News

Meditab Health Tech Company Data Leak

Andrew Orr ·

California company Meditab, which makes medical records software for hospitals, doctor’s offices, and pharmacies, exposed data on a server without a password (via TechCrunch). [Apple Health Records Gets Positive Feedback From Patients] Meditab Leak Besides medical records software, Meditab also processes faxes for healthcare providers, and it was a fax server that wasn’t secured. Dubai…

Link

Apple's Latest Privacy Ad is Relatable to Everyone

Andrew Orr ·

Writing for ZDNet, Chris Matyszczyk thinks Apple’s latest privacy ad is a joke. He was expecting a serious message about privacy and thinks the video was too superficial.

We’re offered scenes from everyday life, in which people assert their need not to have their conversations overheard, yet they’re played for comedy. There are times when you need to lock strangers — or teachers or even members of your family — out of your personal life.

In my opinion, that’s exactly why I think the ad was great. Most non-tech people don’t want or don’t understand conversations about encryption, open-source, VPNs, etc. Non-tech people are still using Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram despite the awful things Facebook does. Non-tech people are who Apple makes products for.

Link

Your Phone Number Shouldn't Be Your Identity

Andrew Orr ·

Brian Krebs wrote a good article on how our phone numbers have become security and authentication tools, and thus closely tied to our identity. But there’s a problem with that.

Phone numbers stink for security and authentication. They stink because most of us have so much invested in these digits that they’ve become de facto identities. At the same time, when you lose control over a phone number — maybe it’s hijacked by fraudsters, you got separated or divorced, or you were way late on your phone bill payments — whoever inherits that number can then be you in a lot of places online.

TMO Deals

Charge up to 4 Devices with USB, USB-C, Qi Wireless Charging: $38.24

Bryan Chaffin ·

We have a cool device for today’s deal, the GOSPACE SuperCharger. It can charge up to four devices at once, with two USB charging ports, a USB-C charging port, and built-in Qi wireless charging. It plugs into the wall with a replaceable plug, and it comes with a US, UK, EU, and Australian plug, too. AND, it has a built-in 10,000mAh battery for charging things on the go. That’s a great combo of features, especially if you have a mix of Apple devices that use different charging cables. It’s $44.99 through our deal, but coupon code MADNESS15 brings it down to $38.24 at checkout.

Link

Facebook Can't Find Enough Local News for its Platform

Andrew Orr ·

Facebook is in a bit of a dilemma when it comes to news. Back in November it launched a feature called Today In, which would give people local news in their area. But the company is having trouble filling Today In with enough news, and this is because Facebook is a big contributor to the demise of news.

Today In may be live in 400 cities, but it’s unavailable across large parts of the country that perhaps most need it, namely, those with few or no local newspapers. Of course, Facebook contributed heavily to death of so many local news outlets as a large portion of advertising spending shifted from legacy media to the web, leading to dwindling newspaper revenue. Facebook isn’t the only reason hundreds of outlets have bitten the dust. Consolidation and mergers have played a role, but the likes of Facebook and Google have certainly been key factors.