NewsMarket: TECHNOLOG

Showing posts with label TECHNOLOG. Show all posts

Monday, February 20, 2012

Google cookies 'bypassed Safari privacy protection'

Google says it has now started removing the advertising cookies in question from Safari browsers

Google has been accused of bypassing the privacy settings of users of the Safari web-browser.

The Wall Street Journal said Google and other companies had worked around privacy settings designed to restrict cookies.

Cookies are small text files stored by browsers which can record information about online activity, and help some online services work.

However Google says the story "mischaracterises" what happened.

Advertisers can use cookies to track online behaviour, helping them to target the commercials they show to internet users.

Some think this use of cookies erodes online privacy. In May, European Union laws are due to come into force which will restrict the use of advertising cookies.

But cookies are also essential to some web services like those Google offers.

Cookie control

The Safari browser is produced by Apple, and is the browser used by the iPhone.

By default Safari only allows cookies to be stored by the web page a user is visiting, not from third parties such as advertisers.

However, Stanford University researcher Jonathan Mayer found that advertisers were still able to store cookies on the computers of internet users browsing with Safari.

It was his discovery that formed the basis of the Wall Street Journal's story.

Many Google services use cookies, for example to remember when someone is signed in to a service, but they are also used by the firm to help personalise advertising.

It was when Google attempted to find a way to enable some of its services and personalised advertising to work on Safari that, Google says, it inadvertently stored cookies.

Side-stepping Safari

In a statement, senior vice president Rachel Whetstone said that last year the company had decided to "enable features for signed-in Google users on Safari who had opted to see personalised ads and other content".

“Start Quote

We are aware that some third parties are circumventing Safari's privacy features and we are working to put a stop to it”

Apple spokesman

She added: "To enable these features, we created a temporary communication link between Safari browsers and Google's servers, so that we could ascertain whether Safari users were also signed into Google, and had opted for this type of personalisation."

Ms Whetsone said the company had created new systems to make sure the information it collected was anonymous, but this had led to unintended consequences:

"The Safari browser contained functionality that then enabled other Google advertising cookies to be set on the browser.

"We didn't anticipate that this would happen, and we have now started removing these advertising cookies from Safari browsers. It's important to stress that, just as on other browsers, these advertising cookies do not collect personal information."

The Wall Street Journal reported that Google "disabled the code after being contacted by the paper".

Google declined to provide further comment to the BBC.

Privacy warning

Online privacy advocates were highly critical of Google's actions.

The Electronic Frontier Foundation wrote: "It's time for Google to acknowledge that it can do a better job of respecting the privacy of web users."

Although much of the criticism has been directed at the search giant, the Wall Street Journal said that in addition to Google, a number of advertising companies had been using the work-around which had been known about for some time.

An Apple spokesman said in a statement: "We are aware that some third parties are circumventing Safari's privacy features and we are working to put a stop to it."

Playstation Vita ready for Europe launch

Over half a million Playstation Vitas have been sold in other markets so far

Sony's new handheld console - the Playstation Vita - is set to launch in Europe on Tuesday.

The device launched in Japan last Christmas and Sony say more than half a million units have now been sold.

It will be a rival to Nintendo's 3DS, boasting a quad-core processor and 5in (12.7cm) OLED touch screen.

However, it is entering a competitive market as mobile casual gamer space becomes increasingly dominated by game applications for smartphones.

Two different versions of the device will go on sale: a model with wi-fi connectivity for £229 and an enhanced version that also uses the 3G mobile network.

Johnny Minkley, from video gaming website Eurogamer, said the Vita was "the most competent handheld gaming system ever made", but he believed price would be an issue.

Some gaming industry pundits have questioned Sony's use of proprietary memory cards

"It is a high-end device and Sony has shot itself in the foot with the proprietary memory cards [on which the many of the games come], which is an added expense which everyone needs to make on day one," he added.

Launch line-up

When Nintendo launched its 3DS system last year, sales were poor, forcing the company to slash 40% of the price, despite critical acclaim.

It was not until games such as Mario Kart were launched that sales of the 3DS started to pick up.

In contrast, the Vita will have 30 different games available at launch. Some will be full-price commercial titles, while others are third-party downloads priced at under £10.

