Code-Breakers Look to Devices Other Than iPhone
Los Angeles — Computer hacker Will Strafach had no trouble seizing control of the original iPhone. Same went for later generations over the next five years. But by now, Apple Inc. has introduced so many layers of protection inside its flagship device that Strafach and others have moved on. As the frenzied hacking has subsided, publicly shared solutions to crack iPhone security are becoming harder to come by. The frustration he and...
Oracle Ordered by the FTC To Repair Flawed Software
Washington — Oracle, one of the nation’s largest tech companies, is settling federal charges that it misled consumers about the security of its software, which is installed on roughly 850 million computers around the world. The company won’t be paying a fine, and it isn’t admitting to any wrongdoing or fault in its settlement with the Federal Trade Commission. But Oracle will be required to tell consumers explicitly if they have...
Yahoo Shuts Users Out of E-Mail
Yahoo confirmed reports that it is preventing some Yahoo Mail users from seeing their e-mails until they turn off their ad-blocking software. Users started complaining about two weeks ago on social media and ad-blocking forums that a message prompting them to disable ad-blocking software appeared when they tried to view their e-mail. On Monday, a company spokeswoman said the notices were a limited experiment. “At Yahoo, we are...
Small Retailers Go High Tech
New York — An independent retailer may not look like the cutting edge of technology, but these small businesses increasingly turn to apps and sophisticated software to connect with customers. Small retailers use high-tech innovations to build relationships with customers; they often can’t compete with big chains on prices, so they aim at better, individualized service. Some of the technology is designed for smaller companies, while...
VW to Offer Owners $1,000 in Gift Cards
Detroit — Volkswagen is offering $1,000 in gift cards and vouchers as a goodwill gesture to owners of small diesel-powered cars involved in an emissions cheating scandal. The offer announced Monday goes to owners of 482,000 cars in the U.S., many who are angry at the company because they paid extra for the cars to be environmentally sensitive without losing peppy acceleration. VW is working on a fix for the cars, which are equipped...
