Day: May 16, 2022

New EU rules would require chat apps to scan private messages for child abuse

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The European Commission has proposed controversial new regulation that would require chat apps like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger to selectively scan users’ private messages for child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and “grooming” behavior. The proposal is similar to plans mooted by Apple last year but, say critics, much more invasive. After a draft of the Read more about New EU rules would require chat apps to scan private messages for child abuse[…]

US secretly issued secret subpoena to access Guardian reporter’s phone records

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The US justice department secretly issued a subpoena to gain access to details of the phone account of a Guardian reporter as part of an aggressive leak investigation into media stories about an official inquiry into the Trump administration’s child separation policy at the southern border. Leak investigators issued the subpoena to obtain the phone Read more about US secretly issued secret subpoena to access Guardian reporter’s phone records[…]

A colony of blue-green algae can power a computer for six months

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Researchers from the University of Cambridge have managed to run a computer for six months, using blue-green algae as a power source. A type of cyanobacteria called Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 – commonly known as “blue-green algae,” which produces oxygen through photosynthesis when exposed to sunlight, was sealed in a small container, about the size Read more about A colony of blue-green algae can power a computer for six months[…]

EU governments, lawmakers agree on tougher cybersecurity rules for key sectors

Posted on by Robin Edgar

EU countries and lawmakers agreed on Friday to tougher cybersecurity rules for large energy, transport and financial firms, digital providers and medical device makers amid concerns about cyber attacks by state actors and other malicious players. The European Commission two years ago proposed rules on the cybersecurity of network and information systems called NIS 2 Read more about EU governments, lawmakers agree on tougher cybersecurity rules for key sectors[…]

Web ad firms scrape email addresses before you press the submit button

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Tracking, marketing, and analytics firms have been exfiltrating the email addresses of internet users from web forms prior to submission and without user consent, according to security researchers. Some of these firms are said to have also inadvertently grabbed passwords from these forms. In a research paper scheduled to appear at the Usenix ’22 security Read more about Web ad firms scrape email addresses before you press the submit button[…]