The device has had mostly positive response from the gaming media. Tech Radar gave it four-and-a-half stars out of five and said it took "gaming to a new level".

However, CNet gave it an distinctly average three out of five starsand said it was "bulky with an unimpressive battery life".

The site added: "All but the most hardcore gaming nuts would be better served by something like the iPod touch."

Jim Ryan, president and CEO of Sony Europe, told the BBC the device would stand out among smartphones and tablets.

Viva PS Vita or death to all its friends?

"Gaming on the smartphone and tablet is a reality and it would be foolish to stick our heads in the sand," he said.

"We have to demonstrate that our device and the gaming experience is differentiated and we provide great value to justify the financial outlay they have to make to buy into Vita."

'Pent-up demand'

Piers Harding Rolls, an analyst with Screen Digest, said CNet had highlighted a problem that, longer term, Sony may have to face up to.

"There are plenty of other devices out there offering games content, so the market is very competitive.

"Our sales figure prediction is not a small amount by any means, but if you compare it to smartphones, it is but a subset," he added.

As well as traditional rivals like Nintendo, the Vita will also face a growing smartphone gaming market

Sony said that, for the first two years, it would be targeting its core demographic: 18 to 25-year-old males who were gamers first and foremost.

"When we get to year two and year three, we will try to broaden the demographic to bring in the younger consumer - the more casual consumer, perhaps," said Mr Ryan.

How Sony will achieve that remains to be seen.

"Many people have smartphones so already have games on the move," said Mr Minkley.

"The biggest questionmark is, who is it for, outside of gamers. Where does Vita fit in? Right now, I really don't know."

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Landline to mobile fees to be reduced sooner, CC rules

Consumers may not benefit from reductions in the cost of calls between mobiles and landlines

The UK's Competition Commission has said that proposed cuts to the cost of landline calls to mobiles should happen more quickly.

Ofcom ruled last year that the fees charged by mobile operators for calls on its network should fall by 80% over the next four years.

Rates have dropped, but the process has been held up by legal action.

Vodafone warned that the cuts would mean higher costs for pay-as-you-go customers.

The fees mobile phone firms charge rivals for handling calls from their networks - also known as mobile termination rates (MTRs) - are regarded by some as excessively high.

Last year Ofcom reduced the charge from an average of 4.18p to 2.66p and wants to see it fall to just 0.69p by 2015. It said at the time that it hoped the reduced fees would be passed on to customers.

But the process has been held up by appeals lodged by Vodafone, Everything Everywhere and O2, who argue that the cuts are too aggressive.

BT, which alongside mobile firm 3 has led the Terminate the Rate campaign, wanted to see quicker and more drastic reductions.

The Competition Commission (CC) appeared to agree and has ruled that the reductions should be implemented by 2014.

"Our suggestion is that prices fall a bit faster but there is a strong likelihood that the mobile firms will launch another appeal so this is not done and dusted yet," a spokesman for the CC told the BBC.

If the cuts do go ahead, mobile companies will be out of pocket by as much as £800m a year.

“Start Quote

Many of the fixed-line operators have merely pocketed previous reductions”

Vodafone statement

Vodafone warned that the loss of revenue would have to be passed on to customers.

'Galling'

"We are very disappointed that the Competition Commission considers that deep cuts in MTRs are necessary because it will further harm consumers," the mobile operator said.

"We warned Ofcom at the time of its original decision that drastic cuts in termination rates would disenfranchise many consumers who rely on their phones to keep in touch with friends and family... making it unsustainable for the mobile phone companies to continue subsidising the high cost of mobile handsets for pay as you go users," it added.

It claims that the cost reductions are not being passed on to landline customers either.

"It is particularly galling to see the commission's position given that many of the fixed-line operators have merely pocketed previous reductions in mobile termination rates, instead of reducing prices for customers. BT, meanwhile, has actually increased its line rental prices three times over the past year and a half," it said.

Following Ofcom's ruling last April, BT cut landline charges from 7p per minute to 5.3p per minute in the evening and from 13p per minute to 11.3p during the day.

It welcomed the CC's decision.

"We are particularly pleased that the CC has upheld our view that Ofcom should have brought forward its low-rate target by a full year," the telecoms firm said in a statement.

"Despite vigorous attempts by the incumbent mobile operators to have Ofcom's approach overturned and so increase the rates they can charge for terminating calls, the CC has decided that wholesale mobile termination rates should be reduced even further," it added.

