Google Chrome Will Shame Insecure Sites This Summer

The difference between HTTP and HTTPS is a subtle one that makes a big difference in terms of website security. As the developer of one of the world's most widely used web browsers, Google promised in 2016 that they would do their part to help steer users clear of insecure websites by implementing a warning function in an upcoming version of Chrome. Finally, that promise is coming to fruition; Google recently announced that version 68 of Google Chrome, due in July, will insert a "not secure" label in the address bar every time a user navigates to a website using plain HTTP. Eventually, they plan to add a "red for danger" icon to the label to increase its visibility. Hopefully this measure will help discourage users from browsing unsafe sites and convince sites that don't want to appear untrustworthy to upgrade to HTTPS.

The Pen is Mightier Than the....Mouse?

Tablet computer pens are useful for writing notes and drawing, but they're hardly considered replacements for the humble computer mouse. Microsoft, however, may be trying to change that perception. They recently had a patent approved for an potential upgrade to the pen used with their Surface line of tablets. The new pen has a touch-sensitive retention clip that delivers the functionality of a scroll wheel, something previously lacking in tablet computer pens. According to the patent description, the goal of this new feature is to make the Surface pen a proper alternative to a traditional computer mouse. Only time will tell if the pen ever becomes a widely accepted alternative to the mouse.

Colleges Look to the Future of Technology

Stories have been coming out about social media services and content hosting services finding themselves having to deal with complex social and legal situations far beyond the scope of their original humble intents. Now, some groups are working to try to prevent these situations in the future. Many universities, including Harvard, MIT, Stanford, and the University of Texas, are beginning to create and offer computer science ethics courses. Their goal is to prepare future tech leaders for grappling with the ethical ramifications of technology developments, from AI to self-driving cars to autonomous weapons. Hopefully these efforts keep the tech world innovative, but also focused on helping people first and foremost.

Virus Hits City of Dallas Systems

Multiple computer systems managed by the city government of Dallas, Texas were slowed or shut down completely yesterday in the aftermath of a virus attack. Emergency dispatch systems, library catalog systems, and municipal court scheduling systems were all affected by the attack. The city's IT department said they do not believe any customer data was breached. This is not the first time the city government has been hacked; last April, the emergency siren system was compromised and sirens activated multiple times in one day.