A small security company called CertiVox has launched a free text encryption service call PrivateSky for use in browser-based messaging services. Despite the manifold risks, many Internet users still pass private, sensitive or embarrasing information over Facebook posts, Gmail accounts, blogs and other insecure public Web services. PrivateSky encrypts text, allowing only a trusted recipient to read it.It takes the form of a one-click encryption plug-in for Internet Explorer (only, at this point) that turns any text entered into a ...

Google has entered preliminary talks to acquire the online video site Hulu, the LA Times reported on its website Friday, citing anonymous "sources familiar with the discussions". Hulu's owners have met with Google and other prospective buyers including Yahoo! and Microsoft, the newspaper reported. The site, which broadcasts television shows through on-demand streaming, is owned by a trio of traditional media giants -- Disney, NBC Universal and News Corp. -- and private equity firm Providence Equity Partners.Founded in 2008, Hulu ...

People matter to organisations. While we may get a headache from those who overplay the importance of relationships against the basics of operations and the bottom line, there is no doubt that your team’s personal investment to your startup matters.So, how do you actually set a team that works effectively? One way is by giving an actual share of your startup to employees -- more commonly called staff equity, or a staff shareholding.Memeburn found five things to consider around ...

The Vatican is turning to the internet in its struggle against child abuse with a new website allowing clergy around the world to share information on eradicating the problem.This is the second major online move by the Vatican in recent days, following the launch of the official Vatican news service by papal tweet.A key figure behind the initiative is German psychologist priest Hans Zollner from the Vatican's Gregorian University, who spoke about the need for fundamental changes in how ...

Japanese electronics giant Sony announced on Monday that it would fully restore all PlayStation Network and Qriocity online distribution services in Japan on Wednesday, after shutting them down in April due to hacker attacks.In the wake of the cyber attacks, Sony shut down those services on April 20 to conduct an investigation and boost the overall security of the network infrastructure, it said in a statement.Except for Japan, the Japanese electronics giant had already restored the services in all other ...

Hewlett-Packard rolled out its new TouchPad tablet computer on Friday, seeking to get a bit of the iPad tablet action and revive its slumping fortunes. Better late than never, eh HP?The TouchPad went on sale in major US retailers such as Best Buy and Walmart as well as on Amazon.com, HP said. It is expected to go on sale shortly in Britain, Ireland, France, Germany and Canada, and later this year it will become available in Italy, Spain, Australia, Hong ...

Twitter's recent announcement that it is going ahead with in-stream ads is yet another attempt by the microblogging platform to effectively monetise without losing its opt-in/opt-out appeal. This follows the removal of Quickbar, a form of intrusive promoted tweets that appeared in Hootsuite users’ timelines, in March. Users quickly voiced their frustration by using the #dickbar hashtag and Twitter promptly removed this feature, saying via its blog:Rather than continue to make changes to the QuickBar as it exists, we removed ...

Skype and Microsoft have managed to leapfrog common sense and build a backdoor into your favourite VOIP application. It is called Lawful Interception and is part of a new patent which Microsoft filed back in 2009, but is now preparing to unleash itself into our world due to its recent approval.Lawful Interception means that government agencies can, without your permission, begin tracking your Skype conversations. Calls can be covertly recorded and used against you in any circumstance. It is ...

Living with The BlackBerry PlayBook is like dating someone with a drinking problem. When you first meet, things are great. She seems fun. A lot of fun.I mean fun, like she can drink you under the table, and sometimes when you’re under it, she’ll be dancing on top of it. After a while though, the violent mood swings and the smell of whiskey on her breath at noon on a Monday isn’t endearing anymore. She’s a hot mess, and you’re ...

Hurrah, hurrah, another week has gone and though it seemed questionable -- particularly around Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday -- Friday has managed to roll around.As was explained in the first installment last week, though Memeburn readers -- smart as they are -- are always on top of things, the breakneck speed at which tech and web news goes by, invariably means we all miss something. As such, we here at Memeburn are giving you, our dear readers, this ...