NSA Spied On Denmark As It Chose Its Future Fighter Aircraft: Report – also FR, NL, DE, NO, SE

Reports in the Danish media allege that the United States spied on the country’s government and its defense industry, as well as other European defense contractors, in an attempt to gain information on its fighter acquisition program. The revelations, published online by DR, Denmark’s Danish public-service broadcaster, concern the run-up to the fighter competition that Read more about NSA Spied On Denmark As It Chose Its Future Fighter Aircraft: Report – also FR, NL, DE, NO, SE[…]

Army Hires Company To Develop Cyber Defenses For Its Strykers After They Were Hacked

On Nov. 16, 2020, Virginia-based cybersecurity firm Shift5, Inc. announced that it had received a $2.6 million contract from the Army’s Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO) to “provide unified cybersecurity prototype kits designed to help protect the operational technology of the Army’s Stryker combat vehicle platform.” The company says it first pitched its Read more about Army Hires Company To Develop Cyber Defenses For Its Strykers After They Were Hacked[…]

Iron Powder Passes First Industrial Test as Renewable, Carbon Dioxide-Free Fuel

While setting fire to an iron ingot is probably more trouble than it’s worth, fine iron powder mixed with air is highly combustible. When you burn this mixture, you’re oxidizing the iron. Whereas a carbon fuel oxidizes into CO2, an iron fuel oxidizes into Fe2O3, which is just rust. The nice thing about rust is that Read more about Iron Powder Passes First Industrial Test as Renewable, Carbon Dioxide-Free Fuel[…]

Belgium announces measures for bird flu outbreak

Belgium has detected an outbreak of bird flu, leading authorities to order all poultry farmers and individual bird owners to keep the animals confined, the country’s food safety agency AFSCA said Saturday. Avian influenza has recently spread to western Europe after outbreaks in Russia and Kazakhstan this summer. “Three wild birds that stayed in a Read more about Belgium announces measures for bird flu outbreak[…]

Your Computer isn’t Yours – Apple edition – how is it snooping on you, why can’t you start apps when their server is down

It’s here. It happened. Did you notice? I’m speaking, of course, of the world that Richard Stallman predicted in 1997. The one Cory Doctorow also warned us about. On modern versions of macOS, you simply can’t power on your computer, launch a text editor or eBook reader, and write or read, without a log of Read more about Your Computer isn’t Yours – Apple edition – how is it snooping on you, why can’t you start apps when their server is down[…]

Google CEO apologises for document outlining how to counter new EU rules by attacking rulemaker, EU’s Breton warns internet is not Wild West

Alphabet GOOGL.O CEO Sundar Pichai has apologised to Europe’s industry chief Thierry Breton over a leaked internal document proposing tactics to counter the EU’s tough new rules on internet companies and lobby against the EU commissioner. […] The call came after a Google internal document outlined a 60-day strategy to attack the European Union’s push Read more about Google CEO apologises for document outlining how to counter new EU rules by attacking rulemaker, EU’s Breton warns internet is not Wild West[…]

Ticketmaster cops £1.25m ICO fine for 2018 Magecart breach, blames someone else and vows to appeal

The Information Commissioner’s Office has fined Ticketmaster £1.25m after the site’s operators failed to spot a Magecart card skimmer infection until after 9 million customers’ details had been slurped by criminals. The breach began in February 2018 and was not detected until April, when banks realised their customers’ cards were being abused by criminals immediately Read more about Ticketmaster cops £1.25m ICO fine for 2018 Magecart breach, blames someone else and vows to appeal[…]

Mozilla *privacy not included tech buyers guide rated on creepy scale

This is a list of 130 Smart home gadgets, fitness trackers, toys and more, rated for their privacy & security. It’s a large list and shows you how basically anything by big tech is pretty creepy – anything by Amazon and Facebook is super creepy, Google pretty creepy, Apple only creepy. There are a few Read more about Mozilla *privacy not included tech buyers guide rated on creepy scale[…]

Google’s SoundFilter AI separates any sound or voice from mixed-audio recordings

Researchers at Google claim to have developed a machine learning model that can separate a sound source from noisy, single-channel audio based on only a short sample of the target source. In a paper, they say their SoundFilter system can be tuned to filter arbitrary sound sources, even those it hasn’t seen during training. The Read more about Google’s SoundFilter AI separates any sound or voice from mixed-audio recordings[…]

Microsoft: Russian, North Korean Hackers Attacked Covid-19 Labs

Microsoft researchers have found evidence that Russian and North Korean hackers have systematically attacked covid-19 labs and vaccine makers in an effort to steal data and initiate ransomware attacks. “Among the targets, the majority are vaccine makers that have Covid-19 vaccines in various stages of clinical trials, clinical research organization involved in trials, and one Read more about Microsoft: Russian, North Korean Hackers Attacked Covid-19 Labs[…]

Apple braces for antitrust woes by letting users select and install third-party apps during setup of iOS 14.3

iOS 14.3 will prompt some users to install selected third-party applications during setup, in what is likely an attempt to stifle any allegations of anticompetitive behaviour from regulators. The feature, which is buried deep within the beta version of the upcoming iOS release and was first spotted by 9to5Mac, is believed to be activated depending Read more about Apple braces for antitrust woes by letting users select and install third-party apps during setup of iOS 14.3[…]

New lawsuit: Why do Android phones mysteriously exchange 260MB a month with Google via cellular data when they’re not even in use? Also Apple + ad fraud

