CareFirst says cyberattack stole data of 1.1 million users in U.S

(Reuters) – CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, which sells health insurance in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia, said on Wednesday that a cyberattack compromised the data of 1.1 million current and former members. In May, Premera Blue Cross said that 11 million customers’ information may have been exposed in a hack

Read more

Spotify to start offering videos

Streaming music service Spotify will soon provide video content from musicians, news organizations and TV networks in a bid to sign up more subscribers, the company said on Wednesday. A new recommendation function, similar to what rival Pandora Media Inc offers, will let people pick channels based on lifestyle activities, like “songs to sing to in the shower,” or “100 plus hits form the 1980s,” the Stockholm-based company said

Read more

Internet the key front in China’s battle with Western hostile forces: military paper

The Internet is the most important front in China’s ideological battle against “Western anti-China forces”, the country’s military newspaper said on Wednesday, adding that online controls were essential to the government’s survival. Calls to reject Western thought and values have grown stronger under President Xi Jinping, who has urged more “ideological guidance” at universities and the study of Marxism.

Read more

Telstra says newly acquired Pacnet hacked, customer data exposed

Australian telecommunications firm Telstra Corp Ltd said on Wednesday computer systems at its recently acquired undersea cable company Pacnet Ltd had been hacked, potentially exposing sensitive customer information to theft. Telstra said the corporate information technology network of Pacnet, email and other business management systems of the company, had been accessed by an unauthorized third party several weeks before its $550 million takeover of the firm was completed on April 16. Telstra said it didn't know who was behind the hack

Read more

Airbnb faces setback as San Francisco may limit length of stays

San Francisco may become the second California city in a month to limit length of stays arranged by accommodation services like Airbnb, which matches people wishing to rent out all or part of their homes to temporary guests. A city committee late on Monday advanced a proposal that would limit hosts to renting accommodation to no more than 60 days a year, down from 90 currently. Airbnb has grown quickly and is valued at far more than $10 billion, with analysts assuming it can overcome any major regulatory backlash

Read more

Alibaba’s Ma says Kering lawsuit ‘regrettable’

By Christine Kim SEOUL (Reuters) – The founder of Alibaba Group Holdings Ltd on Tuesday called “regrettable” a lawsuit by a group of luxury goods firms owned by Kering SA accusing the Chinese e-commerce giant of being a conduit for counterfeiters. Executive Chairman Jack Ma was speaking after Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent and other brands owned by Kering sued Alibaba in the United States on Friday, accusing it of knowingly making it possible for counterfeiters to sell their products throughout the world. Ma also said Alibaba was interested in investing in U.S

Read more

Convicted murderer in ‘Serial’ podcast allowed to call new witness

(Reuters) – A Baltimore man serving life for murder, whose conviction was called into question by last year’s “Serial” podcast, will get a chance to call a new witness who says she can give him an alibi. The Maryland Court of Special Appeals granted Adnan Syed an opportunity to call a woman who said in an affidavit she saw him at a library around the time of the murder of his ex-girlfriend and high school classmate, Hae Min Lee, on Jan. 13, 1999

Read more

Obama tweets, and a million follow: ‘It’s Barack. Really!’

By Roberta Rampton WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama sent his first tweet from his very own account on Twitter on Monday, quickly amassing a million followers in five hours, the latest of many White House efforts to amplify his message with social media. Really! Six years in, they're finally giving me my own account,” Obama tweeted from his verified @POTUS account.

Read more