๐ขIf your password is in this list, youโre an easy hacking target
A sizable number of the most common passwords contained nouns and many included proper nouns like names of people (Nicole, Matthew) and intellectual properties (Pokรฉmon, Star Wars), as well as regular nouns (princess, monkey, baseball).
Fight over Floridaโs law targeting social media companies heading to Supreme Court
Attorneys for the state and online-industry groups plan to go to the U.S. Supreme Court in a battle about a 2021 Florida law that would crack down on social-media giants such as Facebook and Twitter, according to new court filings.
Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen fears the metaverse. Hereโs why
Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen is warning that the virtual reality world at the heart of the social media giantโs growth strategy will be addictive and rob people of personal information while giving the company another monopoly online.
Ex-Facebook manager criticizes company, urges more oversight
While accusing the giant social network of pursuing profits over safety, a former Facebook data scientist told Congress she believes stricter government oversight could alleviate the dangers the company poses, from harming children to inciting political violence to fueling misinformation.
Google Maps to default to routes with lowest environmental impact
Google Maps wonโt necessarily default to get you to your destination the fastest way possible anymore. The company says instead the navigation algorithm will soon automatically select the most fuel-efficient route. [TRENDING: COVID after the vaccine | Bugsy, the French bulldog, stolen at gunpoint | SpaceX Starship explodes again]It will consider things like inclines and congestion to help you reduce your environmental impact. AdBut donโt worry about things taking too long. Google says it will only steer drivers to the greenest option when the estimated time of arrival is similar to other routes.
Why are all my favorite websites asking me for cookies? And should I just say yes?
What happens with those cookies and how it gives you a better experienceYouโre probably wondering, why do we do this? As we said above, when you agree to share cookies, youโre allowing that website to remember you so that it can match your preferences more quickly and appropriately. Cookies and adsCookies also help websites remember your preferences for ads. AdDo you ever go to websites that donโt ask you if youโre OK with sharing cookies? However, websites you trust, such as ClickOrlando.com, are conservative about how your cookies are used.
How one Lakeland-native found her path in the music industry
I canโt sing, Iโm not a great guitar player, I do have guitars, Iโm not amazing in that way,โ the VEVA Sound president said. โAnd the whole back end of of the music industry is something I didnโt know about, and something I went to school for. Whatโs that?โโNow Fairchild, who grew up near Lakeland, is the president of music technology company VEVA Sound. AdThe Nashville music executive said there are plenty of careers in the music industry that donโt involve having a musical ability you typically think of in your favorite artists, including songwriting and sound engineering. There is always room to carve a path in the music industry for any up and coming professionals.
Record budget, Big Tech regulation among big issues lawmakers will face during Floridaโs legislative session
ORLANDO, Fla. โ Florida lawmakers are getting ready to descend on Tallahassee to debate policy, pass new laws and put together a state budget. Perhaps the biggest hurdle lawmakers will face during the 60-day legislative session is the record $96.6 billion budget put forth by Gov. News 6 political expert Dr. Jim Clark joined anchor Justin Warmoth on โThe Weekly on ClickOrlando.comโ to break down what to expect over the next two months. State Rep. Anna Eskamani, (D) District 47, also appeared on the program to explain what her legislative priorities are this year and whether sheโs considering a run for governor in 2022. Floridaโs legislative session kicks off Tuesday, March 2.
Gov. DeSantis offers new details in plan to take on Big Tech
Ron DeSantis provided new details Monday on legislation filed in the Florida House of Representatives aimed at Big Tech companies, such as Google, Facebook and Twitter. The bill is called the Florida Information Protection Act, or House Bill 969. AdโBig Tech platforms have created a surveillance economy, which enriches those platforms by free-riding on consumer data,โ DeSantis said. At the time, he also decried tech companies for โneuteringโ political candidatesโ access to voters, saying that tech companies were only โde-platformingโ Republican politicians. โWell, they operate in the state of Florida,โ DeSantis said.
Attorney-at-paw? Filter makes lawyer look like cat in court
ALPINE, Texas โ A West Texas judge has a word of caution to those attending court hearings via Zoom: Always check for filters before logging on. I'm not a cat,โ Presidio County Attorney Rod Ponton said. โI can see that,โ replied Ferguson, whose district covers five counties in West Texas, including the town of Marfa from which Ponton was calling. The short video clip, which was shared online by Ferguson, ends with others coaching the attorney on how to remove the cat filter. Now Iโm famous for appearing in court as a cat,โ he told The Associated Press.
