

Apple allows people to download all the data is holds on them, as part of GDPR changes

https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/apple-gdpr-iphone-latest-download-data-delete-a8367466.html

[Maik]

Home Office squanders £229m in 'incompetent' outsourcing of criminal record checks upgrade
Modernisation of Disclosure and Barring Service branded 'masterclass in incompetence' in damning Commons report

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/disclosure-barring-service-criminal-records-check-home-office-outsourced-contact-tata-public-a8368281.html

[Maik]

Referee violently attacked in north London amateur football match
Footage showed the referee, believed to be in his late 20s, being chased and then tripped to the ground where he was kicked by several players and spectators

An attack on a referee during a Sunday League football match in London has been labelled “the worst assault on a match official on British soil”.

The incident occurred during a cup match run by the Turkish Community Football Federation in north London.

https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/referee-attack-north-london-watch-video-a8367826.html

[Maik]

Ithaki coast guard had a busy day yesterday: An 81 y-o passenger was transferred from the UK-flagged Miss Tequila yacht in Vathy to the local medical centre for emergency treatment; the French-flagged Les Seint Barths with two passengers was towed into Vathy after suffering mechanical failure 1.5 nautical miles out; during the evening an 80 y-o foreign national (possibly from the Miss Tequila) was transferred from PisoAetos to Sami for medical treatment.

[Maik]

Unconfirmed reports suggest ENFIA could increase substantially for homeowners in coastal areas.

[Maik]

GDPR chaos as churches stop prayer requests and charities prepare to halt meals on wheels

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/05/25/gdpr-chaos-churches-stop-prayer-requests-sick-charities-prepare/