Instagram and Snapchat are down again. Here’s the latest updates on the outage
It's not just you: Instagram and Snapchat both went down on Monday afternoon. Users started to experience problems loading Instagram's app and website just after 2 p.m. PT on Monday, at around the same time Snapchat users reported issues sending snaps to their friends.
India loses communication with Chandrayaan-2 moon lander
India's space agency lost contact with its Chandrayaan-2 moon lander Friday as it attempted to do what it was made for: land on the moon. It's not clear if the lander crashed or if there was simply some kind of communication error. Its mission is to explore the moon's south pole and search for signs of water.
Nintendo teases Switch Fit, a Wii Fit-like motion control exercise program
Nintendo dropped an intriguing look at the next version of the insanely popular Wii Fit -- it's a new fitness program for the Nintendo Switch. A video on its Twitter account shows families around the world strapping their Switch Joy-Cons to a hula-hoop like band, then using it for all kinds of exercises.
20 iconic SNES games have arrived on the Nintendo Switch
Nintendo announced that it will be bringing some of the most iconic games of the Super Nintendo era to the Switch -- at no additional cost. Games like Super Mario Kart, Super Metroid, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, and the classic Super Mario World will all be available on Thursday.
Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey’s account was hacked and used to tweet racist messages
A group of hackers calling itself the Chuckling Squad hacked Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey's own Twitter account on Friday afternoon, using the account to tweet out racist messages and other offensive tweets. The messages were promptly deleted and Twitter is investigating the cause of the hack.
Xbox Live is down again. Here’s the latest on the outage
Xbox Live went offline for many users on Friday afternoon, just as gamers were gearing up to play over the Labor Day long weekend. Users said that they were unable to log in and play their favorite games, though Microsoft said it was working to fix the issue. Here's what we know so far about the outage.
Watch SpaceX’s levitating Starhopper rocket stick the landing in latest test
SpaceX’s Starhopper rocket managed to successfully “hop” on Tuesday afternoon, with the Starship prototype hovering about 150 meters (492 feet) above ground for several seconds before touching down on a nearby landing pad.
Instagram’s Threads app would allow your friends to monitor your every move
Facebook is reportedly working on a new Instagram messaging app called Threads that will give your friends automatic status updates, including information about your movement, location, speed, and even phone battery life. Users will need to opt into automatic status updates.
The U.S. and France reach deal on a digital tax targeting Big Tech
The United States and France reached a deal on France’s controversial digital tax on Big Tech, President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron said at the G7 summit. The 3% tax, which France passed in July, targets Big Tech companies like Facebook, Amazon, Google, and Apple
YouTube disables 210 channels spreading misinformation about Hong Kong protests
YouTube has disabled 210 accounts believed to be working in tandem to spread misinformation about the ongoing protests in Hong Kong, Google announced Thursday. The move comes days after Facebook and Twitter removed hundreds of accounts from their platforms that were focused on discrediting the protests.
Celebrities are falling for a years-old Instagram scam. It’s all a big hoax
Celebrities, politicians, and regular old Instagram users have fallen for yet another hoax claiming Instagram has changed its rules to make “everything you’ve ever posted” public. Rick Perry, Tom Holland, Usher and Taraji P. Henson have all fallen for the scam.
Off-Facebook Activity: How to control the private data apps and sites share with Facebook
Facebook finally introduced a tool that allows you to control and limit the data that third-party apps and websites share with the social media giant, a feature that should help improve Facebook's much-criticized stance on privacy. The feature should come to users around the world within a few months.
Critical Bluetooth security bug discovered. Protect yourself with a quick update
Researchers have discovered a major new security flaw in Bluetooth, which could leave millions of devices at risk of a malicious hack. The KNOB attack essentially allows an attacker to interfere when two devices try to connect, allowing a hacker to “break” Bluetooth security without anyone knowing.
Twitter is working on a snooze feature for when your tweets are too good
Twitter is working on a snooze button that can pause notifications from hitting for your phone. The new feature will give users the ability to press a button that essentially mutes their push notifications for 1, 3, or 12 hours -- which could come in handy if you're going viral.
Can social media predict mass shootings before they happen?
In the wake of two mass shootings over the weekend that left more than 30 people dead, President Donald Trump called on social media companies like Twitter and Facebook to “detect mass shooters before they strike.” Can social media actually predict if someone is going to carry out a mass shooting?
