Google announced changes to the way it handles plugins by adding a warning for users and a intricate verification system for apps. As Google states, malicious or compromised plugins remain a significant security risk. Google wants to make it more difficult for anonymous and dangerous plugins to cause damage. So the company updated its app publishing process, risk assessment systems, and user-facing consent page to better detect spoofed or misleading application identities.

Ecommerce is up in 2017, but eMarketer estimates it will become the first in many years that purchases will drop below 10% growth. About 1.66 billion internet users ages 14 and older will purchase at least one item via any digital channel this year, up 9.4% from 2016. More than half of those who purchase products on the internet will come from Asia-Pacific, and one-quarter of digital buyers worldwide will r will reside in North America and Western Europe.

Google released a new tool Tuesday to help small to mid-sized businesses recruit talent. The service, Hire, builds on the G Suite of products. It lets employers track candidates’ contact information, resume, calendar invites, and allow business partners to share feedback within the person's profile. The Verge explains. 

Data stored on cloud servers services across social media sites are off limits to searches by U.S. Custom and Border Protection when searching U.S. travelers' phones. The letter obtained by NBC News came from acting commissioner Kevin McAleenan in response to questions by Sen. Ron Wyden. In the letter, McAleenan distinguishes between data stored locally on the device and cloud data stored on remote servers. The reports suggest the ability to search the content on the phone aims to protect against child pornography, drug trafficking, terrorism and other threats.

Moz Founder Rand Fishkin will transition to an advisory role during the next six to nine month, after spending the past year and a half helping to develop products for the company and its clients. Fishkin will remain Chairman of the Board and one of the company's largest shareholders. He founded Moz, then seomoz.com, more than 16 years ago.

Rand Fishkin offers up five tips that can help solve ranking challenges for high-value comparative terms when competing with comparison sites in the search engine results pages. He provides examples, explains how to identify the problem to determine the solution. For example, it's really difficult to rank without using the right words and phrases, or without serving the searcher's true intent, Fishkin also lays out five primary solutions marketers should consider.

Microsoft introduced a new look for Bing on Android devices, complete with color scheme and simplified interface, according to several reports. The features let users search for animated GIFs, discover trending ones and safe favorites. Users also can customize font styles and backgrounds. Sean Chan explains.

The European Commission will spend up to €10m to appoint a team of expert technology consultants who will track how Google complies with the commission’s demand that it make its results fairer after being fined billion of dollars for "squeezing" out its competitors on Google Shopping, The Telegraph reports. An EU document suggests Google could be on the watch list for up to eight years, if an appeal in the recent case takes three years. Last week, Google was fined the largest antitrust amount every initiated by the EU after a seven-year investigation into claims it had unfairly used its search engine price comparison shopping service.