Microsoft Ends Windows 7 Support
Microsoft announced that it would end support of Windows 7 starting this Tuesday. Because of this, cyber-security experts are urging users to upgrade to Windows 10. Microsoft says that they want to focus on newer technologies, instead of keeping Windows 7 updates and protected. Now, anyone that wants to find a way into the software can do so without Microsoft fixing it.
“Running an unpatched machine means that the flaws in the code will never be fixed and as exploits for those flaws become known and widespread, your chances of being successfully attacked grow very rapidly,” said Rik Ferguson, vice-president of security research at Trend Micro.
Apple Pushes Recycling Of Old iPhones
Apple wants to change the way people recycle old devices. Recently, it announced a robot named Daisy that will disassemble old iPhones so that its rare minerals are recoverable and reusable. Overall, Apple’s plan is to not rely on mines for its products. However, industry experts have said this is impossible.
“We’re not necessarily competing with the folks who mine,” said Lisa Jackson, Apple’s head of environment, policy and social. “There’s nothing for miners to fear in this development.” Currently, Daisy can extract 14 minerals from old iPhones, including lithium. Apple is also already using recycled tin and cobalt in its products.
Facebook May Have Tweaked Ad Policies, Bu Political Ads Remain
Facebook recently announced that it had changed its approach to political ads. However, much to many critics chagrin, it is not removing political ads entirely. Instead, users can turn off ad-targeting tools. Almost immediately, people voiced their concerns that the platform could still spread false lies with the ads.
Conversely, Twitter and Google have both heavily changed their policies concerning political ads. Google barred advertisers from targeting voters using records and general political affiliations. Twitter, along with Spotify, Pinterest, and TikTok, outright banned political ads on its platform.
Segway Prototype Wheelchair Crashes At CES 2020
Segway’s prototype wheelchair crashed during a demonstration at CES 2020. A journalist rode the prototype, named the S-Pod, when they accelerated and crashed into a wall. “In no way is a [malfunction] a total loss. It is still a sign to the public that the company is close to the finished product,” said Ross Rubin, principal analyst at Reticle Research. However, the crash did leave the prototype out of commission for further demos.
US To Stop Civilian Drone Program
The US announced plans to end its civilian drone program over concerns of the devices being partly made in China. The Department of the Interior voiced concerns that over 1,000 drones could be used for spying. The Department did not respond to a request to comment. However, an official policy has not been signed.