Florida politicians take aim at social media companies
Ron DeSantis and other politicians announce they want to take on social media companies like Facebook and Twitter. pic.twitter.com/KUfFQUZgNx โ Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) February 3, 2021Florida Senate President Wilton Simpson said it is evident social media platforms are censoring conservatives. โNo one should be excluded, but letโs be clear they are targeting conservatives.โDeSantis is proposing legislation that would, in part, fine social media companies $100k per day if they de-platform a political candidate during an election. AdโThe claim of anti-conservative animus on the part of social media companies is itself a form of disinformation: A falsehood with no reliable evidence to support it,โ researchers wrote in the report. If Florida eventually passes legislation trying to regulate big tech companies, the state should be prepared for legal challenges, Kramer said.
Want to be happier overall? Yale has a class for that -- and itโs available online, for free
Weโre asking about your happiness, by the way, because a class at Yale University called โThe Science of Well-Beingโ is now being offered online -- for free! The class is based off a course called โPsychology and the Good Life,โ which became the most popular class ever taught in Yale Universityโs 317-year history, earning national and international media attention, according to Business Insider. Psychology professor Laurie Santos introduced the in-person version of the class at Yale, and she also teaches the online course. We wanted to check out the sign-up process, and see if it really was as easy as Business Insider made it sound. A lot of the reading is complementary, Business Insider pointed out.
Parler squeezed as President Trump seeks new online megaphone
Though stripped of his Twitter account for inciting rebellion, President Donald Trump does have alternative options of much smaller reach. Amazon kicked Parler off its web-hosting service, and the social media app promptly sued to get back online, telling a federal judge that the tech giant had breached its contract and abused its market power. It was a roller coaster of activity for Parler, a 2-year-old magnet for the far right that welcomed a surge of new users. 1 free app on iPhones late last week after Facebook, Twitter and other mainstream social media platforms silenced President Donald Trumpโs accounts over comments that seemed to incite Wednesdayโs violent insurrection. Organizers of pro-Trump forces are already regrouping in other forums, such as the conservative-friendly social media site Gab, as new actions are planned ahead of President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration.
Do UV lights kill COVID-19 in air conditioning systems?
ORLANDO, Fla. โ Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, hundreds of thousands of dollars has been spent by Central Florida government agencies to install ultraviolet light systems inside their heating and air conditioning systems. Diagram shows how researchers say UV light kills the DNA inside the coronavirus. Berland said his researchers have shown when UV light is exposed to the coronavirus on surfaces, it can kill its DNA, preventing it from reproducing. News 6 found at least three public agencies approving funds for UV light installation in their HVAC systems. โMarion County was ahead of the curve in implementing UV-C air purification technology at every air handling system in the county,โ said county spokesman Alex AuBuchon.
Skim Reaper: Ormond Beach police using UF device to combat identity theft
ORMOND BEACH, Fla. โ The Ormond Beach Police Department is combating identity theft one swipe at a time. The red light on the device alerts that the card was read twice, indicating there is a skimmer. The โSkim Reaperโ did not detect any skimmers this time, but police said fraudulent activity is one of their most prevalent crimes, with 217 cases reported so far this year. So, with that, we can do what we can with the physical capture which is the use of the Skim Reaper which we purchased recently,โ said Sgt. News 6 introduced the โSkim Reaperโ when it was just a prototype in 2018.
Do smartphone apps really find you the best deal while holiday shopping?
News 6 tested two of the most downloaded apps that promise to help consumers find the best deals, ShopSavvy and BuyVia Scanner. Using the ShopSavvy app on a smartphone, we scanned the productโs bar code, or UPC symbol, and the app scanned prices at other stores online. ShopSavvy's price scanning app showed the price of a Baby Yoda toy at several retailers. โThese apps can be really useful,โ said Chris Minnick, who teaches app development at the University of Central Florida. News 6 scanned an InstaPot at one local retailer, and the ShopSavvy app showed it was $119.99 at Target.
New device beams music into your ears โ no headphones needed
That's the possibility presented by โsound beaming,โ a new futuristic audio technology from Noveto Systems, an Israeli company. On Friday it will debut a desktop device that beams sound directly to a listener without the need for headphones. The lack of headphones means it's possible to hear other sounds in the room clearly. โYou know, I was trying to think how we compare sound beaming with any other inventions in history. Whatโs that?โ I think sound beaming is something that is as disruptive as that.
Flying taxis? The Jetsons would be jealous of these electric aircraft coming to Orlando
ORLANDO, Fla. โ Even George Jetson would do a doubletake at this new concept coming to Orlando: a fleet of electric jet aircraft to take people on regional journeys around Florida. While Lilium, the Munich-based company behind the technology, doesnโt call these flying wonders taxis itโs not a stretch of the imagination. The Lilium jet is under certification from the European Aviation Safety Agency and the FAA. The network will transport travelers from Orlando to Tampa in under 1 hour on a single charge, according to the company. See a complete test flight of the Lilium Jet below.
