privacy
Disney will pay $10 million to settle children’s data privacy lawsuit
Disney has agreed to pay a $10 million civil penalty to settle claims that it violated the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act by mislabeling videos and allowing data collection for targeted advertising. “The Justice Department is firmly devoted to ensuring parents have a say in how their children’s information is collected and used,” said Assistant Attorney […]
Texas sues TV makers for taking screenshots of what people watch
The Texas Attorney General sued five major television manufacturers, accusing them of illegally collecting their users’ data by secretly recording what they watch using Automated Content Recognition (ACR) technology. The lawsuits target Sony, Samsung, LG, and China-based companies Hisense and TCL Technology Group Corporation. Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office also highlighted “serious concerns” about the two Chinese companies being required to follow […]
Brave browser starts testing agentic AI mode for automated tasks
Brave has introduced a new AI browsing feature that leverages Leo, its privacy-respecting AI assistant, to perform automated tasks for the user. Intended to assist with tasks such as autonomous web research, product comparison, promo-code discovery, and news summarization, the feature is currently in its testing phase and accessible through the Brave Nightly version. The […]
Tor switches to new Counter Galois Onion relay encryption algorithm
Tor has announced improved encryption and security for the circuit traffic by replacing the old tor1 relay encryption algorithm with a new design called Counter Galois Onion (CGO). One reason behind this decision is to make the network more resilient against modern traffic-interception attacks that could compromise data security and undermine Tor user anonymity. The Tor network is […]
Google backpedals on new Android developer registration rules
Google is backpedaling on its decision to introduce new identity verification rules for all developers, stating that it will also introduce accounts for limited app distribution and will allow users to install apps from unverified devs. As announced in August, Google was planning to introduce what it called “Developer Verification” starting in 2026 to block malware […]
Microsoft rolls out screen capture prevention for Teams users
Microsoft is rolling out a new Teams feature for Premium customers that will automatically block screenshots and recordings during meetings. Microsoft announced the feature in May 2025, stating that the rollout would begin in July 2025. However, as revealed on Wednesday, this was delayed until early November. Named “Prevent screen capture,” it restricts access to visual meeting […]
Mozilla: New Firefox extensions must disclose data collection practices
Starting next month, Mozilla will require Firefox extension developers to disclose whether their add-ons collect or share user data with third parties. The devs will be required to disclose any new extension’s data practices in the manifest.json file using a dedicated browser_specific_settings.gecko.data_collection_permissions key beginning November 3, 2025. Mozilla will also require all extension developers to […]
Signal adds new cryptographic defense against quantum attacks
Signal announced the introduction of Sparse Post-Quantum Ratchet (SPQR), a new cryptographic component designed to withstand quantum computing threats. SPQR will serve as an advanced mechanism that continuously updates the encryption keys used in conversations and discarding the old ones. Signal is a cross-platform, end-to-end encrypted messaging and calling app managed by the non-profit Signal […]
Brave launches ‘Ask Brave’ feature to fuse AI with traditional search
Brave Software, the creator of the privacy-focused web browser and search engine, has introduced a new subsystem called Ask Brave that unifies search and AI chat into a single interface. Ask Brave is free to use, accessible from any browser at search.brave.com/ask, and designed with privacy at its core. In essence, this new system combines […]
Unpatched flaw in OnePlus phones lets rogue apps text messages
A vulnerability in multiple versions of OxygenOS, the Android-based operating system from OnePlus, allows any installed app to access SMS data and metadata without requiring permission or user interaction. OnePlus, a subsidiary of Oppo, is a Shenzhen-based consumer electronics maker known for developing high-end smartphones at competitive pricing. While other major Chinese brands like Huawei […]