- Tech NewsPrivacy and Security
A New Reason to Not Buy These Cheap Android Devices: Complimentary Malware
Researchers at Avast Threat Labs say that more than 100 different low-cost Android devices from manufacturers like ZTE, Archos, and myPhone come with malware pre-installed. Users in more than 90 countries, including the US, are said to be infected. The good news is there’s a fix. According to the report, this adware variant has been … Continued
By Rhett Jones - Tech NewsNews
Student Punished for ‘Implied Threat’ After Putting High School on Craigslist
While some of his classmates wanted to execute senior pranks that would potentially disrupt classes, Missouri high school student Kylan Scheele opted for some tomfoolery that was a little more chill. “Other people were going to release live mice or, you know, building a beach in the front lobby area,” Scheele told Kansas City’s Fox … Continued
- Tech NewsPrivacy and Security
Instapaper Is Blocking Users in Europe Until It Figures Out New Privacy Rules [Update: It’s Back]
Instapaper has informed its European users that it will temporarily cut off their access to the platform starting today. The reason? This Pinterest-owned service needs more than the two years it had to comply with the European Union’s new batch of privacy rules that go into effect on May 25. Sorry, Europe! Here’s the message … Continued
- ScienceHealth
Does Your Community Have These Happy Neighborhood Traits?
Certain aspects of a neighborhood, including its ethnic diversity and the availability of public transit, are associated with better reported well-being among residents, according to a study published Wednesday in PLOS One. Researchers used data from an existing survey called the Gallup-Sharecare Well-Being Index. From 2010 to 2012, more than 300,000 Americans were asked about … Continued
By Ed Cara - io9
The Expanse Just Recharged All Its Storylines, and Now It’s Better Than Ever
After a soul-wrenching period in which The Expanse appeared doomed by cancellation, Amazon stepped in; though the deal isn’t confirmed yet, fans now have fresh hope the scifi standout will return. In the meantime, there’s still a good chunk of season three left to go on Syfy—although so much changed in last night’s thrilling “Delta-V” … Continued
By Cheryl Eddy - Tech News
Twitter Launches New Verification Tool for Political Candidates as 2018 Midterm Elections Loom
With the U.S. midterm elections less than six months away, Twitter has announced a new effort to combat fake news and the impersonation of public figures. Twitter will be rolling out a new verification badge for all major U.S. political candidates on Twitter next week, complete with a new icon that goes beyond the familiar … Continued
By Matt Novak - ScienceHealth
One Vaping Flavor Can Harm Human Cells, Study Finds
It’s a lingering question as to just how dangerous firing up an e-cigarette really is, especially when compared to the health impact of traditional tobacco cigarettes. Yet research presented this week at the American Thoracic Society’s annual conference suggests that part of the potential harm of vaping could come from the chemicals used to give … Continued
By Ed Cara - io9
Maybe Don’t Believe Those Wild Rumors About Familiar Faces in Black Panther 2
Sony’s Bloodshot movie adds a few more interesting names. The Six Million Dollar Man movie reboot has been pushed back. Get to know the new superheroes of Incredibles 2. More Flash and Supergirl casting rumors hint at more comics characters coming into the CW TV fold. Plus, what’s to come on Handmaids Tale and Legion. … Continued
- io9Games
The Opening of Detroit: Become Human Is Some Dumb-Butt Science Fiction
The concerns at the heart of Detroit: Become Human are readily apparent almost from the very start: the existential crisis faced by androids that look and behave like people but are treated like things. But its lofty ambitions get hamstrung at the very start by some incredibly heavy-handed moments of shlock. David Cage makes video … Continued
- Tech NewsNews
U.S. Justice Department Opens Investigation Into Cryptocurrency Price Manipulation
The U.S. Justice Department has opened a criminal investigation into the manipulation of popular cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum. It’s believed that some traders are manipulating the price of cryptocurrencies through illegal tactics like issuing fake orders, causing the price to go up and down at will. Bloomberg first reported the investigation, which is being … Continued
