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Hacker stole 100 million Capital One customers' data then tweeted about it
A US hacker has been arrested for breaching a web application firewall and stealing the personal and account details of 106 million US and Canadian Capital One customers (The Seattle Times).
Paige A. Thompson of Seattle was arrested by FBI agents following an investigation prompted earlier this month when Capital One was tipped off about the breach and an encrypted online cache of the stolen data. Thompson had posted messages about the files she'd obtained on Slack and Twitter in June. Capital One says it has patched the vulnerability she exploited.
Websites that embed social media widgets are legally responsible for the data they collect
The Court of Justice of the European Union has ruled that websites which embed a Facebook ‘Like’ button are jointly responsible for data that it collects and sends back to Facebook (TechCrunch). The key issue is that Like buttons automatically transfer personal data about a user – such as their IP address and the status of any Facebook cookies on their system – when the page loads. Under GDPR, consent must now be sought before that can happen: Facebook says it may change how the button works to make this possible.
Amazon's Ring has partnered with over 200 US police departments to promote its doorbell cameras
Amazon is working in partnership with over 200 US police departments in a project that helps Amazon obtain more users for its Ring doorbell security camera service and Neighbors “neighbourhood watch” app (Motherboard).
In exchange for getting people to sign up for the app, police are given free cameras to distribute in local neighbourhoods, which they have access to via the Ring Law Enforcement Neighborhood Portal. Notes made by a US police officer and obtained by Motherboard show that Ring is arranging training sessions with police to promote this marketing-cum-surveillance scheme.
Dark mode isn't as good for your eyes as you believe
Dark mode – which swaps the standard white background for black – for apps, browsers and phone interfaces is increasingly widely available and widely demanded where it isn't (WIRED). Beyond style, the widespread roll-out of dark mode has triggered a slew of dubious claims about its proposed benefits, covering assertions that it helps concentration, eye strain and battery life. We've unpacked some of the most prominent claims about dark mode, and whether they stack up.
Last week's heatwave broke British records
Last Thursday, the UK's highest-ever temperature – 38.7 degrees Celsius – was recorded at Cambridge University Botanic Garden (BBC News). While that's less extreme than recent European records of 42.6 degrees in mainland France and 41.8 degrees Celsius in Belgium, the UK's infrastructure was never designed for high temperatures. As the effects of climate change take hold, a new normal of summer heatwaves will require significant changes to ensure that vulnerable people's lives aren't put at risk.
Why you're so grumpy when it's hot
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This article was originally published by WIRED UK
