home networking

Updated: A New Lobbying Group is fighting Right to Repair Laws

Consumer advocates and proponents of right to repair laws in 17 states have a new enemy to worry about. The Security Innovation Center, with backing of powerful tech industry groups, is arguing that letting consumers fix their own devices will empower hackers.*

Touch interface on smart kitchen appliance

Smart Homes May Hide Crypto Mining Schemes

Loosely attended smart home appliances may be platforms for cryptocurrency mining scams, a researcher with the firm IOActive warns.

Online Trust Alliance to merge with Internet Society

In-brief: The Online Trust Alliance, which has focused on issues related to privacy and security on the Internet of Things, is merging with The Internet Society, home of the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), the groups said in an announcement Wednesday.

Samsung Smart TV

MEH CIA: Agency’s Hacking Tools Targeted Known, Patched Holes

In-brief: Two days after the site Wikileaks dumped thousands of pages of information about covert CIA hacking tool, the security and technology communities have weighed in. Their verdict? Meh. 

Vizio smart TV

TV Maker Vizio Settles with FTC Over Selling Viewer Data

In-brief: Smart TV maker VIZIO agreed to pay $2.2 million to the FTC and the State of New Jersey to settle charges that it collected the viewing history of some 11 million smart televisions without users’ consent. The settlement stems from a 2014 case and requires the company to “prominently disclose and obtain affirmative express consent” for data collection and sharing.