Author: Robin Edgar

Organisational Structures | Technology and Science | Military, IT and Lifestyle consultancy | Social, Broadcast & Cross Media | Flying aircraft

Plane-tracking site Flight Radar 24 DDoSed… just as drones spotted buzzing over Azerbaijan and Armenia

Posted on by Robin Edgar

[…] Flight Radar spokesman Ian Petchenik told The Register: “At this time we understand this to be a very strong DDoS attack [orchestrated] from a single source. While it is not known why we’re being targeted, multiple flight tracking services have suffered attacks over the past two days.” It was not immediately obvious which other Read more about Plane-tracking site Flight Radar 24 DDoSed… just as drones spotted buzzing over Azerbaijan and Armenia[…]

Microsoft Outlook, Office 365, Teams, and other services suffer ~6 hour outage

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Some Microsoft services, including Outlook, Office 365, and Microsoft Teams, experienced a multi-hour outage on Monday, but the issues have been resolved, according to the company. “We’ve confirmed that the residual issue has been addressed and the incident has been resolved,” Microsoft tweeted at 12AM ET on Tuesday. “Any users still experiencing impact should be Read more about Microsoft Outlook, Office 365, Teams, and other services suffer ~6 hour outage[…]

If Patents Are So Important To Innovation, Why Do Innovative Companies Keep Opening Up Their Patents Rather Than Enforcing Them?

Posted on by Robin Edgar

To hear many politicians (and, tragically, many academics) tell the story, patents and patent policy are keys to innovation. Indeed, many studies trying to measure innovation use the number of patents as a proxy. For years, we’ve argued that there is little evidence that patents are in any way correlated with innovation. Indeed, in practice, Read more about If Patents Are So Important To Innovation, Why Do Innovative Companies Keep Opening Up Their Patents Rather Than Enforcing Them?[…]

Report: Financial records appear to show Ivanka Trump got ‘consulting fees’ to reduce father’s tax bill

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Tax records obtained by The New York Times appear to show that President Trump reduced his taxable income by treating his eldest daughter, Ivanka Trump, as a consultant, then deducting this as a business expense. The Times reports that Trump Organization tax records show between 2010 and 2018, President Trump wrote off as business expenses Read more about Report: Financial records appear to show Ivanka Trump got ‘consulting fees’ to reduce father’s tax bill[…]

Blowback Time: China Says TikTok Deal Is A Model For How It Should Deal With US Companies In China

Posted on by Robin Edgar

We’ve already covered what a ridiculous, pathetic grift the Oracle/TikTok deal was. Despite it being premised on a “national security threat” from China, because the app might share some data (all of which is easily buyable from data brokers) with Chinese officials, the final deal cured none of that, left the Chinese firm ByteDance with Read more about Blowback Time: China Says TikTok Deal Is A Model For How It Should Deal With US Companies In China[…]

Kukooin Crypto exchange cracked, $130m in Bitcoin burgled

Posted on by Robin Edgar

A cryptocurrency exchange called KuCoin says it has been cracked, with over $100m of assets misappropriated. The Register last covered KuCoin when it was mentioned by the Bitcoin-burgling cybercrooks who hacked a bunch of prominent Twitter users. The Seychelles-based outfit, founded in 2017, proudly boasts of its venture capital backers who clearly admire its services Read more about Kukooin Crypto exchange cracked, $130m in Bitcoin burgled[…]

Metal wires of carbon complete toolbox for carbon-based computers

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Transistors based on carbon rather than silicon could potentially boost computers’ speed and cut their power consumption more than a thousandfold — think of a mobile phone that holds its charge for months — but the set of tools needed to build working carbon circuits has remained incomplete until now. A team of chemists and Read more about Metal wires of carbon complete toolbox for carbon-based computers[…]

US judge temporarily blocks Trump shakedown order banning TikTok app store downloads

