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Computers/Internet (General/Chat)

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  • Former NSA Cyberspy's Not-So-Secret Hobby: Hacking [Rob Joyce]

    12/30/2024 1:50:41 PM PST · by nickcarraway · 2 replies
    The Register ^ | Iain Thomson
    Video In 2018, Rob Joyce, then Donald Trump's White House Cybersecurity Coordinator, gave a surprise talk at the legendary hacking conference Shmoocon about his hobby. As the former head of the NSA's Tailored Access Operations squad – the people who crack systems and gather intelligence for the US government – Joyce was also the friendly public face of the agency. The agency didn't come out of the Edward Snowden affair with a great reputation when the ex-NSA contractor-turned-whistleblower made public the existence of the NSA data collection programs back in June 2013. Many in the security industry were peeved at...
  • Georgia paving company allegedly attacks rivals with baseball bats, draws gun on workers over turf dispute: ‘Something out of The Sopranos’

    12/30/2024 12:13:14 PM PST · by dennisw · 28 replies
    NY POST ^ | Published Dec. 30, 2024, 5:46 a.m. ET | By Richard Pollina and Steve Janoski
    s this Georgia, or Jersey? A family of angry masons wielding baseball bats, sticks and a a lever-action rifle allegedly launched a Sopranos-style assault on a rival paving company outside Macon, Georgia when they saw the compeitor doing a job near one of their homes. Cops collared six members of the Buckland family Dec. 19 after the bloody, broad-daylight beatdown on guys from rival EH Paving at a Monroe County job site, according to WMAZ. “Like something out of ‘The Sopranos,’” Monroe County Sheriff Brad Freeman told the outlet. The Buckland boys thought EH Paving was being “disrespectful” by working...
  • Perplexity founder Srinivas says row over H-1B misses the point

    12/30/2024 9:52:53 AM PST · by libh8er · 60 replies
    Economic Times ^ | 12.30.2024 | Sruthijith KK
    Mumbai: The fierce row over Indian immigrants and H-1B visas that’s roiling Donald Trump’s team even before he takes office misses the point and isn’t borne out by data, said Aravind Srinivas, founder of Perplexity AI. Illegal immigration is the real issue, said the IIT graduate who’s worked at DeepMind and OpenAI, and is himself in the US on an H-1B visa. “Clearly, it surprised everybody online and it's not exactly data driven--the claims that the H-1B or Indian immigrants are taking away the jobs of laid-off American tech workers,” he told ET in an interview. “Indians are also being...
  • Best Linux Distro of 2024? There Is No Such Thing!

    12/30/2024 9:04:17 AM PST · by ShadowAce · 27 replies
    linuxiac ^ | 28 December 2024 | Bobby Borisov
    As the year winds down, it’s that time again when the internet is flooded with articles declaring which Linux distribution was the best of the year—this time, for 2024.These pieces can be fun to read, but let’s be honest: almost no one fully agrees with the opinions they present. If I dare say, even the authors themselves might not be entirely convinced by the conclusions they’ve written.The reason is simple: there has never been—and never will be—a single “best Linux distribution.” It all comes down to one essential question: what is the specific use case for a given distribution?I’m trying...
  • 2024 Recap: Linux & FOSS Ecosystem’s Highlights

    12/29/2024 11:58:47 AM PST · by ShadowAce · 47 replies
    linuxiac ^ | 25 December 2024 | Bobby Borisov
    Merry Christmas, dear readers! It’s that magical time of year when we pause to reflect on the past and celebrate the moments that made this year special.As a media covering the latest from the Linux and FOSS ecosystem, we’ve kept you updated with the most important developments in this vibrant field. Now, as 2024 comes to a close, let’s take a moment to look back at the highlights that defined this year.2024 in Review: Key Moments in Linux and FOSSThis year has brought plenty of exciting developments in the Linux and open-source world—most of them overwhelmingly positive. Of course, not...
  • A Highly Toxic Silicon Valley Meltdown Over Well Documented H1B Visa Fraud Explodes

    12/28/2024 3:35:21 AM PST · by bitt · 82 replies
    The Silicon Valley immigration priority was not the topic I thought would explode and fracture the tenuous MAGA alignment with the New Big Tech group represented by Elon Musk and his billionaire network. However, we learn more every day. This is a jaw-dropping moment to watch unfold as a very influential sector of the political discourse begins a full-frontal attack against those who are pointing out how the tech community abuse H1B visas to replace American workers. In the background, of course, is the context of widespread immigration policy fraud being one of the priorities for the average Trump supporter....
  • California's Soros-backed progressive experiment collapses after a decade

    12/27/2024 6:44:11 AM PST · by Libloather · 11 replies
    Fox News ^ | 12/27/24 | Audrey Conklin
    Certain 2024 election results in California took many by surprise. The Golden State's residents, for example, rejected another term for progressive Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón, backed by billionaire George Soros. They also overwhelmingly voted — at more than 70% — in favor of Proposition 36, the Homelessness, Drug Addiction and Theft Reduction Act, which seeks to undo portions of Proposition 47 from 2014 by increasing penalties for some crimes. The proposition, which took effect Dec. 18, will allow felony charges to be filed against those possessing certain drugs and those who commit thefts under $950. Additionally, people...
  • Antarctic sea ice extent is 17% higher today than it was in 1979. Ice doesn't lie, but climate scientists do.

