Day: December 2, 2018

Reports of First Genetically Enhanced Babies Spark Outrage

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Twin girls born earlier this month had their DNA altered to prevent them from contracting HIV, according to an Associated Press report. If confirmed, the births would signify the first gene-edited babies in human history—a stunning development that’s sparking an outcry from scientists and ethicists. Professor He Jiankui of Shenzhen, China, made the announcement earlier Read more about Reports of First Genetically Enhanced Babies Spark Outrage[…]

Your phone indeed has ears that you may not know about – the companies that listen to noise in the background while apps that contain their software are open

Posted on by Robin Edgar

: No, your phone is not “listening” to you in the strictest sense of the word. But, yes, all your likes, dislikes and preferences are clearly being heard by apps in your phone which you oh-so-easily clicked “agree” to the terms of which while installing. How so? If you are in India, the answer to Read more about Your phone indeed has ears that you may not know about – the companies that listen to noise in the background while apps that contain their software are open[…]

A Chinese startup may have cracked solid-state batteries

Posted on by Robin Edgar

According to Chinese media, Qing Tao Energy Development Co, a startup out of the technical Tsinghua University, has deployed a solid-state battery production line in Kunshan, East China. Reports claim the line has a capacity of 100MWh per year — which is planned to increase to 700MWh by 2020 — and that the company has Read more about A Chinese startup may have cracked solid-state batteries[…]

Creepy Chinese AI shames CEO for jaywalking on public displays throughout city – but detected the CEO on an ad on a bus

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Dong Mingzhu, chairwoman of China’s biggest maker of air conditioners Gree Electric Appliances, who found her face splashed on a huge screen erected along a street in the port city of Ningbo that displays images of people caught jaywalking by surveillance cameras. That artificial intelligence-backed surveillance system, however, erred in capturing Dong’s image on Wednesday Read more about Creepy Chinese AI shames CEO for jaywalking on public displays throughout city – but detected the CEO on an ad on a bus[…]

Be Warned: Customer Service Agents Can See What You’re Typing in Real Time on their website forms

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Next time you’re chatting with a customer service agent online, be warned that the person on the other side of your conversation might see what you’re typing in real time. A reader sent us the following transcript from a conversation he had with a mattress company after the agent responded to a message he hadn’t Read more about Be Warned: Customer Service Agents Can See What You’re Typing in Real Time on their website forms[…]

US told to quit sharing data with human rights-violating surveillance regime. Which one, you ask? That’d be the UK

Posted on by Robin Edgar

UK authorities should not be granted access to data held by American companies because British laws don’t meet human rights obligations, nine nonprofits have said. In a letter to the US Department of Justice, organisations including Human Rights Watch and the Electronic Frontier Foundation set out their concerns about the UK’s surveillance and data retention Read more about US told to quit sharing data with human rights-violating surveillance regime. Which one, you ask? That’d be the UK[…]

mobile providers in NL urged to stop killing unused data and phone minutes, as technically the user has paid for it and if they exceed the maximum they are fined

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Telecomaanbieders moeten stoppen met het laten vervallen van ongebruikte data en belminuten. Dat schrijft de Consumentenbond in een brief aan de tien grootste aanbieders. Consumenten met een mobiel abonnement verliezen nu aan het einde van iedere maand hun ongebruikte belminuten en data binnen hun bundel. Tegelijkertijd betalen ze extra voor iedere minuut of MB die Read more about mobile providers in NL urged to stop killing unused data and phone minutes, as technically the user has paid for it and if they exceed the maximum they are fined[…]

OneDrive is broken: Microsoft’s cloudy storage drops from the sky for EU users

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Oh, you tease It is OneDrive’s turn to get a beating with the stick of fail as the service took a tumble this morning. Issues first began appearing at around 08:00 GMT as users around Europe logged in, expecting to find their files, and found instead a picture of a bicycle with a flat tyre Read more about OneDrive is broken: Microsoft’s cloudy storage drops from the sky for EU users[…]

GCHQ vulnerability disclosure process and cops hacking you now need a judge to decide if it’s legal in the UK

Posted on by Robin Edgar

On the same day that certain types of British state-backed hacking now need a judge-issued warrant to carry out, GCHQ has lifted the veil and given the infosec world a glimpse inside its vuln-hoarding policies. The spying agency’s internal Equities Process is the way by which it decides whether or not to tell tech vendors Read more about GCHQ vulnerability disclosure process and cops hacking you now need a judge to decide if it’s legal in the UK[…]

Mass router hack exposes millions of devices to potent NSA exploit through UPNP

Posted on by Robin Edgar

More than 45,000 Internet routers have been compromised by a newly discovered campaign that’s designed to open networks to attacks by EternalBlue, the potent exploit that was developed by, and then stolen from, the National Security Agency and leaked to the Internet at large, researchers said Wednesday. The new attack exploits routers with vulnerable implementations Read more about Mass router hack exposes millions of devices to potent NSA exploit through UPNP[…]

In China, your car could be talking to the government

Posted on by Robin Edgar

When Shan Junhua bought his white Tesla Model X, he knew it was a fast, beautiful car. What he didn’t know is that Tesla constantly sends information about the precise location of his car to the Chinese government. Tesla is not alone. China has called upon all electric vehicle manufacturers in China to make the Read more about In China, your car could be talking to the government[…]

Companies ‘can sack workers for refusing to use fingerprint scanners’ in Australia

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Businesses using fingerprint scanners to monitor their workforce can legally sack employees who refuse to hand over biometric information on privacy grounds, the Fair Work Commission has ruled. The ruling, which will be appealed, was made in the case of Jeremy Lee, a Queensland sawmill worker who refused to comply with a new fingerprint scanning Read more about Companies ‘can sack workers for refusing to use fingerprint scanners’ in Australia[…]