It said it hoped that the decision can brought into effect "as swiftly as possible".

Apple iPad China sales and shipments threat in name row

China is a major manufacturing base for Apple products.

A Chinese company is to ask customs officials to block shipments of Apple's iPad both into and out of the country.

If the request succeeds, it could affect global sales as China is a key manufacturing base for the company.

The move follows a long-running dispute between Apple and electronics firm Proview over ownership of the iPad name.

Last year Proview won an initial judgement in a mainland Chinese court, which Apple has appealed against.

Proview said it is contacting officials across China with a view to blocking sales of the product.

Proview lawyer Xie Xianghui said: "We are now working on a request to China Customs to ban and seize all the import and export of the iPad products that have violated the trademark."

'Worldwide rights'

Local media reports said that several dozen iPads were taken from shelves in the city of Shijiazhuang just south of Beijing.

In a statement Apple said: "We bought Proview's worldwide rights to the iPad trademark in 10 different countries several years ago.

"Proview refuses to honour their agreement with Apple in China and a Hong Kong court has sided with Apple in this matter. Our case is still pending in mainland China."

While this dispute continues, it is widely anticipated that Apple will announce the launch of the next version of the iPad in March.

The speculation has not been confirmed by Apple. The company is notoriously close-lipped about future releases.

Users warned as RnBXclusive.com shut down by police

Users of RnBXclusive.com were greeted with this message after the site was taken down on Tuesday morning

Music site RnBXclusive.com has been shut down by the UK's Serious Organised Crime Agency (Soca).

A takedown notice warned visitors who have used the site to download music they could face up to 10 years imprisonment and an unlimited fine.

Soca said music posted on the site was "stolen from the artists" and may have "damaged careers".

A man has been arrested for fraud and bailed pending further enquiries, police told the BBC.

"Soca targets organised criminal enterprises profiting from the exploitation of the UK public and legitimate businesses," the agency said in a statement.

“Start Quote

Members of the public can become facilitators of organised crime by obtaining property or services from its perpetrators”

Soca statement

"Much of the music offered for download by the RnBXclusive.com website was illegally obtained from artists, leading the industry to attribute losses of approximately £15m per year to the site's activity."

Soca added that the action was part of a wider operation combating illegal uploading of copyrighted material online, with several sites being targeted using "varied techniques".

Some industry observers believe the action is a fresh sign that British authorities are stepping up efforts to stamp out online piracy.

However, Loz Kaye, leader of the Pirate Party UK, said he disagreed with the nature of the closure.

"The explicit threat to visitors of the site and take down notice is alarming.

"The claim that the information gathered can be used to identify visitors and their location, followed by a statement that Soca has the capability to monitor, investigate and inform visitors internet service providers of apparent 'infringements', making visitors liable for prosecution seems extreme and unduly threatening."

RnBXclusive.com also ran Twitter and Facebook accounts which remain accessible - although links posted on both services are now inactive as a result of the main site's takedown.

'Monitor and investigate'

On Facebook, fans of the website reacted angrily to the closure.

"Screw Soca!" one user wrote. Another added: "Am I the only one scared of this 10 year jail and fine?"

Police told the BBC they would not comment on whether any of the site's users were currently being pursued.

The site offered latest news and tracks from the UK's rhythm and blues music scene

The website, which is registered to an address in Leicester, was unreachable on Wednesday.

The Soca message, which is now displayed to all visitors of RnBXclusive, displays the user's internet protocol (IP) address, which can be used to identify people online.

The notice warns that Soca has "the capability to monitor and investigate you".

"Members of the public can become facilitators of organised crime by obtaining property or services from its perpetrators," a Soca spokesman said.

"Soca is committed to raising awareness of this threat, its potential consequences, and the steps people can take to avoid involvement."

Last month, officials shut down MegaUpload - one of the world's biggest file-sharing sites. Its owner, Kim Dotcom is being held in New Zealand having been denied bail.

Friday, February 10, 2012

Ofcom targets phone and broadband switching 'slammers'

Ofcom says many consumers lose their broadband connection for a week when they switch provider

Landline phone and internet providers which switch customers to their service without their consent - a process known as "slamming" - are being targeted by Ofcom.

