Savvy online shoppers have long seen the value in independent reviews, left by other consumers, of the products and services they are interested in buying. Stripped of hyperbole and marketing speak, the opinions of others have proven to be a powerful tool in influencing purchasing decisions. But not all reviews are created equally. Some unscrupulous companies...

Former hashtag Edward Snowden is now an actual thing on Twitter. The former NSA contractor-turned-whistleblower has joined Twitter, sending an opening tweet on Tuesday asking, “Can you hear me now?” Snowden, the man whose revelations about PRISM, XKeyscore and other secretive NSA surveillance programs opened up a worldwide discussion about government surveillance, reached one million Twitter followers after...

Let’s say you’ve joined a travel company’s rewards program. In doing so, you handed over your email address. As you plan your next trip, maybe you’ll do a Google search on “non-stop flights to new york,” much to the delight of the advertising-engorged company. If you’re logged in to any Google account, you may very...