IBM researchers are teaching their Watson supercomputer to analyze and identify cyber-security threats. “Watson … is uniquely positioned to handle both the volume of information, and also discern the crucial context that determines what sort of threats exist,” Wired reports. “While a human security researcher might not have a firm command of all 75,000 known software vulnerabilities, or have read all 60,000 security-related blog posts that are written every month, Watson will.”

As part of an AdWords update, Google is banning ads for some lending products. “The new update will go into effect on July 13 this year, at which point the Internet giant will ban payday loans and other predatory financial ‘services’ from its online channels,” Venture Beat reports.

U.S. regulators are looking into how phone makers and mobile carriers review and release security updates. “The Federal Communications Commission and Federal Trade Commission both issued statements Monday saying they want to know more about how and when vulnerabilities are being patched,” Bloomberg reports.

Year-over-year, shipments of PC devices -- including desktops, notebooks, two-in-ones, and tablets -- have declined by 13%, according to market research firm Canalys. “That represents … the lowest volume since the second quarter of 2011,” Venture Beat notes. “Apple is still the overall leader in device shipments, but the company saw its unit volume fall 17 percent.”

Year-over-year, HTC saw revenue fall 64% -- and profits fall 78% -- in the first quarter. In other words, the Taiwanese company is finding itself “on the wrong side of a rapidly evolving smartphone market,” Venture Beat writes. “While HTC has been in decline for several quarters now, the plunge in sales for the beginning of this year raises questions about whether it’s too late for the company.”

Facebook this week began testing some special features for Mother's Day, including an experimental flower reaction and a feature that lets users send flowers via Messenger. “In Messenger, a flower button will appear near the text box for a limited time,” Mashable reports. “Tapping the icon will animate your message, photo or GIF with flowers.”

Pocket -- a service that saves articles and videos for later viewing -- is adding “likes” and “reposts” for its apps on iOS and Android. “Now when you share an item from Pocket, people who follow your recommendations can let you know they liked it by tapping the heart icon underneath the item,” The Verge reports. In other words, it’s another step into “Twitter territory.”

Netflix is rolling out a mobile data saver, which users can turn on in their app settings. “Your options are off (no mobile data), low (4 hours per GB), medium (2 hours per GB), high (1 hour per GB), and unlimited,” Android Police reports. “The unlimited setting is only recommended if you have an unlimited data plan or are particularly self-destructive.”

Big Boots just bought some key MEDL Mobile assets, including code, platforms and about 120 apps. “The acquisition, valued at up to $5 million, is the second for Big Boots after having recently purchased several platforms from Sony Music,” The Hollywood Reporter writes. Big Boots was founded by Roger Mincheff, former head of Relativity Media's digital studio, and Anthony Kaan, former vice president of original content at Relativity's digital studios.

Opera is expanding its built-in ad blocker to include all desktop and mobile users. “Opera argues that its built-in ad blocker is … faster than using Chrome or another browser with a third-party ad-blocking add-on,” TechCrunch reports. “Indeed, the company argues that its solution is about 45 percent faster than using Chrome with AdBlock Plus.”