Miscellaneous Tech News
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Coronavirus: NHS reveals source code behind contact-tracing app
The NHS has released the source code behind its coronavirus contact-tracing app.
More than 40,000 people have installed the smartphone software so far. The health service is targeting the Isle of Wight only, at this stage, but it says this is the first stage of the app's rollout - not a test. Tests carried out on behalf of BBC News confirm the developers have found a way to work round restrictions Apple places on the use of Bluetooth in iPhones. In a related development, Health Secretary Matt Hancock has announced that Baroness Dido Harding will head up the wider test, track and trace programme. -
Coronavirus: 'Plandemic' virus conspiracy video spreads across social media
Major social networks are rushing to take down a new coronavirus conspiracy theory video which has rapidly spread across the internet.
The so-called "Plandemic" video is edited in the style of a documentary, with much higher production standards than many conspiracy videos. The video is filled with medical misinformation about where the virus came from and how it is transmitted. Despite efforts to remove it, users are constantly re-uploading the clip. Since the 26-minute video first appeared earlier this week, it has exploded across YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and other websites, prompting an attempt to remove it. Among its claims are that the virus must have been released from a laboratory environment and could not possibly be naturally-occurring; that using masks and gloves actually makes people more sick; and that closing beaches is "insanity" because of "healing microbes" in the water. -
@mlnews said in Miscellaneous Tech News:
Coronavirus: 'Plandemic' virus conspiracy video spreads across social media
Major social networks are rushing to take down a new coronavirus conspiracy theory video which has rapidly spread across the internet.
The so-called "Plandemic" video is edited in the style of a documentary, with much higher production standards than many conspiracy videos. The video is filled with medical misinformation about where the virus came from and how it is transmitted. Despite efforts to remove it, users are constantly re-uploading the clip. Since the 26-minute video first appeared earlier this week, it has exploded across YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and other websites, prompting an attempt to remove it. Among its claims are that the virus must have been released from a laboratory environment and could not possibly be naturally-occurring; that using masks and gloves actually makes people more sick; and that closing beaches is "insanity" because of "healing microbes" in the water.LOL - awesome, just bloody awesome!
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Microsoft’s new Family Safety app is now available to preview on Android and iOS
The app syncs with Windows and Xbox devices
Microsoft is launching a dedicated new app, Family Safety, designed for managing kids’ screentime and app usage. The app is available now in preview form on both Android and iOS, the company announced in a blog post on Monday. To access it, you have to fill out a form here and specify how many family members you intend to have on the same preview account. The app was first announced at the end of March as an extension of the company’s existing family group features for Windows and Xbox. -
The tech industry's winners and losers in lockdown
The coronavirus pandemic has been bad news for business. But even as some technology companies have been squeezed tight, others have actually seen a boost.
Some were in the right place at the right time - while others have seen the real-world trade they rely on shut down completely. When your boss told you to start working from home, you might have had to rush to get to grips with the new kit to do so. Entire populations did - which is good news for those making the software. Despite some major PR disasters around privacy and security issues, Zoom's stock price more than doubled since December. And its user numbers have exploded from 10 million a day to 200 million. Once a relatively unknown business app, it's been used for everything from cabinet meetings to farm-animal cameos. -
Google Search results topped by suspected scam gadget store
A suspected scam store, featuring hard-to-find gadgets priced below the norm, topped Google search results for days.
MyTechDomestic accepted payments via direct bank transfers only - despite indicating support for credit cards and PayPal - and falsely claimed to be owned by a UK-registered company. It was flagged to Google last week but the US company took action only after being contacted by BBC News on Monday. The site's operator did not respond to several requests for comment. However, the platform went offline shortly after BBC News asked for a response to customers' claims it amounted to a "scam". -
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Coronavirus: Cyber-attacks hit hospital construction companies
Two companies involved in building emergency coronavirus hospitals have been hit by cyber-attacks this month.