By Matt Novak - Tech NewsNews
Uber Says It’s Bringing Self-Driving Cars Back to Pittsburgh, Mayor Does a Spit Take
Following an announcement Wednesday that Uber will lay off about 300 employees and close up shop on its self-driving car testing operations in Arizona, the company revealed it would revive the program in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Uber apparently did not bother to run that idea by the mayor of the city, as he was completely blindsided … Continued
By AJ Dellinger - Tech NewsNews
Spotify Agrees to Fork Over $112 Million to Artists in Class Action Settlement
Spotify has faced a number of accusations regarding violations of copyright in recent years and this week saw one of those looming lawsuits put to bed. On Tuesday, a federal judge approved a $112 million settlement in a class action suit that accused Spotify of failing to adequately pay artists for the use of their … Continued
By AJ Dellinger - io9
Using Holograms to Create Doctor Strange’s Spells Is Next-Level Cosplay
Is the person in the below clip cosplaying as Doctor Strange? We don’t believe so. Maybe it’s his cousin, though, because the effect of holding holographic displays in your hands creates similar-looking spells that can turn anyone into a master of the mystic arts. Ready to be amazed? Check this out. From the links in … Continued
- io9Television
Here’s Your First Look at Matt Groening’s New Netflix Animated Series, Disenchantment
After The Simpsons, Matt Groening took to the future for his jokey love letter to science fiction in Futurama. Now, he’s planning on doing something similar for fantasy in his new Netflix series Disenchanment—and we finally have our first look. After releasing brief teasers on social media yesterday, Netflix has officially revealed images from the … Continued
- Tech NewsNews
Hello, You’ve Reached Gotham’s Reckoning. How May I Direct Your Call?
How many times has this happened to you? You’re trying to organize the destruction of a major metropolitan area and the overthrow of a system you view as irredeemably corrupt, but you keep having to step out of the office to take a call. That problem is no more thanks to Bloxvox, the voice muffling … Continued
By AJ Dellinger - Tech News
Nation-State Hackers Could ‘Self-Destruct’ Half a Million Routers, Researchers Warn [Updated]
Update: The FBI says it seized part of VPNFilter’s command and control infrastructure. The DOJ attributed the botnet to APT 28 (a.k.a. Fancy Bear). See the full update below the article. Security researchers said Wednesday that at least 500,000 home and small business routers in up to 54 countries are infected with a new breed … Continued
By Dell Cameron - io9
The Nerd’s Watch: The Best Scifi Films and TV Streaming in June
You can get comprehensive lists of everything coming to streaming anywhere. But half of those titles you don’t care about, and the other half are terrible. What’s the good stuff? We’re here to help. Below you’ll find what we deem to be the best scifi and fantasy movies and TV coming to Netflix, Amazon, and … Continued
- io9Trailer Frenzy
The New NSFW Trailer for Hotel Artemis Introduces the Expletive-Laden Side of Its Criminal Underworld
“Things are going to hell in a handbasket full of blood and shit” is both a sentence I’d never expected to hear out of Jodie Foster’s mouth and a pretty good description of the red band trailer for Drew Pearce’s new scifi crime movie, Hotel Artemis. Set in a riot-torn, near future LA, Hotel Artemis … Continued
- EartherEnvironmental Justice
The EPA Barred Flint’s Representatives From Attending Its Toxic Water Summit [Updated]
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) continues its descent into authoritarianism under Scott Pruitt. At a summit about reducing toxic chemicals in drinking water, the agency reportedly barred staff from Rep. Dan Kildee’s (D-Michigan) district from entering. Kildee’s district includes Flint, which has been mired in the biggest toxic water scandal in the country for years. … Continued
By Brian Kahn - ScienceSpace
NASA’s Curiosity Rover Is Able to Drill Holes Into Rocks Again
That’s one small hole for a probe, but one giant leap for NASA. This past weekend, the space agency jerry-rigged Curiosity’s malfunctioning drill, allowing the rover to bore into Martian rock for the first time in over a year. Curiosity’s drill has been giving NASA fits for quite some time now. Electrical issues caused problems … Continued