Stories by Eric Mack

Google aims to close Google Maps loophole

Google says it's working to keep the virtual lights on for businesses that are being incorrectly labeled as "closed" on Google Maps. The issue was raised in a New York Times article that profiled a handful of businesses that had been temporarily labeled closed on Google Maps, apparently due to what Google product manager Ethan Russell calls "malicious or incorrect labeling."

Can Tim Cook fill Jobs' shoes? Other heirs to big CEOs

Now that Steve Jobs has stepped down as Apple's CEO, it's an understatement to say that his successor, Apple COO Tim Cook, has mighty big shoes to fill. Cook -- who Jobs singled out to replace himself -- joins an exclusive group of newly appointed tech CEOs who faced the challenge of repeating the phenomenal success of visionary forebears.

Hacker arrests escalate

As hacking groups like Anonymous and LulzSec have earned a higher profile in the past few months, they've also earned themselves (or perhaps their patsies) an increasing number of trips to jail.

Wrong LulzSec suspect may have been nabbed

UK police may not have gotten their guy when they arrested a 19-year-old Scotsman believed to be LulzSec spokesman "Topiary." The website LulzSecExposed, which is run by LulzSec detractors and aims to expose the identities of the hackers, says it believes police may have been misled thanks to a disinformation campaign waged by LulzSec.

Facebook edges Google as most-typed URL domain

Faceboook.com is the domain to have (count the 'o's) if phishing scams are your game. That's because it's the most popular mistyped entry into a browser URL bar, according to data collected and analyzed by Chris Finke from his browser add-on, URL Fixer. The site misleads errant visitors to believe they've won some sort of contest for Facebook users.

What's the deal with MySpace Tom and Google+?

Tom Anderson has been out of the social network game for years, but lately it seems like he wants to get back in. The MySpace founder has become one of the most active and followed users on Google+ since its launch, and he also spends plenty of time on Facebook and Twitter, where he's got 191,000 followers.

Google+ female users increasing

Google+ seemed like a boys club at first, but recent estimates point to a growing number of women using the Internet search giant's social networking service.

Chrome Extension Imports Facebook Friends to Google+

The world is already abuzz about Google+, even though it's not accessible to most. Still, many doubt that anyone, even the mighty one from Mountain View, can catch up to Facebook's half a billion (at least) active users. Unless, maybe there was a simple way to import your Facebook friends to your Google+ Circles. Indeed, there is an app for that. Actually, it's a Chrome extension.

Hacker civil war heats up

In the midst of all the high-profile hacks rolling out almost daily, a hacker civil war is also under way. It's become almost as hard to keep up with the number of attacks carried out against hackers as it is to track the plethora carried out by hackers. Multiple hackers have claimed responsibility for disabling the Lulzsec website this week, while other hacking groups have made it their mission to reveal the real-world identities of Lulzsec members.

Anonymous plans attack on Orlando's website

Orlando, Florida's city Website could be the latest target of hackers at noon EST Thursday if Web chatter between hackers online turns out to be true. Plans of the alleged attack are being circulated on Anonymous-related IRC channels. Anonymous is a group of loosely affiliated hackers that work together to coordinate hack attacks.

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