New Technology : The Computer Misuse Act: The Law That Criminalizes Hacking In The UK

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Hacking into computers is illegal pretty much worldwide. In the UK, the key legislation that deals with computer crimes is the Computer Misuse Act 1990, which has formed the basis of much of the computer crimes legislation in many of the Commonwealth nations. But it’s also a deeply controversial piece of legislation, and one that has recently been updated to give GCHQ, the UK’s primary intelligence organization, the legal right to hack into any computer they so desire. So, what is it, and what does it say? The First Hackers The Computer Misuse Act was first written and put into...

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New Technology : Are You Responsible for the Death of Cinema?

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Cinema is in its death throes. But whose fault is this? Do we blame the directors of crappy films? The alternative viewing options now available? Or are you personally responsible? Many of us love to go to movie theaters. Their demise would truly be a sad thing. It’s not just watching a film on the big screen: it’s an atmosphere. It’s having strangers around you to laugh and cry, jump and eat popcorn. Cinema brings people together. True Detective director, Cary Fukunaga recently made some interesting remarks about the death of cinema. He points the spotlight at Netflix, at filmmakers,...

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New Technology : The Witcher 3 Shows Publishers How to Nail a Videogame Launch in 2015

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Videogame launches are hard. You need look no further than the release of SimCity, which shipped with unplayably broken DRM. Similarly, Battlefield 4 and Grand Theft Auto had seriously broken multiplayer on release. Even when games actually work, they can mess up first impressions in other ways, be it through intrusive microtransactions (like Dragon Age: Origins, which stops quests mid-way to prompt the user to pay for them), or integral story content cut from the game to become launch-day DLC (like the Javik plotline in Mass Effect 3). We’ve talked about these problems before, but they’re as big now as ever....

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New Technology : Why Do People Contribute to Open Source Projects?

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Open source development is the future of software. It’s great for users like you and me because open source software is usually free (not always) and often safer to use because malicious code is less likely to be implemented. But what compels developers to contribute code for free? After all, writing code requires time, effort, and expertise. And while it’s true that open source developers can make money, it’s certainly easier through proprietary channels. In fact, many proprietary businesses are jumping on the train. For example, Microsoft recently decided to open source their .NET Framework. Quite a surprise, if you...

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New Technology : Heads Up, Americans: Here’s How Credit Cards Are Changing in 2015

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Credit cards are nothing new in the United States or elsewhere in the world (there’s even a format to the numbers!), but this year, a big change is coming to the plastic payment form that will make its transactions more secure. Curiously, the USA is behind Europe and other countries that have already adopted the new credit card standard. Before you start seeing new terminals deployed in stores and get a weird new card sent to your house, let us explain what’s changing. What’s Wrong with my Current Card? As they are now, US credit cards have a magnetic strip...

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New Technology : How to Troubleshoot If Windows 8.1 Apps Won’t Open or Install

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The Windows 8.1 upgrade created several issues for many users, myself included. One problem was Windows Apps becoming unresponsive, not opening or not even installing. This included PC Settings and the Windows App Store. Users have reported various symptoms, but the most common was the app “flashing” open and then immediately closing. The app remained “open”, but would never load past the initial “flash screen”. Some have even reported error messages saying the app can’t open. The following are the steps I took to solve my problem. Some helped while others didn’t. They are listed in the recommended troubleshooting order, starting from very basic to slightly...

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New Technology : 6 Things Hollywood Always Gets Wrong About Technology

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Ignorance is bliss, and Hollywood is always blissfully unaware when it comes to technology. Movies and TV shows never quite get it right, being either out of date or way ahead of their time. From the depiction of detectives doing things that just can’t be done yet, to showing us last century’s gadgets being the standard for the future, Hollywood often gets technology wrong. You’re Getting Ahead of Yourself DNA to Go! Forensic dramas and detective shows are the worst for this. They have a way of taking something so time consuming and reducing it down to a two minute process. It...

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New Technology : 5 Tips for Using OneNote as Your To-Do List

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Is making a to-do list on your to-do list? Set it up in OneNote to make getting things done as straightforward as possible. A to-do list can be a great way of ensuring you’re making progress — but it’ll only serve that purpose if its set up correctly. Building a to-do list inside OneNote offers a host of advantages over pen and paper. Use these tips to make an actionable list that makes sure the important things in life get done on time. Use Shortcuts to Make Checklists a Breeze It’s easier to stick to a to-do list when you have the option...

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New Technology : Borrow eBooks, Audiobooks, and More for Free with OverDrive for Android

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I love libraries, but I get why they aren’t for everyone. The selection varies by area, and other people have already checked out the best books. Maybe you’ve even lost all interest in physical forms of media. CDs, DVDs, and magazines may not sound all that exciting in a world where you can get anything online. The thing is, you can check out stuff from the library online as well, and it’s just as free as making a trip in person. All you need is the Overdrive app and a library card. Make a virtual trip to the Play Store...

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New Technology : The Pirate Bay Hydra Lives On, Taking Selfies While Driving, & More… [Tech News Digest]

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The Pirate Hydra, idiotic smartphone driving, BlackBerry keeps on keeping on, Apple gets greedy, transfer funds with MasterCard Send, and how Transformers ruin everything. The Pirate Bay Is Indefatigable The Pirate Bay lives on to fight another day, despite copyright owners scoring a minor victory over the site. After two years spent building a case, the Swedish authorities has seized both thepiratebay.se and piratebay.se, but the many-headed monster that is The Pirate Bay lives on thanks to six new domains. The Pirate Bay will now simply redirect visitors to GS, LA, VG, AM, MN, and GD domains. This was all...

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