Summary: Last week’s massive denial-of-service attack (and resulting Internet outage) was big news all on its own, but toss in AT&T’s latest digital land grab and you have a jam-packed few days of tech news. After the weekly discussion of the recent headlines, J.D. explores free or cheap word processors that cut down on toolbar clutter for minimal distraction when you’re probably already procrastinating that big writing deadline anyway. Come on along for this week’s episode of Pop Tech Jam! (Also, El Kaiser gently suggests that you change all your default router and device passwords.)<br> Links to This Week’s News Stories<br> <br> * <a href="http://about.att.com/story/att_to_acquire_time_warner.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">AT&T to acquire Time Warner</a> (AT&T)<br> * <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/23/business/dealbook/regulatory-microscope-lies-ahead-for-att-and-time-warner.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Regulatory microscope lies ahead for AT&T and Time Warner</a> (New York Times)<br> * <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/25/business/dealbook/att-and-time-warner-seek-to-mollify-deals-critics.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">AT&T and Time Warner seek to mollify deal’s critics</a> (New York Times)<br> * <a href="http://www.recode.net/2016/10/21/13358928/time-warner-att-deal" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">The last Time Warner deal was the worst deal in history. What is AT&T thinking?</a> (ReCode)<br> * <a href="http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/infrastructure/a23504/mirai-botnet-internet-of-things-ddos-attack/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Hackers wrecked the Internet using DVRs and webcams</a> (Popular Mechanics)<br> * <a href="https://krebsonsecurity.com/2016/10/hacked-cameras-dvrs-powered-todays-massive-internet-outage/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Hacked cameras, DVRs powered today’s massive Internet outage</a> (Krebs on Security)<br> * <a href="http://www.computerworld.com/article/3134097/security/chinese-firm-admits-its-hacked-products-were-behind-fridays-ddos-attack.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Chinese firm admits its hacked products were behind Friday’s DDOS attack</a> (Computerworld)<br> * <a href="http://motherboard.vice.com/read/how-hackers-broke-into-john-podesta-and-colin-powells-gmail-accounts" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">How hackers broke into John Podesta and Colin Powell’s Gmail account</a>s (Vice Motherboard)<br> * <a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/google-has-quietly-dropped-ban-on-personally-identifiable-web-tracking" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Google has quietly dropped ban on personally identifiable Web tracking</a> (ProPublica.org)<br> * <a href="https://www.blog.google/products/g-suite/jamboard-whiteboard-reimagined-collaboration-cloud/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jamboard — the whiteboard, reimagined for collaboration in the cloud</a> (Google blog)<br> * <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/22/technology/new-york-passes-law-airbnb.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Airbnb sues over new law regulating New York rentals</a> (New York Times)<br> * <a href="https://www.paypal.com/stories/us/paypal-enhances-payment-experience-for-facebook-and-messenger" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">PayPal enhances payment experience for Facebook and Messenger</a> (PayPal)<br> * <a href="http://www.cnbc.com/2016/10/24/google-visa-and-mastercard-want-to-get-rid-of-passwords.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Google, Visa and Mastercard want to get rid of passwords</a> (CNBC)<br> * <a href="http://investors.nytco.com/press/press-releases/press-release-details/2016/The-New-York-Times-Company-Acquires-The-Wirecutter-and-The-Sweethome/default.aspx" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">The New York Times Company acquires The Wirecutter and The Sweethome</a> (NYTCo)<br> * <a href="http://news.logitech.com/press-release/consumer-products/now-amazon-alexa-can-control-your-e..."></a>
