Author: Robin Edgar

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

Europol wants to keep all data forever for law  enforcement, says unnamed(!) official. E.U. Court of Human Rights backed encryption as basic to privacy rights in 2024 and now Big Brother Chat Control is on the agenda again (EU consultation feedback link at end)

Posted on by Robin Edgar

While some American officials continue to attack strong encryption as an enabler of child abuse and other crimes, a key European court has upheld it as fundamental to the basic right to privacy. […] While some American officials continue to attack strong encryption as an enabler of child abuse and other crimes, a key European Read more about Europol wants to keep all data forever for law  enforcement, says unnamed(!) official. E.U. Court of Human Rights backed encryption as basic to privacy rights in 2024 and now Big Brother Chat Control is on the agenda again (EU consultation feedback link at end)[…]

MS Azure mistake erroneously hikes costs 3x during internal migration, then tries to delete evidence from customer support portal

Posted on by Robin Edgar

An alarmed Register reader got in touch after receiving warnings from Azure’s automated systems that they had significantly exceeded their budgets, and a glance at Microsoft’s support forums indicates their issue was not isolated. The problem was that costs had suddenly ramped up. One user, with a budget threshold of £63 ($85), received an automated Read more about MS Azure mistake erroneously hikes costs 3x during internal migration, then tries to delete evidence from customer support portal[…]

Pluralistic: Darth Android – Altering Terms After the Fact

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William Gibson famously said that “Cyberpunk was a warning, not a suggestion.” But for every tech leader fantasizing about lobotomizing their enemies with Black Ice, there are ten who wish they could be Darth Vader, force-choking you while grating out, “I’m altering the deal. Pray I don’t alter it any further.” I call this business Read more about Pluralistic: Darth Android – Altering Terms After the Fact[…]

The EU wants to know what you think about it keeping all your data for *cough* crime stuff.

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The EU wants to save all your data, or as much as possible for as long as possible. To insult the victims of crime, they say that they want to do this to fight crime. How do you feel about the EU being turned into a surveillance society? Leave your voice in the link below. Read more about The EU wants to know what you think about it keeping all your data for *cough* crime stuff.[…]

Futurehome smart hub owners must pay new $117 subscription or lose access. Or use a different app (link on bottom) 

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Smart home device maker Futurehome is forcing its customers’ hands by suddenly requiring a subscription for basic functionality of its products. Launched in 2016, Futurehome’s Smarthub is marketed as a central hub for controlling Internet-connected devices in smart homes. For years, the Norwegian company sold its products, which also include smart thermostats, smart lighting, and Read more about Futurehome smart hub owners must pay new $117 subscription or lose access. Or use a different app (link on bottom) […]

TransUnion says hackers stole 4.4 million customers’ personal information (breached AGAIN!!!)

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Credit reporting giant TransUnion has disclosed a data breach affecting more than 4.4 million customers’ personal information. In a filing with Maine’s attorney general’s office on Thursday, TransUnion attributed the July 28 breach to unauthorized access of a third-party application storing customers’ personal data for its U.S. consumer support operations. TransUnion claimed “no credit information Read more about TransUnion says hackers stole 4.4 million customers’ personal information (breached AGAIN!!!)[…]

FBI cyber cop: Salt Typhoon pwned ‘nearly every American’

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China’s Salt Typhoon cyberspies hoovered up information belonging to millions of people in the United States over the course of the years-long intrusion into telecommunications networks, according to a top FBI cyber official. “There’s a good chance this espionage campaign has stolen information from nearly every American,” Michael Machtinger, deputy assistant director for the FBI’s Read more about FBI cyber cop: Salt Typhoon pwned ‘nearly every American’[…]

Collapse of critical Atlantic current is no longer low-likelihood, study finds

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The collapse of a critical Atlantic current can no longer be considered a low-likelihood event, a study has concluded, making deep cuts to fossil fuel emissions even more urgent to avoid the catastrophic impact. The Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (Amoc) is a major part of the global climate system. It brings sun-warmed tropical water to Read more about Collapse of critical Atlantic current is no longer low-likelihood, study finds[…]

Apple pulls torrenting app from a third-party store (one that it should not be able to control!) in the EU

Posted on by Robin Edgar

As first reported by TorrentFreak, Apple is preventing downloads of the iTorrent app on iPhones in the EU. Developer Daniil “XITRIX” Vinogradov’s app was a popular BitTorrent client available from AltStore PAL, which is among the most popular third-party iOS app stores overseas. The company revoked the app developer’s ability to distribute apps on such Read more about Apple pulls torrenting app from a third-party store (one that it should not be able to control!) in the EU[…]

New self-assembling material could be the key to recyclable EV batteries

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Today’s electric vehicle boom is tomorrow’s mountain of electronic waste. And while myriad efforts are underway to improve battery recycling, many EV batteries still end up in landfills. A research team from MIT wants to help change that with a new kind of self-assembling battery material that quickly breaks apart when submerged in a simple Read more about New self-assembling material could be the key to recyclable EV batteries[…]

Croatians suddenly realise that EU CSAM rules include hidden pervasive chat control surveillance, turning the EU into Big Brother – dissaprove massively.

Posted on by Robin Edgar

“The Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia Andrej Plenkovic, at yesterday’s press conference, accused the opposition of upheld the proposal of a regulation of the European Parliament and the Council on the establishment of rules for the prevention and combating sexual abuse of children COM (2022) 209, which is (unpopularly referred to as ‘chat Read more about Croatians suddenly realise that EU CSAM rules include hidden pervasive chat control surveillance, turning the EU into Big Brother – dissaprove massively.[…]

Samsung turns Tizen OS smartwatches into junk and won’t allow you to download the apps anymore soon.

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Tizen OS is on track to lose full support by the end of 2025, Samsung has announced, marking the end of an era that began in 2018 with the original Galaxy Watch. And right now, Samsung is offering up to $100 in trade-in credit for your Tizen Galaxy Watch. This includes the Galaxy Watch 3, Read more about Samsung turns Tizen OS smartwatches into junk and won’t allow you to download the apps anymore soon.[…]

One Step method turns PVC plastic into fuel with 95% efficiency at room temperature

Posted on by Robin Edgar

[…]One-step conversion and outputs At the end of the process, the products include the main components of petrol (gasoline), chemical raw materials, and hydrochloric acid. The scientists say that means the output could feed into water treatment, metal processing, pharmaceuticals, food production, and the petroleum industry. As the authors put it, “The method supports a Read more about One Step method turns PVC plastic into fuel with 95% efficiency at room temperature[…]

The Threat Of Extreme Statutory Damages For Copyright Almost Certainly Made Anthropic Settle With Authors: Not the Use of Books for training, but the idiots used pirated books for training

Posted on by Robin Edgar

In what may be the least surprising news in the world of copyright and the internet, Anthropic just agreed to settle the copyright lawsuit that everyone’s been watching, but not for the reasons most people think. This isn’t about AI training being found to infringe copyright—in fact, Anthropic won on that issue. Instead, it’s about Read more about The Threat Of Extreme Statutory Damages For Copyright Almost Certainly Made Anthropic Settle With Authors: Not the Use of Books for training, but the idiots used pirated books for training[…]

Developer Unlocks Suddenly Paywalled Echelon Exercise Bikes But Thinks DMCA says He Can’t Legally Release His Software

Posted on by Robin Edgar

An app developer has jailbroken Echelon exercise bikes to restore functionality that the company put behind a paywall last month, but copyright laws prevent him from being allowed to legally release it. Last month, Peloton competitor Echelon pushed a firmware update to its exercise equipment that forces its machines to connect to the company’s servers Read more about Developer Unlocks Suddenly Paywalled Echelon Exercise Bikes But Thinks DMCA says He Can’t Legally Release His Software[…]

German banks block EUR 10B in ‘unauthorized’ PayPal direct debits

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Shoppers and merchants in Germany found themselves dealing with billions of euros in frozen transactions this week, thanks to an apparent failure in PayPal’s fraud-detection systems. According to the Association of German Banks, the problem hit on Monday when banks noticed a slew of recent unauthorized direct debits from PayPal. The body said the banks Read more about German banks block EUR 10B in ‘unauthorized’ PayPal direct debits[…]

Better than greenwashing, sustainability reporting boosts financials

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As environmental responsibility and social ethics become increasingly important, a question might arise in the boardroom: does the company’s sustainability efforts materially affect the financial information on which investors rely? Research in the International Journal of Business and Emerging Markets sets about answering that question. It does so by examining data from European firms over Read more about Better than greenwashing, sustainability reporting boosts financials[…]

Rats walk again after spinal cord repair with 3D printing

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[…] a groundbreaking process that combines 3D printing, stem cell biology, and lab-grown tissues for spinal cord injury recovery. […] A major challenge is the death of nerve cells and the inability for nerve fibers to regrow across the injury site. This new research tackles this problem head-on. The method involves creating a unique 3D-printed Read more about Rats walk again after spinal cord repair with 3D printing[…]

Scientists discover a new magnet that bends light

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Researchers have uncovered the magnetic properties and underlying mechanisms of a novel magnet using advanced optical techniques. Their study focused on an organic crystal believed to be a promising candidate for an “altermagnet”- a recently proposed third class of magnetic materials. Unlike conventional ferromagnets and antiferromagnets, altermagnets exhibit unique magnetic behavior. Details of their breakthrough Read more about Scientists discover a new magnet that bends light[…]

State Dept. Guts Human Rights Reporting, Removing Anything The Administration Doesn’t Think Violates Human Rights

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[…] go ahead and read a few of the reports generated by Marco Rubio/Donald Trump’s State Department and compare them to literally any of those published before Trump’s second term began. […] But if you really want to see how this administration is rewriting its world view to serve its own ends, you need to Read more about State Dept. Guts Human Rights Reporting, Removing Anything The Administration Doesn’t Think Violates Human Rights[…]

Google wants to verify all developers’ identities, including those not on the play store in massive data grab

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Google will soon verify the identities of developers who distribute Android apps outside the Play Store. Developers must submit their information to a new Android Developer Console, increasing their accountability for their apps. Rolling out in phases from September 2026, these new verification requirements are aimed at protecting users from malware by making it harder Read more about Google wants to verify all developers’ identities, including those not on the play store in massive data grab[…]

Farmers Insurance data breach impacts 1.1M people after Salesforce attack

Posted on by Robin Edgar

U.S. insurance giant Farmers Insurance has disclosed a data breach impacting 1.1 million customers, with BleepingComputer learning that the data was stolen in the widespread Salesforce attacks. Farmers Insurance is a U.S.-based insurer that provides auto, home, life, and business insurance products. It operates through a network of agents and subsidiaries, serving more than 10 Read more about Farmers Insurance data breach impacts 1.1M people after Salesforce attack[…]

Trump admin strips ocean and air pollution monitoring from next-gen weather satellites

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is narrowing the capabilities and reducing the number of next-generation weather and climate satellites it plans to build and launch in the coming decades, two people familiar with the plans told CNN. This move — which comes as hurricane season ramps up with Erin lashing the East Coast — Read more about Trump admin strips ocean and air pollution monitoring from next-gen weather satellites[…]