Lake County voters encounter computer glitch on Election Day
TAVARES, Fla. โ Voters in Lake County ran into problems Tuesday morning shortly after polls opened in Florida on Election Day. โWe identified a computer problem in some precincts that incorrectly identified some voters were not registered in that precinct,โ said Alan Hays, Lake County supervisor of elections. โThe problem was isolated immediately, and corrective action was initiated. The solution is being deployed and everything will be fine very shortly.โHays said he appreciated the voters' patience as his agency worked to correct the issue, which was resolved before 8:30 a.m.For more election updates in Florida, click here.
Justice Dept. files landmark antitrust case against Google
Other major tech companies including Apple, Amazon and Facebook are under investigation at both the Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission. โGoogle is the gateway to the internet and a search advertising behemoth," U.S. Deputy Attorney General Jeff Rosen told reporters. Google vowed to defend itself and responded immediately via tweet: โTodayโs lawsuit by the Department of Justice is deeply flawed. Most of Google's services are offered for free in exchange for personal information that helps it sell its ads. The Justice Department sought support for its suit from states across the country that share concerns about Googleโs conduct.
Apple expected to launch new iPhone this week
Apple is expected to introduce a new line of iPhones on Tuesday, after weeks of delays due to the pandemic. Multiple reports indicate Apple will unveil four new iPhones ranging in sizes up to 6.7 inches, which would be its largest screen yet. The invitation to the virtual event uses the phrase โHi, speedโ which hints that the new models take advantage of emerging 5G wireless networks. The launch could mean that Apple is joining the 5G revolution in a big way, although the high-speed networks are still being installed nationwide. Itโs estimated that 350 million of the 950 million iPhones in service worldwide could be due for an upgrade.
Wands, quills and brooms: LEGO creates spellbinding โHarry Potterโ Diagon Alley set
Now fans of Harry Potter can enjoy an incredible new LEGO Harry Potter set that brings the Wizarding Worldโs Diagon Alley to your home. Harry Potter Diagon Alley LEGO set (LEGO)The more than 5,000 piece set features the iconic hidden wizard street with stores like Ollivanderโs wand shop, Flourish & Blotts bookstore and the colorful Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes joke shop. Diagon Alley is the biggest set Iโve designed to-date and I am really proud of how it has come together" said Marcos Bessa, LEGO Harry Potter design lead. Marcos Bessa, LEGO Harry Potter design lead (LEGO)โOn the inside of the model there is so much to discover. True Harry Potter fans can also check out the Hogwarts Castle, astronomy tower, or Hedwig owl sets.
Carnival Corp. hacked; guest and worker information accessed
MIAMI โ Carnival Corp. says it was the victim of a ransomware attack that likely got some personal information about the cruise company's guests and employees. Carnival operates Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line and other lines, but the company didn't say in the filing which cruise line was affected. The SEC filing also didn't say how many people's personal information may have been accessed, and spokesman Roger Frizzell said in an email that the company wasn't releasing any information other than what was in the securities filing. Carnival says it has launched an investigation into the ransomware attack and notified law enforcement. The Miami-based company also has reinforced the security of its information systems, Carnival said.
Let your creative mind explode with these incredible new LEGO sets
LEGO Super MarioThe world of Super Mario is coming to life all thanks to LEGO. We love how creative Nintendo and LEGO fans are, and cant wait for them to unleash their imaginations in how they interact with Super Mario in the real world, said Jonathan Bennink, Digital Design Lead on LEGO Super Mario. Sixteen LEGO Super Mario sets have been introduced and the set also includes an app that will help support the experience. LEGO Ideas Grand Piano SetThe grand piano set is the latest product part of the LEGO Ideas collection. LEGO said the 3,662-piece LEGO Ideas Grand Piano is made to take center stage as a spectacular display model for any room.
New hydrogen-powered car can drive 1,000 miles on 1 tank
A California-based company has unveiled an electric supercar. Hyperion's XP1 is powered by compressed hydrogen and will be able to go 1,000 miles on a single tank. The company said the car has much longer range than a battery-powered electric car because compressed hydrogen has more power per liter than a battery. And the all-wheel-drive car can also go from zero to 60 mph in a little over two seconds. The first production cars are expected to be delivered to customers by the end of next year.
President Trump bans dealings with Chinese owner of TikTok
But experts said they appear intended to bar TikTok and WeChat from the app stores run by Apple and Google when the orders take effect in 45 days. TikTok maintains that it does not share user data with the Chinese government nor censor content at its request. Within China, WeChat is censored and expected to adhere to content restrictions set by authorities. More actions against Chinese technology companies may be coming from the U.S. and other countries, analysts say. The Chinese foreign ministry accused Washington of โpolitical manipulation" but did not indicate how Beijing might respond.
