Month: January 2016
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Why the war on VPNs is one Netflix can't win
Originally published in Engadget. Security is more important than licensing deals. Illustration by D. Thomas Magee Netflix has started blocking users who try to bypass country-based content restrictions by using a VPN, beginning its enforcement last week with Australian subscribers. The problem is, by forcing customers to turn off their VPN, Netflix is putting them… Read more…
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The RSA keynotes: a cautionary tale
Originally published in Engadget. This year’s speakers aren’t hackers, but they play them on TV. On Feb. 29th, thousands of cybersecurity professionals will flood San Francisco's Moscone Center for RSA Conference, one of the security industry's largest and most authoritative events. This week, RSA announced its 20 keynote speakers, and if you heard a weird… Read more…
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Google's creepy plan to kill the password
Originally published in Engadget. The password may be broken, but is 24/7 biometric tracking really any better? In the grab bag of Google/Alphabet's big projects for 2016 is Project Abacus. It's basically the company's plot to kill the password in cold blood, by replacing it with smartphone user authentication via an uncrackable collection of biometric… Read more…
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You say advertising, I say block that malware
Originally published in Engadget. Forbes asked readers to turn off ad blockers then immediately served them pop-under malware. The real reason online advertising is doomed and adblockers thrive? Its malware epidemic is unacknowledged, and out of control. The Forbes 30 Under 30 list came out this week and it featured a prominent security researcher. Other… Read more…