The Switch - Where technology and policy connect

Posted at 05:24 PM ET, 01/31/2014

Here’s why Amazon Prime’s price may go up by $20 or more

By Andrea Peterson

Amazon Prime’s pretty lucrative. So why is its price probably going up rather than down?

By Andrea Peterson | 05:24 PM ET, 01/31/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 01:53 PM ET, 01/31/2014

Nintendo’s next market: Old people

By Hayley Tsukayama

Nintendo getting into health is not as crazy as you may think.

By Hayley Tsukayama | 01:53 PM ET, 01/31/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Nintendo, Video Games

Posted at 11:52 AM ET, 01/31/2014

Targeted ads are about to take over your TV. There is (almost) no escape.

By Brian Fung

Both Comcast and satellite TV providers are bringing “addressable” advertising to marketers.

By Brian Fung | 11:52 AM ET, 01/31/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Media

Posted at 11:30 AM ET, 01/31/2014

Patent trolling was up 11 percent last year

By James Bessen

Last year, patent trolls filed 18 percent more lawsuits than in 2012, suing 11 percent more companies.

By James Bessen | 11:30 AM ET, 01/31/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 10:50 AM ET, 01/31/2014

China has almost twice as many Internet users as the U.S. has people

By Andrea Peterson

There are 618 million Internet users in China. But that’s only 45 percent of the total population.

By Andrea Peterson | 10:50 AM ET, 01/31/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Internet

Posted at 09:45 AM ET, 01/31/2014

Today’s iPhone is more useful than $3,000 worth of gadgets from a 1991 Radio Shack

By Timothy B. Lee

A 1991 Radio Shack ad shows just how amazing modern smartphones are.

By Timothy B. Lee | 09:45 AM ET, 01/31/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: iPhone

Posted at 08:55 AM ET, 01/31/2014

The Switchboard: Obama admits Clapper ‘should have been more careful’ in Senate testimony

By Timothy B. Lee

Google’s Motorola purchase wasn’t a fiasco after all, and a regulator is skeptical of rumored Sprint/T-Mobile deal.

By Timothy B. Lee | 08:55 AM ET, 01/31/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: The Switchboard

Posted at 01:17 PM ET, 01/30/2014

The FCC is ‘beta testing’ a next-gen telephone network

By Brian Fung

Phone companies want to retire the old phone system. Now it’s time to test out what will take its place.

By Brian Fung | 01:17 PM ET, 01/30/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 11:05 AM ET, 01/30/2014

Warrantless wiretapping has managed to duck significant judicial review. Until now.

By Andrea Peterson

Why USA v. Muhtorov is the most important challenge to warrantless wiretapping yet.

By Andrea Peterson | 11:05 AM ET, 01/30/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Surveillance

Posted at 08:35 AM ET, 01/30/2014

Mint.com will see your bitcoins now

By Brian Fung

It’s one more step toward legitimacy for the currency — at least in the United States.

By Brian Fung | 08:35 AM ET, 01/30/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Bitcoin

Posted at 08:24 AM ET, 01/30/2014

Snapchat came this close to triggering California’s new, stricter data breach law

By Brian Fung

Had the company’s hacking incident taken place a week later, a stiffer set of rules would’ve applied.

By Brian Fung | 08:24 AM ET, 01/30/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Hacking

Posted at 07:49 AM ET, 01/30/2014

The Switchboard: Google sells Motorola to Lenovo for $2.9 billion

By Brian Fung

Google also nears a European antitrust settlement, Prince drops his big lawsuit against fans, and other top tech stories of the last 24 hours.

By Brian Fung | 07:49 AM ET, 01/30/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: The Switchboard

Posted at 05:16 PM ET, 01/29/2014

Senators: There is a ‘truth deficit’ between the intelligence community and the public

By Andrea Peterson

Sen. Ron Wyden (D, Calif.) and Sen. Mark Udall (D, Colo.) had harsh words for intelligence agency leaders in today’s Senate Intelligence Committee hearing.

By Andrea Peterson | 05:16 PM ET, 01/29/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: NSA Leaks

Posted at 12:46 PM ET, 01/29/2014

Is the White House trying to blow up an open data bill?

By Andrea Peterson

A leaked OMB memo shows changes to a major open-data bill that has advocates fuming.

By Andrea Peterson | 12:46 PM ET, 01/29/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Open Data

Posted at 10:27 AM ET, 01/29/2014

Obama wants to fix the patent system. Here’s a crucial reform he overlooked.

By Timothy B. Lee

To fix the troll problem, rein in the court that created it in the first place.

By Timothy B. Lee | 10:27 AM ET, 01/29/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Patents

Posted at 08:50 AM ET, 01/29/2014

Edward Snowden has been nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize

By Brian Fung

The NSA leaker has been nominated for the honor by two Norwegian politicians.

By Brian Fung | 08:50 AM ET, 01/29/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: NSA Leaks

Posted at 08:36 AM ET, 01/29/2014

The Switchboard: Obama calls for patent reform in State of the Union

By Timothy B. Lee

New York regulators ponder “BitLicense;” Google hit with massive patent bill.

By Timothy B. Lee | 08:36 AM ET, 01/29/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Bitcoin, Google, Patents, Spectrum, The Switchboard

Posted at 11:46 PM ET, 01/28/2014

President Obama just used the one word drone makers hate most

By Brian Fung

The industry has been waging a campaign against the word “drone.” When you’ve lost the president

By Brian Fung | 11:46 PM ET, 01/28/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Drones

Posted at 07:27 PM ET, 01/28/2014

What if the State of the Union were an Apple keynote?

By Brian Fung

It would be so much more interesting — and yet not, at the same time.

By Brian Fung | 07:27 PM ET, 01/28/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Obama

Posted at 05:39 PM ET, 01/28/2014

The airwaves are getting so crowded, TV channels have started doubling up

By Brian Fung

A pilot project is set to test what happens when two broadcasters start sharing their channels.

By Brian Fung | 05:39 PM ET, 01/28/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Spectrum

Posted at 01:14 PM ET, 01/28/2014

Here’s why tech companies’ NSA ‘transparency reports’ are mostly a PR stunt

By Andrea Peterson

Ultimately, the only entities who can supply comprehensive reporting on these issues are governments themselves.

By Andrea Peterson | 01:14 PM ET, 01/28/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 01:13 PM ET, 01/28/2014

Bitcoin Foundation distances itself from indicted board member

By Timothy B. Lee

BitInstant’s co-founder has been accused of facilitating illegal drug transactions.

