Tech Report: New study claims tech firms could earn $1 million from user data
A new study is raising questions about the value of personal data and how much technology companies may profit from it over time.
(LILAMAX)- A new study is raising questions about the value of personal data and how much technology companies may profit from it over time.
According to the Web3 Foundation, companies that collect and track user data could generate as much as $1.08 million from a single American over the course of roughly 60 years, from ages 13 to 73. The study suggests artificial intelligence companies could potentially earn even more from the vast amounts of data used to train and improve their systems.
Meanwhile, the FBI is warning consumers and businesses about a new cybercrime platform that allows hackers to gain access to Microsoft 365 accounts while bypassing multi-factor authentication. The agency issued a public service announcement about a phishing toolkit known as Kali365. According to the FBI, the platform is designed to steal Microsoft 365 access tokens, allowing cybercriminals to access services such as Outlook, Teams and OneDrive without obtaining a user’s password. Officials say Kali365 makes sophisticated phishing attacks easier for less experienced hackers to carry out.
In the autonomous vehicle industry, Waymo is expanding its robotaxi fleet with a newly designed vehicle called the Ojai. The company says the vehicles are roomier, less expensive to manufacture and feature removable steering wheels. The new robotaxis will initially be available to select riders in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Phoenix before expanding to San Diego, Las Vegas and Denver later this summer.
Apple is also updating trade-in values for several products. Customers trading in eligible iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches and MacBooks could receive an additional $10 to $35 toward a new purchase, depending on the device model and condition. Older devices continue to lose value, however. Apple says the iPhone 5 no longer qualifies for trade-in credit and should instead be recycled.
The changes come as technology companies continue investing heavily in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and next-generation transportation technologies.
