It’s easier to clear out your Google search history

You probably already know that Google has a record of everything you search on Google.com. And while you can clear your local browser history, you couldn’t do the same for what’s stored on Google’s servers. But now, in a move to make Google users more aware of the control they have in their account, it’s easier to access settings to delete your search history. Through this link, you can choose to delete your search activity from the last hour or all your searches. From there you can even get access to control likes disabling ad personalization or stopping Google sites from saving activity.

These changes are coming first to desktop and mobile web with iOS and Android updates to come in the following weeks. The company has plans to expand these changes in the coming year to services like Maps as the company tries to overhaul its privacy controls. It comes at a time when giant tech companies are under scrutiny for what they’re doing to protect user data.

Source: The Verge

Cathay Pacific suffers data breach, up to 9.4 million passengers data have been stolen

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Major international airline Cathay Pacific suffered a massive data breach in March and just revealed today that as many as 9.4 million passengers had their data stolen. Passport information, including identity card numbers, names, dates of birth, and postal addresses, may have all been compromised. Details such has where each passenger had traveled and any comments made by customer service representatives might have been taken as well. The amount of data accessed varied among passengers. Cathay Pacific said 403 expired credit card numbers were accessed and so were 27 credit card numbers with no CVV numbers attached. It wasn’t said yet how many credit cards with CVVs that aren’t expired have been accessed. However, no passwords were said to be compromised.

In a statement on Wednesday, the airline said, “The company has no evidence that any personal information has been misused. The IT systems affected are totally separate from its flight operations systems, and there is no impact on flight safety.” The airline said its working with local police in Hong Kong and other relevant authorities and customers who think they’ve been affected should visit this link or call or email the airline directly.

Source: The Verge

Stardew Valley officially launches on iOS

Popular farming simulation and role-playing game Stardew Valley is now officially available on mobile through Apple’s iOS platform. The game is available for both the iPhone and iPad. If you’re unfamiliar with the title, it’s similar to games like Harvest Moon and Animal Crossing. You’ll be tasked to take over a small, failing farm and you work to make it a successful farm once again by planting and tending to crops, raising animals, and crafting goods to sell. You also do things like fight monsters to earn money, engage with townspeople, and mine ores or fish, among other things. The game cycles through seasons so there will always be new crops and activities to partake in year round. The game costs $10.99 but comes with no in-app purchases.

Latest hyper-reality feature at The Void puts participants inside Star Wars

Imagine joining the Star Wars Rebel Alliance, infiltrating an Imperial ship and sneaking into a stronghold on the planet Mustafar only to engage Stormtroopers in battle. Because of the collaboration between ILMxLAB and The Void titled Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire, coming to The Void at the Rec Room in downtown Toronto.

As one of the first to experience the immersive hyper reality feature, I was brought in The Void to get briefed on the mission, i placed on my 20 pound VR jacket and headset and the next thing I knew, me and my co-player were immersed in the Star Wars universe. Flying inside a shaking ship, trading blaster fire with Stormtroopers and sneaking around a very hot Imperial stronghold.

Initially disorienting, the experience engages participants on every level and can be intense. How intense? They make you sign a waiver before suiting up. 

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