Month: February 2016
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MasterCard's selfie security: What could possibly go wrong?
Originally published in Engadget. You can’t change your face like you can a (stolen) password. Illustration by D. Thomas Magee When I read about MasterCard's plan to do selfie security with purchases, I wondered what the first massive breach of biometric data is going to look like. Unlike passwords, biometrics such as face mapping, fingerprints… Read more…
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Hospital ransomware: A chilling wake-up call
Originally published in Engadget. Hollywood Presbyterian was forced to pay up, just like everyone else. Illustration by D. Thomas Magee If you had a loved one in the Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center during its recent ransomware siege, would you be mad at the digital extortionists or the hospital? For me, the answer would be both.… Read more…
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RIP: Adblock Plus
Originally published in Engadget. Your shady whitelisting ways mean you’re dead to me. Illustration by D. Thomas Magee I got a little too excited when the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) chief called Adblock Plus (ABP) "an unethical, immoral, mendacious coven of techie wannabes." I immediately wanted to know when the next coven meeting was and… Read more…
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Confusion over FAA drone registry results in privacy problems
Originally published in Engadget. Drone owners’ names and addresses are public if they register in the wrong place. Correction: This story states that the FAA's new drone registry database is searchable and exposes the private data of citizens and hobbyists. Currently, this is incorrect. The drone registry is not searchable at this time, as stated… Read more…