MNL Tech Roundup: May week 3
Latest tech and startup stories curated by Draper Startup House Manila.
Google wants people to use 2FA, so it’s just going to turn it on for them
Ars Technica | May 8, 2021
Yesterday, for “World Password Day,” Google announced a very bold move for account security. “Soon,” the company says, it will start “automatically enrolling” users in 2FA, provided their accounts are appropriately configured. Google doesn’t go into detail about what “appropriately configured” means, but it sounds like anyone who can have 2FA enabled will have 2FA enabled soon. Google’s preferred 2FA method is the “Google Prompt,” a notification Google pushes to your phone when you’re attempting to sign in. Rather than requiring you to type in a clunky code, the Google Prompt provides a simple “yes/no” check, making 2FA easier than ever.
Facebook faces prospect of ‘devastating’ data transfer ban after Irish ruling
Reuters | May 15, 2021
Ireland’s data regulator can resume a probe that may trigger a ban on Facebook’s transatlantic data transfers, the High Court ruled on Friday, raising the prospect of a stoppage that the company warns would have a devastating impact on its business.
Colonial Pipeline Hacker DarkSide Says It Will Shut Operations
Wall Street Journal | May 14, 2021
The criminal group linked to a cyberattack that disrupted gasoline delivery across parts of the southeastern U.S. this week has told hacking associates that it is shutting down, according to security research firms.
A website operated by ransomware group DarkSide, which U.S. officials have said they believe originates in Eastern Europe, has been down since Thursday.
Dogecoin rallies on Elon Musk tweet, anticipated Coinbase listing
CNBC | May 14, 2021
Dogecoin soared Friday after a tweet from supporter Elon Musk, and as Coinbase said it would list the meme-inspired cryptocurrency.
The price of dogecoin climbed to an intraday high above 56 cents in early morning trade, according to Coin Metrics data. As of 10:30 a.m., dogecoin was up 39.4% at 54 cents per coin, on track for its best day since Apr. 16. It’s still down about 20% from a record high of nearly 67 cents only a week ago.
Musk tweeted Thursday that he was working with dogecoin developers to improve the efficiency of transactions.
Reminders on rise as WhatsApp update deadline looms
BBC Technology | May 14, 2021
Users yet to accept new terms and conditions for the messaging platform WhatsApp will start to get “persistent” reminders after the 15 May deadline.
The changes relate primarily to the way businesses interact with customers.
Since they were announced, in January, there has been concern about the prospect of increased data sharing with WhatsApp’s parent company, Facebook, but this will not be changing.
Most of the app’s two billion users had already accepted, the company said.
Those who do not will start to lose functionality — beginning with being unable to see chat lists and ending with not receiving video calls and messages — but no accounts will be deleted.
Apple WWDC 2021: iOS 15, MacOS 12 and everything we expect
CNET | May 14, 2021
Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference runs June 7 to 11 and will take place entirely online just like last year’s. The biggest WWDC news is expected to happen the first day, as part of a keynote with previews of Apple’s next operating systems, likely iOS 15, iPadOS 15, MacOS 12, WatchOS 8 and TVOS 15. There could also be hardware news, like a follow-up to Apple’s M1 chip and new “pro” Macs. M-series processors, designed by Apple, were announced at WWDC 2020 and are a key part of the company’s transition away from Intel processors in Macs.
Twitter to call subscription service Twitter Blue, charge $3 a month, report says
CNET | May 15, 2021
A forthcoming subscription service from Twitter will be called Twitter Blue and cost $3 a month, tipster Jane Manchun Wong tweeted on Saturday. In early May, the social site spoke of “an upcoming subscription offering we’re currently exploring,” in a blog post about Twitter’s acquisition of ad blocker Scroll.
New leak ahead of Google I/O claims Android 12 may include changes for widgets and notifications
The Verge | May 16, 2021
Just ahead of Google I/O, which gets underway on Tuesday, a new leak purporting to be a preview of what’s coming during the annual developers’ conference gives some insight into what Android 12 might look like. A new video from Jon Prosser shows what appear to be slides from a presentation of Android 12.
NPC to impose administrative fines on data privacy violations in private sector
Newsbytes.PH | May 13, 2021
The National Privacy Commission (NPC) announced on Thursday, May 13, that is set to impose administrative fines on data privacy violations of personal information controllers or processors from the private sector.
A separate initiative for government agencies is also underway with the NPC holding consultations with the Civil Service Commission, the privacy body said.
The NPC presented the draft circular on the guidelines on administrative fines to concerned organizations and stakeholders in an online public consultation on April 30, 2021.
The agency made it clear that the proposed fines are separate from the criminal penalties and fines provided under the Data Privacy Act (DPA) and its implementing rules and regulations.
NASA Exercise Finds That No Tech Is Available to Stop an Asteroid’s Collision With Earth
Gadgets360 | May 15, 2021
NASA and its peers around the world conducted a “table-top” exercise last month to determine the time scientists will take to understand and find ways to prevent a catastrophic collision of an incoming asteroid into the Earth. The simulation was hypothetical and intended to allow scientists time to prepare for such situations if that were to arise. They set the scenario: a mysterious asteroid from about 35 million miles (56.3 million kilometres) away is coming towards Earth and is expected to hit the planet in six months. Scientists sat down for a week starting April 26 to plan ways to stop or change the direction of the hypothetical asteroid, named 2021 PDC.
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