BATTERYFORPC BLOG
OpenSea admits insider trading of NFTs it promoted
An employee at OpenSea, the largest digital collectible marketplace, used inside knowledge to buy NFTs before they were promoted on the website. NFTs are unique digital tokens attributed to art which have risen in popularity over the past year, with some selling for millions. CEO Devin Finzer said the incident was "incredibly disappointing" and did not represent the team's values. An ... Read more
2021-09-16 19:49:16
Wikipedia blames pro-China infiltration for bans
Wikipedia has suffered an "infiltration" that sought to advance the aims of China, the US non-profit organisation that owns the volunteer-edited encyclopaedia has said. The Wikimedia Foundation told BBC News the infiltration had threatened the "very foundations of Wikipedia". The foundation banned seven editors linked to a mainland China group. Wikimedians of Mainland China ... Read more
2021-09-16 19:48:48
TikTok faces privacy investigations by EU watchdog
TikTok is under investigation by The Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) - its lead regulator in the EU - over two privacy-related issues. The watchdog is looking into its processing of children's personal data, and whether TikTok is in line with EU laws about transferring personal data to other countries, such as China. TikTok said privacy was "our highest priority". The Irish DPC ... Read more
2021-09-15 20:04:26
Microsoft's passwordless plans lets users switch to app-based login
Microsoft has announced users can now delete all passwords from their accounts and instead login using an authenticator app or other solution. The technology giant made passwordless accounts available for business users of its products in March. And that system is now being made available to all Microsoft or Windows users. It said "nearly 100% of our employees" were already using the ... Read more
2021-09-15 20:03:42
Apple rushes to block 'zero-click' iPhone spyware
Apple has issued a software patch to block so-called "zero-click" spyware that could infect iPhones and iPads. Independent researchers identified the flaw, which lets hackers access devices through the iMessage service even if users do not click on a link or file. The problem affects all of the technology giant's operating systems, the researchers said. Apple said it issued the securi ... Read more
2021-09-14 20:09:46
Apple iPhone 13 brings portrait mode for video
Apple has announced its new iPhone 13, which can film "portrait mode" videos with a depth of field effect. The new cinematic mode "anticipates when someone is about to enter the frame" and shifts focus to them, Apple said - something known as "pull focus". It is the only smartphone that lets users edit this effect after shooting, Apple boss Tim Cook said. However, ... Read more
2021-09-14 20:09:02
Apple iPhone risk from powerful motorbike vibrations
IPhone owners should beware picking up bad vibrations from powerful motorbikes, as they may damage camera systems, Apple has said. The technology giant published a warning iPhones should not be attached to powerful bikes, in a support document spotted by MacRumors. Engine vibrations can harm phones' optical-image stabilisation or closed-loop autofocus systems, it says. Owners of scooters and mo ... Read more
2021-09-13 19:47:53
Fake Walmart news release claimed it would accept cryptocurrency
Cryptocurrency Litecoin saw a sudden surge in price on Monday over a press release about Walmart accepting it for payment - which turned out to be fake. The release, published through a legitimate press channel, claimed that Walmart would accept the currency through all its digital stores. Walmart later told US media outlets the announcement was "inauthentic". By that time, several ma ... Read more
2021-09-13 19:47:26
Apple dealt major blow in Epic Games trial
Apple has been dealt a major blow in its ongoing trial against Fortnite-maker Epic Games. A court in Oakland, California, has ruled that Apple cannot stop app developers directing users to third-party payment options. Apple had argued that all apps should use Apple's own in-app payment options. In a high profile trial, Epic Games had challenged the up-to-30% cut Apple takes from purchases - and ... Read more
2021-09-12 19:44:47
Cressida Dick: Tech giants make it impossible to stop terrorists
The Metropolitan Police commissioner has accused tech giants of making it harder to identify and stop terrorists. The tech giants' focus on end-to-end encryption was making it "impossible in some cases" for the police to do their jobs, Dame Cressida Dick wrote in the Telegraph on Saturday. On Wednesday, Home Secretary Priti Patel launched a new fund for technologies to keep children sa ... Read more
2021-09-12 19:44:14