The telecoms regulator says that an estimated 520,000 UK households were "slammed" last year.

It argues that all switches should be verified by a third party to prevent abuses.

The telecoms industry has expressed concern that this could add to costs.

Other suggestions put forward by the regulator include:

Making the new provider responsible for the switching process
Simplifying the process to make sure that consumers are not confused and do not have to contact different providers
Addressing technical problems which can cause the wrong lines to be switched
Tackling loss of service caused by a change of provider; Ofcom says one in five consumers lose their broadband connection for about a week when they switch

"Many people think that the current systems are too difficult and unreliable which is why we have made it one of our priorities to tackle this problem," said Ofcom's chief executive Ed Richards.

"Today's proposals are designed to make the process easier and safe from slamming."

'Cumbersome experience'

Campaign group Consumer Focus praised the regulator's proposals and urged it to consider similar measures for TV and mobile services.

"When you switch to a new supplier, it should be responsible for making the process quick and simple - the company losing the business has few incentives to do this," said Adam Scorer, its director of policy.

"When the new company handles the move it tends to bring down costs, limit disruption and encourage quick completion; all of which is good news for consumers."

The Internet Services Providers' Association, which represents the industry, said it also welcomed Ofcom's intervention. However, it added that it had reservations about some of the specific proposals.

"We do have some concerns about potential costs of a third-party verification process, and what could turn out to be a potentially cumbersome customer experience."

Ofcom says it will consult the industry, consumers and other interested groups on the proposals until 23 April and report back in the autumn.

iPhone apps Path and Hipster offer address-book apology

Path says it helps you "share life with the ones you love"

The makers of two iPhone apps have apologised after it emerged they had uploaded users address-book information without explicit permission.

Path and Hipster both sent contact data to company servers in order to help users find friends who were also using the apps.

Both companies said they had now updated their apps to fix the problem.

But there is concern the practice may be more widespread. Hipster has called for a "summit" to discuss app privacy.

Path is a social media app which bills itself as "the smart journal that helps you share life with the ones you love".

Arun Thampi, a software developer, first drew attention to the issue with Path in a blog post after he discovered that his phone's address book was being sent to the company's servers without his permission.

The company has since apologised. "We made a mistake," Path chief executive David Morin said in a blog post.

"Through the feedback we've received from all of you, we now understand that the way we had designed our 'Add Friends' feature was wrong," he wrote.

According to the company, contact information was encrypted before being sent to its servers. However, Mr Morin said Path had now "deleted the entire collection of uploaded contact information from our servers".

Path updated its app with a feature which asks users whether they want the service to use personal contact list information.

“Start Quote

We blew it, we're sorry, and we're going to make it right”

Doug LudlowHipster chief executive

Hipster howler

The discovery of the Path issue was quickly followed by news of a similar problem with Hipster.

Hipster says it allows users to "easily share where you are and what you're doing with postcards of your photos".

Like Path, the Hipster app was revealed to be uploading address book information to the company's servers without explicit permission.

"We blew it, we're sorry, and we're going to make it right," wrote contrite Hipster boss Doug Ludlow in a guest post on the blog Techcrunch.

"When we built our 'Find Friends' feature for iOS, we clearly dropped the ball when it comes to protecting our users' privacy," he added.

Hipster has, like Path, made an updated version of the app available which makes sharing contact information an opt-in.

Friend-sharing forum

Mr Ludlow invited other developers to attend an "application privacy summit" at its San Francisco headquarters.

The aim, he wrote, would be to create a "privacy pledge - one that can be adopted by all apps, detailing for users what types of privacy expectations they should have".

Both incidents have caused some to wonder whether other apps are also sharing contact information and whether Apple is doing enough to restrict the practice.

Writing in Sophos' Naked Security blog, senior security adviser Chester Wisniewski asked: "Where was Apple when the original app was released? The lengthy approval process should be looking out for its customers."

Several tech blogs also flagged up a post by blogger Dustin Curtis which claimed that "there's a quiet understanding among many iOS app developers that it's acceptable to send a user's entire address book without permission to remote servers and then store it".

Apple has not responded to BBC requests for comment.

Monday, February 20, 2012

“Start Quote

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

“Start Quote

Related Stories

“Start Quote

Friday, February 10, 2012

“Start Quote