Free Republic 2nd Qtr 2024 Fundraising Target: $81,000 Receipts & Pledges to-date: $13,335
16%  
Woo hoo!! And we're now over 16%!! Thank you all very much!! God bless.

Computers/Internet (General/Chat)

Brevity: Headers | « Text »
  • Congress to federal agencies: You have two weeks to tally your backdoored Juniper kit

    01/27/2016 7:23:22 PM PST · by Utilizer
    Computerworld ^ | Jan 26, 2016 8:51 AM PT | Lucian Constantin
    Congress plans to question about two dozen federal agencies on whether they were using backdoored Juniper network security appliances. In December, Juniper Networks said it had discovered unauthorized code added to ScreenOS, the operating system that runs on its NetScreen network firewalls. The rogue code, which remained undetected for two years or more, could have allowed remote attackers to gain administrative access to vulnerable devices or to decrypt VPN connections. The U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform wants to determine the impact that this issue had on government organizations and how those organizations responded to the incident. The...
  • Google’s AI Masters the Game of Go a Decade Earlier Than Expected

    01/27/2016 5:45:02 PM PST · by mrsmith · 37 replies
    MIT Technology Review ^ | January 27, 2016 | Will Knight
    "Google has taken a brilliant and unexpected step toward building an AI with more humanlike intuition, developing a computer capable of beating even expert human players at the fiendishly complicated board game Go... Their computer program, called AlphaGo, beat the European Go champion, Fan Hui, five games to zero... Two deep-learning networks were used in AlphaGo: one network learned to predict the next move, and the other learned to predict the outcome from different arrangements on the board. The two networks were combined using a more conventional AI algorithm to look ahead in the game for possible moves. A scientific...
  • Cops hate encryption but the NSA loves it when you use PGP

    01/27/2016 5:44:27 PM PST · by dayglored · 25 replies
    The Register ^ | Jan 27, 2016 | Iain Thomson
    It lights you up like a Vegas casino, says compsci boffin Usenix Enigma Although the cops and Feds wont stop banging on and on about encryption - the spies have a different take on the use of crypto. To be brutally blunt, they love it. Why? Because using detectable encryption technology like PGP, Tor, VPNs and so on, lights you up on the intelligence agencies' dashboards. Agents and analysts don't even have to see the contents of the communications - the metadata is enough for g-men to start making your life difficult. "To be honest, the spooks love PGP," Nicholas...
  • Here's how much tech workers are paid in all 50 states — see where yours ranks

    01/27/2016 3:30:30 PM PST · by SeekAndFind · 26 replies
    Business Insider ^ | 01/27/2016 | Brandt Ranj
    If you've ever wondered whether the grass would be greener — or if you literally make more green — by moving to another state or working in tech, we have your answer. We've ranked the average salary of tech workers in all 50 states, using the latest data from a new survey conducted by Dice.com. While you'll need the necessary skills to get your foot in the door of a tech job, this roundup gives you the chance to at least see how your state, and those across the country, stack up. Here's how every state ranks, from those with...
  • Apple is trying to change its story, and it will not work

    01/27/2016 3:18:45 PM PST · by SeekAndFind · 14 replies
    Business Insider ^ | 01/27/2016 | Jay Yarrow
    The Apple story is all screwed up right now. The iPhone is out of growth, so Apple wants to be seen as a services company like Amazon, Facebook, or Google. For Apple, services include things like app sales, iCloud revenue, Apple Pay, Apple Music, and iTunes. This is a wonderful idea, but there's a problem: Apple's services revenue is tied to the strength of its iPhone business, which is projected to drop this year. Apple can argue that it will be able to squeeze more revenue out of its installed base, but on its earnings call the company said the...
  • People keep going to this home looking for their lost phones — and nobody knows why (video)

    01/27/2016 11:32:57 AM PST · by Swordmaker · 33 replies
    The Washington Post ^ | January 26, 2016 | By Peter Holley
    For months now, angry strangers have been showing up at Christina Lee and Michael Saba's front door with a curious demand: "Give me back my stolen phone!" Sometimes, families will show up; other times, it's groups of friends or a random person with a police officer in tow, according to Fusion. Despite using different service providers, everyone who bangs on their door has been led to the suburban Atlanta home by a phone-tracking app. The problem -- as the couple desperately tries to explain visitors -- is that the missing phones aren't at the house and never have been. They...
  • Apple Announces Fiscal 1Q16 Results, Misses Revenue Estimates (part 1 of 8)

