Author: Daniel (The Tech Blog UK)
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has raised concerns regarding the proposed merger of Vodafone and Three, citing potential negative impacts on consumers, businesses, and competition in the UK mobile networks sector.
X Introduces Changes to Verification and Premium Features X, formerly known as Twitter, has implemented significant changes to its verification and premium features, aiming to cater to its most “influential” users. Under the new policy, users with more than 2,500 verified followers, who are already subscribed to X Premium, are granted premium features at no additional cost. These features include the coveted blue tick verification badge and a reduction in the number of advertisements displayed on the platform. In addition to the blue tick, premium users will experience enhanced visibility, with their tweets ranked higher when engaging with other users.…
As reported by LadBible A significant legal initiative has been launched by leading entertainment giants such as Netflix, Amazon, Disney, Warner Bros, Universal, and Sony to combat the rise of IPTV (Internet Protocol television) and illegal streaming. Criminals often exploit IPTV to unlawfully stream premium content that typically requires subscription fees for legal access. Crackdown on Illegal Streaming Organized criminal groups frequently circumvent legal channels by jailbreaking Amazon Fire TV Sticks to facilitate the distribution of illicit IPTV services. These services provide access to thousands of links offering both new and classic films and television shows, bypassing legitimate…
Avast Fined $16.5m for Selling Users’ Browsing DataUS regulators have fined Avast $16.5 million for selling data that revealed users’ browsing history, despite claiming to block the cookies that enabled this data collection. The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) alleges that Avast, based in the Czech Republic, collected information through its browser extensions and antivirus software, accumulating eight petabytes of data between 2014 and 2020. Avast’s subsidiary, Jumpshot, sold this data to over 100 advertising and marketing companies, including detailed information about users’ activities on sites like Amazon, Google, and Netflix. Jumpshot was shut down in 2020 after leaked documents…
Cookie Leaks Pose Security Threats, Cybersecurity Expert Warns The company’s cybersecurity advisor, Adrianus Warmenhoven, highlighted the risks associated with cookie leaks, emphasizing that while cookie consent popups are ubiquitous online, many users are unaware of the potential dangers. According to Warmenhoven, cookies serve as identifiers for devices, allowing servers to recognize users who have logged in previously without requiring them to re-enter their credentials. However, if an attacker gains access to active cookies, they could exploit this information to access accounts without needing passwords or multi-factor authentication (MFA). Cookies can contain a wealth of personal data, including names, ages, genders,…
Major Outage Hits Instagram, WhatsApp, and Facebook Instagram, WhatsApp, and Facebook experienced a brief outage in a major technical issue at parent company Meta. This incident follows a similar widespread outage about a month ago. Additionally, users reported problems with Instagram and its Threads microblogging platform earlier this week. At the time of publication, Meta had not responded to the issues, and it is known for being late to announce problems and typically provides minimal information about their cause. According to reports from tracking website Down Detector, numerous users encountered issues with all three major Meta apps on Wednesday, April…
Microsoft announced the separation of Teams from its Office software globally, following the split in Europe last year amid competition concerns. This move aims to provide clarity for customers and address feedback from the European Commission, offering multinational companies more purchasing flexibility across geographies. Teams Standalone will now cost $5.25 for new customers. However, it remains uncertain if this decision will prevent potential EU antitrust charges, as Microsoft has faced hefty fines for similar practices in the past. Despite the split, user numbers for Teams saw little change after the move in Europe.
BT and Global to Transform Public Payphones into High-Speed Connectivity Hubs BT and the Media & Entertainment group Global have joined forces in a 10-year partnership to upgrade public payphones across the country into digital hubs. These hubs will provide public Wi-Fi, live communication, and EE 4G and 5G connectivity in more than 200 towns and cities. Global will convert conventional BT payphones and kiosks into brand new Street Hubs, starting next year. They will also market and sell advertising on BT’s existing Street Hubs. BT will continue to provide mobile and WiFi connectivity to the units. The Street Hubs…
Virgin Media O2 and Hubbub Donate Used Devices to People in NeedVirgin Media O2 and environmental charity Hubbub are collaborating to provide over 500 used tablets and smartphones to individuals in need. The initiative is funded by a £400,000 device lending scheme established by the Tech Lending Community Scheme in 2022. The goal of the scheme is to offer used devices to those in need while also giving technology a second life, thus reducing landfill waste. In this round of funding, homelessness charities Centrepoint and Thames Reach will receive over 500 tablets and smartphones, connected with free O2 mobile data…
Amazon has restricted viewers from subscribing to BritBox on Prime Video shortly after ITV announced plans to remove the service from Prime Video in the second quarter of 2024. Existing subscribers will retain access to BritBox until its complete removal from Prime Video. However, ITV plans to close BritBox’s apps on April 30, affecting smart TVs and streaming devices like Amazon Fire Sticks and Roku players. ITV aims to steer viewers towards ITVX, offering BritBox content as part of its Premium package since its launch in late 2022. Most existing subscribers will be transitioned automatically to ITVX Premium, maintaining the…