By Timothy B. Lee | 01:13 PM ET, 01/28/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Bitcoin

Posted at 12:50 PM ET, 01/28/2014

Rand Paul: ‘We will go’ to the Supreme Court on NSA surveillance

By Brian Fung

The Kentucky Senator is leading a class-action lawsuit against the agency.

By Brian Fung | 12:50 PM ET, 01/28/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: NSA, Surveillance

Posted at 11:27 AM ET, 01/28/2014

This small loophole could give the FCC much greater control of the Internet

By Brian Fung

It would conceivably let the FCC regulate companies like Google, Facebook and Netflix, going beyond any net neutrality rules it’s previously written.

By Brian Fung | 11:27 AM ET, 01/28/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Net Neutrality

Posted at 09:07 AM ET, 01/28/2014

Don’t be surprised if your TV soon seems to know everything about your politics

By Brian Fung

Targeted political ads are coming to satellite television.

By Brian Fung | 09:07 AM ET, 01/28/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Politics

Posted at 07:37 AM ET, 01/28/2014

The Switchboard: U.S. to examine ways to prevent spying on spying

By Brian Fung

Lavabit to get its day in court, Darrell Issa calls for James Clapper’s head, and other top tech stories of the last 24 hours.

By Brian Fung | 07:37 AM ET, 01/28/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: The Switchboard

Posted at 04:12 PM ET, 01/27/2014

There is a struggling artist at the NSA. And he illustrates their PowerPoints.

By Andrea Peterson

Who is this mysterious illustrator?

By Andrea Peterson | 04:12 PM ET, 01/27/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 12:59 PM ET, 01/27/2014

Feds charge Bitcoin start-up founder with money laundering

By Timothy B. Lee

The CEO of Bitcoin start-up BitInstant has been charged with money laundering.

By Timothy B. Lee | 12:59 PM ET, 01/27/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Bitcoin

Posted at 12:36 PM ET, 01/27/2014

Darrell Issa: James Clapper lied to Congress about NSA and should be fired

By Brian Fung

Rep. Darrell Issa, other lawmakers say Clapper lied under oath.

By Brian Fung | 12:36 PM ET, 01/27/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: NSA Leaks

Posted at 11:53 AM ET, 01/27/2014

This map shows which countries are friendly to Bitcoin

By Andrea Peterson

Iceland and Thailand are the only countries listed as “hostile.“

By Andrea Peterson | 11:53 AM ET, 01/27/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 09:20 AM ET, 01/27/2014

Yes, the right is behind on campaign tech. But it’s seizing the mantle on tech policy.

By Brian Fung

Republicans are seizing the technology mantle in a move that could revive the party.

By Brian Fung | 09:20 AM ET, 01/27/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Politics

Posted at 09:14 AM ET, 01/27/2014

Revenge porn kingpin is out on bail. But he’s banned from the Internet.

By Andrea Peterson

Hunter Moore is out of jail on a $100,000 bond. He faces 15 federal charges related to allegedly working with a hacker to obtain stolen naked photos for online posting.

By Andrea Peterson | 09:14 AM ET, 01/27/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 08:14 AM ET, 01/27/2014

The Switchboard: Uber to face suit over death of girl hit by driver

By Andrea Peterson

Google’s GOP connections, another possible retail credit card breach, and the other tech policy stories you need to know.

By Andrea Peterson | 08:14 AM ET, 01/27/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Google, The Switchboard, Uber

Posted at 09:26 AM ET, 01/25/2014

Will robots steal our jobs? The humble loom suggests not.

By James Bessen

Experience suggests that even if robots replace some workers, new demand for products and services will keep humans employed.

By James Bessen | 09:26 AM ET, 01/25/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Old Things

Posted at 08:55 PM ET, 01/24/2014

Here’s what caused that massive Gmail outage

By Brian Fung

An “internal software bug.”

By Brian Fung | 08:55 PM ET, 01/24/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Fail

Posted at 08:05 PM ET, 01/24/2014

Online outage cripples U.S. court system

By Brian Fung

A denial-of-service attack knocked out PACER for several hours Friday, throwing the legal profession into momentary chaos.

By Brian Fung | 08:05 PM ET, 01/24/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Cybersecurity

Posted at 04:23 PM ET, 01/24/2014

Revenge-porn kingpin paid bargain basement prices for hacked nudes, court docs allege

By Andrea Peterson

The payments Hunter Moore allegedly made to a hacker for nude photos of his victims were depressingly low.

By Andrea Peterson | 04:23 PM ET, 01/24/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 03:39 PM ET, 01/24/2014

Google’s reliability team was prepping for a reddit AMA when Gmail went down

By Andrea Peterson

Irony much?

By Andrea Peterson | 03:39 PM ET, 01/24/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 02:59 PM ET, 01/24/2014

Yahoo tweeted about the Gmail outage -- four times in a row

By Andrea Peterson

Pretty smug for a company whose mail product had a multi-day outage in December.

By Andrea Peterson | 02:59 PM ET, 01/24/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 02:19 PM ET, 01/24/2014

I tried a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle. Here’s what it was like.

By Brian Fung

It’s a bit like floating.

By Brian Fung | 02:19 PM ET, 01/24/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Transportation

Posted at 11:29 AM ET, 01/24/2014

Some of the biggest names in cryptography condemn NSA spying in open letter

By Andrea Peterson

An open letter from major players in the computer science and cryptography fields urges the government to reconsider its approach to surveillance.

By Andrea Peterson | 11:29 AM ET, 01/24/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 08:53 AM ET, 01/24/2014

The Switchboard: ‘Most hated man on the Internet’ indicted on federal charges

By Andrea Peterson

Hunter Moore’s indictment, Snowden’s livechat, and the other tech policy stories you need to read today.

By Andrea Peterson | 08:53 AM ET, 01/24/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: The Switchboard

Posted at 07:27 PM ET, 01/23/2014

Edward Snowden’s misplaced trust in a do-nothing Congress

By Brian Fung

The NSA leaker is likely to be waiting a long time for Congress’ help.

By Brian Fung | 07:27 PM ET, 01/23/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: NSA Leaks

Posted at 06:16 PM ET, 01/23/2014

Government privacy board members say shifting NSA data to third parties is a bad idea

By Andrea Peterson

Every member of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board has concerns about the president’s plan to shift call records data out of government hands.

