Tech

Hackers have discovered that one of the most central elements of online security, the mobile phone number, is also one of the easiest to steal; and it’s is an increasingly growing problem, the New York Times reports.

In a growing number of online attacks, hackers have been calling up Verizon, T-Mobile U.S., Sprint and AT&T and asking them to transfer control of a victim’s phone number to a device under the control of the hackers.

Once they get control of the phone number, they can reset the passwords on every account that uses the phone number as a security backup – as services like Google, Twitter and Facebook suggest.

Facebook will see a decline among teenagers in the U.S. this year, says market research firm eMarketer. Facebook usage among U.S. users between the ages of 12 and 17 is expected to decline for the first time this year, falling 3.4% from the previous year, according to the research. While this decline gives Snap Inc. a rare edge, as teens are fleeing to its platform, Facebook is still in the game as teens seem to be spending time on its other property, Instagram.

Google and Walmart on Tuesday announced a partnership that would make the retailer’s products available on the internet giant’s online shopping mall.

The two companies said that next month Google would start offering Walmart products to people who shop on Google Express, the company’s online shopping mall. It’s the first time the world’s biggest retailer has made its products available online in the United States outside of its own website.

The sharing of sensitive information has been at the root of many of the scandals facing the financial services industry recently, for example the LIBOR and FX rigging episodes. However, the US’ Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has now marked Wall Street traders as a potential area of focus, given the use of encrypted apps to hide illicit communications.

According to reports emerging in the Financial Times, the FBI is becoming increasingly concerned that Wall Street traders have found a way to turn encryption to their advantage when it comes to illegally exchanging insider information.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) is throwing itself into the autonomous vehicle race after years of watching its two Detroit rivals vie for leadership – and it’s doing it with formidable partners: BMW Group and Intel Corp.

The Italian-American FCA is joining a team of companies that has worked to create a turnkey autonomous driving system. Along with the premium German automaker and the Silicon Valley chipmaker, the partnership also includes Mobileye NV, the Israeli camera and sensor company Intel acquired earlier this year for $15.4 billion.

Apple is poised to be the first company to reach a $1 trillion market cap, RBC Capital analysts said Wednesday. Apple shares have been on a tear, with the stock gaining $56 billion in market capitalization a week after it reported better-than-expected third-quarter earnings expectations.

Amit Daryanani at RBC Capital Markets says Apple’s share price would have to rise from its current level to about $192 to $195, depending on the rate of the company’s stock buybacks, to reach the $1 trillion value. With Apple trading at 16 times its estimated next year’s per share profits, profits would need to increase from an estimated $9 or so in 2017 to $12 in 2019, Daryanani calculates.

In view of summer, Marketplus will run a series on apps that will help you evade from your work routine and plan or enjoy your summer.  Here is Trainline, to […]

Switzerland rankek first among the world’s top innovation leaders, according to Innovation Indicator 2017, the annul research which analyzed the innovative strength of 35 national economies on behalf of acatech-the German National Academy of Science and Engineering-and BDI-the Federation of German Industries.