Miscellaneous Tech News
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'State actors' may have accessed Twitter contacts
Twitter has warned that hackers acting on behalf of governments may have accessed the phone numbers of some users.
A security researcher discovered a flaw in its contacts upload feature in December that allowed him to access the phone numbers of senior politicians. Around that time, Twitter said it saw a "high volume of requests" to use the feature from Iran, Israel and Malaysia. It declined to say how many users' phone numbers had been exposed. In a statement published on its blog Twitter said: " It is possible that some of these IP addresses may have ties to state-sponsored actors. We are disclosing this out of an abundance of caution and as a matter of principle." -
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@scottalanmiller said in Miscellaneous Tech News:
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2020/02/cinnamon-desktop-fractional-scaling-support
I didn't even realize this wasn't a thing on Cinnamon. . .
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User complained about search not working on windows 10, then this pops up on our screens
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@hobbit666 said in Miscellaneous Tech News:
User complained about search not working on windows 10, then this pops up on our screens
yeah my boss was just at me the other day over this.
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@hobbit666 Just ran into this myself. Resolved by disabling this new "feature" in the registry.
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@Danp said in Miscellaneous Tech News:
@hobbit666 Just ran into this myself. Resolved by disabling this new "feature" in the registry.
Ug - Yeah I too just found out I'm hit by it.. making a post just for this.
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Windows 10 search bar bug frustrates users
Windows 10 users are reporting that one of the operating system's core features has stopped working.
Dozens posted on social media that Windows Search stopped working for them, as of Wednesday morning. Users say that when they use the desktop search tool it brings up a blank box rather than related results. It is currently unclear how many of the operating system's 800 million users worldwide are affected by the problem. The BBC has asked Microsoft for comment. The tool is one of Windows' most used facilities, and normally makes it easy for users to find files, apps, emails and other content stored on their computer. However, users are now faced with a large grey box. -
Apple patent explores crease-free folding phone
Apple is exploring plans for a foldable version of the iPhone, according to a patent filed in the US.
The design features an innovative hinge mechanism that would prevent creasing issues similar devices have suffered from. Movable flaps would prevent unsightly marks by keeping the device in a semi-curved state when shut. Huawei, Samsung and Lenovo were among those to release foldable devices in 2019, to varying levels of success. "Apple has a long history of assessing technology and only jumping into the market when it feels a particular technology is mature enough or that it can use it in a way that makes a meaningful difference to its products," said analyst Ben Wood. -
Xbox says Nintendo and Sony no longer main rivals
Microsoft no longer sees PlayStation-maker Sony and Nintendo as the biggest competition for its Xbox platform.
Phil Spencer, Microsoft's head of gaming, said he now considered Amazon and Google as his top rivals because of their cloud-computing infrastructure. Cloud gaming tackles some common frustrations experienced by players but introduces some issues of its own. But Mr Spencer said his "traditional" rivals Nintendo and Sony were out of step with the future of gaming. "When you talk about Nintendo and Sony, we have a tonne of respect for them, but we see Amazon and Google as the main competitors going forward," he told Protocol, a new technology news website. "That's not to disrespect Nintendo and Sony but the traditional gaming companies are somewhat out of position." -
iPhone 11 Pro said to emit twice the FCC's legal limit for RF radiation
https://bgr.com/2020/02/04/iphone-11-pro-radiation-level-case-dangerous-high-fcc/
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NSPCC urges Facebook to stop encryption plans
Child-protection organisations say Facebook's decision to strongly encrypt messages will give offenders a place to hide.
The company is moving ahead with plans to implement the measure on Facebook Messenger and Instagram Direct. But more than 100 organisations, led by the NSPCC, have signed an open letter warning the plans will undermine efforts to catch abusers. Home Secretary Priti Patel said she "fully supported" the move. In a statement to the BBC, she said: "Tech companies like Facebook have a vital responsibility to balance privacy with the safety of vulnerable children." -
@mlnews said in Miscellaneous Tech News:
NSPCC urges Facebook to stop encryption plans
Child-protection organisations say Facebook's decision to strongly encrypt messages will give offenders a place to hide.
The company is moving ahead with plans to implement the measure on Facebook Messenger and Instagram Direct. But more than 100 organisations, led by the NSPCC, have signed an open letter warning the plans will undermine efforts to catch abusers. Home Secretary Priti Patel said she "fully supported" the move. In a statement to the BBC, she said: "Tech companies like Facebook have a vital responsibility to balance privacy with the safety of vulnerable children."Only the dumb ones. The real assholes are already way good at covering their tracks. Otherwise they would be busted already.
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@JaredBusch said in Miscellaneous Tech News:
@mlnews said in Miscellaneous Tech News:
NSPCC urges Facebook to stop encryption plans
Child-protection organisations say Facebook's decision to strongly encrypt messages will give offenders a place to hide.
The company is moving ahead with plans to implement the measure on Facebook Messenger and Instagram Direct. But more than 100 organisations, led by the NSPCC, have signed an open letter warning the plans will undermine efforts to catch abusers. Home Secretary Priti Patel said she "fully supported" the move. In a statement to the BBC, she said: "Tech companies like Facebook have a vital responsibility to balance privacy with the safety of vulnerable children."Only the dumb ones. The real assholes are already way good at covering their tracks. Otherwise they would be busted already.
Exactly - these idiots are .... well - just idiots... all that desire to drive behind something, to bad they can't be refocused onto something useful.
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Self-driving delivery van ditches 'human controls'
The first self-driving vehicle designed without basic human controls such as steering wheels, pedals or side view mirrors has been granted permission to test on US roads.
Nuro, the company behind the design, makes autonomous delivery vans. The vehicle is Nuro's second generation of its vehicles, which it is calling R2 and will be tested in Houston, Texas. This is the first exemption to a rule requiring vehicles to have controls for human operators. Most of the rules for testing vehicles require features that allow a driver to safely take control of them. But in a statement, the US transport secretary Elaine Chao said given that the vehicle's top speed is capped at 25mph, these requirements "no longer make sense". -
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Coronavirus: Sony and Amazon pull out of major tech show
Sony and Amazon are the latest major companies to pull out of one of the world's largest tech shows because of risks posed by coronavirus.
Sony said it would no longer take part in Mobile World Congress in Barcelona after "monitoring the evolving situation" after the coronavirus outbreak. The organiser has said the event, which attracts 100,000 people, will go ahead. But it admitted other companies are considering whether to attend. South Korea's LG Electronics, Ericsson, the Swedish telecoms equipment-maker, and US chip company NVIDIA have all withdrawn from the conference, which runs between 24 and 27 February. -
China launches coronavirus 'close contact detector' app
China has launched an app that allows people to check whether they have been at risk of catching the coronavirus.
The 'close contact detector' tells users if they have been near a person who has been confirmed or suspected of having the virus. People identified as being at risk are advised to stay at home and inform local health authorities. The technology shines a light on the Chinese government's close surveillance of its population. To make an inquiry users scan a Quick Response (QR) code on their smartphones using apps like the payment service Alipay or social media platform WeChat. Once the new app is registered with a phone number, users are asked to enter their name and ID number. Every registered phone number can then be used to check the status of up to three ID numbers.
