Stories by John Quintet

Networks based in the United States and Canada are being increasingly targeted by Truebot, a malicious botnet, according to an alert from the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security (CCCS) last week. The advisory, dated July 6, 2023, was issued in collaboration with cybersecurity partners from the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the Federal...

In a plan to stimulate the repair, recycling, and upcycling of used mobile devices, Telus has partnered with the Montreal Science Centre. Despite only 14% of Quebec residents having purchased a pre-used device, Telus hopes to raise this number by collecting and recycling devices in an environmentally friendly way. At an event held on July...

In a move against Meta's Canadian news blocking decision, the Postmedia Network announced last Friday that it will "pause" its direct advertising on Meta-owned platforms. This action aligns Postmedia with numerous other groups, including the federal and Quebec governments, who are similarly boycotting Facebook and Instagram, with others such as Bell Media similarly joining in...

In an email update sent on July 6, 2023, Petro-Canada confirmed a cybersecurity incident that impacted its Petro-Points program. The company had initially reported the incident on June 26, revealing that an unauthorized party had accessed its IT network around June 21. The breach is believed to have compromised Petro-Points members' personal information, including names,...

Earlier this week the federal government and Quebec government pulled its ads from Facebook and Instagram, over the ongoing war against Meta and the newly-minted Online News Act. The Online News Act, previously known as Bill C-18, has ignited a conflict between tech giants Meta and Google and the Canadian government. The Act, which received...

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation has voiced its concern over the $15-billion agreement that ensures the continuation of an electric vehicle (EV) battery plant in Windsor, Ontario. Franco Terrazzano, the federation's federal director, described the deal as "massively expensive for taxpayers," and criticized the government for favoring multinational corporations over taxpayers, reports CBC News. The agreement,...

In response to Meta's ongoing plan to block Canadian news content on its digital platforms, Bell Media President, Wade Oosterman, announced on Friday that the company will immediately halt its advertising on Facebook and Instagram. Oosterman expressed concern over the implications of Meta's decision to block links from Canadian news organizations. He emphasized the potential...

Rogers is planning to upgrade parts of Toronto's subway network with 5G cellular access by fall 2023, according to a new report from the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC). The upgrade will cover Line 1’s tunnels and stations from Union station north to St. George and Bloor-Yonge stations, in time for the start of this fall's...

Mercedes-Benz announced on Friday its decision to incorporate Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS) into its electric vehicle (EV) line-up starting from 2025. This move marks Mercedes-Benz as the first German Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) to take this step. To ensure a smooth transition, the company will also provide an adapter from 2024 onwards, enabling...

A Saskatchewan court has determined that a thumbs-up emoji sent via text message can be interpreted as a contractual agreement. The case involved South West Terminal Ltd. (SWT) and Achter Land & Cattle Ltd., with the dispute revolving around a flax contract. SWT maintained that a thumbs-up emoji sent by Achter was an agreement to...

Carmelita Butland Bruce, a resident of St. John’s, Newfoundland, has found herself in a frustrating predicament after losing her old phone number during a switch of service providers from Rogers to Bell Aliant. Despite having switched providers multiple times in the past, this is the first time she has lost her number, leaving her feeling...

Apple reportedly gearing up for the retail launch of its mixed-reality headset, the Vision Pro, in select U.S. markets early next year, according to insiders. The tech giant plans to create special areas in its stores for customers to try out the headset and get fitted for accessories, reports Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. While the Vision...