The Linkielist

Linking ideas with the world

AI can tell who you are by your gait using only floor sensors

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Human footsteps can provide a unique behavioural pattern for robust biometric systems. We propose spatio-temporal footstep representations from floor-only sensor data in advanced computational models for automatic biometric verification. Our models deliver an artificial intelligence capable of effectively differentiating the fine-grained variability of footsteps between legitimate users (clients) and impostor users of the biometric system. Read more about AI can tell who you are by your gait using only floor sensors[…]

Robots fight weeds in challenge to agrochemical giants

Posted on by Robin Edgar

In a field of sugar beet in Switzerland, a solar-powered robot that looks like a table on wheels scans the rows of crops with its camera, identifies weeds and zaps them with jets of blue liquid from its mechanical tentacles. Undergoing final tests before the liquid is replaced with weedkiller, the Swiss robot is one Read more about Robots fight weeds in challenge to agrochemical giants[…]

Epyc fail? We can defeat AMD’s virtual machine encryption, say boffins

Posted on by Robin Edgar

German researchers reckon they have devised a method to thwart the security mechanisms AMD’s Epyc server chips use to automatically encrypt virtual machines in memory. So much so, they said they can exfiltrate plaintext data from an encrypted guest via a hijacked hypervisor and simple HTTP or HTTPS requests. […] a technique dubbed SEVered can, Read more about Epyc fail? We can defeat AMD’s virtual machine encryption, say boffins[…]

You know that silly fear about Alexa recording everything and leaking it online? It just happened

Posted on by Robin Edgar

It’s time to break out your “Alexa, I Told You So” banners – because a Portland, Oregon, couple received a phone call from one of the husband’s employees earlier this month, telling them she had just received a recording of them talking privately in their home. “Unplug your Alexa devices right now,” the staffer told Read more about You know that silly fear about Alexa recording everything and leaking it online? It just happened[…]

Over 900,000 personal records of South Africans leaked online

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Barely a year after South Africa’s largest data leak was revealed in 2017, the country has suffered yet another data leak as 934,000 personal records of South Africans have been leaked publicly online. The data includes, among others, national identity numbers (ID numbers), e-mail addresses, full names, as well as plain text passwords to what Read more about Over 900,000 personal records of South Africans leaked online[…]

Using generative models to make dental crowns better than humans can

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Computer vision has advanced significantly that many discriminative approaches such as object recognition are now widely used in real applications. We present another exciting development that utilizes generative models for the mass customization of medical products such as dental crowns. In the dental industry, it takes a technician years of training to design synthetic crowns Read more about Using generative models to make dental crowns better than humans can[…]

Spectre comes back to haunt Processor Makers Confirm New Security Flaws, So Update Now

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Intel is finally confirming that its computer processors are vulnerable to an additional variant of Spectre, the nasty security vulnerability that affects nearly every CPU currently in devices and in the marketplace. German computing magazine C’t first reported the additional flaws, which can be exploited in a browser setting using a runtime (think Javascript), on Read more about Spectre comes back to haunt Processor Makers Confirm New Security Flaws, So Update Now[…]

Google sued for ‘clandestine tracking’ of 4.4m UK iPhone users’ browsing data

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Google is being sued in the high court for as much as £3.2bn for the alleged “clandestine tracking and collation” of personal information from 4.4 million iPhone users in the UK. The collective action is being led by former Which? director Richard Lloyd over claims Google bypassed the privacy settings of Apple’s Safari browser on Read more about Google sued for ‘clandestine tracking’ of 4.4m UK iPhone users’ browsing data[…]

Memory Transferred between Snails using RNA, Challenging Standard Theory of How the Brain Remembers

Posted on by Robin Edgar

UCLA neuroscientists reported Monday that they have transferred a memory from one animal to another via injections of RNA, a startling result that challenges the widely held view of where and how memories are stored in the brain. The finding from the lab of David Glanzman hints at the potential for new RNA-based treatments to Read more about Memory Transferred between Snails using RNA, Challenging Standard Theory of How the Brain Remembers[…]

Teensafe spying app leaked thousands of user passwords

Posted on by Robin Edgar

At least one server used by an app for parents to monitor their teenagers’ phone activity has leaked tens of thousands of accounts of both parents and children. The mobile app, TeenSafe, bills itself as a “secure” monitoring app for iOS and Android, which lets parents view their child’s text messages and location, monitor who Read more about Teensafe spying app leaked thousands of user passwords[…]

Google Removes ‘Don’t Be Evil’ Clause From Its Code of Conduct

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Google’s unofficial motto has long been the simple phrase “don’t be evil.” But that’s over, according to the code of conduct that Google distributes to its employees. The phrase was removed sometime in late April or early May, archives hosted by the Wayback Machine show. “Don’t be evil” has been part of the company’s corporate Read more about Google Removes ‘Don’t Be Evil’ Clause From Its Code of Conduct[…]

Tracking Firm LocationSmart Leaked Location Data for Customers of All Major U.S. Mobile Carriers Without Consent in Real Time Via Its Web Site

Posted on by Robin Edgar

LocationSmart, a U.S. based company that acts as an aggregator of real-time data about the precise location of mobile phone devices, has been leaking this information to anyone via a buggy component of its Web site — without the need for any password or other form of authentication or authorization — KrebsOnSecurity has learned. The Read more about Tracking Firm LocationSmart Leaked Location Data for Customers of All Major U.S. Mobile Carriers Without Consent in Real Time Via Its Web Site[…]

