• Fingerprints Can Be Recreated From Peace Sign Photos
    People who pose for photos with their fingers in the peace sign may be exposing their fingerprints online, according to a study by researchers at Japan's National Institute of Informatics. "Investigators found that, if the focus and lighting was right, they could recreate fingerprints from images shot up to 3 meters (nearly 10 feet) from the subject," Engadget writes.
  • Hacking Company Cellebrite Suffers Data Breach
    Israeli technology company Cellebrite has itself been hacked, according to Motherboard. The Web site says it has obtained 900 GB of data related to Cellebrite, including "customer information, databases, and a vast amount of technical data regarding Cellebrite's products." The company is popular with law enforcement officials, who use its technology to extract SMS messages, emails, call logs, and other data from mobile phones.
  • Verizon Boosts FiOS Speed
    Verizon will increase its top FiOS broadband speed to 750 Mbps in certain parts of the country. The new speed tier will launch next week in New York City, Northern New Jersey, Philadelphia and Richmond.
  • Exiting FCC Chair Slams AT&T, Verizon Over Net Neutrality
    Going out with a bang, FCC chairman Tom Wheeler is accusing AT&T and Verizon Wireless of violating net neutrality rules with paid data cap exemptions. “But with the FCC about to switch to Republican control after next week's inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump, AT&T and Verizon can likely keep doing what they're doing without any chance of punishment,” ars technica notes.
  • Trump To Tackle Cyber Security With Top Execs
    With the help of former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Donald Trump plans to meet regularly with business executives to discuss cyber security threats, Reuters reports. “Giuliani, a former Trump campaign adviser who runs a cyber security consulting business, will facilitate the meetings but ‘no consensus advice or recommendations resulting from group deliberations or interaction is expected or will be solicited,’” it writes.
  • AT&T Hikes Price Of Unlimited Data
    Longtime AT&T subscribers who still have unlimited data plans can keep those plans, but will see their prices increase by $5 a month, starting in March. Last year, AT&T also raised the price by $5 a month.  
  • EU Considers New Privacy Rules For Messaging Services
    Officials in Europe are proposing new privacy rules for messaging services like WhatsApp, Skype, and Gmail. The officials said the current privacy directive "has not kept pace with technological developments, resulting in a void of protection of communications conveyed through new services."
  • Net Neutrality Foe To Head House Technology And Telecom Subcommittee
    Net neutrality foe Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee) will Replace Oregon Representative Greg Walden as chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Communications and Technology. "From her endless assault on net neutrality, to her defense of awful state protectionist laws written by ISP lobbyists, there has never been a moment when Ms. Blackburn hasn't prioritized the rights of giant incumbent duopolists over the public she professes to serve," Techdirt writes.
  • AT&T Says Doesn't Need FCC Approval For Time Warner Merger
    AT&T and Time Warner say they won't need the FCC's approval for their merger because Time Warner won't transfer its FCC licenses to AT&T. The Justice Department would still review the deal.
  • AT&T Accused Of Canceling Users' Unlimited Data Plans
    More than 50 AT&T customers have alleged in FCC complaints that their plans were changed by the company without their consent. "I knew this was happening because it happened to me: AT&T switched my old unlimited-data plan when I upgraded my phone in 2016," Motherboard's Adam Elder writes.
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