Hundreds of Android and iOS Apps Use Your Mic to Check What TV Shows You Are Watching

BetaNews | There are a large number of games for both iOS and Android that include Alphonso software. This uses smartphones' microphones to record audio which is then used to determine which TV shows and commercials you're watching—and then deliver targeted ads accordingly. Is this being done in secret? Not really.

'Kernel Memory Leaking' Intel Processor Design Flaw Forces Linux, Windows Redesign

The Register | A fundamental design flaw in Intel's processor chips has forced a significant redesign of the Linux and Windows kernels to defang the chip-level security bug. Programmers are scrambling to overhaul the open-source Linux kernel's virtual memory system. Meanwhile, Microsoft is expected to publicly introduce the necessary changes to its Windows operating system in this month's Patch Tuesday.

"Oh My God, This Is So F—ed Up": Inside Silicon Valley's Secret, Orgiastic Dark Side

Vanity Fair | Some of the most powerful men in Silicon Valley are regulars at exclusive, drug-fueled, sex-laced parties—gatherings they describe not as scandalous, or even secret, but as a bold, unconventional lifestyle choice. Yet, while the guys get laid, the women get screwed. In an adaptation from her new book, Brotopia, Emily Chang exposes the tired and toxic dynamic at play.

The 8 Best Ways to Manage Your Tasks in Chrome

MakeUseOf | New year, new you: Here's to managing your everyday tasks more efficiently this year. These Chrome extensions come with subtle powers to restore order to your day.

The Best Free Microsoft Office Calendar Templates for the New Year

MakeUseOf | Are you ready to begin a new year? Maybe you are, but your office is not. These handy free calendar templates for Microsoft Office can help you start the year off right.