Canine cancer research could also help humans, there's an Amazon phishing scam to watch out for, and Facebook gets hit with a record settlement. Here's the news you need to know, in two minutes or less.
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Today's Headlines
Dogs are playing a big role in human cancer research
Cancer in aging dogs is all too common, but it turns out treatments for your furry friend have implications for people, too. Many of the types of cancer dogs get are similar to those in humans, and with collaborative work between animal and human medicine in the Obama-launched Cancer Moonshot Initiative, researchers are exploring treatments that could save the lives of both dogs and people.
An Amazon phishing scam hits just in time for Prime Day
With Amazon's Prime Day around the corner, security company Mcafee detailed a phishing scam that enables hackers to send an email that looks like it's from Amazon, with a PDF attachment that leads anyone who clicks to a website mimicking an Amazon login page. From there, the malicious site requests not just the victim's name but also their birthday, home address, credit card info, and Social Security number. Remember: Always check who your emails are from, and don't open attachments unless you're sure it's from someone you trust.
The FTC hit Facebook with a record $5 billion settlement
After months of negotiations, the FTC has reportedly fined Facebook a record-setting $5 billion for its privacy violations. If approved by the Justice Department's civil division, it will be the first substantive punishment for Facebook in the US. But until then important questions remain, like whether the FTC will hold Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg personally liable, and to what sort of external oversight Facebook may have to submit going forward.
Cocktail Conversation
The controversy surrounding smartphone voice assistants had its flames fanned this week when a Belgian public broadcaster gained access to over 1,000 Google Assistant recordings from a Google contractor charged with reviewing them. What do contractors listening to Google Assistant queries hear? Everything from requests for porn to household arguments, medical discussions, and kids' conversations.
WIRED Recommends: Boosted Rev Scooter
Rideshare scooters are all the rage these days, but what can you do if you don't want to share your scooting with anyone else? Well, you can buy one just for yourself—and the Boosted Rev scooter is as alluring as it gets.
News You Can Use
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