Bad news, everyone. If you thought we were out of the woods when it comes to the Meltdown / Spectre CPU security flaws, then think again. Researchers from Microsoft and Google have identified a previously unknown fourth variant of the processor design issues that made front page news when they were discovered last year.

Like its predecessors, variant 4 (or CVE-2018-3639, to give its full name) describes a processor design issue that could allow malicious software to discover hidden information, such as a user’s password. For example, a webpage set up by a malware programmer could discover passwords, credit card numbers and other private information input elsewhere in the [...]

On Tuesday, Instagram announced you’ll soon gain the ability to mute other users. When muted, a user’s story and photos no longer show up in your feed, but for all the other person knows, you still follow them and everything is just fine. No drama.

Muting an account is especially handy if you don’t want to upset a friend or relative by unfollowing their account, but just. can’t. stand. the constant workout or brunch photos.

The feature is rolling out over the next few weeks, so if you don’t have the option quite yet, keep checking.

To mute someone, tap on the three-dot icon at the top-right corner of their post. A list of options [...]

Turns out “sorry” doesn’t seem to work as much for the social network’s chief anymore.

How many times can you say you’re sorry before we stop caring?

If Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s globe-trotting apology tour over privacy violations, election meddling and allowing hate speech to flourish on Facebook is any sign, the answer is not that many.

After telling the US Senate, the US House of Representatives, Facebook’s 2.2 billion users, the company’s investors, 5,000 developers and loads of advertisers that he screwed up, Zuckerberg said he was sorry yet again on Tuesday when he admitted to the European Parliament that fake news [...]

Facebook Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg has agreed for his meeting with European officials Tuesday to be livestreamed. Antonio Tajani, president of the European Parliament, said on Twitter Monday he had personally raised the possibility of webcasting the meeting with Zuckerberg.

“I am glad to announce that (Zuckerberg) has accepted this new request. Great news for EU citizens,” Tajani said.

The development comes after EU parliamentarians raised concerns over the fact that the meeting was going to be held behind closed doors. “We’re looking forward to the meeting and happy for it to be livestreamed,” a Facebook spokesperson said in a [...]