Monkey Island makers destroy Kickstarter records
February 10, 2012
The man who created games including Monkey Island has found a simple way to literally make a million dollars over night. It turns out all you need to do is ask.
Posts by John Lister on TECH.BLORGE.com
Privacy group demands government action on Google
February 9, 2012
The Electronic Privacy Information Center is suing the Federal Trade Commission over Google’s decision to change its privacy policies. That may sound a convoluted way to go about things, but EPIC thinks it’s spotted an important legal loophole.
Online dating algorithms don’t work
February 8, 2012
With Valentine’s Day approaching, online dating companies aren’t feeling the love. They’ve just been hit by a scientific review that claims most of their services don’t really work as advertised.
Trendnet net admits home security cams can be viewed by all
February 7, 2012
American firm Trendnet produces a range of home security cameras that let users check activity in their property while away, via an Internet connection. The problem — which the company has only just admitted — is that for several weeks now tens of thousands of the camera feeds have been viewable by everyone who’s online.
TripAdvisor can’t claim to be trusted
February 6, 2012
TripAdvisor will not longer be allowed to tell British users that its holiday reviews can be trusted. Advertising regulators said that can’t be certain because there’s nothing to stop bogus reviews being posted.
Facebook staff jackpot stories compelling, if not convincing
February 3, 2012
In 2005, Facebook commissioned an artist to paint murals at its headquarters and cheekily offered to pay him in company stock rather than cash. They somehow persuaded him to take the stock: that decision means he’ll soon be worth around $200 million.
What we learned from the Facebook IPO
February 2, 2012
When you ask the public for at least five billion dollars, you have to start answering a few questions. And in the case of Facebook’s long-awaited filing for an Initial Public Offering, some of those answers were truly revealing.
Microsoft on the offense over Google privacy
February 1, 2012
Microsoft is launching a major advertising campaign attacking Google’s recent privacy policy changes. It’s a direct appeal for users upset by the overhaul to switch to services such as Hotmail and Bing.
Megaupload data saved… for now
January 31, 2012
If you’ve got files stored on Megaupload and you haven’t got a back-up, you need to cross your fingers. The companies that physically host the files have agreed to keep them online for two more weeks, but after that they could start hitting delete.
Messaging and e-mail giants unite against phishing
January 30, 2012
15 major Internet firms have launched a joint project to make it harder to get “phishing” e-mails through to recipients. The plan involves the firms labeling their messages in a way that is much harder for scammers to emulate.
Twitter treads thin line on censorship
January 27, 2012
Twitter has announced a new policy that allows it to remove tweets from viewers in one country only. It’s defended itself against claims of censorship by saying the move is a practical way of maintaining free speech.
Euro net users may get “right to be forgotten”
January 26, 2012
If European officials have their way, “fuhgeddaboutit” could become a legally binding order. New rules would mean net users across the continent would have the right to force a company to delete all personal data about them in most circumstances.
Chilled food could come with own thermometer
January 25, 2012
If your fridge has everything from a lettuce with icicles on it to butter that’s beginning to curdle, help could be on the way. A Norwegian firm has found a way to put tiny thermometers directly onto the packaging of individual food items.
Google+ allows nicknames & maiden names
January 24, 2012
Google has announced a slight tweak to its rule that previously insisted users were listed solely by their real name. But it’s rejected calls for totally anonymous profiles.
FileSonic closure will expose porn-sharing motives
January 23, 2012
As filesharing websites begin covering their tracks after the closure of Megaupload, you might be forgiven for thinking it was doomsday for a particular method of piracy. In fact the technique remains alive and well, but may now be relying on the goodwill of those interested in freebies.
Megaupload chiefs to defend legal action
January 20, 2012
The operators of major filesharing website Megaupload say they’ll defend themselves against criminal charges. Their lawyer plans to argue that not only do the charges themselves not hold up, but the enforced closure of the site before trial is a violation of due process.
McAfee protection backfires spectacularly
January 19, 2012
McAfee’s security software is intended to prevent your computer from unauthorized use by rogue parties. Unfortunately a software bug means that in some cases its doing the exact opposite.