By Andrea Peterson | 06:16 PM ET, 01/23/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: NSA

Posted at 04:21 PM ET, 01/23/2014

Edward Snowden: ‘Not all spying is bad’

By Brian Fung

It’s the bulk surveillance that’s the problem, the former NSA contractor says.

By Brian Fung | 04:21 PM ET, 01/23/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: NSA Leaks

Posted at 01:58 PM ET, 01/23/2014

Edward Snowden is about to take your questions. Here are 10 we’re hoping he’ll answer.

By Brian Fung

You can submit your own questions on Twitter with the hashtag #AskSnowden.

By Brian Fung | 01:58 PM ET, 01/23/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: NSA Leaks

Posted at 01:31 PM ET, 01/23/2014

Snapchat has a new security feature. It was broken by a hacker in 30 minutes.

By Brian Fung

The latest attempt to secure the app failed to stop a security researcher, Steven Hickson.

By Brian Fung | 01:31 PM ET, 01/23/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 12:22 PM ET, 01/23/2014

Government board report refutes 9/11 argument for NSA phone records program

By Andrea Peterson

Report from the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board says phone records program is illegal, and undermines claims it may have prevented 9/11.

By Andrea Peterson | 12:22 PM ET, 01/23/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 10:56 AM ET, 01/23/2014

Pope Francis calls the Internet ‘a gift from God’

By Brian Fung and Michelle Boorstein

In the latest installment of This Pope is Awesome, the Catholic leader says the Internet offers “immense possibilities for encounter and solidarity.“

By Brian Fung and Michelle Boorstein | 10:56 AM ET, 01/23/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Internet

Posted at 07:49 AM ET, 01/23/2014

The Switchboard: Independent review board says NSA data collection should end

By Brian Fung

Netflix strikes back on net neutrality, Snapchat’s new verification system gets penetrated and other top tech stories of the last 24 hours.

By Brian Fung | 07:49 AM ET, 01/23/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: The Switchboard

Posted at 06:58 PM ET, 01/22/2014

Netflix’s secret weapon in the net neutrality fight

By Brian Fung

The streaming video giant begins to flex its considerable muscle.

By Brian Fung | 06:58 PM ET, 01/22/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Net Neutrality

Posted at 06:07 PM ET, 01/22/2014

The 16-year-old kid who’s helping to keep Snapchat honest

By Brian Fung

The Snapchat hack over Christmas has spawned an army of security researchers. Here’s one member.

By Brian Fung | 06:07 PM ET, 01/22/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Privacy

Posted at 05:14 PM ET, 01/22/2014

Just by sitting on them, the government earned another $24 million from Silk Road’s bitcoins

By Andrea Peterson

A spike in the price of bitcoins means the spoils from the Silk Road bust are worth much more now than when they were seized.

By Andrea Peterson | 05:14 PM ET, 01/22/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 12:17 PM ET, 01/22/2014

Verizon transparency report reveals 320,000 data requests in 2013

By Brian Fung

In addition to ordinary requests, the company also is fielding a growing number of requests for location information.

By Brian Fung | 12:17 PM ET, 01/22/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: NSA Leaks, Transparency

Posted at 11:53 AM ET, 01/22/2014

Half of Americans heard ‘nothing at all’ about the president’s NSA speech

By Andrea Peterson

The public’s complicated relationship with NSA snooping.

By Andrea Peterson | 11:53 AM ET, 01/22/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 11:01 AM ET, 01/22/2014

How the Chinese Internet ended up in Cheyenne, Wyoming

By Brian Fung

This is so weird.

By Brian Fung | 11:01 AM ET, 01/22/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Cybersecurity

Posted at 08:54 AM ET, 01/22/2014

The Switchboard: ‘Spoiled onions’ on the Tor network

By Andrea Peterson

Mobile phone location tracking in Ukraine, new headaches for Yale over a banned Web site, and the other tech policy stories you need to read.

By Andrea Peterson | 08:54 AM ET, 01/22/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: The Switchboard

Posted at 12:01 AM ET, 01/22/2014

Researchers say they see Russian hackers’ hands in cyber espionage against Western energy interests

By Ellen Nakashima

Researchers at CrowdStrike say Russian hackers appear to be targeting Western energy interests for cyber espionage.

By Ellen Nakashima | 12:01 AM ET, 01/22/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Cybersecurity, Hackers

Posted at 06:46 PM ET, 01/21/2014

No, hackers didn’t steal 70,000 records from HealthCare.gov

By Brian Fung

Media reports of a breach turned out to be a misunderstanding.

By Brian Fung | 06:46 PM ET, 01/21/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: healthcare.gov

Posted at 03:47 PM ET, 01/21/2014

The one weird trick the U.S. could use to stop major fraud in its tracks

By Hayley Tsukayama

Major consumer credit card breaches at Target and Neiman Marcus have turned new attention on efforts to increase credit card security.

By Hayley Tsukayama | 03:47 PM ET, 01/21/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 03:42 PM ET, 01/21/2014

’123456 replaces ‘password’ as most common password found in data breaches

By Andrea Peterson

The most common passwords found in data breaches suggest everyone is bad at password hygiene.

By Andrea Peterson | 03:42 PM ET, 01/21/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 03:06 PM ET, 01/21/2014

This Google Glass user went to the movies. Then he got interrogated for about four hours.

By Brian Fung

Protip: Don’t wear Google Glass to the movies if you actually want to see the movie.

By Brian Fung | 03:06 PM ET, 01/21/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Google Glass

Posted at 01:59 PM ET, 01/21/2014

Ukraine’s 1984 moment: Government using cellphones to track protesters

By Andrea Peterson

“Dear subscriber, you are registered as a participant in a mass disturbance.”

By Andrea Peterson | 01:59 PM ET, 01/21/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 12:13 PM ET, 01/21/2014

How Verizon plans to weaken the cable industry’s grip

By Brian Fung

Intel is giving up on streaming TV. But its technology, in Verizon’s hands, could work well against cable companies.

By Brian Fung | 12:13 PM ET, 01/21/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Media

Posted at 09:42 AM ET, 01/21/2014

Yale’s crackdown on student Web site creates another headache for administration

By Andrea Peterson

After Yale forced the shutdown of a student-made Web site, another student developed a browser extension that replicates its functionality.

By Andrea Peterson | 09:42 AM ET, 01/21/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 07:57 AM ET, 01/21/2014

The Switchboard: Are these two coders linked to the Target malware?