Seriously, Cisco? Another hard-coded password? Sheesh

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Cisco’s issued 16 patches, the silliest of which is CVE-2018-0222 because it’s a hard-coded password in Switchzilla’s Digital Network Architecture (DNA) Center. “The vulnerability is due to the presence of undocumented, static user credentials for the default administrative account for the affected software,” Cisco’s admitted. As you’d expect, “An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by Read more about Seriously, Cisco? Another hard-coded password? Sheesh[…]

Entire Nest ecosystem of smart home devices goes offline

Posted on by Robin Edgar

For at least a few hours overnight, owners of Nest products were unable to access their devices via the Nest app or web browsers, according to Nest Support on Twitter. Other devices like Nest Secure and Nest x Yale Locks behaved erratically. The as of yet unexplained issues affected the entire lineup of Nest devices, Read more about Entire Nest ecosystem of smart home devices goes offline[…]

New Artificial Intelligence Beats Tactical Experts in Aerial Combat Simulation

Posted on by Robin Edgar

ALPHA is currently viewed as a research tool for manned and unmanned teaming in a simulation environment. In its earliest iterations, ALPHA consistently outperformed a baseline computer program previously used by the Air Force Research Lab for research.  In other words, it defeated other AI opponents. In fact, it was only after early iterations of Read more about New Artificial Intelligence Beats Tactical Experts in Aerial Combat Simulation[…]

Human-Machine Teaming Joint Concept Note by UK MoD

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Joint Concept Note (JCN) 1/18, Human-Machine Teaming articulates the challenges and opportunities that robotic and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies offer, and identifies how we achieve military advantage through human-machine teams. Its purpose is to guide coherent future force development and help frame defence strategy and policy. The JCN examines: economic and technological trends and the Read more about Human-Machine Teaming Joint Concept Note by UK MoD[…]

Flagship AI Lab announced as Defence Secretary hosts first meet between British and American defence innovators

Posted on by Robin Edgar

As part of the MOD’s commitment to pursue and deliver future capabilities, the Defence Secretary announced the launch of AI Lab – a single flagship for Artificial Intelligence, machine learning and data science in defence based at Dstl in Porton Down. AI Lab will enhance and accelerate the UK’s world-class capability in the application of Read more about Flagship AI Lab announced as Defence Secretary hosts first meet between British and American defence innovators[…]

UK Watchdog Calls for Face Recognition Ban Over 90 Percent False-Positive Rate

Posted on by Robin Edgar

As face recognition in public places becomes more commonplace, Big Brother Watch is especially concerned with false identification. In May, South Wales Police revealed that its face-recognition software had erroneously flagged thousands of attendees of a soccer game as a match for criminals; 92 percent of the matches were wrong. In a statement to the Read more about UK Watchdog Calls for Face Recognition Ban Over 90 Percent False-Positive Rate[…]

Thieves suck millions out of Mexican banks in transfer heist

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Thieves siphoned hundreds of millions of pesos out of Mexican banks, including No. 2 Banorte, by creating phantom orders that wired funds to bogus accounts and promptly withdrew the money, two sources close to the government’s investigation said. Hackers sent hundreds of false orders to move amounts ranging from tens of thousands to hundreds of Read more about Thieves suck millions out of Mexican banks in transfer heist[…]

UPnP joins the ‘just turn it off on consumer devices, already’ club

Posted on by Robin Edgar

It’s not particularly difficult, particularly with Shodan to help. The required steps are: Discover targets on Shodan by searching for the rootDesc.xml file (Imperva found 1.3 million devices); Use HTTP to access rootDesc.xml; Modify the victim’s port forwarding rules (the researchers noted that this isn’t supposed to work, since port forwarding should be between internal Read more about UPnP joins the ‘just turn it off on consumer devices, already’ club[…]

Boffins build smallest drone to fly itself with AI

Posted on by Robin Edgar

A team of computer scientists have built the smallest completely autonomous nano-drone that can control itself without the need for a human guidance. Although computer vision has improved rapidly thanks to machine learning and AI, it remains difficult to deploy algorithms on devices like drones due to memory, bandwidth and power constraints. But researchers from Read more about Boffins build smallest drone to fly itself with AI[…]

Square Off: The Magic Chess Board with self moving pieces allows you to play remotely or vs AI

Posted on by Robin Edgar

No holograms, no 3D, no AR, no bullshit. Square Off is a chess board where the pieces move themselves, and you can play online or against AI. Square Off is really something special. There’s no avoiding a smile the first time you see a knight slide out from the back row without banging into any Read more about Square Off: The Magic Chess Board with self moving pieces allows you to play remotely or vs AI[…]

Oh, great, now there’s a SECOND remote Rowhammer exploit / Nethammer

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Hard on the heels of the first network-based Rowhammer attack, some of the boffins involved in discovering Meltdown/Spectre have shown off their own technique for flipping bits using network requests. With a gigabit connection to the victim, the researchers reckon, they can induce security-critical bit flips using crafted quality-of-service packets. Last week, we reported on Read more about Oh, great, now there’s a SECOND remote Rowhammer exploit / Nethammer[…]