account – Tech Today w/ Ken May

Apple’s latest iOS update brings Siri news briefs and HomePod support

Siri’s news reading feature is no longer limited to the beta testing crowd. Apple has officially released iOS 11.2.5, and the centerpiece is the ability to ask Siri for the latest happenings. If you’re in the US, UK or Australia, you can get a briefing from a slew of local sources, such as NPR and the Washington Post in the states or the BBC and Sky News in the UK. And it doesn’t have to be general news, either — you can ask for business, music or sports news as well. Not surprisingly, 11.2.5 is also key to unlocking support for the HomePod speaker . If you happen to score Apple’s Siri-savvy device, you can set it up and transfer all your account details in one fell swoop. The release comes alongside a slew of updates for the Apple TV, Apple Watch and macOS, although they’re mostly minor. The biggest improvements come for Mac users: macOS High Sierra 10.13.3 fixes a number of security issues (such as running code when playing malicious sound files), while those still running Sierra or El Capitan are getting fixes for Meltdown .

Read the original post:
Apple’s latest iOS update brings Siri news briefs and HomePod support

Google rumored to replace 2-factor with ‘Advanced Protection’ keys

According to Bloomberg , Google is close to rolling out a hardware replacement for current 2-factor authentication setups. Right now, adding the need for a constantly changing code is one of the best ways to protect your account beyond just a password, which can be guessed, stolen from another service you reused it on or obtained via phishing. The report describes an “Advanced Protection Program” that replaces two-factor codes with a pair of physical keys, presumably similar to items like a Yubikey . According to the report, users will need both keys, which includes one that plugs in via USB. It doesn’t sound like two-factor systems with codes or push notifications are going away for everyone, however, since this is intended for “corporate executives, politicians and others with heightened security concerns.” As many organizations shift to G Suite for their services, it could be an important add-on for someone who needs security but might not be able to deal with other forms of security. Last year’s DNC hack that took over via the Gmail account of campaign chairman John Podesta provided a clear example of how important added protections are, but many people don’t take advantage because they can seem complicated to setup. Just a few months many users were bombarded with a Google Drive-hosted phishing attack , and that won’t be the last one. Source: Bloomberg

Yahoo reveals more breachiness to users victimized by forged cookies [Updated]

(credit: Clever Cupcakes ) Yahoo has sent out another round of notifications to users, warning some that their accounts may have been breached as recently as last year. The accounts were affected by a flaw in Yahoo’s mail service that allowed an attacker—most likely a “state actor,” according to Yahoo—to use a forged “cookie” created by software stolen from within Yahoo’s internal systems to gain access to user accounts without a password. Yahoo informed some users in e-mails this week that “Based on the ongoing investigation, we believe a forged cookie may have been used in 2015 or 2016 to access your account.” The messages are regarding possible breaches using the cookie vulnerability in 2014. The Associated Press’ Raphael Satter reports that a Yahoo spokesperson acknowledged the company was notifying users of the potential breach of their accounts, but would not disclose how many users were affected. Read 6 remaining paragraphs | Comments

Continue Reading:
Yahoo reveals more breachiness to users victimized by forged cookies [Updated]

