Author: Robin Edgar

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

VR Controller Lets You Feel Objects Slip Between Your Fingers

Posted on by Robin Edgar

[…] Last year, researchers from the National Taiwan University’s Interactive Graphics (and Multimedia) Laboratory and the National Chengchi University revealed their Hair Touch controller at the 2021 Computer-Human Interaction conference. The bizarre-looking contraption featured a tuft of hair that could be extended and contracted so that when someone tried to pet a virtual cat, or Read more about VR Controller Lets You Feel Objects Slip Between Your Fingers[…]

Atlassian comes clean on script data-deleting 400 customers behind weeks long outage

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Atlassian has published an account of what went wrong at the company to make the data of 400 customers vanish in a puff of cloudy vapor. And goodness, it makes for knuckle-chewing reading. The restoration of customer data is still ongoing. Atlassian CTO Sri Viswanath wrote that approximately 45 percent of those afflicted had had Read more about Atlassian comes clean on script data-deleting 400 customers behind weeks long outage[…]

Cisco’s Webex phoned home audio telemetry even when muted

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Boffins at two US universities have found that muting popular native video-conferencing apps fails to disable device microphones – and that these apps have the ability to access audio data when muted, or actually do so. The research is described in a paper titled, “Are You Really Muted?: A Privacy Analysis of Mute Buttons in Read more about Cisco’s Webex phoned home audio telemetry even when muted[…]

Researchers have rejuvenated a 53-year-old woman’s skin cells so they are the equivalent of a 23-year-old’s.

Posted on by Robin Edgar

[…] The origins of the technique stem from the 1990s, when researchers at the Roslin Institute just outside Edinburgh developed a method of turning an adult mammary gland cell taken from a sheep into an embryo. It led to the creation of Dolly the cloned sheep. The Roslin team’s aim was not to create clones Read more about Researchers have rejuvenated a 53-year-old woman’s skin cells so they are the equivalent of a 23-year-old’s.[…]

Microplastics found deep in lungs of 11/13 tested living people for first time

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Microplastic pollution has been discovered lodged deep in the lungs of living people for the first time. The particles were found in almost all the samples analysed. The scientists said microplastic pollution was now ubiquitous across the planet, making human exposure unavoidable and meaning “there is an increasing concern regarding the hazards” to health. Samples Read more about Microplastics found deep in lungs of 11/13 tested living people for first time[…]

Mega-Popular Muslim Prayer Apps Were Secretly Harvesting Phone Numbers

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Google recently booted over a dozen apps from its Play Store—among them Muslim prayer apps with 10 million-plus downloads, a barcode scanner, and a clock—after researchers discovered secret data-harvesting code hidden within them. Creepier still, the clandestine code was engineered by a company linked to a Virginia defense contractor, which paid developers to incorporate its Read more about Mega-Popular Muslim Prayer Apps Were Secretly Harvesting Phone Numbers[…]

Boeing demos ground-based satellite anti-jam system

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Boeing has hit a milestone with its anti-jam satellite communications. According to the aircraft maker, it demonstrated successful integration of its Protected Tactical Enterprise Service (PTES) software elements with an industry partner’s user terminal. The ground-based military satellite communications system allows Boeing-built Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS) satellites and terminals to transmit data using the US Read more about Boeing demos ground-based satellite anti-jam system[…]

Microsoft is finally making it easier to switch default browsers in Windows 11

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Microsoft is finally making it easier to change your default browser in Windows 11. A new update (KB5011563) has started rolling out this week that allows Windows 11 users to change a default browser with a single click. After testing the changes in December, this new one-click method is rolling out to all Windows 11 Read more about Microsoft is finally making it easier to switch default browsers in Windows 11[…]

Bungie lawsuit aims to unmask YouTube copyright claim abusers

Posted on by Robin Edgar

YouTube’s copyright claim system has been repeatedly abused for bogus takedown requests, and Bungie has had enough. TorrentFreak reports the game studio has sued 10 anonymous people for allegedly leveling false Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) claims against a host of Destiny 2 creators on YouTube, and even Bungie itself. The company said the culprits Read more about Bungie lawsuit aims to unmask YouTube copyright claim abusers[…]

Researchers discover source of super-fast electron rain

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The researchers observed unexpected, rapid “electron precipitation” from low-Earth orbit using the ELFIN mission, a pair of tiny satellites built and operated on the UCLA campus by undergraduate and graduate students guided by a small team of staff mentors. By combining the ELFIN data with more distant observations from NASA’s THEMIS spacecraft, the scientists determined Read more about Researchers discover source of super-fast electron rain[…]

GitLab issues security fix for hardcoded password flaw in OmniAuth

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The cloud-hosted software version control service released versions 14.9.2, 14.8.5, and 14.7.7 of its self-hosted CE and EE software, fixing one “critical” security vulnerability (CVE-2022-1162), as well as two rated “high,” nine rated “medium,” and four rated “low.” “A hard-coded password was set for accounts registered using an OmniAuth provider (e.g. OAuth, LDAP, SAML) in Read more about GitLab issues security fix for hardcoded password flaw in OmniAuth[…]

Fraudsters use ‘fake emergency data requests’ to steal info

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Cybercriminals have used fake emergency data requests (EDRs) to steal sensitive customer data from service providers and social media firms. At least one report suggests Apple, and Facebook’s parent company Meta, were victims of this fraud. Both Apple and Meta handed over users’ addresses, phone numbers, and IP addresses in mid-2021 after being duped by Read more about Fraudsters use ‘fake emergency data requests’ to steal info[…]