By Brian Fung

Tech companies fight to keep their tax loopholes, and the Pentagon signs a big contract with BlackBerry.

By Brian Fung | 07:57 AM ET, 01/21/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: The Switchboard

Posted at 03:26 PM ET, 01/19/2014

A readers uses the Mafia to explain net neutrality

By Andrea Peterson

Reader comments from the past.

By Andrea Peterson | 03:26 PM ET, 01/19/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 09:24 AM ET, 01/18/2014

Can the cops search your phone without a warrant? The Supreme Court intends to weigh in.

By Brian Fung

A pair of cases will help determine whether police can look through your phone after you’ve been arrested.

By Brian Fung | 09:24 AM ET, 01/18/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Privacy

Posted at 06:06 PM ET, 01/17/2014

Half of taxpayer funded research will soon be available to the public

By Andrea Peterson

Funding bill is a victory for open access proponents.

By Andrea Peterson | 06:06 PM ET, 01/17/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 04:18 PM ET, 01/17/2014

How candidate Obama would’ve replied to President Obama’s NSA speech

By Brian Fung

Awwwkward!

By Brian Fung | 04:18 PM ET, 01/17/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: NSA Leaks

Posted at 02:16 PM ET, 01/17/2014

Tech firms say Obama’s proposals fall short of expectations

By Cecilia Kang

Technology and telecom firms said the reforms President Obama laid out in his speech were a good first step but fell short of their hopes to significantly change the government’s vast surveillance program.

By Cecilia Kang | 02:16 PM ET, 01/17/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: NSA

Posted at 12:37 PM ET, 01/17/2014

This 1 sentence sums up Obama’s entire NSA reform speech

By Brian Fung

Missed the address? Here’s the only line you need.

By Brian Fung | 12:37 PM ET, 01/17/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: NSA Leaks

Posted at 12:32 PM ET, 01/17/2014

How Paul Revere could have been outed as a ‘terrorist’ by metadata

By Andrea Peterson

The president just praised the intelligence gathering skills of Paul Revere. But if Redcoats had the ability to parse metadata, they probably would have caught him.

By Andrea Peterson | 12:32 PM ET, 01/17/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 11:00 AM ET, 01/17/2014

Everything you need to know about Obama’s NSA reforms, in plain English

By Brian Fung

Three changes that were bigger than anyone expected — and what’s still left unsaid.

By Brian Fung | 11:00 AM ET, 01/17/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: NSA Leaks

Posted at 10:27 AM ET, 01/17/2014

Thirty years ago today, Sandra Day O’Connor saved the future of video

By Brian Fung

The Supreme Court justice was the crucial swing vote in a case that changed the course of tech history.

By Brian Fung | 10:27 AM ET, 01/17/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Old Things

Posted at 10:20 AM ET, 01/17/2014

The man behind those epically minimalist Star Wars Lego models

By Andrea Peterson

A Q&A with the Lego mastermind behind the minimalist Lego Star Wars models.

By Andrea Peterson | 10:20 AM ET, 01/17/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 10:17 AM ET, 01/17/2014

Yes, Google Glass users look weird. But Google’s smart contact lens will change all that.

By Brian Fung

The smart lens is meant to be used by diabetics for now. But there are untold possibilities in the technology.

By Brian Fung | 10:17 AM ET, 01/17/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Google Glass

Posted at 07:05 AM ET, 01/17/2014

The Switchboard: Report: Obama to announce NSA data will be held by third parties

By Brian Fung

Google unveils a smart contact lens, and Neiman Marcus’ hacking went undetected for months.

By Brian Fung | 07:05 AM ET, 01/17/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: The Switchboard

Posted at 11:08 PM ET, 01/16/2014

The woman ticketed for driving with Google Glass is free to go

By Brian Fung

While it’s good news for Glass users, it’s not a rock-solid victory.

By Brian Fung | 11:08 PM ET, 01/16/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Google Glass

Posted at 03:26 PM ET, 01/16/2014

Starbucks: ‘Theoretical vulnerability still exists’

By Andrea Peterson

What you need to know about the security oversight in the iOS Starbucks app.

By Andrea Peterson | 03:26 PM ET, 01/16/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 11:50 AM ET, 01/16/2014

Yale students made a better version of its course catalogue. Then Yale shut it down.

By Andrea Peterson

Administration appears to have been uncomfortable with how it let students compare class evaluations and professor ratings.

By Andrea Peterson | 11:50 AM ET, 01/16/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 09:51 AM ET, 01/16/2014

Amazon is a hornet’s nest of malware

By Brian Fung

Four of the Web’s top 10 malware sites live on Amazon cloud services.

By Brian Fung | 09:51 AM ET, 01/16/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Cybersecurity

Posted at 07:36 AM ET, 01/16/2014

The Switchboard: Microsoft employee e-mail hacked by Syrian Electronic Army

By Brian Fung

AT&T can’t wait for Obama’s NSA reform speech, a look inside the malware that hit Target and other top tech stories of the last 24 hours.

By Brian Fung | 07:36 AM ET, 01/16/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: The Switchboard

Posted at 03:23 PM ET, 01/15/2014

Cyber Command’s exploding budget, in 1 chart

By Brian Fung

The agency’s budget will more than double under the just-passed House omnibus spending bill.

By Brian Fung | 03:23 PM ET, 01/15/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Cybersecurity

Posted at 12:54 PM ET, 01/15/2014

Look at these amazing minimalist Lego versions of ‘Star Wars’ ships

By Andrea Peterson

The r/lego subreddit is doing some pretty cool stuff.

By Andrea Peterson | 12:54 PM ET, 01/15/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 12:29 PM ET, 01/15/2014

FTC announces settlement with Apple over kids’ apps

By Hayley Tsukayama

Under the settlement, Apple must refund customers for all unauthorized payments. Those refunds should total at least $32.5 million to cover the charges.

By Hayley Tsukayama | 12:29 PM ET, 01/15/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Apple, Apps, FTC

Posted at 12:13 PM ET, 01/15/2014

11 questions you were too afraid to ask about net neutrality

By Brian Fung

Get up to speed with net neutrality with this explainer.

By Brian Fung | 12:13 PM ET, 01/15/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Net Neutrality

Posted at 09:39 AM ET, 01/15/2014

The Switchboard: The NSA can use radio waves to get into offline computers

By Andrea Peterson

New NSA revelations, a court strikes down the FCC’s net neutrality rules, and the other tech policy stories you need to read today.

