AP-AM Prep-Cyber Corner

(Canadian Press Broadcast Wire (Canada) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) MORNINGPREP-MORNINGPREP-MORNINGPREP-MORNINGPREP ! CYBER CORNER ! IN THE NEWS: TWITTER HACKED SAN FRANCISCO (AP) _ Have you changed your Twitter password Twitter says hackers may have gained access to information on 250,000 of its more than 200 million active users.

In a blog posting Friday, Twitter says it detected attempts to gain access to its user data. It shut down one attack moments after it was detected.

But it discovered that the attackers may have gained access to usernames, email addresses and encrypted passwords belonging to 250,000 users. Twitter has reset the pilfered passwords and sent users email advising them that they'll have to create a new one.

IN THE NEWS: RIDE-HAILING APPS SAN FRANCISCO (AP) _ Fed up with traditional taxis, more city dwellers are tapping their smartphones to hitch rides across town using mobile apps that allow connect riders and drivers.

Internet-based ride-hailing apps such as Lyft, Uber and Sidecar are expanding rapidly in San Francisco, New York and other U.S. cities.

But taxi operators say these ride-summoning services are little more than illegal cabs that don't have permits, pay city fees or follow regulations.

The California Public Utilities Commission in November issued fines and cease-and-desist orders against Lyft, SideCar and Uber for operating illegally.

The commission recently began evaluating the safety of the new ride services and plans to draft rules to regulate them. Last week, the agency reached agreements that allow Lyft and Uber to operate until the rule-making process is complete.

ON THE WEB: FACEBOOK-GIFT CARDS NEW YORK (AP) _ Facebook's newest e-commerce idea: gift cards.

Users can buy them for their Facebook friends, who can use them at retailers and restaurants including Target, Jamba Juice and Olive Garden.

The company is building on the gifts service it introduced last fall. That lets people send chocolate, flowers and other real-life goods to their Facebook friends.

Facebook says the reusable card will be phased in gradually.

To send gifts and gift cards, users can click on the ``gifts'' icon on their friends' Facebook pages or alongside birthday notifications.

Online: www.facebook.com IN STORES: PLAYSTATION 4 NEW YORK (AP) _ Get ready for the next PlayStation.

Sony has invited journalists to an evening press event in New York City on February 20.

The company hasn't said what it plans to show off, but signs indicate that it'll be the PlayStation 4.

Such a console would follow Nintendo's Wii U, which launched last fall. Microsoft's next Xbox game console will likely be unveiled in June at the E3 video game conference in Los Angeles.

Wedbush analyst Michael Pachter says it's a ``super smart'' move for Sony to pre-empt Microsoft's expected launch by several months. This way, the PlayStation 4 will get the spotlight without much competition.

(The Associated Press) (c) 2013 The Canadian Press

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