Facebook is going to add its name to Instagram and WhatsApp
Facebook plans to add its name to both Instagram and WhatsApp as politicians call for the social media giant to be broken apart and the FTC investigates Facebook’s acquisition of both companies. The company plans to rename the apps Instagram from Facebook and WhatsApp from Facebook.
How and where to watch tonight’s second 2020 Democratic primary debate online
CNN will air the second night of the second Democratic primary debate on Wednesday, July 31, with 10 more candidates set to take the stage, including Kamala Harris and Joe Biden. You can watch the whole thing for free online starting at 5 p.m. PT on Wednesday.
In SEC filing, Facebook admits Libra cryptocurrency may not happen after all
Facebook’s drive to create its own worldwide cryptocurrency might have hit a brick wall. In a new SEC filing, the company said that Libra’s planned 2020 launch might be delayed – or it might not ever happen at all – now that government regulators have expressed concerns.
New Capital One data breach affects 100 million people. Here’s the very latest
A massive data breach of Capital One exposed the personal information of approximately 100 million people after former Amazon Web Services employee Paige Thompson stole credit card application data, including about 80,000 bank account numbers and 140,000 Social Security numbers.
How to avoid scams while filing your Equifax settlement claim
it didn’t take long for scammers to start using the Equifax settlement as a way to get your personal information. According to the FTC, people have already set up copycat websites trying to bilk people into handing over private data -- or even cash.
Slack is back up after being down worldwide. Here’s the latest on the outage
Popular work-chat program Slack went down on Monday morning -- just in time for the start of the work week. The company said that the outage began just before 8 a.m. PT, with users unable to see or send chat messages or even log in at all. Service was restored about an hour later
Why doesn’t Facebook help after your account gets hacked?
When your Facebook account gets hacked, the company offers little in the way of customer service reps to help you out. Users and consumer advocates say Facebook's customer support system unacceptably bad, and users whose accounts have been compromised get little help -- or none at all.
Watch as SpaceX again attempts to launch Falcon 9 rocket on a mission to the ISS
SpaceX will try again to launch its 20th Dragon spacecraft mission to the International Space Station (ISS) on Thursday, one day after the planned launch was scrapped due to weather. You can watch the entire event live here. The mission will deliver new tools for the experiments and investigations on the ISS.
SpaceX forced to cancel CRS-18 Falcon 9 rocket launch due to weather
SpaceX had to once again delay its latest Falcon 9 rocket launch on Wednesday, this time due to poor weather, delaying a planned supply run to the International Space Station. The company will try again on Thursday.
Nintendo will fix Switch controllers affected by Joy-Con drift for free
Nintendo has instructed customer service representatives to stop charging people to fix Nintendo Switch controllers suffering from Joy-Con drift, according to a new report. The repairs previously cost around $40, half the price of a new controller. Customers can contact Nintendo via its support page.
The Justice Department is opening an antitrust review of Big Tech
The Justice Department will open a “broad antitrust review” into the country’s biggest tech companies. The review comes at a time when Amazon, Google, Facebook, and Apple face intense scrutiny from Washington.
The FTC’s $5 billion privacy fine on Facebook could’ve been much, much bigger
The United States government almost fined Facebook tens of billions of dollars for privacy violations -- and nearly held CEO Mark Zuckerberg accountable -- instead of the eventual $5 billion settlement between the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the social media giant.
You can now search Airbnb for business-friendly places to stay on work trips
Airbnb is adding a special search filter for work-friendly stays specifically targeted at people who use the service to find a place to stay on business trips. The move comes as more business travelers -- and companies -- become open to using Airbnbs as opposed to traditional hotels.
Taika Waititi stars in the first clip from Rick and Morty season 4
Rick and Morty is back. Just in time for San Diego Comic-Con, Adult Swim released our first look at the show's fourth season. The clip released Friday afternoon stars Thor: Ragnarok and Hunt for the Wilderpeople director Taika Waititi as an app-developing alien intern.
6 questions we have about Elon Musk’s Neuralink brain interface technology
Elon Musk's Neuralink sounds like an exciting leap forward for human-computer relations, but brain implants raise the specter of Black Mirror-esque privacy invasions and horror. We’ve got a few questions about how this would work – and if it’s even a good idea.