2014: The Year of the Hack
2014 will be remembered as the year of the hack.
I'm Bridget Carey and this is your CNET update.
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As 2014 draws to a close, we're ending the same way we started, with hackers.
The tone was set in January as we combed through details about the Target credit card hack as well as a Snapchat hack when millions of users had their phone numbers leaked.
There have been multiple cyber security issues this year.
You had Heartbleed, the Home Depot hack, and the iCloud, just to name a few of the big ones.
And now we're witnessing hackers cripple Sony Pictures Entertainment, stealing 47,000 employees' social security numbers, releasing countless private emails, and.
Stopping the release of the movie The Interview.
You could say 2014 is the year of the hack, and because of it, the world is waking up and paying more attention to security and privacy issues.
Some lawmakers are calling for a cyber security bill to better protect citizens and companies.
Previously, such bills have failed to pass.
Now layered on top of all the hacking reports.
This year we're paying more attention to government surveillance and corporations that collect data on us to just sell targeted advertising.
Or in the case of Facebook, to test our emotions like lab rats.
The folks at Pew Research have been looking into these issues.
And for a recent report it asked technology experts about the state of privacy over the next decade and where we're heading.
just over half of the respondents revealed that they have little faith that we'll create a standard to govern privacy rights in the next ten years.
Many argue that since people are willing to give up privacy to use convenient tools.
Consumer tracking is going to increase.
And that is especially true when we have more internet connected gadgets in the home that report our actions back to tech companies.
Perhaps privacy will become a luxury.
But 45% of those surveyed do have hope for a global privacy standard.
Because citizens will have access to more privacy tools and perhaps businesses will follow a standard to avoid backlash.
Now how about we shift from cyber security to another stressful topic, holiday shopping.
Amazon has unveiled a new one hour delivery service called Prime Now.
And it gives Prime members.
Free same day delivery on selected products.
It's only available in Manhattan right now, but it'll expand a more cities next year.
One hour delivery will cost about $8, but you can get it for free if you choose a different two hour timeframe.
And since most of us can't use Prime now, you better make your Christmas orders by December 19th.
Amazon vows that you'll get it by December 25th with free shipping, if you order by Friday.
Prime Members can order it by Monday and get it there in time with free shipping, but that is cutting it close.
Best Buy promises Christmas delivery for online orders by 11:30 a.m Eastern on Monday.
That's your Tech News update.
There's always more at cnet.com.
From our studios in New York, I'm Bridget Carey.
[MUSIC]
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