Ubiquiti Files Case Against Security Blogger Krebs Over ‘False Accusations’ (for doing his job)

Posted on by Robin Edgar

In March of 2021 the Krebs on Security blog reported that Ubiquiti, “a major vendor of cloud-enabled Internet of Things devices,” had disclosed a breach exposing customer account credentials. But Krebs added that a company source “alleges” that Ubiquiti was downplaying the severity of the incident — which is not true, says Ubiquiti. Krebs’ original Read more about Ubiquiti Files Case Against Security Blogger Krebs Over ‘False Accusations’ (for doing his job)[…]

Viasat confirms satellite modems were wiped with AcidRain malware – 7th wiper deployed against Ukraine this year

Posted on by Robin Edgar

A newly discovered data wiper malware that wipes routers and modems has been deployed in the cyberattack that targeted the KA-SAT satellite broadband service to wipe SATCOM modems on February 24, affecting thousands in Ukraine and tens of thousands more across Europe. The malware, dubbed AcidRain by researchers at SentinelOne, is designed to brute-force device Read more about Viasat confirms satellite modems were wiped with AcidRain malware – 7th wiper deployed against Ukraine this year[…]

Copyright Is Indispensable For Artists, They Say; But For All Artists, Or Just Certain Kinds?

Posted on by Robin Edgar

One of the central “justifications” for copyright is that it is indispensable if creativity is to be viable. Without it, we are assured, artists would starve. This ignores the fact that artists created and thrived for thousands of years before the 1710 Statute of Anne. But leaving that historical detail aside, as well as the Read more about Copyright Is Indispensable For Artists, They Say; But For All Artists, Or Just Certain Kinds?[…]

Pokémon-Like NFT Game Axie Infinity Scammed Out Of $600 Million

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Pokémon-style NFT battler Axie Infinity was one of the biggest “success” stories in the world of crypto gaming. Now it’s responsible for one of the biggest thefts in the history of the technology. The gaming-focused blockchain Ronin Network announced earlier today that an Axie Infinity exploit allowed a hacker to “drain” roughly $600 million worth Read more about Pokémon-Like NFT Game Axie Infinity Scammed Out Of $600 Million[…]

GameStop, AMC Stocks Halted On NYSE after reaching above $500,- per share

Posted on by Robin Edgar

GameStop  (GME) – Get GameStop Corp. Class A Report shares extended declines Tuesday, after being halted by officials on the New York Stock Exchange, in a move that could snap the meme stock’s longest winning streak in more than a decade. Both GameStop and AMC Entertainment  (AMC) – Get AMC Entertainment Holdings, Inc. Class A Report names Read more about GameStop, AMC Stocks Halted On NYSE after reaching above $500,- per share[…]

New method for making tissue transparent could speed the study of many diseases

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Scientists at Scripps Research have unveiled a new tissue-clearing method for rendering large biological samples transparent. The method makes it easier than ever for scientists to visualize and study healthy and disease-related biological processes occurring across multiple organ systems. Described in a paper in Nature Methods on March 28, 2022, and dubbed HYBRiD, the new Read more about New method for making tissue transparent could speed the study of many diseases[…]

Global science project links Android phones with satellites to improve weather forecasts

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Collecting satellite data for research is a group effort thanks to this app developed for Android users. Camaliot is a campaign funded by the European Space Agency, and its first project focuses on making smartphone owners around the world part of a project that can help improve weather forecasts by using your phone’s GPS receiver. Read more about Global science project links Android phones with satellites to improve weather forecasts[…]

Unprecedented videos show RNA switching ‘on’ and ‘off’

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Similar to a light switch, RNA switches (called riboswitches) determine which genes turn “on” and “off.” Although this may seem like a simple process, the inner workings of these switches have confounded biologists for decades. Now researchers led by Northwestern University and the University at Albany discovered one part of RNA smoothly invades and displaces Read more about Unprecedented videos show RNA switching ‘on’ and ‘off’[…]

Chemists cook up way to remove microplastics using okra

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Extracts of okra and other slimy plants commonly used in cooking can help remove dangerous microplastics from wastewater, scientists said Tuesday. The new research was presented at the spring meeting of the American Chemical Society, and offers an alternative to the synthetic chemicals currently used in treatment plants that can themselves pose risks to health. Read more about Chemists cook up way to remove microplastics using okra[…]

NeRF Research Turns a few dozen 2D Photos Into 3D Scenes really quickly

Posted on by Robin Edgar

[…] Known as inverse rendering, the process uses AI to approximate how light behaves in the real world, enabling researchers to reconstruct a 3D scene from a handful of 2D images taken at different angles. The NVIDIA Research team has developed an approach that accomplishes this task almost instantly — making it one of the Read more about NeRF Research Turns a few dozen 2D Photos Into 3D Scenes really quickly[…]

Justice Department indicts four Russian government workers in energy sector hacks

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The US Justice Department today announced indictments against four Russian government employees, who it alleges attempted a hacking campaign of the global energy sector that spanned six years and devices in roughly 135 countries. The two indictments were filed under seal last summer, and are finally being disclosed to the public. The DOJ’s decision to Read more about Justice Department indicts four Russian government workers in energy sector hacks[…]