News written by James Delahunty (December, 2017)

Google's Chrome browser will begin blocking annoying and nuisance advertisements on webpages from February, 2018

Google previously announced plans to block nuisance advertisements on webpages. It defined such elements as being auto-play videos with music, or ads that prevent a user from using a webpage for a set amount of time.

Chrome browsers will start to take actions against such ads from February 15, which doesn't appear to coincide with any major release of the Chrome browser.

Websites that go on to violate te Better Ads Standards (set by Coalition for Better Ads, which counts Google as a member) will see all of their ads blocked by Chrome if they persist for more than 30 days. The idea is to reduce the amount of annoying advertisements that encourage users to install ad blockers that remove all ads altogether.

Read More: developers.google.com

Bloomberg is reporting that YouTube has reached licensing deals with Universal and Sony, a vital ingredient for its music service plans.

It had been proviously reported that a YouTube subscription service for music could be launched as early as March, but was under threat from possible failures to sign agreements with major music corporations.

Bloomberg is now reporting that YouTube has secured long-term deals with Sony and Universal. The contracts set royalty rates for music video rights holders, but also commit YouTube to more aggressive anti-piracy action on its platform.

YouTube's planned music service will feature music that is not available to play for free on the video site.

Relations between YouTube and large media companies have been shaky for years, to say the least. Rights holders want YouTube to more aggressively police content on its platform, as many YouTube users upload music to the service without permission. Disputes with trade associations in several European countries have previously resulted in widespread blocking of music in those countries.

Kaspersky Labs has filed a lawsuit in the United States over a recent ban imposed on the use of its software by government agencies.

The Russian firm is targeting the Trump administration in a lawsuit filed in a lawsuit was filed in the US District Court for the District of Columbia. It is seeking to overturn a ban on the use of its antivirus products at civilian and military agencies, signed into law by President Trump.

Kaspersky has been refuting claims that it is vulnerable to influence from the Kremlin, and claims the U.S. government deprived it of its rights to due process with the ban.

At one point, Kaspersky offered to hand over source code for its products to independant entities to ensure that there was nothing to worry about. U.S. officials welcomed the offer but said it was insufficient.

Eugene Kaspersky said the company is going to court in order to secure its rights.

What to do when banned without evidence and the right to be heard? Well, we're securing our rights by taking this to the courts. Why? We've done nothing wrong. https://t.co/uPmS0iy2qW
#SecurityWithoutBorders pic.twitter.com/I2X4WcNJb1

-- Eugene Kaspersky (@e_kaspersky) December 18, 2017