Interserve, which helped build Birmingham's NHS Nightingale hospital, and Bam Construct, which delivered the Yorkshire and the Humber's, have reported the incidents to authorities. Earlier this month, the government warned healthcare groups involved in the response to the virus were being targeted by malicious actors. The separate attacks were not linked.But Bam Construct said the "significant" cyber-attack on it "forms part of the wave of attacks on public and private organisations supporting the national effort on Covid-19". -
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Great, in-depth story on Marcus Hutchins, author of MalwareTech blog and primary person credited with stopping the WannaCry ransomware.
https://www.wired.com/story/confessions-marcus-hutchins-hacker-who-saved-the-internet/
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Epic Game Store's Mega Sale is back, and 'GTA V' is free
But you may have to wait to claim your copy.
As expected, Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto V is the Epic Games Store's latest free game. Starting today through to May 21st, you can download the 2013 open-world game for without paying anything — provided you're willing to install the Epic Games Store launcher on your PC or Mac, of course. Once you've claimed your copy of GTA V, you'll also want to check out the rest of the store. That's because a lot of the games that are available through the Epic Games Store, including many of its exclusives, are on sale until June 11th. You can get up to 50 percent off games like Control, Red Dead Redemption 2 and The Outer Worlds. Additionally, Epic is giving everyone a free coupon. You can use it to get a $10 discount on games that cost $14 or more. If you end up using the coupon, you'll get another one when you complete a purchase. -
@mlnews said in Miscellaneous Tech News:
Epic Game Store's Mega Sale is back, and 'GTA V' is free
But you may have to wait to claim your copy.
As expected, Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto V is the Epic Games Store's latest free game. Starting today through to May 21st, you can download the 2013 open-world game for without paying anything — provided you're willing to install the Epic Games Store launcher on your PC or Mac, of course. Once you've claimed your copy of GTA V, you'll also want to check out the rest of the store. That's because a lot of the games that are available through the Epic Games Store, including many of its exclusives, are on sale until June 11th. You can get up to 50 percent off games like Control, Red Dead Redemption 2 and The Outer Worlds. Additionally, Epic is giving everyone a free coupon. You can use it to get a $10 discount on games that cost $14 or more. If you end up using the coupon, you'll get another one when you complete a purchase.The whole store has been pretty overwhelmed today!
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@scottalanmiller said in Miscellaneous Tech News:
@mlnews said in Miscellaneous Tech News:
Epic Game Store's Mega Sale is back, and 'GTA V' is free
But you may have to wait to claim your copy.
As expected, Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto V is the Epic Games Store's latest free game. Starting today through to May 21st, you can download the 2013 open-world game for without paying anything — provided you're willing to install the Epic Games Store launcher on your PC or Mac, of course. Once you've claimed your copy of GTA V, you'll also want to check out the rest of the store. That's because a lot of the games that are available through the Epic Games Store, including many of its exclusives, are on sale until June 11th. You can get up to 50 percent off games like Control, Red Dead Redemption 2 and The Outer Worlds. Additionally, Epic is giving everyone a free coupon. You can use it to get a $10 discount on games that cost $14 or more. If you end up using the coupon, you'll get another one when you complete a purchase.The whole store has been pretty overwhelmed today!
Must be, I'm getting a 403 Forbidden when I attempt to load the site.
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YouTube down.
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@black3dynamite said in Miscellaneous Tech News:
@scottalanmiller said in Miscellaneous Tech News:
YouTube down.
I'm able to access YouTube.
Check channels, they have lost all their videos.
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@black3dynamite said in Miscellaneous Tech News:
@scottalanmiller said in Miscellaneous Tech News:
YouTube down.
I'm able to access YouTube.
I had someone in SLC confirm it before I posted, too. LOL. So I suspect you should see the same thing.
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Disney forces explicit Club Penguin clones offline
Disney has ordered unauthorised copies of its Club Penguin game to close, after the BBC found children were being exposed to explicit messages.
Visits to fan-run Club Penguin Online surged during the coronavirus pandemic with more than a million new players. But racist, homophobic, anti-Semitic and sexual messages flow freely on the unauthorised platform. Disney said it was "appalled" by the website, and has ordered it to close or face legal action. Club Penguin Online appeared to go offline on Friday afternoon. -
Facebook is buying Giphy and integrating it with Instagram
Plans to integrate with Instagram and other apps
Facebook is buying the popular GIF-making and sharing website Giphy for a reported price of $400 million, with plans to integrate the massive GIF library into Instagram and other Facebook apps. News of the deal was first reported by Axios, which revealed the $400 million value of the deal.