By Andrea Peterson | 09:39 AM ET, 01/15/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: The Switchboard

Posted at 07:20 AM ET, 01/15/2014

Here’s how net neutrality can still survive

By Brian Fung

A federal court has rejected the FCC’s attempt to regulate broadband. Now what?

By Brian Fung | 07:20 AM ET, 01/15/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Net Neutrality

Posted at 05:41 PM ET, 01/14/2014

Edward Snowden has a new gig: Joins board of press freedom group

By Andrea Peterson

His colleagues include Glenn Greenwald and Laura Poitras.

By Andrea Peterson | 05:41 PM ET, 01/14/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 05:39 PM ET, 01/14/2014

‘A FEMA-level fail’: The law professor who coined ‘net neutrality’ lashes out at the FCC’s legal strategy

By Brian Fung

The Columbia University information scholar blames telecom regulators for what he says was a weak approach to the courtroom.

By Brian Fung | 05:39 PM ET, 01/14/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Net Neutrality

Posted at 03:49 PM ET, 01/14/2014

Corrected: The terrible argument the court used to strike down net neutrality

By Andrea Peterson

There are still a lot of places without broadband access, or with no real competition.

By Andrea Peterson | 03:49 PM ET, 01/14/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: broadband

Posted at 11:34 AM ET, 01/14/2014

Federal appeals court strikes down net neutrality rules

By Brian Fung

The FCC’s rules regulating broadband companies contradict an earlier agency decision, a three-judge panel has ruled.

By Brian Fung | 11:34 AM ET, 01/14/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Net Neutrality

Posted at 11:06 AM ET, 01/14/2014

Here’s why Yahoo changed the timeline on its malware breach. Again.

By Andrea Peterson

But shifting scopes are the norm for cybersecurity investigations.

By Andrea Peterson | 11:06 AM ET, 01/14/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Target, Yahoo

Posted at 08:58 AM ET, 01/14/2014

Opinion: America’s most underutilized resource? Plain old telephone poles.

By Michel Guite

How the last generation of telecom tech is becoming next-gen Internet infrastructure.

By Michel Guite | 08:58 AM ET, 01/14/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: broadband

Posted at 08:20 AM ET, 01/14/2014

There’s going to be another season of ’24.’ And in it, Chloe O’Brian pulls an Edward Snowden.

By Brian Fung

Jack Bauer’s former sidekick has a bit of black-hat hacker in her, apparently.

By Brian Fung | 08:20 AM ET, 01/14/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Nerd culture

Posted at 07:42 AM ET, 01/14/2014

The Switchboard: Target to invest $5 million in cybersecurity education

By Brian Fung

Apple has to keep its antitrust monitor, Google buys the smart thermostat maker Nest and other top tech stories of the last 24 hours.

By Brian Fung | 07:42 AM ET, 01/14/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: The Switchboard

Posted at 04:54 PM ET, 01/13/2014

Google just bought Nest for $3.2 billion. What happens to Nest’s user data?

By Brian Fung

That’s 60 percent more than Nest’s previous valuation suggested.

By Brian Fung | 04:54 PM ET, 01/13/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Acquisitions

Posted at 04:04 PM ET, 01/13/2014

When tech companies won’t provide service manuals, this guy writes his own

By Timothy B. Lee

Ever struggled to find out how to repair your favorite gadget? iFixit is here to help.

By Timothy B. Lee | 04:04 PM ET, 01/13/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 01:55 PM ET, 01/13/2014

Tech firms: We don’t want to keep Internet metadata for the government

By Ellen Nakashima

The tech firms are urging the White House and Congress to ban the bulk collection of Internet communications.

By Ellen Nakashima | 01:55 PM ET, 01/13/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Apple, Edward Snowden, Internet, NSA, NSA Leaks, Privacy

Posted at 01:55 PM ET, 01/13/2014

Meet the former Microsoft employee who wants to liberate liberal data

By Brian Fung

If it works, it could lead to dramatic changes for the entire progressive organizing industry.

By Brian Fung | 01:55 PM ET, 01/13/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Politics

Posted at 11:37 AM ET, 01/13/2014

This malware class was reportedly used in the Target hackings. Here’s how it works.

By Andrea Peterson

Everything you need to know about RAM scrapers.

By Andrea Peterson | 11:37 AM ET, 01/13/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 08:35 AM ET, 01/13/2014

The Switchboard: Target may have just been the tip of the retail hacking iceberg

By Andrea Peterson

More retail hacking, smart car privacy concerns, and the other tech policy stories you need to read this morning.

By Andrea Peterson | 08:35 AM ET, 01/13/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Aaron Swartz, Cyberattack, Hackers, Patents, Privacy, Supreme Court, Switchboard, The Switchboard

Posted at 12:22 PM ET, 01/12/2014

Reports of the PC’s death have been greatly exaggerated, readers argue

By Andrea Peterson

Readers debate the health of the PC market, Google buses and Yahoo’s relaunched tech site.

By Andrea Peterson | 12:22 PM ET, 01/12/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 12:52 PM ET, 01/11/2014

The law used to prosecute Aaron Swartz remains unchanged a year after his death

By Andrea Peterson

Despite calls for reform, the the Computer Fraud and Abuse law hasn’t changed in the year since the activist’s death.

By Andrea Peterson | 12:52 PM ET, 01/11/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 11:53 AM ET, 01/11/2014

Now Neiman Marcus appears to have been hacked, too

By Brian Fung

An unknown number of credit card accounts may have been affected.

By Brian Fung | 11:53 AM ET, 01/11/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Privacy

Posted at 05:00 PM ET, 01/10/2014

Aereo is getting the Supreme Court fight it wanted

By Andrea Peterson

The legal battle between a service that streams over the air TV over the Internet and broadcasters is heading to the Supreme Court.

By Andrea Peterson | 05:00 PM ET, 01/10/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 04:34 PM ET, 01/10/2014

‘We’re creating the problem for ourselves’: The Columbia J-School e-mail mishap of 2014

By Timothy B. Lee

A misconfigured mailing list brings about the email apocalypse.

By Timothy B. Lee | 04:34 PM ET, 01/10/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Email

Posted at 03:36 PM ET, 01/10/2014

The bright side to the Target hack? It’s getting Congress moving.

By Brian Fung

As the country reels from dual hacks against U.S. companies, Congress turns its eye toward data breach legislation.

