The shutdown of the mega “cyberlocker” Megaupload, last year, boosted revenue from digital movie sales and rentals by up to 10%, according to a new study from Carnegie Mellon’s Initiative for Digital Entertainment Analytics. The results, as Variety reports, “lend credence to arguments that one of the solutions to fighting piracy is to make available easy-to-use alternatives” -- or make illegal services just a little harder to find.  

Yahoo is presently pursuing two “significant” acquisitions, and about six smaller talent “acqhires,” reports AllThingsD, citing recent comments from M&A head Jackie Reses. The strategy makes sense, “given the recent run-up in Yahoo stock, its healthy cash position and, most of all, its need to add meaningful growth to the current efforts at turnaround.”

Last year, Android accounted for 79% of all malware -- up from 66.7% in 2011 and just 11.25% in 2010, according to new data from F-Secure. Apple’s iOS, by contrast, was responsible for a mere 0.7% of malware on its platform. So, “Is it because Android is the most popular smartphone platform in the world right now, or is it because it’s just fundamentally easier to attack?” TechCrunch asks. 

Texas state legislators are trying to pass two distinct mobile privacy bills, which privacy experts say would set a new industry standard. “If passed, the new bills would establish a well-defined, probable-cause-driven warrant requirement for all location information,” ars technical reports. “That's not just data from GPS, but potentially pen register, tap and trace, and tower location data as well.” 

Yahoo paid CEO Marissa Mayer a bonus of $1.12 million in 2012, Bloomberg reports. More interesting is the reason for the extra cash, which is because Yahoo managed to meet its targets for revenue and operating margins, last year. Better yet, “Yahoo shares have surged more than 40 percent since the hiring of Mayer,” Bloomberg notes. All told, Mayer is expected to rake in roughly $50 million in compensation over the coming years. 

Adding insult to financial injury, Google and mobile operating system maker Opera were reportedly behind the European Commission’s decision, this week, to fine Microsoft a record $732 million. So sources told the Financial Times, though you’ll need a subscription to read all about it. Comments GigaOm: “If Google really did set off the process that led to Microsoft’s mammoth fine, then this was in a way just another episode in an increasingly nasty war between the two companies.” 

Apple is reportedly planning a music service in partnership with Beats Electronics, an audio technology firm co-founded by Dr Dre and music mogul Jimmy Iovine. “Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook met with Beats CEO Jimmy Iovine during a visit to Los Angeles in late February to find out more about Beats' ‘Project Daisy,’ a music subscription service the company announced in January but with scant detail,” Reuters reports, citing sources.

Facebook commerce platform Soldsie just raised $1 million. The e-commerce startup lets brands process purchases within the comments section of Facebook. To be more precise, “Soldsie works by allowing brands to post their items, with pictures, on their pages via its platform, and interested Facebook users can comment 'Sold!' and check out securely via PayPal,” AllFacebook reports. Investors include 500 Startups, e.ventures, and FundersClub.  

Facebook on Thursday is expected to launch new ways to filter the news feed. “These include a Photos feed of Facebook and Instagram photos, as well as a revamped Music feed of what friends are listening to, concerts, and new albums,” reports TechCrunch, citing multiple sources. Facebook’s goal with the new filters, TechCrunch suggests, is to give user engagement a boost.  

The European Commission on Wednesday fined Microsoft a record $732 million for not following through with the terms of a settlement agreement offering consumers a choice of Internet browsers. The move “could signal [the EU’s] determination to enforce deals in other cases, including one involving Google, where such an agreement is under discussion,” The New York Times reports.