David Lidsky's Blog, page 2817
January 5, 2016
Comcast Xfinity's Home Security System Is Easy To Disable, Claim Researchers
The cable giant says it is looking into claims that the jamming system's wireless signals disconnect intrusion sensors from hub.
Cable providers want to do more than just service the dumb pipe that shuttles information and content to and from your home. One way of expanding their reach is to provide online home automation and home security systems, as cable giant Comcast does with its wireless Xfinity Home offering. But that system is apparently easy to undermine, reports cybersecurity firm Rapid7, which claims that it had difficulty reaching Comcast to alert it to the vulnerability. Comcast says it is looking into the claims, adding that Rapid7 didn't make much of an effort to alert it to the purported vulnerability.
Report: Snapchat Is Building Its Own Ad Platform
Snapchat is launching an API that will let advertisers buy more and better mobile ads, Digiday reports.
Snapchat is working on an application-programmer interface that would let brands buy more targeted and sophisticated ads on the popular mobile messaging platform, according to a Digiday report.
Fitbit Unveils Blaze Faux-Smartwatch, And Wall Street Doesn't Seem To Like It
Fitbit revealed a $200 wearable device, called the Blaze, at CES in Las Vegas.
Fitbit announced a new device at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas today—a new wearable called the Blaze that looks a lot like a smartwatch—and Wall Street doesn't appear to like Fitbit's apparent move toward Apple Watch territory.
Lumosity Must Pay $2 Million After "Unfounded" Brain Game Claims
Lumosity agreed to pay $2 million to settle FTC charges it deceived consumers about the cognitive benefits of its game app.
The maker of brain game app Lumosity has agreed to pay $2 million to settle charges brought by the Federal Trade Commission, which alleged it deceived consumers about the product's brain-training benefits.
For First Time, Cyber Attack Causes Widespread Electricity Blackout
Hackers leave hundreds of thousands without power in Ukraine.
The first known cyber attack to cause widespread public blackouts has occurred in Ukraine, it is believed. On December 23, an electricity blackout left about half the homes in the Ivano-Frankivsk region of Ukraine without power, according to local reports at the time. It is now believed by security researchers that the blackout was achieved by hackers using malicious code known as the BlackEnergy Trojan.
Connected Cocktails? I'll Drink To That
Bernooli promises its technology can make anyone feel like an experienced mixologist.
These days, it seems everything is connected, from our thermostats to our locks to our cars. So why not our cocktails?
January 4, 2016
Report: Facebook Tested User Loyalty By Sabotaging Its Android App
Users just kept on coming back.
If the Facebook app were down, would you keep checking it every few minutes?
CES 2016: Live Updates
CES 2016 begins this week in Las Vegas. Fast Company's Daniel Terdiman will be bringing you live updates from the event.
If Christmas wasn't enough to stoke gadget geeks' fires, the first week of the year brings even more good cheer in the form of the annual CES, the world's largest consumer electronics show, in Las Vegas.
SpaceX's Reusable Rocket Is "Ready to Fire Again"
Unlike most rockets, the Falcon 9 did not fall into the ocean.
SpaceX made a major step forward in its quest to reuse the rockets it sends into orbit.
Amazon Lets U.K. Shoppers Buy Now, Pay Later
Amazon's Pay Monthly initiative lets shoppers in the U.K. pay for large orders in installments.
When Amazon shoppers in the U.K. go to pay for their orders, they'll now see a new payment choice on the checkout page: Amazon Pay Monthly. The new option lets customers pay for more expensive items in installments, a move that could position the online retailer to further disrupt brick-and-mortar stores.
David Lidsky's Blog
- David Lidsky's profile
- 3 followers