By Brian Fung | 03:36 PM ET, 01/10/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Privacy

Posted at 02:26 PM ET, 01/10/2014

Online porn viewing heated up during the polar vortex

By Andrea Peterson

Pornhub saw a surge in traffic during America’s recent cold weather spell.

By Andrea Peterson | 02:26 PM ET, 01/10/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 02:11 PM ET, 01/10/2014

This company sold Google a quantum computer. Here’s how it works.

By Timothy B. Lee

The company explains its technology and defends criticism that it’s secretive.

By Timothy B. Lee | 02:11 PM ET, 01/10/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: D-Wave

Posted at 12:38 PM ET, 01/10/2014

Remember Livingsocial? Its CEO is abandoning ship.

By Brian Fung

Tim O’Shaughnessy will step down this year as the company hunts for a new executive.

By Brian Fung | 12:38 PM ET, 01/10/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Daily Deals

Posted at 12:35 PM ET, 01/10/2014

All 178 episodes of ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’ assimilated into one video

By Andrea Peterson

Make it so.

By Andrea Peterson | 12:35 PM ET, 01/10/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Star Trek

Posted at 11:12 AM ET, 01/10/2014

Strangers will soon be able to email you via Google+

By Max Ehrenfreund

Here’s how you can stop them.

By Max Ehrenfreund | 11:12 AM ET, 01/10/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 10:39 AM ET, 01/10/2014

The Target hack gets worse: Phone numbers, addresses of up to 70 million customers leaked

By Brian Fung

The breach now covers nearly 30 percent of all American adults.

By Brian Fung | 10:39 AM ET, 01/10/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 09:52 AM ET, 01/10/2014

U.S. spy agencies were fantasizing about Google Glass four years before it was invented

By Brian Fung

A newly declassified report suggests they also thought it would be an Apple product.

By Brian Fung | 09:52 AM ET, 01/10/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Google Glass

Posted at 08:03 AM ET, 01/10/2014

The Switchboard: IRS faces pressure to clarify Bitcoin rules

By Timothy B. Lee

Obama prepares to tweak the NSA and the Senate ponders patent reform.

By Timothy B. Lee | 08:03 AM ET, 01/10/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Bitcoin, IRS, Net Neutrality, NSA, Patents, The Switchboard

Posted at 05:02 PM ET, 01/09/2014

You don’t need subtitles to fear China’s newest sniper rifle

By Brian Fung

Watch this terrifying weapon rip through a metal plate, a tree, and a big balloon.

By Brian Fung | 05:02 PM ET, 01/09/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Nerd culture

Posted at 04:35 PM ET, 01/09/2014

FCC chairman offers his strongest endorsement yet of net neutrality

By Brian Fung

Tom Wheeler makes the case for intervening when Internet providers step out of bounds.

By Brian Fung | 04:35 PM ET, 01/09/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Net Neutrality

Posted at 03:33 PM ET, 01/09/2014

Yahoo implemented SSL late. And they didn’t even do it well.

By Andrea Peterson

Yahoo used an encryption standard that experts say is known to have security flaws.

By Andrea Peterson | 03:33 PM ET, 01/09/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 03:24 PM ET, 01/09/2014

This kid was referred to the cops after helping a transit agency secure its Web site

By Timothy B. Lee

Instead of thanking the 16-year-old who discovered a serious security flaw on its Web site, an Australian transit agency called the police.

By Timothy B. Lee | 03:24 PM ET, 01/09/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Australia

Posted at 11:33 AM ET, 01/09/2014

The first phone company to publish a transparency report isn’t AT&T; or Verizon

By Brian Fung

CREDO Mobile, a left-leaning cellular company, opens up about government data requests.

By Brian Fung | 11:33 AM ET, 01/09/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Wireless

Posted at 10:19 AM ET, 01/09/2014

Prosecutors used this cybercrime law against Aaron Swartz. Now a senator wants to strengthen it.

By Brian Fung

Buried in a bill about data breaches is a provision that would strengthen the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act.

By Brian Fung | 10:19 AM ET, 01/09/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: CFAA

Posted at 09:33 AM ET, 01/09/2014

Why is Yahoo bad at being a tech company? It doesn’t want to be one.

By Andrea Peterson

Yahoo sees itself as a media company. That’s not good news for users who rely on its software products.

By Andrea Peterson | 09:33 AM ET, 01/09/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Marissa Mayer

Posted at 07:48 AM ET, 01/09/2014

The Switchboard: This woman stood up to the FBI’s backdoor request—and won

By Brian Fung

A German court rules for family members on filesharing, Apple and Samsung agree to mediation and other tech stories from the last 24 hours.

By Brian Fung | 07:48 AM ET, 01/09/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: The Switchboard

Posted at 08:42 PM ET, 01/08/2014

Will the FCC strike down AT&T;’s Sponsored Data plan?

By Brian Fung

Critics say the new offering threatens the open Internet. The nation’s top federal regulator vows to watch the company closely.

By Brian Fung | 08:42 PM ET, 01/08/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Wireless

Posted at 05:23 PM ET, 01/08/2014

The PC is dead, and this year’s CES proves it

By Timothy B. Lee

Some companies unveiled post-PC gadgets, and future tech will make the PC even more irrelevant.

By Timothy B. Lee | 05:23 PM ET, 01/08/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: ces2014

Posted at 05:13 PM ET, 01/08/2014

How karaoke explains the wireless industry, in 1 telling quote

By Brian Fung

Bad, competitive singing finds its way to CES.

By Brian Fung | 05:13 PM ET, 01/08/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Wireless

Posted at 04:03 PM ET, 01/08/2014

In bidding war with AT&T;, T-Mobile offers new customers as much as $650

By Brian Fung

The company has offered to pay new subscribers $650 for switching — $300 more than rumors suggested.

By Brian Fung | 04:03 PM ET, 01/08/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: ces2014, Wireless

Posted at 12:02 PM ET, 01/08/2014

Google boats are the new Google buses

By Brian Fung

The company is now ferrying its employees by water in addition to over land.

By Brian Fung | 12:02 PM ET, 01/08/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Google

Posted at 10:59 AM ET, 01/08/2014

Here’s what history would have looked like if all the women had laptops

By Andrea Peterson

A visual mash-up of historical paintings and gadgets.

By Andrea Peterson | 10:59 AM ET, 01/08/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 10:46 AM ET, 01/08/2014

This week proves we’re better off with four wireless carriers

By Brian Fung

New offerings from the nation’s smaller carriers is good for competition.