    12/26/2024 5:24:41 PM PST · by dennisw · 24 replies
    @TonyClimate ^ | 10:23 AM · Dec 25, 2024 ·--- 2.6M Views | Tony Heller
    Tony Heller @TonyClimate Antarctic sea ice extent is 17% higher today than it was in 1979. Ice doesn't lie, but climate scientists do. https://noaadata.apps.nsidc.org/NOAA/G02135/south/daily/images/1979/12_Dec/S_19791224_extn_v3.0.png https://noaadata.apps.nsidc.org/NOAA/G02135/south/daily/images/2024/12_Dec/S_20241224_extn_v3.0.png
  • Study: Just One Extra Hour of Exercise Each Week Can Reduce Your Risk for Common Heart Condition

    12/25/2024 4:25:47 PM PST · by ChicagoConservative27 · 19 replies
    Scitechdaily ^ | 12/10/2024 | By NYU Langone Health / NYU Grossman School of Medicine
    An NYU study using Fitbit data suggests that modest weekly physical activity may reduce atrial fibrillation risk by up to 65%, underscoring the heart health benefits of regular exercise. A new study reveals that adding an extra hour of physical activity each week can reduce the risk of developing the most common type of irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) by 11%. Led by researchers at NYU Langone Health, the investigation focused on atrial fibrillation, a condition in which the heart’s upper two chambers beat rapidly and irregularly instead of at a consistent pace. If left untreated, this can lead to stroke, heart...
  • Facing 80% revenue drop, Mozilla rebrands itself and doubles down on being “advocates,” “activists,” fighting “misinformation”

    12/25/2024 9:34:47 AM PST · by martin_fierro · 58 replies
    Mozilla blog and elsewhere ^ | 12/25/24 | ol' marty
    Ugly-ass new logo Mozilla earned approximately 80% of its income through “revenue-sharing” deals with Google, pushing Google’s search engine as Firefox’s default choice. Now that Google faces antitrust investigations for this practice, Mozilla and Firefox may suffer a concomitant reduction in revenues. So what does Mozilla do? They “rebrand” themselves as “advocates” and “activists,” fighting “misinformation.” Among other marketing gobbledygook at this website, Mozilla’s rebranding director describes her client as “a trailblazing, activist organization in both its mission and its approach…. The new brand presence captures this uniqueness, reflecting Mozilla’s refreshed strategy to ‘reclaim the internet.’ The modern, digital-first identity...
  • 13 Risks That Come With The Growing Power Of Quantum Computing

    12/24/2024 12:34:11 PM PST · by daniel1212 · 28 replies
    forbes tech council ^ | Nov 8, 2022 | Expert Panel®
    1. Modern Encryption Methods Will Be Rendered UselessFinancial technologies are completely dependent on modern encryption methods. Any password or key can be cracked by brute-force attack, but currently, computing power does not allow attackers to succeed in a reasonable time. With the release of quantum computing into the public sector, all encryption becomes useless, and currently, the industry has no answer on how to deal with it. - Pavlo Sidelov, SDK.finance2. Web Interactions Will Be At RiskThe breakdown of prevalent cryptographic technology is an infrastructural risk. Most security technology is based on our current inability to quickly find the prime...
  • Complete List of Windows 11 Run Commands

    12/24/2024 11:51:29 AM PST · by daniel1212 · 40 replies
    Framed Media | May 15, 2023 | Pete Mitchell
    Run Dialog box is something that is one of the favorite utilities for an avid Windows user. Its been around since Windows 95 and became an important part of Windows User Experience over the years. While its only duty is to quickly open apps and other tools, many power users like us at TechCult, love the handy nature of the Run dialog box. Since it can access any tool, setting, or app as long as you know the command for it, we decided to give you the cheat sheet to help you breeze through Windows like a pro...pressing Windows +...
  • MrBeast to Rent Ancient Egyptian Pyramids to Explore Parts ‘That No One’s Seen Publicly’

    12/23/2024 10:46:06 PM PST · by nickcarraway · 9 replies
    ARTnews ^ | December 18, 2024 | Francesca Aton
    The Egyptian government has yet again rented out the pyramids to the highest bidder—this time to American YouTuber MrBeast. “We got all three of the pyramids of Egypt for 100 hours. I’m gonna do a video where they let me explore anywhere I want in the Pyramids,” MrBeast revealed during the “Beyond the Records” podcast with Noah Lyles. MrBeast is known for organizing and filming extreme challenges and prize giveaways. “I’d never been inside of [the pyramids]. I want to just find secrets and go through all the rooms and tombs and that kind of stuff,” he continued. “I’m so...
  • Spacecraft Attempts Closest Ever Approach to Sun

