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LinkedIn’s new quizzes can prove you’re not lying on your resume

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A “verified skill” badge could carry more weight than an “endorsement,” and it will make it easier for recruiters to search for candidates who have what their looking for. LinkedIn will also use the tests to point users to free, related LinkedIn Learning courses. The company says this is about leveling the playing field. “We want everyone to have access to opportunities based on the skills they have, regardless of their background or where they went to school,” it wrote in a press release.

LinkedIn has added a series of questionable features in the past year. It copied Facebook’s reaction buttons, added voice messaging and put QR codes to use. By the sounds of it, the Skills Assessments could be a more practical tool. The company says it will continue adding Skills Assessments in the coming weeks, so if you don’t see your skill listed, check back soon.

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Millions of Americans’ medical records are out in the open on the internet

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The publication identified at least 187 medical servers across the US that weren’t protected by a password, let alone other modern cybersecurity measures. Moreover, many of those same servers were running outdated software, making them vulnerable to a variety of known exploits. In all, ProPublica estimates that some 13.7 million medical tests and 400,000 x-rays for patients in the US could be easily accessed by malicious individuals. “It’s not even hacking. It’s walking into an open door,” cybersecurity researcher Jackie Singh said to ProPublica.

In some instances, the data included not only the name and birthday of the patient but their social security number as well. ProPublica didn’t find evidence that the records were accessed and copied elsewhere, but the number of vulnerable servers highlights a glaring oversight by the medical industry.

As the publication notes, the oversight likely represents a breach of the federal government’s Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Enacted in 1996, the act governs the handling of sensitive data. One issue is that the act doesn’t provide much guidance on how the industry is supposed to protect data it stores on computers. Some of the clinics ProPublica contacted about their servers tightened their security after the fact, but it’ll likely be a while before most servers are properly protected.

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The US is suing Edward Snowden over his memoir

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The government also argues he violated NDAs by giving speeches on intelligence issues. As such, it’s seeking to recover all of Snowden’s earnings from the book. The US won’t try to hamper publication or distribution of Permanent Record, though — doing so would violate Snowden’s First Amendment rights.

It might seem difficult, on the surface, for the US to actually claim his proceeds, given Snowden is living in Russia under asylum. However, the government is suing the book’s publisher as well, in an attempt to earnings from being transferred to him. Should he ever return to the US, Snowden also faces criminal charges for allegedly disclosing classified information.

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Billions of license plate scans are part of a private surveillance database

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It costs just $20 to look up a license plate in the data base, and $70 to receive a “live alert” that flags when a plate shows up.

As you might have already suspected, this automatic data gathering creates many issues. For one, most of the vehicles in the database are of completely innocent people who have no way of knowing if they’re even included in the data set. And while a spokesperson for DRN said the company “takes data security seriously” and doesn’t allow access without its approval, there have been instances where unauthorized people have obtained that access. It’s feasible that users (approved and otherwise) could exploit this for stalking or gaining the upper hand in court without revealing sources.

Law enforcement can also use the system, and DRN’s sibling brand Vigilant Solutions sells the tech to government agencies. That raises the potential of rogue officers using the plate tracking to intimidate protesters or witnesses of police abuses.

It may be difficult to challenge the practice. DRN has argued that it’s taking photos of license plates in public spaces, where there allegedly isn’t an expectation of privacy. As a private organization, DRN also isn’t obligated to respond to requests for information or accept external oversight. Much like with facial recognition, you’ll just have to hope that companies either mend their ways or limit the potential for abuse — at least, for now.

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Get a glimpse of SpaceX’s orbital Starship prototype under construction

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The first test flights of this orbital vessel could start as soon as October, with the initial experiment reaching about 63,000 feet. Subsequent tests will up the velocity and, eventually, reach orbit. Commercial flights aren’t expected to start until 2021, but Starship is poised to be the backbone of SpaceX’s business soon after, handling everything from routine orbital insertions to eventual trips to Mars. It needs to be doubly sure the technology works properly when the company’s very future depends on it.

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OnePlus reveals official 7T photos ahead of next week’s launch

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OnePlus CEO Pete Lau revealed the design in a forum post, which features circular housing for the triple rear cameras. “With perfect symmetry from any orientation, a circular design became the natural choice,” he wrote. “A circle’s rounded edges produce an appealing contrast against the straight lines of a smartphone’s rectangular form for a seamless, balanced feel. After going through over fifty design iterations, we think we’ve landed on something pretty special.”

OnePlus 7T

The glass has a matte finish, as did the OnePlus 7 Pro and several OnePlus 6 models. This time around, Lau says it has a “smooth matte surface with a brilliant metallic radiance.” The color the company used on this handset, meanwhile, is called Haze Blue.