By Brian Fung | 10:46 AM ET, 01/08/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Wireless

Posted at 09:25 AM ET, 01/08/2014

The Switchboard: California lawmakers want to halt NSA cooperation

By Timothy B. Lee

Nebraska AG proposes anti-troll legislation and Uber defends surge pricing.

By Timothy B. Lee | 09:25 AM ET, 01/08/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Nebraska, NSA, Patent trolls, The Switchboard, Uber

Posted at 08:34 PM ET, 01/07/2014

Yahoo Tech wants you to get off its lawn

By Timothy B. Lee

The site offers advice about protecting kids from Facebook and using your iPhone as a hearing aid.

By Timothy B. Lee | 08:34 PM ET, 01/07/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: David Pogue, Yahoo Tech

Posted at 08:20 PM ET, 01/07/2014

How to get away with paying $25 a month for cellphone service

By Brian Fung

Sprint’s new “Framily” plan provides a magically shrinking group rate.

By Brian Fung | 08:20 PM ET, 01/07/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Wireless

Posted at 06:22 PM ET, 01/07/2014

At least eight security experts boycott prominent security conference over NSA ties

By Andrea Peterson

Encryption pioneer RSA is in hot water with some security experts over reports about their relationship with the NSA.

By Andrea Peterson | 06:22 PM ET, 01/07/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 04:52 PM ET, 01/07/2014

Curved screens are the next big thing in electronics. Here’s how they work.

By Brian Fung

It’s all about the glass.

By Brian Fung | 04:52 PM ET, 01/07/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: CES

Posted at 03:31 PM ET, 01/07/2014

There are at least 13 Steam Machines. Is that too many?

By Andrea Peterson

Probably not.

By Andrea Peterson | 03:31 PM ET, 01/07/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Steam Machines, Video Games

Posted at 12:31 PM ET, 01/07/2014

Netflix is shooting “House of Cards” in ultra HD. Can America’s broadband networks keep up?

By Brian Fung

A 15 Mbps connection will be required for Netflix’s ultra HD streaming features.

By Brian Fung | 12:31 PM ET, 01/07/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Netflix

Posted at 12:01 PM ET, 01/07/2014

Online harassment of women is a problem. Here’s what to do about it.

By Timothy B. Lee

Online harassment can make the Internet a miserable place for women.

By Timothy B. Lee | 12:01 PM ET, 01/07/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: First Amendment, online harassment

Posted at 09:33 AM ET, 01/07/2014

Samsung made a 12-inch tablet. But who wants a tablet that big?

By Brian Fung

Samsung’s new tablet could be the first of many such gigantic devices.

By Brian Fung | 09:33 AM ET, 01/07/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: ces2014

Posted at 07:50 AM ET, 01/07/2014

The Switchboard: T-Mobile CEO crashes AT&T; party, gets escorted out

By Brian Fung

John Legere just wanted him some Macklemore, while Snapchat’s CEO leaks his e-mails with Mark Zuckerberg and AT&T renews debate over net neutrality.

By Brian Fung | 07:50 AM ET, 01/07/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: The Switchboard

Posted at 06:27 PM ET, 01/06/2014

Gamers are going to love Samsung’s ridiculous curved TV — someday

By Brian Fung

The screen provides an immersive, panoramic experience — but not even the latest consoles on the market can take advantage of its ultra-HD technology.

By Brian Fung | 06:27 PM ET, 01/06/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: ces2014, Nerd culture

Posted at 03:15 PM ET, 01/06/2014

Everything you need to know about Yahoo’s security breach

By Andrea Peterson

Everything you need to know about Yahoo’s embarrassing malware episode.

By Andrea Peterson | 03:15 PM ET, 01/06/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 03:09 PM ET, 01/06/2014

Did AT&T; just create a pay-for-play mobile Internet?

By Brian Fung

Three companies have agreed to start subsidizing your data usage. Here’s what that means.

By Brian Fung | 03:09 PM ET, 01/06/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Wireless

Posted at 12:10 PM ET, 01/06/2014

T-Mobile and Verizon just struck a huge spectrum deal. This map shows how it’ll affect you.

By Brian Fung

T-Mobile’s new spectrum will cover 158 million Americans.

By Brian Fung | 12:10 PM ET, 01/06/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Wireless

Posted at 09:53 AM ET, 01/06/2014

Gabe Newell on Valve’s intimate relationship with its customers

By Andrea Peterson

Valve CEO and co-founder Gabe Newell explains how the gaming company harnesses the power of community for its products.

By Andrea Peterson | 09:53 AM ET, 01/06/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Gabe Newell, Steam, Steam Machines, Valve

Posted at 08:55 AM ET, 01/06/2014

The Switchboard: Is Netflix’s algorithm a way to hide its thin library?

By Andrea Peterson

Yahoo’s ads serve malware, Pandora uses music choices to target advertising, and other stories you don’t want to miss today.

By Andrea Peterson | 08:55 AM ET, 01/06/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: The Switchboard

Posted at 08:22 PM ET, 01/05/2014

Worried about the Yahoo malware outbreak? If you’re in U.S., you’re probably safe.

By Timothy B. Lee

Hundreds of thousands of users got hit by malware. But if Americans and Mac users weren’t affected.

By Timothy B. Lee | 08:22 PM ET, 01/05/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Malware, Security, Yahoo

Posted at 08:19 AM ET, 01/05/2014

Is Valve still innovating?

By Brian Fung

Readers debate. And: What if BuzzFeed articles were automated?

By Brian Fung | 08:19 AM ET, 01/05/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Reader Comments

Posted at 07:39 PM ET, 01/04/2014

Thousands of visitors to yahoo.com hit with malware attack, researchers say

By Timothy B. Lee

Someone hijacked Yahoo’s ad servers to infect users’ computers with malicious software.

By Timothy B. Lee | 07:39 PM ET, 01/04/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Advertising, Malware, Security, Yahoo

Posted at 04:07 PM ET, 01/04/2014

The NSA refuses to deny spying on members of Congress

By Brian Fung

The agency was asked point blank by Sen. Bernie Sanders. He’s not going to like the answer.

By Brian Fung | 04:07 PM ET, 01/04/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: NSA Leaks

Posted at 10:33 AM ET, 01/04/2014

All our phone calls will soon travel over the Internet. Here’s AT&T;’s plan to test that out.