    12/23/2024 10:27:50 PM PST · by nickcarraway · 26 replies
    BBC ^ | 12/6 | Rebecca Morelle, Alison Francis
    A Nasa spacecraft is attempting to make history with the closest ever approach to the Sun. The Parker Solar Probe is plunging into our star's outer atmosphere, enduring brutal temperatures and extreme radiation. It's out of communication for several days during this burning hot fly-by and scientists will be waiting for a signal, expected on 27 December, to see if it has survived. The hope is the probe could help us to better understand how the Sun works. Dr Nicola Fox, head of science at Nasa, told BBC News: "For centuries, people have studied the Sun, but you don't experience...
  • These Tiny Magnetic Robots Can Navigate Obstacles and Carry Heavy Objects

    12/23/2024 12:20:49 PM PST · by BenLurkin · 21 replies
    thedebrief.org ^ | December 20, 2024 | Kenna Hughes-Castleberry·
    Scientists in South Korea have unveiled swarms of tiny magnetic robots that mimic the collaborative strength of ants to achieve incredible tasks, from carrying heavy cargo to navigating complex environments. These microrobots, described in a study published in the journal Device, could one day tackle challenges such as clearing clogged arteries or precisely guiding organisms. The team, led by Jeong Jae Wie from Hanyang University in Seoul, developed the robots to operate under a rotating magnetic field, enabling them to work together in swarms. Their potential applications include minimally invasive medical treatments and other tasks in difficult-to-reach environments. Wie and...
  • Received a package from an unknown sender? Experts warn of new ‘brushing’ scam — here’s how to protect yourself this Christmas (QR code)

    12/23/2024 3:55:39 AM PST · by Libloather · 31 replies
    NY Post ^ | 12/21/24 | Brooke Kato
    Don’t brush off this warning. As a flurry of holiday gifts arrive on people’s doorsteps this season, unsuspecting shoppers could also receive packages addressed to them that they never ordered. With a scam known as “brushing,” cybercriminals will ship packages with no return address that contain a QR code, prompting the confused recipient to scan the code to reveal who sent the package. Unbeknownst to the recipient, the code could expose sensitive information from their smartphones or download malicious software onto the devices. “A scammer’s QR code could take you to a spoofed site that looks real but isn’t. And...
  • Jim Carrey Reveals How His Suffering Led Him to God - One Minute Video YouTube

    12/22/2024 8:03:03 AM PST · by dennisw · 60 replies
    Jim Carrey ^ | Mar 6 2023 | Jim Carrey
    Jim Carrey Reveals How His Suffering Led Him to God | #shorts 213K Likes 2,013,030 Views 2023 "Sometimes it's through suffering that we relate to the forgiveness Jesus gave us through the cross. 2nd Corinthians 4:17 says "our suffering is light and temporary and is producing for us an eternal glory that is greater than anything we can imagine.""
  • Questions to ChatGPT about casting one's worries on God — A demonstation of ChatGPT's performance. (vanity)

    12/21/2024 7:19:41 AM PST · by RoosterRedux · 32 replies
    I thought some of you might be interested in this.I have lots of conversations with ChatGPT about many different issues. Though I am curious about its responses, I am also curious about how well it can figure out what I am asking if I use terse prompts. Here's a conversation I had with ChatGPT about turning one’s worries and concerns over to Jesus. I intentionally kept my questions short and vague. My question: In Christianity, we are told to turn all our worries and concerns over to Jesus. This would mean that we not only stop worrying about things but...
  • Digital Dementia? AI Shows Surprising Signs of Cognitive Decline

    12/21/2024 6:39:53 AM PST · by BenLurkin · 35 replies
    SciTech Daily ^ | 12/18/2024
    Almost all leading large language models, or “chatbots,” show signs of mild cognitive impairment when tested using assessments commonly used to detect early dementia, according to a study published in the Christmas issue of The BMJ. The study also found that older versions of these chatbots, much like aging human patients, performed worse on the tests. The authors suggest that these findings “challenge the assumption that artificial intelligence will soon replace human doctors.” The instructions given to the LLMs for each task were the same as those given to human patients. Scoring followed official guidelines and was evaluated by a...
  • The Mamas & The Papas’ ‘California Dreamin’’ Joins Spotify’s Billions Club

    12/20/2024 4:03:09 PM PST · by nickcarraway · 56 replies
    Udiscovermusic ^ | December 20, 2024 | Sam Armstrong
    Released in 1965, the record was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2001.The Mamas & The Papas’ classic 1965 version of “California Dreamin’” has joined Spotify’s Billions Club. It’s the seminal California band’s first time achieving the milestone. The group, fronted by Mama Cass, originally sang backup on the song, first released in 1963 by Barry McGuire. But their version would go on to endure as one of the most popular hits of the era. ‘Jingle Bell Rock’: Bobby Helms’ Rockin’ Christmas Classic Cara Delevingne Stars As Elton John In New ‘Step Into Christmas’ Video US Battle...