BATTERYFORPC BLOG
Coronavirus: Australians download COVIDSafe contact tracing app
More than a million Australians have downloaded a coronavirus contact tracing app within hours of it being released by the government. The COVIDSafe smartphone app uses a Bluetooth wireless signal to exchange a "digital handshake" with another user when they come within 1.5m (4.9ft). The app then logs this contact and encrypts it. Users will be notified if they have had more than 15 m ... Read more
2020-04-26 21:54:24
Coronavirus: 'I faked having Covid-19 on Facebook and got arrested'
Michael Lane Brandin knew his Facebook post would cause a stir. What he didn't realise was that he'd be arrested, lose his job and face a trial that could see him behind bars. It was an otherwise dull afternoon in March and the debate about how to cope with the potential outbreak of Covid-19 was all over his timeline. So he decided to, in his words, "do a social experiment". Mr Brand ... Read more
2020-04-23 20:47:06
Coronavirus: Influencers' glossy lifestyles lose their shine
It's hard to believe that even in lockdown, life on Instagram can look idyllic. Last month, Manchester-born Jack Morris posted a photograph in his swimwear, standing in an infinity pool against a pink sunset in Bali. "Lauren and I are trying to stay inside in our villa as much as possible and comply with social distancing," he wrote. "It sucks but if everyone does their part, the ... Read more
2020-04-23 20:46:39
Coronavirus: State surveillance 'a price worth paying'
A major increase in state surveillance is a "price worth paying" to beat Covid-19, a UK think tank says. The Tony Blair Institute for Global Change (TBI), founded by the former prime minister, says it could offer an "escape route" from the crisis. In a report, the Institute argues the public must accept a level of intrusion that would normally "be out of the question in ... Read more
2020-04-23 20:45:21
Coronavirus: What is contact tracing and how does it work?
Governments around the world are proposing contact tracing as a way of limiting the spread of coronavirus after lockdown.
Contact tracing can be done from memory, but smartphones apps that can automate the process have also been developed.
BBC Click's Chris Fox explains what contact tracing is, and some of the methods that have been proposed.
2020-04-23 20:43:25
Coronavirus: YouTube bans 'medically unsubstantiated' content
YouTube has banned any coronavirus-related content that directly contradicts World Health Organization (WHO) advice. The Google-owned service says it will remove anything it deems "medically unsubstantiated". Chief executive Susan Wojcicki said the media giant wanted to stamp out "misinformation on the platform". The move follows YouTube banning conspiracy theories falsely l ... Read more
2020-04-22 20:50:40
Coronavirus: NHS contact-tracing app is tested at RAF base
The NHS is testing its forthcoming Covid-19 contact-tracing app at a Royal Air Force base in North Yorkshire. It works by using Bluetooth signals to log when smartphone owners are close to each other - so if someone develops Covid-19 symptoms, an alert can be sent to other users they may have infected. In its current state, it tells users either: "You're OK now," or: "You need to ... Read more
2020-04-22 20:50:18
Musk says SpaceX is 'fixing' brightness from satellites
SpaceX chief executive Elon Musk said the company was "fixing" the brightness of his company's satellites. Stargazers around the world and including many Britons have witnessed unusual constellations made up of the low earth orbit spacecraft. SpaceX has been launching large batches of satellites as part of its Starlink project to improve global internet coverage. The most recent launc ... Read more
2020-04-22 20:49:28
Fortnite reluctantly comes to Google Play store
Epic Games has released Fortnite on Google's Play app store after a long-running dispute with the tech giant. The title had previously only been available to Android users outside of the marketplace. It means Google will get a cut of in-game purchases. Google introduced opt-in security measures which block apps distributed via other means in March. Epic said the move pushed it to release the ga ... Read more
2020-04-22 20:49:02
DForce hacker returns $25m in 'stolen' crypto-currencies
A mystery hacker allegedly stole $25m (£20m) in crypto-currencies - and then returned the funds two days later. Records show that funds in a variety of crypto-currencies were withdrawn from the DForce platform based in China. A sum of $10m was taken in Ethereum, for example, while a further $10m was taken in digital coins tied to the US dollar and $4m in other coins. Roughly the same amount has ... Read more
2020-04-21 20:46:10