LinkedIn has agreed to acquire Bright, which relies on data and matching technology to connect job seekers and employers. The company, which values the deal at about $120 million, expects to close the transaction in the first quarter. Bright's employees will join LinkedIn.

Apple has removed Blockchain, a virtual currency bitcoin app, from its store. In the past, Apple has removed other bitcoin apps, reports Jeremy Kirk. He tells us that a growing number of retailers have adopted bitcoin as a payment option, as companies and countries around the world debate how it fits into existing legal and regulatory systems for the exchange of money.

A handful of startups are redesigning smartphones and Web browsers to give people more control over the kind of data companies collect. For example. Tom Simonite points to a company called Blackphone. The company will launch in March as an Android handset functioning like a regular smartphone, but has a series of modifications to protect the privacy and security of its owner.

Google agreed to a European Commission settlement as it awaits final approval. The company agreed to the harshest penalties it received in an antitrust inquiry anywhere, but managed to escape a fine and finding of any wrongdoing, per The New York Times.

Bing has added the ability to search for up-to-date information on the Winter games in Sochi, Russia. The search engine will allow fans to type in the name of the event or the name of the athlete competing, and Bing will return a schedule in the search results. The engine will also keep track of real-time metal counts at the top of the results page. To see the country that has won the most gold medals, search for "Winter Olympics Medal Tally."

No -- Apple has no plans to build an iPhone running on Android. Not now, anyway. But Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak thinks his former company should. As Wired describes it, an iAndroid device is an unlikely project, but it's technically feasible to make it work because the operating system is based on open source.

Google has added Chrome apps and extensions developed and brands as "by Google," as well as increased the amount of financial compensation it will pay those who uncover the bugs. Some of the apps added include Hangouts and Gmail. The rewards for each vulnerability now range from $500 to $10,000, depending on the permissions and the data each extension handles. It also will increase the amount awarded through its Patch Reward Program.

The note-taking platform Evernote has added descriptive search to its Mac app. The search function moved from a basic keyword search to incorporating terms like date or place to bring up files. The technology searches through notes, tags, devices, and online sources for Evernote clippings, and more, per ZDNet.

Google will make a change this month in how AdWords conversions are counted and tracked, per Michelle Morehouse, who posted a summary online of the changes received in an email. The unconfirmed email explains that "Conversions (1-per-click) will now be 'Converted Clicks.' From all indicators, this is the same as the current column. Each click that leads to a conversion be counted in this column." Did you receive a similar email?

It's been 10 years since Harvard undergraduate Mark Zuckerberg launched Thefacebook. Robert Sutton describes Facebook's rise to fame by chronicling the steps Zuckerberg took after leaving Harvard. He explains that to scale effectively for the long haul requires a balance of speed, patients to make the correct decisions and get the perfect people on board. It's also not good to hesitate, but it's equally important to pause and regroup. It's about finding balance, Sutton explains -- and he provides insight on how to achieve it.