    01/27/2016 11:10:51 AM PST · by Swordmaker · 7 replies
    NASDAQ ^ | Jan 27, 2016 11:59 am EST | By Adam Rogers
    Apple revenues increase 1.7% YoY On January 26, 2016, Apple (AAPL) announced its fiscal 1Q16 results. Its revenues of $75.9 billion were lower than analysts' estimates of $77 billion. But EPS (earnings per share) of $3.28 was better than the $3.25 that analysts were expecting.Apple's EPS grew from $3.06 in fiscal 1Q15 to $3.28 in fiscal 1Q16, mainly due to the aggressive share buyback program it's been following. Enlarge GraphEarnings beat analysts' estimate Apple's net income (or earnings) was $18.4 billion on revenues of $75.9 billion for fiscal 1Q16, beating consensus analyst estimates of $18.2 billion. In comparison, Apple's net...
  • Tech help needed

    01/27/2016 7:39:46 AM PST · by conservativesister · 46 replies
    I have an old XP computer that I need to keep running and something updated and I've lost all printer drivers My error message is: Operation could not be completed. The print spooler service is not running. I've tried system restore and it doesn't fix it. I've tried to download drivers and spooler. Any suggestions........and I'm not getting rid of this computer there are things I can do on XP that I can't begin to figure out how to do on Windows 7 which is on the rest of my computers.
  • Apple reports a quarterly profit of $18.4 billion, the largest in history

    01/27/2016 2:06:32 AM PST · by Swordmaker · 19 replies
    The Verge ^ | January 26, 2016 | By Ben Popper
    But the company predicted revenue will decline next quarter, its first drop in years Apple's profits typically skyrocket during the fourth quarter, when new models of the iPhone often arrive and shiny new devices are purchased as holiday gifts. Last year Apple notched a record $18 billion in profit during this period, the largest ever recorded by a single public corporation. This year the company topped that, generating a profit of $18.4 billion on $75.9 billion in revenue during the last three months of 2015. The average sale price for its best selling devices, the iPhone, iPad, and Mac, was also...
  • Lenovo used '12345678' as filesharing tool password

    01/26/2016 7:56:56 PM PST · by Utilizer · 17 replies
    iTnews ^ | Jan 27 2016 11:59AM (AUS) | Juha Saarinen
    A filesharing utility for Android devices and Windows computers shipped by hardware vendor Lenovo has been found by security researchers to contain multiple, easily exploitable vulnerabilities CoreSecurity discovered that the free Lenovo SHAREit tool for Windows creates a wi-fi hotspot with the password 12345678, allowing anyone to connect to the system running SHAREit. On Android devices, SHAREit sets up an open wi-fi hotspot without any password at all, in order to receive files. This could allow attackers to connect to the Android device without authentication and capture information transferred, CoreSecurity said. The researchers also noted that files were transferred using...
  • 1951 Korean War RCI Oldest Cigarette Ever Smoked

    01/26/2016 7:43:07 PM PST · by Dallas59 · 54 replies
    Youtube ^ | 1/26/2016 | Steve1989 MREinfo
    Video Link Here
  • Magento plugs 'dangerous' cross-scripting hole

    01/26/2016 7:25:54 PM PST · by Utilizer · 6 replies
    iTnews ^ | Jan 27 2016 6:51AM (AUS) | Juha Saarinen
    A new vulnerability in the eBay-owned Magento e-commerce platform could be remotely exploited to take over sites and steal client information, researchers have discovered. Security vendor Sucuri discovered a stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the core system libraries for Magento Community Edition version 1.9.2.3 and earlier, and the Enterprise Edition version 1.14.2.3 and older. The critical flaw could be triggered by sending an email to adminstrators. Sucuri reported the bug to Magento's security team early in November last year. Magento acknowledged the vulnerability on 1 December 2015, but did not issue a patch until 21 January 2016. The Magento...
  • MacDailyNews presents live notes from Apple’s Q116 Conference Call (prerecorded)

    01/26/2016 5:02:57 PM PST · by Swordmaker · 7 replies
    Mac Daily News ^ | January 26, 2016 | Mac Daily News Staff
    (Read the bullet points from the bottom to the top to get the correct order of events and points as they were made in the conference call as made.--Swordmaker) MacDailyNews presents live notes from Apple's Q116 Conference Call with analysts starting at 5pm EDT/2pm PDT today.Apple will provide live audio streaming of its Q116 Results Conference Call using Apple's industry-leading QuickTime multimedia software.The live webcast will begin at 2pm PDT/ 5pm EDT today here.Apple today announced financial results for its fiscal 2016 first quarter ended December 26, 2015. The Company posted record quarterly revenue of $75.9 billion and record quarterly...
  • Why 6 Republican senators think you don't need faster broadband

