Techmeme
April 1, 2020, 10:15 AM

Top News

Lawrence Abrams / BleepingComputer:
A vulnerability in Zoom's Windows client could let attackers steal Windows login credentials of users who click on malicious links in chat messages  —  The Zoom Windows client is vulnerable to UNC path injection in the client's chat feature that could allow attackers to steal the Windows credentials of users who click on the link.
Felix / @c1truz_:
[Thread] Security researcher finds Zoom uses a “shady” technique to install its Mac app without user interaction, applying tricks used by macOS malware  —  Ever wondered how the @zoom_us macOS installer does it's job without you ever clicking install? Turns out they (ab)use preinstallation scripts, manually unpack the app using a bundled 7zip and install it to /Applications if the current user is in the admin group (no root needed). https://twitter.com/...
New York Times:
Michael Potuck / 9to5Mac:
Weather app Dark Sky says it's been acquired by Apple along with its team; the Android app is no longer available and the API will shutter on Dec. 31, 2021  —  In a big move to improve its weather app, Apple has purchased the highly popular iOS app Dark Sky.
Monica Nickelsburg / GeekWire:
Microsoft President Brad Smith calls Washington state's facial recognition law that regulates how public agencies use the tech a “significant breakthrough”  —  Microsoft President Brad Smith took a break from responding to the COVID-19 outbreak Tuesday to praise Washington state's landmark facial recognition regulations.
Wall Street Journal:
Amazon's retail business has struggled to find its footing during the pandemic, as surging order volume has resulted in shortages, delays, and worker unrest  —  Tech giant faces overwhelming demand, mass absences and a restive workforce  —  On a mid-March midnight shift …
Catalin Cimpanu / ZDNet:
Marriott discloses data breach from mid-January affecting 5.2M hotel guests, exposing personal contact information including mailing addresses and phone numbers  —  Marriott says a hacker gained access to the accounts of two employees.  —  Hotel chain Marriott disclosed today a security breach …
Jon Brodkin / Ars Technica:
Comcast's waiving of data caps has had little effect on internet speeds even as peak traffic increased 32%, giving lie to their stance that caps are needed  —  Pandemic shows Comcast could kill data caps forever without ruining its network.  —  Back in the before times …
Mary Jo Foley / ZDNet:
Sources: Microsoft plans to make most public and some internal events digital-only through first half of 2021, including Ignite, Build, and Inspire conferences  —  Microsoft is moving to make most of its external (and some internal) events digital-only for its FY'21 in light of impacts of the coronavirus.
Lauren Feiner / CNBC:
John Legere steps down as T-Mobile CEO after the company closed its merger with Sprint; President and COO Mike Sievert takes over as CEO  —  John Legere is officially done with the role of T-Mobile CEO after the company officially closed its merger with Sprint, the company announced Wednesday.
Catalin Cimpanu / ZDNet:
After reports in tabloids of Houseparty users having social media accounts hacked, Houseparty offers $1M reward to unmask those behind apparent “smear campaign”  —  App maker denies getting hacked after multiple reports in British media.  —  Houseparty, a video conferencing desktop …
Bloomberg:
Sources: Amazon's job fairs in various cities had packed rooms, followed no special precautions, and ignored official social distancing guidelines  —  In March, a laid-off customer-service representative for one of the airline companies attended an Amazon.com Inc. employee orientation in Dallas.
Tom Warren / The Verge:
Microsoft's years of missteps with Skype following its $8.5B acquisition have led to an opening for apps like Zoom and Houseparty to explode during the pandemic  —  If the coronavirus pandemic had swept across the world in 2011, everyone would have been using Skype to connect over video and voice calls.
Cara Lombardo / Wall Street Journal:
Xerox plans to end its $30B+ tender offer for HP and proxy fight to replace HP's board after the pandemic undercut its ability to execute a merger  —  Coronavirus pandemic prompts copier maker to walk away from challenging merger attempt  —  Xerox Holdings Corp. is pulling the plug …
Kyle Wiggers / VentureBeat:
Researchers find AI and statistical models have difficulty predicting life outcomes for children, parents, and households, even with a rich data set  —  A paper coauthored by over 112 researchers across 160 data and social science teams found that AI and statistical models …
Chance Miller / 9to5Mac:
Report: Apple commits to paying its contractors during the COVID-19 pandemic, after initially saying some jobs would be suspended without pay  —  As shutdowns caused by COVID-19 remain in place, Apple has committed to paying its contractors.  The Wall Street Journal reports that initially …

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OnePlus Community:
Arjun Kharpal / CNBC:
Josh Dzieza / The Verge: