Author: Robin Edgar

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

Privacy Shield no longer valid: Joint Press Statement from U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross and European Commissioner for Justice Didier Reynders

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The U.S. Department of Commerce and the European Commission have initiated discussions to evaluate the potential for an enhanced EU-U.S. Privacy Shield framework to comply with the July 16 judgment of the Court of Justice of the European Union in the Schrems II case. This judgment declared that this framework is no longer a valid Read more about Privacy Shield no longer valid: Joint Press Statement from U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross and European Commissioner for Justice Didier Reynders[…]

Peer-to-peer takes on a whole new meaning when used to spy on 3.7 million or more cameras, other IoT gear

Posted on by Robin Edgar

More than 3.7 million. That’s the latest number of surveillance cameras, baby monitors, doorbells with webcams, and other internet-connected devices found left open to hijackers via two insecure communications protocols globally, we’re told. This is up from estimates of a couple of million last year. The protocols are CS2 Network P2P, used by more than Read more about Peer-to-peer takes on a whole new meaning when used to spy on 3.7 million or more cameras, other IoT gear[…]

Trump says TikTok will be banned if not sold by Sept. 15, demands cut of sale fee because he made the deal possible. Extortion much?

Posted on by Robin Edgar

President Trump said Monday that TikTok will be shut down in the U.S. if it hasn’t been bought by Microsoft or another company by Sept. 15, and argued — without elaborating — that the U.S. Treasury should get “a very substantial portion” of the sale fee. Why it matters: Trump appears to have backed off Read more about Trump says TikTok will be banned if not sold by Sept. 15, demands cut of sale fee because he made the deal possible. Extortion much?[…]

Leaky AWS S3 buckets are so common, they’re being found by the thousands now – with lots of buried secrets

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Misconfigured AWS S3 storage buckets exposing massive amounts of data to the internet are like an unexploded bomb just waiting to go off, say experts. The team at Truffle Security said its automated search tools were able to stumble across some 4,000 open Amazon-hosted S3 buckets that included data companies would not want public – Read more about Leaky AWS S3 buckets are so common, they’re being found by the thousands now – with lots of buried secrets[…]

Windows 10: HOSTS file blocking telemetry is now flagged as a risk

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Starting at the end of July, Microsoft has begun detecting HOSTS files that block Windows 10 telemetry servers as a ‘Severe’ security risk. The HOSTS file is a text file located at C:\Windows\system32\driver\etc\HOSTS and can only be edited by a program with Administrator privileges. […] Microsoft now detects HOSTS files that block Windows telemetry Since Read more about Windows 10: HOSTS file blocking telemetry is now flagged as a risk[…]

Hacker leaks passwords for 900+ enterprise Pulse VPN servers

Posted on by Robin Edgar

A hacker has published today a list of plaintext usernames and passwords, along with IP addresses for more than 900 Pulse Secure VPN enterprise servers. ZDNet, which obtained a copy of this list with the help of threat intelligence firm KELA, verified its authenticity with multiple sources in the cyber-security community. According to a review, Read more about Hacker leaks passwords for 900+ enterprise Pulse VPN servers[…]

400 faults found in Qualcomm chips powering your mobile phone with big implications

Posted on by Robin Edgar

With over 3 billion users globally, smartphones are an integral, almost inseparable part of our day-to-day lives. As the mobile market continues to grow, vendors race to provide new features, new capabilities and better technological innovations in their latest devices. To support this relentless drive for innovation, vendors often rely on third parties to provide Read more about 400 faults found in Qualcomm chips powering your mobile phone with big implications[…]

New York unveils landmark antitrust bill that makes it easier to sue tech giants

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New York state is introducing a bill that would make it easier to sue big tech companies for alleged abuses of their monopoly powers. New York is America’s financial center and one of its most important tech hubs. If successfully passed, the law could serve as a model for future legislation across the country. It Read more about New York unveils landmark antitrust bill that makes it easier to sue tech giants[…]

Our Solar System’s Magnetic Sheild (Heliosphere) is Shaped like a croissant

Posted on by Robin Edgar

All the planets of our solar system are encased in a magnetic bubble, carved out in space by the Sun’s constantly outflowing material, the solar wind. Outside this bubble is the interstellar medium — the ionized gas and magnetic field that fills the space between stellar systems in our galaxy. One question scientists have tried Read more about Our Solar System’s Magnetic Sheild (Heliosphere) is Shaped like a croissant[…]

Lawmakers Ask California DMV How It Makes $50 Million a Year Selling Drivers’ Data

Posted on by Robin Edgar

A group of nearly a dozen lawmakers led by member of Congress Anna Eshoo wrote to the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) on Wednesday looking for answers on how and why the organization sells the personal data of residents. The letter comes after Motherboard revealed last year that the DMV was making $50 million Read more about Lawmakers Ask California DMV How It Makes $50 Million a Year Selling Drivers’ Data[…]

Germany plans to dim lights at night to save insects

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In a draft law seen by AFP, the country’s environment ministry has drawn up a number of new measures to protect insects, ranging from partially outlawing spotlights to increased protection of natural habitats. “Insects play an important role in the ecosystem…but in Germany, their numbers and their diversity has severely declined in recent years,” reads Read more about Germany plans to dim lights at night to save insects[…]

Hackers are defacing loads of high profile Reddit channels with pro-Trump messages

Posted on by Robin Edgar

A massive hack has hit Reddit today after tens of Reddit channels have been hacked and defaced to show messages in support of Donald Trump’s reelection campaign. The hacks are still ongoing at the time of writing, but we were told Reddit’s security team is aware of the issue and has already begun restoring defaced Read more about Hackers are defacing loads of high profile Reddit channels with pro-Trump messages[…]

Private equity wants to own your DNA – Blackstone buys Ancestry at $250,- per person

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The nation’s largest private equity firm is interested in buying your DNA data. The going rate: $261 per person. That appears to be what Blackstone, the $63 billion private equity giant, is willing to pay for genetic data controlled by one of the major companies gathering it from millions of customers. Earlier this week, Blackstone Read more about Private equity wants to own your DNA – Blackstone buys Ancestry at $250,- per person[…]

Facebook Relaxed Fact-Checking Standards on Conservative Pages: Report

Posted on by Robin Edgar

In an attempt to correct the perception of a small but very vocal minority that claims Facebook’s silencing conservative voices on its platforms, the company’s reportedly swung too far in the opposite direction and essentially gave a free pass to conservative pages to spew their bullshit online. According to leaked documents reviewed by NBC, Facebook Read more about Facebook Relaxed Fact-Checking Standards on Conservative Pages: Report[…]

Whoops, our bad, we just may have ‘accidentally’ left Google Home devices recording your every word, sound, sorry

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Your Google Home speaker may have been quietly recording sounds around your house without your permission or authorization, it was revealed this week. The Chocolate Factory admitted it had accidentally turned on a feature that allowed its voice-controlled AI-based assistant to activate and snoop on its surroundings. Normally, the device only starts actively listening in Read more about Whoops, our bad, we just may have ‘accidentally’ left Google Home devices recording your every word, sound, sorry[…]

NRA riddled with Fraud. Investigation Moves NY AG To Seek Group’s Dissolution

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The attorney general of New York took action Thursday to dissolve the National Rifle Association following an 18-month investigation that found evidence the powerful gun rights group is “fraught with fraud and abuse.” Attorney General Letitia James claims in a lawsuit filed Thursday that she found financial misconduct in the millions of dollars and that Read more about NRA riddled with Fraud. Investigation Moves NY AG To Seek Group’s Dissolution[…]

Spotify CEO Daniel Ek says working musicians may no longer be able to release music only “once every three to four years” – they will have to work just like the rest of us

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Spotify CEO Daniel Ek discussed streaming and sustainability in a recent interview with Music Ally published on Thursday. Ek denied criticisms that Spotify pays insufficient royalties to artists, and insisted that the role of the musician had changed in today’s “future landscape.” Ek claimed that a “narrative fallacy” had been created and caused music fans Read more about Spotify CEO Daniel Ek says working musicians may no longer be able to release music only “once every three to four years” – they will have to work just like the rest of us[…]

Google victory in German top court over right to be forgotten means you can’t just delete the evil stuff you did

Posted on by Robin Edgar

A German court has sided with Google and rejected requests to wipe entries from search results. The cases hinged on whether the right to be forgotten outweighed the public’s right to know. Germany’s highest court agreed on Monday with lower courts and rejected the two plaintiffs’ appeals over privacy concerns. In the first case, a Read more about Google victory in German top court over right to be forgotten means you can’t just delete the evil stuff you did[…]

YouTube threatens to remove music videos in Denmark over songwriter royalty fallout

Posted on by Robin Edgar

YouTube is embroiled in a very public spat with songwriters and music publishers in Denmark, via local collection society Koda. According to Koda – Denmark’s equivalent of ASCAP/BMI (US) or PRS For Music (UK) – YouTube has threatened to remove “Danish music content” (ie. music written by Danish songwriters) from its service. The cause of Read more about YouTube threatens to remove music videos in Denmark over songwriter royalty fallout[…]

AI tracks drone pilot’s location through the small movements the drone makes

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The minute details of rogue drone’s movements in the air may unwittingly reveal the drone pilot’s location—possibly enabling authorities to bring the drone down before, say, it has the opportunity to disrupt air traffic or cause an accident. And it’s possible without requiring expensive arrays of radio triangulation and signal-location antennas. So says a team Read more about AI tracks drone pilot’s location through the small movements the drone makes[…]

Libraries lend books, and must continue to lend books: Internet Archive responds to greedy publishers’ lawsuit

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Yesterday, the Internet Archive filed our response to the lawsuit brought by four commercial publishers to end the practice of Controlled Digital Lending (CDL), the digital equivalent of traditional library lending. CDL is a respectful and secure way to bring the breadth of our library collections to digital learners. Commercial ebooks, while useful, only cover Read more about Libraries lend books, and must continue to lend books: Internet Archive responds to greedy publishers’ lawsuit[…]

Telegram hits out at Apple’s app store ‘tax’ in latest EU antitrust complaint

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Apple has another antitrust charge on its plate. Messaging app Telegram has joined Spotify in filing a formal complaint against the iOS App Store in Europe — adding its voice to a growing number of developers willing to publicly rail against what they decry as Apple’s app “tax”. A spokesperson for Telegram confirmed the complaint Read more about Telegram hits out at Apple’s app store ‘tax’ in latest EU antitrust complaint[…]

Top antitrust Democrat: There’s a case to break up Facebook – The guys were rambling, the women clear. Apple dodges most bullets, CEOs acting like confused guilty schoolboys

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Rep. David Cicilline (D-R.I.), who ended Wednesday’s hearing by saying some Big Tech companies need to be broken up, told Axios that Facebook in particular lacks significant competitors and should not have been allowed to buy Instagram and WhatsApp. Why it matters: Cicilline chairs the antitrust subcommittee, which has been looking into competition issues in Read more about Top antitrust Democrat: There’s a case to break up Facebook – The guys were rambling, the women clear. Apple dodges most bullets, CEOs acting like confused guilty schoolboys[…]

NASA sends Perseverance Rover to Mars – with a little helicopter on it!

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The Mars 2020 mission with its Perseverance rover is part of NASA’s Mars Exploration Program, a long-term effort of robotic exploration of the Red Planet. The Mars 2020 mission addresses high-priority science goals for Mars exploration, including key Astrobiology questions about the potential for life on Mars. The mission takes the next step by not Read more about NASA sends Perseverance Rover to Mars – with a little helicopter on it![…]

secret police Federal officer louts to pull out of Portland in a major reversal for Trump administration

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The Trump administration is to pull federal paramilitaries out of Portland starting on Thursday in a major reversal after weeks of escalating protests and violence. Oregon’s governor, Kate Brown, said she agreed to the pullout in talks with Vice-President Mike Pence. Brown said state and city police officers will replace Department of Homeland Security agents Read more about secret police Federal officer louts to pull out of Portland in a major reversal for Trump administration[…]