By Brian Fung

The company aims to upgrade its network to next-generation fiber optics. Here’s the first part of its plan.

By Brian Fung | 10:33 AM ET, 01/04/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Telecom

Posted at 09:27 AM ET, 01/04/2014

Rap Genius on Google ban: ‘We overstepped, and we deserved to get smacked’

By Timothy B. Lee

The rap lyrics site gets back on Google’s good side by removing hundreds of spammy links.

By Timothy B. Lee | 09:27 AM ET, 01/04/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Google, Rap Genius

Posted at 05:11 PM ET, 01/03/2014

A secret court just let the NSA keep spying on your phone records. Again.

By Brian Fung

It’s the 36th time that the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court has approved the spying.

By Brian Fung | 05:11 PM ET, 01/03/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: NSA Leaks

Posted at 03:53 PM ET, 01/03/2014

Did you know Ryan Seacrest had a startup? I didn’t, either, but it’s being sued by BlackBerry.

By Brian Fung

The Canadian company lashes out at a product that looks suspiciously like its own physical keyboards.

By Brian Fung | 03:53 PM ET, 01/03/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: BlackBerry

Posted at 02:26 PM ET, 01/03/2014

Five games I can’t wait to play in 2014

By Hayley Tsukayama

Five 2014 titles that already have gamers salivating.

By Hayley Tsukayama | 02:26 PM ET, 01/03/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Nerd culture, Video Games

Posted at 01:51 PM ET, 01/03/2014

Hal Finney received the first Bitcoin transaction. Here’s how he describes it.

By Andrea Peterson

What it was like to be part of the first Bitcoin transaction.

By Andrea Peterson | 01:51 PM ET, 01/03/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 01:51 PM ET, 01/03/2014

Five years of Bitcoin in one post

By Timothy B. Lee

The Bitcoin network was launched on Jan. 3, 2009. Here’s what happened next.

By Timothy B. Lee | 01:51 PM ET, 01/03/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Bitcoin, Satoshi Nakamoto

Posted at 01:30 PM ET, 01/03/2014

How Netflix film categories are like BuzzFeed headlines for movies

By Brian Fung

Kung Fu Race Against Time Mistaken-Identity Musicals About Trucks, Trains, & Planes — and other awesome categories that should exist.

By Brian Fung | 01:30 PM ET, 01/03/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Netflix

Posted at 12:43 PM ET, 01/03/2014

Bitcoin just turned 5. And we have no idea who started it.

By Andrea Peterson

The theories behind Bitcoin’s pseudonymous creator.

By Andrea Peterson | 12:43 PM ET, 01/03/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Satoshi Nakamoto

Posted at 12:13 PM ET, 01/03/2014

CES 2014 starts Tuesday. Here are 5 tech trends to expect from the year.

By Brian Fung

Apple may release bigger devices, and Google Glass will lose its stigma. But wearable tech still has a long way to go.

By Brian Fung | 12:13 PM ET, 01/03/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: CES

Posted at 09:30 AM ET, 01/03/2014

AT&T; wants T-Mobile customers to switch. And it’s offering them hundreds to do it.

By Brian Fung

The move appears aimed at beating T-Mobile to a new policy of paying for switchers’ early termination fees.

By Brian Fung | 09:30 AM ET, 01/03/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Wireless

Posted at 09:23 AM ET, 01/03/2014

Gabe Newell on what makes Valve tick

By Andrea Peterson

What makes Valve so successful? CEO and co-founder Gabe Newell explains.

By Andrea Peterson | 09:23 AM ET, 01/03/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Steam, Steam Machines, Valve, Video Games

Posted at 08:03 AM ET, 01/03/2014

The Switchboard: Senator wants NFL to kill sports blackouts

By Timothy B. Lee

The NSA is trying to build a quantum computer and an appeals court will start streaming its arguments.

By Timothy B. Lee | 08:03 AM ET, 01/03/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: FCC, NSA, Open Government, The Switchboard

Posted at 11:13 PM ET, 01/02/2014

Snapchat breaks its silence on security breach, but doesn’t apologize

By Brian Fung

The company vows to update its app, but it’s still unclear whether the security hole has been fixed.

By Brian Fung | 11:13 PM ET, 01/02/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Privacy

Posted at 05:46 PM ET, 01/02/2014

Confused about the NSA’s quantum computing project? This MIT computer scientist can explain.

By Timothy B. Lee

A MIT computer scientist explains quantum computers in plain English.

By Timothy B. Lee | 05:46 PM ET, 01/02/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: D-Wave, NSA, Quantum computers

Posted at 04:07 PM ET, 01/02/2014

The most read Switch posts of 2013

By Timothy B. Lee and Andrea Peterson

Macbook webcam spying, Syrian Internet outages and the other top Switch posts from 2013

By Timothy B. Lee and Andrea Peterson | 04:07 PM ET, 01/02/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 04:00 PM ET, 01/02/2014

Mandiant, which rooted out Chinese hackers for the NYT, is being snapped up for nearly $1 billion

By Brian Fung

California-based FireEye has purchased Mandiant in a deal amounting to nearly $1B.

By Brian Fung | 04:00 PM ET, 01/02/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Cybersecurity

Posted at 12:46 PM ET, 01/02/2014

Snapchat has clammed up after being hit by hackers. That’s not good.

By Brian Fung

It’s been more than 24 hours since the hack, and Snapchat hasn’t said anything. Why?

By Brian Fung | 12:46 PM ET, 01/02/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Fail

Posted at 09:29 AM ET, 01/02/2014

Even the Postal Service is better at doing checkout than grocery stores now

By Brian Fung

The Postal Service faces a pretty dire budget situation, but in spite of that, officials there are still finding ways to make your visit less of a hassle.

By Brian Fung | 09:29 AM ET, 01/02/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Mobile payment

Posted at 07:41 AM ET, 01/02/2014

The Switchboard: Syrian Electronic Army hacks Skype Twitter account

By Brian Fung

Snapchat gets its own hack, Amazon agrees to collect sales tax in three states, and other top tech stories of the last 24 hours.

By Brian Fung | 07:41 AM ET, 01/02/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: The Switchboard

Posted at 11:16 AM ET, 01/01/2014

A Snapchat security breach affects 4.6 million users. Did Snapchat drag its feet on a fix?

By Brian Fung

A vulnerability Snapchat said it patched is still open to attacks.

By Brian Fung | 11:16 AM ET, 01/01/2014 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Privacy

The Switch: January, 2014