News written by James Delahunty (December, 2019)

Users of the notorious Pirate Bay torrent site have noticed a new feature that streams video in-browser.

This isn't the first time the Pirate Bay has tested torrent streaming in-browser after a test in 2016. It also previously had a BayFiles service. Now, there is a "B" icon that appears beside some search results on the Pirate Bay.

Clicking the 'B' icon brings you to "BayStream" in some cases, but not all. BayStream provides a YouTube-like in-browser video interface and allows you to view the video right in the browser. TorrentFreak tested the new less-than-legal service and found that popular content streams quite well in-browser.

The streaming content does appear to be the media file in the torrent and more popular content (perhaps those with plenty of seeds?) appears to work better. However, a look at the homepage for BayStream presents more as a file-locker website.

It allows for uploads of files up to 20GB in size. The service appears to be free for now, with no premium account offerings. TorrentFreak also notes the familiar Kopimi logo at the end of the page.

Fans of the Matrix have been told when they can expect to go see the new sequel in theaters.

In what will be an interesting day for Keanu Reeves - set to reprise his iconic role as Neo in The Matrix 4 - the new file will be available in theaters on the same day as John Wick 4. Keanu Reeves fans who would like an opening night viewing of his newest work will have a decision to make.

They have plenty of time to decide, however, as both films will hit theaters on May 21st, 2021. Carrie-Anne Moss is also reprising the role of Trinity in the fourth installment, though join Reeves as the only confirmed returning cast from the original trilogy.

They will be joined by newcomers Neil Patrick Harris, Jessica Henwick, and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II.

Lana Wachowski is set to direct the fourth film, written by Wachowski, Aleksandar Hemon, and David Mitchell. Production starts in the New Year.

Some BBC iPlayer viewers are currently unable to view BBC iPlayer content on their Samsung Smart TVs and may have to wait until next year.

The problem is being blamed on a software glitch, though at the core of the problem is the expiration of security certifications needed to access iPlayer content. The South Korean consumer electronics giant has pushed out updates but they haven't worked for everybody, and some users have to update manually.

The trouble started on Monday when viewers of the service complained about messages instructing them to update the iPlayer software.

"Samsung tell us they are working hard to address the problem with their firmware and any viewers who are experiencing difficulty watching iPlayer on Samsung TVs should contact the manufacturer to get it fixed," said a BBC spokesman.

For Samsung TVs that can't seem to update automatically, the company has provided instructions for updating via Settings which you can read here.

However, for owners of 11 listed models sold between 2013, and 2015, this process will not work and a further update will become available in early 2020.

Netflix is bragging that 26.4 million accounts watched The Irishman in its first week available on the service.

The Irishman stars Robert De Niro as hitman Frank Sheeran. It also stars Al Pacino as Jimmy Hoffa and Joe Pesci as Russell Bufalino. The film has just been nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture (Drama). Director Martin Scorsese also picked up a nomination for the movie.

Both Al Pacino and Joe Pesci have been nominated in the category of Best Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture.

*pours glass of wine*

*dips bread*

My friends, I've got some news from the big guy at the top: THE IRISHMAN was watched by 26,404,081 accounts globally -- within its first 7 days on Netflix. pic.twitter.com/abVV993CWS

-- Netflix Film (@NetflixFilm) December 10, 2019

Redbox signature red kiosks will no longer carry video games for rental, the company has confirmed.

Redbox game rentals provided a means to play through the story mode of a video game without having to purchase a copy. Unfortunately, Redbox is getting out of the video games business to focus entirely on movies from 2020.

Redbox customers had noticed that video game rentals had disappeared from their kiosks, but that there were still some games left available to purchase. The games will be available to purchase until the end of the year.

Engadget noted that there is an opportunity for some good deals before Redbox gets out of games entirely. For example, Death Stranding and Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order will be available for $40.

Via: Engadget

Facebook won't provide law enforcement with access to its encrypted messaging products.

Law enforcement agencies and politicians around the world are demanding some level of access to messaging services that are protected by end-to-end encryption. They cite the use of the services for criminal activity including terrorist networks and abuse material.

However, WhatsApp and Messenger bosses Will Cathcart and Stan Chudnovsky, say that such backdoor access can be exploited for nefarious purposes.

"The 'backdoor' access you are demanding for law enforcement would be a gift to criminals, hackers and repressive regimes, creating a way for them to enter our systems and leaving every person on our platforms more vulnerable to real-life harm," Cathcart and Chudnovsky wrote in a letter, reports The Verge.

"People's private messages would be less secure and the real winners would be anyone seeking to take advantage of that weakened security. That is not something we are prepared to do."

The Justice Department has opposed Facebook's pivot to end-to-end encryption for its Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger services, with AG William Barr declaring that companies should not deliberately design their systems to preclude any form of access to content even for preventing or investigating the most serious crimes.

Google will integrate a feature into its Chrome web browser that can detect if your login usernames and passwords have been leaked in a data breach.

It has previously introduced the Password Checker extension for the Chrome browser, which checks user credentials against over 4 billion sets of credentials that are known to be compromised. It also built into the Google Account and is accessible from password.google.com if logged in.

Google is now integrating it into Chrome, gradually rolling out with release M79. If Google discovers a username and password exposed by a data breach, it stores a hashed and encrypted copy of the data on its servers.

