Consumer Security
Security
Google buys start-up that uses sounds instead of passwords
Google has bought an Israel-based start-up specialising in using sounds instead of passwords for logging in.
Security
Valentine's Day a boon for online scammers
Australians should be extra vigilant of online romance and dating scams around Valentine's Day, the consumer watchdog says.
Security
Fake Flappy Bird games may contain malware
Salvador Rodriguez Security researchers are warning Android users not to install versions of Flappy Bird found in alternative app stores as they may contain malware that could lead to unwanted charges on their phone bills.
Safety
Online or offline, a scam is a scam: Australian police team up in fight for a safer internet
MAHESH SHARMA The message to be careful online is not sinking in.
Security
Wacky new devices spell death of traditional passwords
Paddy Wood The world's most common online password was revealed this week to be "123456", but tech boffins are working hard to ensure the password's days are numbered.
Security
'123456' overtakes 'password' as the worst password online
The number sequence "123456" has overtaken "password" as the most common worst password among internet users, an online security firm says.
Web
Google bans extensions that sent malware
Salvador Rodriguez Google has removed two extensions for its Chrome web browser after they delivered malware to their users.
Mobiles
Blackphone claims to be first NSA-proof smartphone
Lily Hay Newman A new smartphone called Blackphone is taking a stab at "prioritising user privacy" and creating an entire ecosystem.
Apps
Snapchat apologises for spam, says it's unrelated to data breach
Salvador Rodriguez Snapchat has apologised for an excessive amount of spam users have been receiving lately, but said it is not related to a recent data breach.
Apps
Snapchat apologises for data breach, rolls out update
Salvador Rodriguez Snapchat has apologised and issued an update a week after 4.6 million users' information was exposed.
CES
Forget fingerprint scanning, EyeLock myris brings eye scanning to devices
Pete Pachal EyeLock develops iris scanners for security checkpoints, and now it's putting that technology into consumer devices.
Social
Facebook sued over alleged scanning of users' private messages
Jessica Guynn, Karen Gullo Facebook is being sued over allegations it monitors private messages to gather even more information on its users and share the data with advertisers.
Security
Was your Snapchat account hacked? Use this tool to find out
Anita Li Two developers have created a tool that helps Snapchat users check if their accounts have been hacked.
Tech
Most Australians want Google to stop giving data to US spy agencies
Philip Dorling Most Australians are opposed to Google handing over Australian data to US spy agencies and want greater privacy protection after the revelations of American intelligence whistleblower Edward Snowden. There is also strong support for greater government regulation to force the company to pay more tax in Australia.
Comment
Why I cover my iPhone and laptop camera and why you should too
BEN GRUBB Ever feel like you're being watched through the web cameras of your multiple devices? I did and found plenty of comfort in sticky tape.
Privacy
Researchers activate Apple iSight webcams without warning light
Ashkan Soltani, Timothy B. Lee If a laptop has a built-in camera, then someone can access it to spy on the user at any time, and the user would never know.
Security
Online shoppers: before you click that ad, read this
Dali Kaafar While online shopping has become less problematic over time as online security becomes stronger, there is another, lesser-known way to fall foul of hackers: malicious advertising.
Security
Game teaches risks of personal data exposure
Sim Sim Wissgott Sexual orientation, private debt, medical records, even your favourite ice cream flavour: do you know much of this personal information is out there and available for sale?
Security
Cryptolocker warning: Malware extortion virus attacks on rise
Natalie O'Brien It has a name like a B-grade horror film and computer experts say the latest virus attacking Australian computers is one of the most vicious they have ever seen.
Security
Rise in government requests for Google data
Brian Womack Number of Aussie government requests for user data jumped 10 percent to 645 in the first half of 2013.
Security
Internet users manage up to 50 online passwords
SARAH WHYTE Australians are using up to 50 online passwords and creating false identities in a bid to maintain their privacy in the virtual world.
Tech
Love scams sending $7m a month to west Africa
LUCY BATTERSBY One in five internet users aged over 50 have been victims of online fraud, in part because older Australians are more likely than teenagers to chat to strangers online, post personal contact information or get caught up in love scams.
Mobiles
iPhones add features to foil thieves
Dana Hull The theft of iPhones and iPads is so widespread it's known as "Apple picking".
The 20 most popular passwords stolen in Adobe hack
Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai The three most popular passwords among Adobe users, whose account details were stolen by hackers, are: "123456", "123456789", and "password".
Security
Smartphone buyers beware: don't trust all .com.au domains
Liam Tung Some Australian online shops may not be all they seem, as several scam .com.au sites have been shut down.
Cyber security
What hackers can discover about you is 'chilling'
A journalist who challenged a team of hackers to find out as much information about him as possible has described their findings as "chilling" after they were able to access all of his bank accounts and crack all of his passwords.
Privacy
How to remain anonymous online
ADAM TURNER Someone, somewhere is always watching your activity online.
Security
Forget the NSA, that spy may be your spouse
Jordan Robertson It's not just the NSA, many ordinary people are also using sophisticated software to eavesdrop on the communications of their lovers, children and business rivals.
Apps
SnapHack app lets users save Snapchat photos without notifying sender
Salvador Rodriguez Want to save Snapchat pictures and videos without the sender finding out? There's an app for that.
Spam
Huge rise in phishing spam on text messages
Brad Howarth Mobile messaging has become so ingrained in our lives that few of us think twice about opening a text message.
