Facebook has made its site available to users of the Tor network, creating an odd mix of anonymity and accountability. On the face of it, Facebook over Tor doesn’t seem to make much sense: if you feel the need to obscure your Internet connection, it doesn’t seem likely you’d want to post publicly under your […]
The Federal Trade Commission is suing AT&T for allegedly misleading customers over its “unlimited” data plans. The FTC says reducing speeds for people who use large amounts of data counts as a limit, The case centers on what’s meant by “unlimited,” an issue that’s always controversial with mobile data. While some plans have a fixed […]
HP is launching a new computer that blends touchscreens, scanners and cameras into something very unlike a standard desktop PC. It remains to be seen if people will find enough uses for it to make it a success. The $1,899 device, oddly named Sprout, is a standard PC at heart, running Windows 8 but with […]
Dell’s gaming division has launched a plug-in accessory for bringing desktop-style graphics power to a laptop. But between the cost and the bulk, it’s not exactly a convenient option. The Alienware Graphics Amplifier works along the same lines as an external hard drive caddy. It’s a box that includes a PCI Express slot for adding […]
The Hungarian government has proposed a metered tax on using the Internet. It’s led to “thousands” of protesters taking part in dramatic demonstrations that appear to be having some effect. The tax would technically be applied to internet service providers rather than consumers. The ISPs would be charged 150 forints (a little over 60 US […]
Google has beefed up its two-factor authentication by offering a physical key in the form of a USB stick. It’s designed to cut down some of the loopholes exploited by phishing scams. To date, the “something you know” (login details) in Google’s two-factor authentication has been accompanied by the “something you have” of a cellphone, […]
A self-driving car has hit 149 miles per hour on a racing circuit. Manufacturers Audi say it’s not just showing off, but rather a demonstration that the car could cope in an emergency requiring fast maneuvering. The test on the RS7 was carried out at Hockenheim, a Formula 1 Grand Prix circuit near Frankfurt, Germany. […]
A paralysed man is able to walk again thanks to his nasal cavity. Surgeons used cells from Darek Fidyaka to bridge the gap in his spinal cord and promote regrowth. Fidyka was left unable to walk after being repeatedly stabbed in the back in a 2010 attack that paralyzed him below the chest. The surgery, […]
Google has announced tweaks to downgrade the position of links to piracy websites in its results. But the way it is doing so is still upsetting legitimate content providers. The changes, already dubbed the “Pirate update” in the search industry in reference to the previous “Panda” update, cover three tactics to try to make results […]
Amid all the usual hype for thinner screens and bigger resolutions at the latest Apple launch event came a genuine breakthrough for the iPad: a reprogrammable SIM card that can work with multiple carriers. The iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 3, which will take over as the most expensive models in the range in […]