    01/26/2016 2:56:58 PM PST · by Citizen Zed · 15 replies
    cio.com ^ | 1-25-2016 | Bill Snyder
    Broadband in the United States still lags behind similar service in other industrialized countries, so Congress made broadband expansion a national priority, and it offers subsidies, mostly in rural areas, to help providers expand their offerings. To qualify for the funds, however, ISPs must offer service that's faster than 4 Mbps. Of course, the ISPs want the threshold to be as low as possible so it's easier for them to qualify for government subsidies. In addition, some cities and counties want to build and deploy their own fiber-based broadband networks and skirt the big ISPs. Until the FCC overruled them,...
  • Two Newest Releases Of Google Chrome Broken?

    01/25/2016 9:44:50 PM PST · by kiryandil · 6 replies
    January 26, 2016 | moi
    I think that the two newest releases of Google Chrome are broken. Version 47.0.2526.111 m Version 48.0.2564.82 m I get the spinning blue circle for NO reason at all occasionally. All other applications function normally. RAM usage for Chrome appears to be normal. There's rumblings on Chrome forums, but I don't see a definitive in-your-face "It's Broken!" yet.
  • Problem with Internet Exploder

    01/25/2016 9:26:02 PM PST · by mountn man · 19 replies
    Me | Today | Me
    I'm having problems with Internet Explorer.I am looking for help.Before I go on...Yes, I am logged on.Seems I have a text sizing issue with IE.Suddenly started last week. Text sizing won't stay consistent. I open a new tab or window and I get tiny text. Usually when I refresh a time or two or three, it'll straighten itself out.Then other times, it goes larger instead of correct size.I've messed with zoom. I've messed with text size.I also have a problem with boxes that I have to type in. No matter the zoom level or text size setting, I have a...
  • Why Apple's iPhone Q4 Earnings Beat Droid's Lifetime Revenues

    01/25/2016 8:24:21 PM PST · by Swordmaker · 9 replies
    Invetopedia ^ | January 25, 2016 | By Euny Hong
    Turn on the Android spigot, please. According to Oracle Corp. (ORCL), Alphabet Inc.'s (GOOG) free mobile operating system Android has generated $31 billion in revenues for the company. The Redwood Shores, Calif.-based company has filed a lawsuit accusing Google of using Java to develop Android without paying dues. “Look at the extraordinary magnitude of commerciality here,” Oracle attorney Annette Hurst is quoted as telling a federal magistrate attorney judge in the courtroom in a Bloomberg piece. The revenue amount for Android is not peanuts. But, it still falls short of Apple Inc.'s (AAPL) earnings from iPhone by a wide...
  • Cortana now scans your emails to make sure you're keeping promises

    01/25/2016 5:31:40 PM PST · by BenLurkin · 30 replies
    theverge.com ^ | January 25, 2016 09:00 am | Tom Warren
    Starting today, Windows Insiders will get access to a new commitment option in Cortana for Windows 10. Commitments is very similar to the existing flight and delivery tracking in Cortana, but it's designed to pick up on emails where you promise your boss to finish a particular project in time. "Cortana will look for emails where you've said you're going to do something," explains Microsoft's Marcus Ash in an interview with The Verge. If you send an email to a friend or colleague with content like "I'll get back to you by next week" or "I'll have this finished by...
  • Google out of sync with CEO Schmidt on Android earnings

    01/25/2016 9:14:14 AM PST · by ShadowAce · 6 replies
    IT Wire ^ | 23 January 2016 | Sam Varghese
    Google chief executive Eric Schmidt is on the record as dismissing the importance of privacy. Back in 2009, when Schmidt was asked during an interview whether people should share information with Google as if it were a "trusted friend", he responded, "If you have something that you don't want anyone to know, maybe you shouldn't be doing it in the first place."But when an Oracle attorney disclosed in court on January 14 that Google has made US$31 billion from its Android operating system, of which US$22 billion is profit, Google was quick to ask that the document revealing this fact...
  • Repost: Question about Madden 16 for Xbox(glitch in last post)

    01/25/2016 7:07:23 AM PST · by TheRobb7 · 6 replies
    Self ^ | TheRobb7
    There was a glitch that wouldn't let anyone post a response the last time I did this, so I'm going to try it again. TheRobb7 My son and I were interested in watching the Xbox play the NFL season against itself in Franchise Mode. We would watch 1 game a week and simulate the rest. PROBLEM : we can't get the Xbox to do it. It will only play against itself in Exhibition Mode, which means that we couldn't compile stats and standings. Does anyone out there know of a work-around?