Russia blocks encrypted email provider ProtonMail

Russia has told internet providers to enforce a block against encrypted email provider ProtonMail, the company’s chief has confirmed. The block was ordered by the state Federal Security Service, formerly the KGB, according to a Russian-language blog, which obtained and published the order after the agency accused the company and several other email providers of […]

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Easy web-building apps for people with no idea what they’re doing

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One of these days, whether it’s for your small business, your side hustle, or even just to share adorable puppy videos with the world, you’re going to end up building a website. But unlike setting up a social media account, building a website is hard.

Or at least, it used to be. Thanks to these website builder apps, all of which are on sale, there’s no reason you can’t power through the creation of your own personal website in only a few hours. If you decide to buy any of these, don’t forget to include the code DOWNLOADIT at checkout for an additional 25% off — and never forget the people who go you there (us) when your puppy gets famous. Read more…

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Google says Nest’s secret microphone was ‘never intended to be a secret’

Google said there’s absolutely, positively, nothing to worry about the secret microphone in your Nest Secure smart home hub that it didn’t tell you about. Nope, not at all. Just an oversight, said Google. No need to be alarmed. Everything is just fine. When Google announced earlier this month that its Nest Secure would double-up as […]

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India’s Swiggy goes beyond food to offer product delivery from local stores

Swiggy, the Indian food delivery service, has made its much anticipated moved into general deliveries today after it announced its new ‘stores’ product. The move has been speculated since as early as 2017, but recent developments have taken the company closer towards the expansion. Last September, Swiggy picked up delivery service SuprDaily in an acquisition […]

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Announcing TC Sessions: Mobility, a one day event on the future of mobility and transportation

Mobility is changing and the world with it. Technology is upending century-old establishments, creating new lifestyles and routines. Regions across the globe are trying to replicate Silicon Valley, but all the while Silicon Valley has been replicating a different innovative American city: Detroit. Countless companies have sprung up around the Bay Area focused on the […]

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Tickets are almost sold out for the TechCrunch Winter Party — buy yours before they’re gone

On February 8, less than two weeks from today, the cream of the Bay Area’s early-stage startup community will descend on Galvanize to celebrate everything great and small about tech startups at the 2nd Annual TechCrunch Winter Party. Tickets to this popular Silicon Valley soiree are in big demand and short supply. Lucky for you, […]

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1&1 web hosting review: You’ll save a bundle, but first-timers beware

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1&1
$7.99 a month (starting)
The Good

Very affordable! • 1&1 App Center makes it easy to install a content management system

The Bad

Uptime is spotty • No website builder included • Shared-hosting plan isn’t ‘unlimited’ • Confusing control panel

The Bottom Line

With a big name like 1&1, you’d probably expect an excellent web-hosting experience, but the base package will leave most novice users frustrated.

Mashable Score3.0
Cool Factor2.0
Learning Curve3.0
Performance3.0
Bang for the Buck4.0

Building a website in 2018 isn’t rocket science. You just need to find a web hosting provider within your budget that’s reliable. However, with confusing package names and services, how do you pick the right one? Read more…

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What is Finder Spyder: An investigation.

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Does Finder Spyder sound familiar? It should if you watch much TV. 

As I was writing an article about the fake apps and websites we come across on television, I stumbled upon the site — also known as Spyder Finder (and Finder-Spyder, Spyder-Finder, and however other many combinations of the two words there are). It’s  a fictional search engine used on multiple television shows, including but not limited to Criminal Minds, CSI, The X-Files, Breaking Bad, and Weeds

I was intrigued. It turns out there are a number of fake websites used on television, but none with as much name recognition as Finder Spyder. It is the only website to hold a place on the Wikipedia category of “Fictional Brands,” which includes icons such as Oceanic Airlines and Duff Beer. Read more…

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Google begins to roll out mobile-first indexing

Google announced this morning its “mobile -first” indexing of the web is now starting to roll out, after a year and a half of testing and experimentation. Back in 2016, Google first detailed its plan to change the way its search index operates, explaining how its algorithms would eventually be shifted to use the mobile […]

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