Posted on by Robin Edgar

A judge in Washington has temporarily blocked a Trump administration order banning Apple and Google from offering Chinese-owned app TikTok for download that was set to take effect at 11:59pm on Sunday. US district judge Carl Nichols granted a preliminary injunction sought by TikTok’s owner, ByteDance, to allow the app to remain available at US Read more about US judge temporarily blocks Trump shakedown order banning TikTok app store downloads[…]

Google App Engine feature abused to create unlimited phishing pages

Posted on by Robin Edgar

A newly discovered technique by a researcher shows how Google’s App Engine domains can be abused to deliver phishing and malware while remaining undetected by leading enterprise security products. Google App Engine is a cloud-based service platform for developing and hosting web apps on Google’s servers. While reports of phishing campaigns leveraging enterprise cloud domains are nothing Read more about Google App Engine feature abused to create unlimited phishing pages[…]

Formula 1 drivers told they cannot wear slogans or messages in post-race duties

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Formula 1 drivers have been told they cannot wear clothing bearing any slogans or messages while doing official duties after grands prix. The move is a reaction to Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton wearing a T-shirt at the last race in Tuscany referencing the case of a woman killed by US police. The FIA said podium finishers Read more about Formula 1 drivers told they cannot wear slogans or messages in post-race duties[…]

New measurements show moon has hazardous radiation levels

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Future moon explorers will be bombarded with two to three times more radiation than astronauts aboard the International Space Station, a health hazard that will require thick-walled shelters for protection, scientists reported Friday. China’s lander on the far side of the moon is providing the first full measurements of radiation exposure from the lunar surface, Read more about New measurements show moon has hazardous radiation levels[…]

China says it won’t approve TikTok sale, calls it ‘extortion’. Finally someone calling it what it is.

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The September 20 deadline for a purported TikTok sale has already passed, but the parties involved have yet to settle terms on the deal. ByteDance and TikTok’s bidders Oracle and Walmart presented conflicting messages on the future ownership of the app, confusing investors and users. Meanwhile, Beijing’s discontent with the TikTok sale is increasingly obvious. Read more about China says it won’t approve TikTok sale, calls it ‘extortion’. Finally someone calling it what it is.[…]

Ex-eBay global intel staffers to admit they cyberstalked online tat bazaar’s critics – who got pig heads, funeral wreath, and more in the mail

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Four of the seven former eBay employees charged with cyberstalking a couple critical of the web auction house are scheduled to plead guilty next month. In June, the US Justice Department charged six former staffers – director of safety and security James Baugh, 45, of San Jose, California; director of global resiliency David Harville, 48, Read more about Ex-eBay global intel staffers to admit they cyberstalked online tat bazaar’s critics – who got pig heads, funeral wreath, and more in the mail[…]

A New Version of Microsoft Office Without a Subscription Launches in 2021

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Subscriptions may be ideal for certain services such as Netflix, with its constant flow of new content, but for a suite of tools like Microsoft Office? Paying every month doesn’t suit everyone, especially if all they want is access to the word processor and spreadsheet. Thankfully, a new perpetual license edition of the suite arrives Read more about A New Version of Microsoft Office Without a Subscription Launches in 2021[…]

Spain’s highway agency is monitoring speeding hotspots using bulk phone location data – is that even allowed here?

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Spain’s highways agency is using bulk mobile phone data for monitoring speeding hotspots, according to local reports. Equipped with data on customers handed over by local mobile phone operators, Spain’s Directorate-General for Traffic (DGT) may be gathering data on “which roads and at what specific kilometer points the speed limits are usually exceeded,” according to Read more about Spain’s highway agency is monitoring speeding hotspots using bulk phone location data – is that even allowed here?[…]

Twitter warns of possible API keys leak through browser caching

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Twitter is notifying developers today about a possible security incident that may have impacted their accounts. The incident was caused by incorrect instructions that the developer.twitter.com website sent to users’ browsers. The developer.twitter.com website is the portal where developers manage their Twitter apps and attached API keys, but also the access token and secret key for their Read more about Twitter warns of possible API keys leak through browser caching[…]

