Apple reportedly hired Amazon exec to lead corporate security operation

Rumour has it Apple has managed poach Amazon’s vice president of information security days ahead of its meeting with U.S. prosecutors in court over a highly contentious encryption battle over an iPhone connected to the San Bernardino terror attack. Reuters via Fortune reports George Stathakopoulus has been working for Apple for about a week already to head its corporate security operation. It’s said he’s reporting to CFO Luca Maestri. He is supposedly responsible for securing corporate computers used to design and create products and software. He’s also working on systems storing sensitive customer data.

There’s no confirmation yet if he’s been hired and his LinkedIn page still lists Amazon as his employer. But according to Fortune, a reporter called Apple’s switchboard and asked to speak with Stathakopoulus and was then connected to a person who answered, “George’s office.”

Source: Apple Insider

Apple gets support from likes of Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Facebook against FBI in court

A legal alliance has emerged in Silicon Valley following the ongoing battle between Apple and the FBI. Microsoft will be filing a “friend of the court” brief next week to support Apple’s challenge to the Justice Department. Some of the other companies who will be doing the same include Amazon, Twitter, and Facebook and reportedly Google as well as Box. Other groups and companies who are also considering backing Apple include the Internet Association trade group as well as Slack. The deadline to file the brief is on March 3. And Apple executives are expecting a lot of support from the tech companies and privacy groups who have taken immense interest in the outcome of this case.

Source: BuzzFeed News

Amazon resets some users' passwords, reportedly due to leak

An unidentified number of Amazon users got an  email from the company saying their passwords have been reset due to unidentified reasons. It seems the company is taking a precautionary approach to a possible leak. So, make sure to change your password if you get the email. If you haven't, now's still a good time to update your password.

The email according to ZDNet says Amazon "recently discovered that your password may have been improperly stored on your device or transmitted to Amazon in a way that could potentially expose it to a third party." But according to the email, Amazon also believes no third party got their hands on the passwords.

Source: ZDNet | Via: Lifehacker

Clarkson, Hammond and May take their talents to Amazon Prime for Top Gear-styled show

The power-trio of motoring journalism Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May have agreed to a three-season deal with Amazon Prime which will begin shooting this Fall for launch in 2016. Controversial Clarkson was sacked by the BBC after punching a Top Gear producer, as a result the season of Top Gear was cancelled and Hammond and May decided to quit the show.

Rumoured to be in talks with Netflix (which carries various seasons of Top Gear) but it looks like Amazon Prime offered the team a better deal. 

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