When you sign in to a website, Chrome will send a hashed copy of your username and password to Google encrypted with a secret key only known to Chrome. No one, including Google, is able to derive your username or password from this encrypted copy.

Google uses a technique called private set intersection with blinding that involves multiple layers of encryption to determine if your username and password appear in any breach. Only you discover if your username and password have been compromised. If they have been compromised, Chrome will inform you so you can change the credentials.

Rocket League has eliminated its loot boxes - or crates - and replaced them with Blueprints in an update.

In video games, loot boxes essentially contain surprise items like weapons, costumes and so forth. This surprise element has prompted critics to liken the purchasing of these packs to gambling. They have provoked the ire of regulators and politicians in several countries.

Rocket League has decided to scrap its crates and replace them with Unrevealed Blueprints. All existing crates in a player's inventory have been converted into these Blueprints. Blueprints will drop after select online matches and can be traded with other players.

Revealing a Blueprint will show you which item that Blueprint can build, along with how many Credits that item will require to build.

There is still a random element with Blueprints, but at least this way players can see the item before they choose whether to spend on it.

Via: Engadget

Apple has explained why its newer iPhone handsets will intermittently query location information even if location services have been disabled.

Researcher Brian Krebs had revealed how his iPhone 11 Pro handset seemed to routinely query location information even though he had set all apps and system services never to request location information. He pointed out that under Apple's own documentation, this shouldn't be happening.

Initially, Apple said that there was no security concern and that the device was performing as designed. However, after the story was picked up, questions about the need for the device to intermittently query locations piled up.

Apple has explained the behavior of the device in statements to TechCrunch.

Newer iPhone models, including the iPhone 11 Pro that Krebs owns, come with ultra wideband technology. One use of UWB is to enable wirelessly sharing files over AirDrop, for example, and it is likely to be used in upcoming features as iOS updates.

"Ultra wideband technology is an industry standard technology and is subject to international regulatory requirements that require it to be turned off in certain locations," a spokesperson told TechCrunch.

YouTube has published its YouTube Rewind 2019 video, highlighting content on the world's largest video platform.

Last year was a disaster. To say that the YouTube Rewind 2018 video was poorly received by the public is to push the limits of understating. In fact, it was so detested that it quickly became the most disliked YouTube video in history.

This year, YouTube prepared us all for its 2019 rendition with a Twitter teaser showing a car driving off the highway toward a destination of "something different for real."

While the 2018 video focused on original content, the 2019 rehash showcases the most viewed videos on the platform, along with the more viewed creators over the past twelve months. The highlight reel includes stars like Billie Eilish and PewDiePie.

It organizes the content into charts that include top creator videos, top music videos, top dance videos, video game videos, and more.

Following on from the most disliked video ever must surely be easier, but it should be pointed out that at the time of writing the new video has 1.3 million downvotes to 756,000 upvotes. Judge it for yourself.

Plex streaming service is supported by advertisements and features a wide range of content.

Available in over 200 countries across the world, Plex's new streaming service features thousands of titles including Movies, TV Shows, documentaries, sports, and more. There is no paid option for the service, it is ad-supported even if you are an existing & paying Plex Pass subscriber.

The service isn't filled with obscure titles either, its library includes content from Legendary, MGM, Lionsgate, Warner Bros., Gravitas, and many more.

It is available in almost every country in the world. There are some geo-restrictions in place for certain content but most is available everywhere. As for the ads you can expect to see, Plex says it will be about a third of the ads you would expect from cable TV.

The service works with Apple devices, Android devices, Amazon devices, Roku devices, Smart TVs, and so forth. For existing Plex users, the service is available a sidebar item "Movies and TV".

More: Plex

(Via: Engadget)

In a clear example of irony, Mozilla has pulled four add-ons from popular security firms for violating policies on data collection.

The add-ons are developed by Avast and AVG, who are among the most popular providers of consumer-level security products across platforms. Mozilla removed two add-ons from each firm that protected consumers from dangerous websites and also from scams and other undesirable activity.

Starting in October, Adblock Plus developer Wladimir Palant detailed how the add-ons in question were excessively vacuuming up data from the browsers they were installed on. Far from just collecting data about websites visited, the add-ons went further to collection information on search history, and behavioral information including how long was spent on a webpage, what users had clicked on, the number of open tabs, and even when they switched tabs.

Such detailed information violates Mozilla's policies and it pulled the four add-ons from its store after it was notified of them on December 2. Opera followed suit shortly afterward.

The add-ons are likely to return sooner rather than later. ZDNet reported that Avast is already working with Mozilla to bring its add-ons to compliance.

The service will ask new users for their date of birth when creating a new account, it has confirmed.

Instagram has no plans to retroactively seek the date of birth of its vast millions of existing users, feeling it may be intrusive to do so. On a blog post explaining the change, Instagram cited a desire to provide age-appropriate experiences for its users.

"Asking for this information will help prevent underage people from joining Instagram, help us keep young people safer and enable more age-appropriate experiences overall," the blog post explains.

"We will use the birthday information you share with us to create more tailored experiences, such as education around account controls and recommended privacy settings for young people."

Instagram will not be attempting to verify the date of birth provided by new users, however. Age verification is a topic that is increasingly at the forefront of public discussion about digital services and their effects on young users. Within the industry itself, there is a debate on how exactly age verification can be successfully implemented, though regulators would certainly like to see it implemented.