In a recent wave of disclosures, Edward Snowden released documents claiming the National Security Agency has monitored VTech users for “any suspicious activity” dating back to 1976, the year the electronic learning product company was founded. VTech has not issued an official response, but device owners have been quick to voice their reactions. Three-year-old Helen … Read more

US authorities have dismantled a large global botnet operated by Russia’s GRU military intelligence agency. Attorney General Merrick Garland announced the disruption on Wednesday, saying the operation prevented the botnet from being weaponized. “Fortunately, we were able to disrupt this botnet before it could be used. Thanks to our close work with international partners, we … Read more

(Image Credit: Bill Bourne) While projects like Google’s ambitious initiatives aim to tackle rural broadband with large-scale, costly solutions, a compact chip developed by Saankhya Labs in Bengaluru offers a practical and immediate way to bring internet access to underserved communities. The Pruthvi chip leverages unused portions of television broadcast spectrum—commonly called TV White Space—to … Read more

Big Data often carries negative associations, especially around privacy. The term is frequently linked to the mass collection and monetisation of personal information — a perception amplified by controversies like the NSA’s surveillance revelations. Companies sometimes hesitate to share data more out of concern for their public image than for the potential service improvements data … Read more

Germany’s Defence Minister Boris Pistorius has warned that Russian reconnaissance satellites are closely monitoring commercial satellites used by NATO militaries, raising concerns about a new and dangerous frontier in space. The reported manoeuvres could give a hostile actor the ability to interfere with, jam, manipulate, or even physically damage vital satellite infrastructure from orbit. Such … Read more

Chances are you’ve experienced the frustration of a “storage almost full” message on your phone. In a digital world where people want to securely back up photos, videos, audio, contacts and documents—and are understandably reluctant to delete cherished content—consumers are increasingly willing to pay for reliable storage. The success of services like Apple iCloud and … Read more

Vodafone and Three are reportedly close to finalising a merger of their UK telecoms operations that would create the country’s largest mobile operator. The proposed transaction is estimated at about £15 billion ($19 billion) and would surpass BT-owned EE in total mobile subscribers. Sources indicate the combined company’s equity would be valued at roughly £9 … Read more

An investigation by the Tech Transparency Project (TTP) has revealed that millions of Americans have downloaded VPN apps that covertly route internet traffic through companies tied to China, including several connected to a firm previously sanctioned by the U.S. government for links to China’s military. TTP found that one in five of the top 100 … Read more

Telstra and Swedish telecom vendor Ericsson have announced a new software-based breakthrough that significantly extends NB-IoT range without any changes to existing physical hardware. Ericsson’s enhancement increases the practical 3GPP standards-based coverage from roughly 40 km to about 100 km, and it can be enabled through software updates on current NB-IoT equipment. Emilio Romeo, Ericsson’s … Read more

A recent meeting between Huawei executives and UK security officials resulted in an agreement for Huawei to change certain practices to address security concerns. Huawei will submit a formal letter to the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) outlining the details of that agreement. The letter will specify the measures the company will take to reduce … Read more