We’ll find out more details about the OnePlus 7T next week, including the smartphone’s specs. Leaks suggest it’ll include the Snapdragon 855 Plus processor, a 16MP ultra wide-angle rear lens (to go with wide-angle and telephoto sensors) and some additional camera options, including a macro mode.



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NBCUniversal’s streaming service will be called Peacock

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Planned originals for the service include Battlestar Galactica (from Mr. Robot‘s Sam Esmail), Saved by the Bell (by Great News‘ Tracey Wigfield) and Punky Brewster reboots. Other original shows include Dr. Death (with Alec Baldwin, Jamie Dornan and Christian Slater), Demi Moore vehicle Brave New World and Rutherford Falls, co-created by The Good Place‘s Michael Schur and starring Ed Helms. Elsewhere, there’ll be the limited series Angelyne (with Emmy Rossum) and another Psych movie spinoff. On the unscripted side, there are Saturday Night Live docuseries Who Wrote That, a weekly talk show with Amber Ruffin and a Real Housewives spinoff.

You might not see any of those when Peacock debuts though. NBCUniversal is planning a huge marketing drive for the service during the Summer Olympics, and it’ll premiere original series after the games, according to the Hollywood Reporter. There’ll be some Olympics content on Peacock too.

Naturally, there’ll be a big focus on library shows from across the NBCUniversal empire. Among those you’ll be able to watch on Peacock at the outset, many of which will later become streaming exclusives, are 30 Rock, Bates Motel, Battlestar Galactica, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Cheers, Chrisley Knows Best, Covert Affairs, Downton Abbey, Everybody Loves Raymond, Frasier, Friday Night Lights, House, Keeping Up With the Kardashians, King of Queens, Married … With Children, Monk, Parenthood, Psych, Royal Pains, SNL, Superstore, The Real Housewives, Top Chef and Will & Grace.

You’ll also be able to catch a string of movies, though those won’t be exclusive. Among the initial flicks are the Fast and Furious, Bourne and Despicable Me franchises, along with American Pie, Bridesmaids, Knocked Up, Meet the Parents, Meet the Fockers, A Beautiful Mind, Back to the Future, Brokeback Mountain, Casino, Dallas Buyers Club, Do the Right Thing, Erin Brockovich, E.T., Field of Dreams, Jaws, Mamma Mia, Shrek and The Breakfast Club.

Peacock will also have more than 3,000 hours of material from Telmundo, including library titles and original dramedy Armas de Mujer. There’ll be sports and news offerings too, which NBCUniversal will detail later.

Peacock’s pricing and launch date details will be revealed down the line. It’ll be US-only at first, though NBCUniversal eventually plans to expand it worldwide.

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Google brings its Data Saver feature to Android TVs

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Google says Data Saver will reduce data usage and increase watch time by up to three times, which will be handy for users on a limited data plan. There are also Data Alerts which monitor data usage and warn users when they have used up a certain amount of their data.

The features were first designed with an Indian audience in mind, but given how many people now watch video on their mobile devices and have caps on their data usage, they will be helpful for international users as well. Even customers with a usage cap on their home broadband could benefit from data saving and alerts to let them know when that session of binge watching TV shows in 4K is about to max out their plan.

The data saving features will roll out in India in the next few weeks, with a global rollout coming some time later.

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AT&T sued for allegedly inflating DirecTV Now subscriber numbers

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One of the methods employees allegedly used is tacking on up to three accounts to a single customer’s phone number — including those who just signed up for a free trial — and running their credit card three times. In some cases, customers were reportedly charged for a subscription even though they made it clear that they didn’t want it. Sales employees allegedly made and used fake email accounts in both instances.

Customers were sometimes charged for a DirectTV Now subscription but were told that they were being charged for another thing. There were reportedly even times when customers were told that DirecTV Now was part of a package when they were actually charged an extra monthly fee.

The investors involved in the lawsuit called the service’s “apparent success” a “complete mirage.” They said the “information provided by multiple former employees of AT&T and its affiliates from across the country collectively confirm a wide-ranging fraud, perpetrated at the highest levels of the company.” As for AT&T, the company told Bloomberg that it plans “to fight these baseless claims in court.” We also reached out to the carrier for more details and will update this post when we hear back.

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Google Home speakers can now make mobile calls, starting in Australia

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Telstra customers can link up to six mobile numbers to their Google Home and sync the contacts as well, letting them call anyone from their phone book using their Home device. To use voice calling with multiple numbers, they can set up Google Voice Match to identify voices and link them to a particular number and contact list.

A handy feature of this service is that it lets customers call from their Home device even if their mobile is located somewhere else.

Voice-activated calling is available from today to all Telstra mobile customers, and there are more details available on the Telstra website.

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