Google on Thursday was sued for allegedly stealing Android users’ cellular data allowances though unapproved, undisclosed transmissions to the web giant’s servers. The lawsuit, Taylor et al v. Google [PDF], was filed in a US federal district court in San Jose on behalf of four plaintiffs based in Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin in the hope Read more about New lawsuit: Why do Android phones mysteriously exchange 260MB a month with Google via cellular data when they’re not even in use? Also Apple + ad fraud[…]

MATRIC – control your PC from phone using button templates

KEYBOARD EMULATION Low level keyboard emulation, works in most apps and games KEYBOARD MACROS Record multiple keyboard actions into precisely timed macros STREAM DECK MATRIC supports OBS Studio from simple scene switching to full blown studio mode mix console DECK EDITOR Create your own decks by using intuitive drag&drop editor PHOTO CAPTURE Snap a photo Read more about MATRIC – control your PC from phone using button templates[…]

Microsoft warns against SMS, voice calls for multi-factor authentication: Try something that can’t be SIM swapped

In a blog post, Alex Weinert, director of identity security at Microsoft, says people should definitely use MFA. He claims that accounts using any type of MFA get compromised at a rate that’s less than 0.1 per cent of the general population. At the same time, he argues people should avoid relying on SMS messages Read more about Microsoft warns against SMS, voice calls for multi-factor authentication: Try something that can’t be SIM swapped[…]

There’s a Massive Recall of Amazon Neighbourhood Spy Ring Doorbells –  might explode in flames

In a year where it seems everything is both literally and figuratively on fire, it’s not surprising that we can now add Amazon’s Ring Video Doorbell to the list. Yes, it turns out that the device you purchased and installed for the purpose of making your home safer is itself a safety hazard. As a Read more about There’s a Massive Recall of Amazon Neighbourhood Spy Ring Doorbells –  might explode in flames[…]

YouTube to world: Move along, nothing to see here … because we’re having an outage

The video locker was slow to load videos and balked when asked to upload new content on Wednesday, from just before midnight GMT. While all but night-owl European users mostly missed the mess, North American users woke up without their favourite early morning streams and some Asian users were also deprived of their favourite vids Read more about YouTube to world: Move along, nothing to see here … because we’re having an outage[…]

Researchers 3-D print biomedical parts with supersonic speed

Forget glue, screws, heat or other traditional bonding methods. A Cornell University-led collaboration has developed a 3-D printing technique that creates cellular metallic materials by smashing together powder particles at supersonic speed. This form of technology, known as “cold spray,” results in mechanically robust, porous structures that are 40% stronger than similar materials made with Read more about Researchers 3-D print biomedical parts with supersonic speed[…]

Swiss spies knew about Crypto AG compromise – and kept it from govt overseers for nearly 30 years

Swiss politicians only found out last year that cipher machine company Crypto AG was (quite literally) owned by the US and Germany during the Cold War, a striking report from its parliament has revealed. The company, which supplied high-grade encryption machines to governments and corporations around the world, was in fact owned by the US Read more about Swiss spies knew about Crypto AG compromise – and kept it from govt overseers for nearly 30 years[…]

Campari Ransomware Hackers Take Out Facebook Ads to Get Paid

The Campari Group recently experienced a ransomware attack that allegedly shut down the company’s servers. The malware, created by the RagnarLocker gang, essentially locked corporate servers and allowed the hackers to exfiltrate “2 terabytes” of data, according to the hackers. On Nov. 6, the company wrote, “at this stage, we cannot completely exclude that some Read more about Campari Ransomware Hackers Take Out Facebook Ads to Get Paid[…]

Six Reasons Why Google Maps Is the Creepiest App On Your Phone

VICE has highlighted six reasons why Google Maps is the creepiest app on your phone. An anonymous reader shares an excerpt from the report: 1. Google Maps Wants Your Search History: Google’s “Web & App Activity” settings describe how the company collects data, such as user location, to create a faster and “more personalized” experience. Read more about Six Reasons Why Google Maps Is the Creepiest App On Your Phone[…]

It Took Just 5 Minutes Of Movement Data To Identify ‘Anonymous’ VR Users

As companies and governments increasingly hoover up our personal data, a common refrain to keep people from worrying is the claim that nothing can go wrong because the data itself is “anonymized” — or stripped of personal identifiers like social security numbers. But time and time again, studies have shown how this really is cold Read more about It Took Just 5 Minutes Of Movement Data To Identify ‘Anonymous’ VR Users[…]

EU Takes Another Small Step Towards Trying To Ban Encryption; New Paper Argues Tech Can Backdoor Encryption Safely. It can’t.

In September, we noted that officials in the EU were continuing an effort to try to ban end-to-end encryption. Of course, that’s not how they put it. They say they just want “lawful access” to encrypted content, not recognizing that any such backdoor effectively obliterates the protections of end-to-end encryption. A new “Draft Council Resolution Read more about EU Takes Another Small Step Towards Trying To Ban Encryption; New Paper Argues Tech Can Backdoor Encryption Safely. It can’t.[…]

European Commission charges Amazon over misuse of seller data to make copy cat products

The European Union is serving formal antitrust charges to Amazon, saying that the retailer has misused its position to compete against third-party businesses using its platform. Officials, led by competition chief Margrethe Vestager, believe there is enough evidence to charge the company for this misuse. This data, so the claim goes, was used by Amazon Read more about European Commission charges Amazon over misuse of seller data to make copy cat products[…]

Analysis of Trump’s tweets reveals systematic diversion of the media

President Donald Trump’s controversial use of social media is widely known and theories abound about its ulterior motives. New research published today in Nature Communications claims to provide the first evidence-based analysis demonstrating the US President’s Twitter account has been routinely deployed to divert attention away from a topic potentially harmful to his reputation, in Read more about Analysis of Trump’s tweets reveals systematic diversion of the media[…]