Apple backs down on taking 30% cut of paid online events on Facebook – for a few months

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Facebook has temporarily shamed Apple out of taking a 30 percent cut of paid online events organized by small businesses and hosted on Facebook—things like cooking classes, workout sessions, and happy hours. Demand for these kinds of online events has soared during the COVID-19 pandemic. Apple says that it has a longstanding policy that digital products Read more about Apple backs down on taking 30% cut of paid online events on Facebook – for a few months[…]

It’s Not Just You, a Ton of Google Services Just Went Down between 2100 – 2230

Posted on by Robin Edgar

If you’ve been experiencing issues trying to access Google or YouTube, you’re not alone. Around 9 p.m. ET on Thursday evening, tons of users worldwide reported problems with Google and the many services under the tech giant’s umbrella, including Google Drive, Gmail, Stadia, the Play Store, and even Nest. Some, such as Gmail, were taking Read more about It’s Not Just You, a Ton of Google Services Just Went Down between 2100 – 2230[…]

Cambridge Analytica boss disqualified from running a company for 7 years

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Alexander James Ashburner Nix (45), from Holland Park, West London, has signed a disqualification undertaking, accepted by the Secretary of State on 14 September 2020. Within the undertaking, Alexander Nix did not dispute that he caused or permitted SCL Elections Ltd or associated companies to market themselves as offering potentially unethical services to prospective clients; Read more about Cambridge Analytica boss disqualified from running a company for 7 years[…]

Looks Like the Windows XP Source Code Just Leaked on 4chan

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Would you believe more than 1% of computers worldwide are still using Windows XP? Incredibly, there are still millions of people using 19-year-old operating system. And a recent development — if it bears out — is another reason  people need to make the switch to something newer. On Thursday, users on 4chan posted what they Read more about Looks Like the Windows XP Source Code Just Leaked on 4chan[…]

Tesla network goes down leaving drivers unable to connect to their cars with mobile app in massive outage – yay cloud

Posted on by Robin Edgar

TESLA’s network completely dropped on Wednesday in a massive outage that left drivers unable to connect to their cars. According to Electrek, internal systems were fully down and around 11am ET, leaving users unable to connect their vehicles to the mobile app. 3 Tesla users were unable to connect their cars to their mobile apps Read more about Tesla network goes down leaving drivers unable to connect to their cars with mobile app in massive outage – yay cloud[…]

ISS Maneuvers to Avoid Space Debris, in What’s Becoming the New Normal

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Yesterday, NASA and Russian flight controllers performed an “avoidance maneuver” to protect the International Space Station from a wayward chunk of space debris. This episode—already the third of its kind this year—highlights a growing problem and the importance of mitigating potential collisions in space. Low Earth orbit (LEO) is vast and mostly empty, but when Read more about ISS Maneuvers to Avoid Space Debris, in What’s Becoming the New Normal[…]

Firefox usage is down 85% despite Mozilla’s top exec pay going up 400%

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Mozilla recently announced that they would be dismissing 250 people. That’s a quarter of their workforce so there are some deep cuts to their work too. The victims include: the MDN docs (those are the web standards docs everyone likes better than w3schools), the Rust compiler and even some cuts to Firefox development. Like most Read more about Firefox usage is down 85% despite Mozilla’s top exec pay going up 400%[…]

Samsung Is Rolling Out Its ECG App to Its Smartwatches Today – and only for Samsung phone owners

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Samsung may have first made an ECG-capable smartwatch with the Galaxy Watch Active2, but it wasn’t until earlier this summer that it actually got clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to enable the medical-grade feature. That announcement came in dramatic fashion at its Unpacked event in August, where the company unveiled yet another Read more about Samsung Is Rolling Out Its ECG App to Its Smartwatches Today – and only for Samsung phone owners[…]