How to see everything you’ve ever watched on Netflix and Amazon

Streaming is a curious beast. One minute you’ll be enjoying the 80s vibe of Stranger Things (go watch it if you haven’t already) and the next you’ll be struggling to pick something from that overwhelming catalog. Sometimes, though, you’ll stumble on something that you’d normally never choose — a Netflix suggestion from a friend or a recent addition that had escaped your glance as you navigated Amazon Video’s curated menus. However, once you’ve watched that movie or TV show and moved on, it may drop back into relative obscurity, reducing your chances of remembering and paying that recommendation forward many months later. You may also have watched something, hated it and want to make sure it doesn’t impact future recommendations. Luckily, both Netflix and Amazon keep a running list of the things you’ve watched (if they haven’t been removed from the catalog due to licensing agreements). Here’s how to find them. Netflix Finding your viewing history on Netflix is a simple affair. Visit Netflix.com, ensure you’re logged in and then hover over your profile name. Select Your Account from the menu. Now, scroll down to the bottom and select Viewing Activity . You should now be presented with a list of everything you’ve streamed on your account. Alternatively, you can click here . While you’re there, you can decide how your history impacts Netflix recommendations. Clicking the X next to a title will ensure it’s deleted from your Recently Watched or Continue Watching row, but it will also ensure that Netflix doesn’t use a moment of streaming weakness against you. Once it has been removed, it won’t appear in your list until you watch it again. Amazon Video Unlike Netflix, Amazon doesn’t make it easy to see what you’ve previously watched. In fact, it buries its listing inside a number of links that you wouldn’t otherwise check. If you want to go the manual route, ensure you’re logged in on the Amazon website and click the Your Account link on the top bar. On the resulting page, scroll down to Personalization and click Improve Your Recommendations . Now, on the left menu, click Videos You’ve Watched . The quicker method is to click here if you live in the US or here if you live in the UK . Here, you can rate a TV show or movie so that Amazon can better understand your likes and dislikes or exclude that listing entirely. If you’ve found that both Netflix and Amazon have done a poor job of matching content to your interests, this is a good way to provide it with more insight. Oh, and it’ll also ensure you can give a friend or family member the name of that great film you watched but couldn’t for the life of you remember.

Original post:
How to see everything you’ve ever watched on Netflix and Amazon

Twitter locks ‘millions’ of accounts with exposed passwords

While Twitter maintains that its servers have not been hacked, the company now says it has “cross-checked” the account data noted by LeakedSource and is taking pre-emptive measures. Particularly notable in light of hacks that have recently affected accounts from Katy Perry to Mark Zuckerberg to the NFL, the social network said it has identified a number of accounts for extra protection. No matter where the information came from, whether via malware or shared passwords revealed in hacks of other services, any accounts with “direct password exposure” have been locked (similar to pre-emptive moves Netflix and others are using when they see account details floating around), and emails were sent to the owner prompting for a password reset. In light of recent events, learn more about account security on Twitter and what we’re doing to keep yours safe. https://t.co/Hug5cLr6r8 — Twitter (@twitter) June 10, 2016 There’s no word on exactly how many accounts in the database checked out, but Twitter told the Wall Street Journal that “millions” of accounts have been notified. If your account is vulnerable then you should’ve already been notified; so if your inbox is empty and you can still sign in then you don’t have anything (more than usual) to worry about. Still, it’s always a good time to reset your password just in case, use unique passwords on every account (a password manager like 1Password or LastPass can be helpful) and enable two-factor authentication wherever available . Source: Twitter Blog

Excerpt from:
Twitter locks ‘millions’ of accounts with exposed passwords

Someone at the Chaos Communications Congress inserted a poem into at least 30 million servers’ logfiles

On December 30th, someone using an IP address from the 32nd Chaos Communications Congress in Hamburg sent a probe out to every IPv4 address with an open connection on Port 80, consisting of a poem exhorting the reader to “DELETE your logs. Delete your installations. Wipe everything clean, Walk out into the path of cherry blossom trees and let your motherboard feel the stones.” (more…)

Brits can now pass their Facebook profile on after they die

When a loved one passes away, their Facebook profile page can become an important place for friends and family to remember them by. The company already offers memorialized accounts , which shows the word “remembering” next to their name and stops anyone from logging in, but now it’s going a step further with legacy contacts. The feature is rolling out in Europe today after its US debut in February , and allows users to choose a friend or relative to manage their account after they’ve died. Once activated, this person can write a post at the top of their timeline — for instance, to share details about a memorial service — respond to friend requests and update their profile and cover photos. Users can also give legacy accounts permission to download an archive of their profile, including photos and posts, for safe keeping should they wish for their account to be deleted. [Image credit: shutterstock] Filed under: Internet , Facebook Comments Via: Telegraph

More here:
Brits can now pass their Facebook profile on after they die