Latest iPhones will be shipped later, Apple says
If you're holding out to get your hands on the latest iPhone, you're going to have to wait a little longer. Last year, new iPhones started selling in late September, but the tech giant announced this week the latest iPhones will be shipped slightly later than usual this year. Meanwhile, the company announced blockbuster third-quarter earnings amid the pandemic. Apple posted revenue of nearly $60 billion in the three months ending in June. Thats a 12% increase from the same period last year, and a record June quarter for the company.
Apple providing employees with at-home COVID-19 test kits
Apple employees shouldnt have any problems getting tested for coronavirus. Apple also reportedly began offering nasal swab tests to employees returning to its headquarters in Cupertino, California, in May. As coronavirus cases spike in several states, many Apple offices and retail stores remain closed. For stores allowing people inside, temperature checks are required for employees and customers. To keep up with the latest news on the pandemic, subscribe to News 6s coronavirus newsletter and go to ClickOrlando.com/coronavirus.
These 9 virtual or โdrive-byโ graduation party ideas are brilliant
Plan a little watch party for your son or daughter to enjoy the Facebook graduation. Facebook is celebrating the class of 2020 with a whole week of graduation features, and a commencement program. Highlights and more will be posted to the @instagram account on Instagram, and on contributorsโ social media accounts.โGrads are encouraged to host their own virtual graduation ceremony and party via Facebook, with special features including a virtual graduation hub, custom filters, family and friends celebrations enabled by Messenger Rooms, and more. JoAnn Fabric has a whole webpage on how you can make a graduation cap embellishment out of paper flowers. This is a birthday party and not a graduation, but youโll see the general idea!
SOS: This simple iPhone setting will alert your loved ones after 911 call is made
It's called SOS Emergency mode. Hereโs how to add them as your emergency contact in your iPhone:Open the Health app and tap the Medical ID tab. Drag the Emergency SOS slider to call emergency services. On an iPhone 7 or earlier:Quickly press the side or top button five times to make the Emergency SOS slider appear. Drag the Emergency SOS slider to call emergency services.
Simple, effective ways to make your Facebook conversations more civil
Anyone else finding themselves spending more time than usual on social media, considering the coronavirus pandemic? But like most things, Facebook is whatever you want to make it. You donโt have to give up on social media in general, or even Facebook in particular. The social media giants say theyโre working hard behind the scenes to remove bot accounts and build a better platform. In the meantime, here are some simple yet effective things you can do to make your own Facebook interactions less contentious and more civil.
Coronavirus: Cellphone, Internet service providers waive fees, offer benefits
Internet and cellphone service providers are providing benefits and relief options to their customers in light of the coronavirus pandemic. Verizon will waive late fees and will not terminate service. AT&T will not terminate the service of any wireless, home phone or broadband customers because of their inability to pay their bill. The company will also be expanding itโs low cost home broadband service. Spectrum: Spectrum will be offering free access to its broadband and WiFi for new K-12 and college student households for 60 days.
5 things you can do right now to protect your online data
In honor of National Data Privacy Day, we compiled a helpful list of things you can do to protect your online data. Back up ALL of your data on a hard driveHaving software that backs up your data in general is a good thing to do, but it can be very important in keeping your data safe, too. There is a thing called Ransomware where hackers can hold your data hostage for a ransom. Keep your bluetooth on your phone turned offAccording to Norton, hackers can enter your phone through undetected Bluetooth pairing. It's recommended to keep Bluetooth turned off when you're not using it just so the data on your phone is less vulnerable.
Future of cars is changing, and it could leave the DMV in your rear view for good
Introducing the digital license plate that has so many functions, it might be overwhelming at first. So what are the benefits to having a digital license plate, aka the Rplate, as opposed to a traditional plate? Your new tags automatically populate on the digital screen, so you have nothing to do but drive. Or maybe you want to show off your college pride on your license plate, or even your favorite NFL team? Washington will conduct a digital license plate study soon.
Google warns users of dangerous 'Docs' phishing scam
DETROIT โ A very convincing scam that uses Google Docs is making its way around. It's almost impossible to tell that it's not real since it uses a google.com URL and even encryption. Google confirmed the phishing scam on Wednesday, saying:We are investigating a phishing email that appears as Google Docs. โThe fake page is actually hosted on Googleโs servers and is served over SSL, making the page even more convincing,โ Symantec security expert Nick Johnston explained in a blog post. Don't re-login to Google.