Author: Robin Edgar

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

Google isn’t killing third-party cookies in Chrome after all in move that surprises absolutely no-one.

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Google won’t kill third-party cookies in Chrome after all, the company said on Monday. Instead, it will introduce a new experience in the browser that will allow users to make informed choices about their web browsing preferences, Google announced in a blog post. Killing cookies, Google said, would adversely impact online publishers and advertisers. This Read more about Google isn’t killing third-party cookies in Chrome after all in move that surprises absolutely no-one.[…]

Intel has finally figured out its long-standing desktop CPU instability issues, hopefully patches in August

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The first reports of instability issues with the 13th-gen Intel desktop CPUs started popping up in late 2022, mere months after the models came out. Those issues persisted, and over time, users reported dealing with unexpected and sudden crashes on PCs equipped with the company’s 14th-gen CPUs, as well. Now, Intel has announced that it Read more about Intel has finally figured out its long-standing desktop CPU instability issues, hopefully patches in August[…]

Nvidia’s third-party RTX 40-series GPUs are losing performance over time thanks to rubbish factory-installed thermal paste

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Modern graphics cards use lots of power and all of it is turned into heat. So if you’re paying many hundreds of dollars for a powerful GPU, you’d expect no expense to be spared on the cooling system. It turns out that for many Nvidia RTX 40-series vendors, the expense is being spared and cheap, Read more about Nvidia’s third-party RTX 40-series GPUs are losing performance over time thanks to rubbish factory-installed thermal paste[…]

“Smart soil” grows 138% bigger crops using 40% less water

Posted on by Robin Edgar

[…] in areas where water is more scarce it can be hard to grow crops and feed populations, so scientists are investigating ways to boost efficiency. Building on earlier work, the new study marks a good step in that direction. The soil gets its “smart” moniker thanks to the addition of a specially formulated hydrogel, Read more about “Smart soil” grows 138% bigger crops using 40% less water[…]

Space Force tests small satellite jammer to protect against a ‘space-enabled attack’

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The U.S. Space Force is testing a new ground-based satellite jamming weapon to help keep U.S. military personnel safe from potential “space-enabled” attacks. The tests were conducted by Space Training and Readiness Command, or STARCOM, which is responsible for educating and training U.S. Space Force personnel. The satellite jammer is known as the Remote Modular Read more about Space Force tests small satellite jammer to protect against a ‘space-enabled attack’[…]

First trial on British Army vehicle for high-powered laser weapon

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For the first time scientists and engineers have successfully fired a high powered laser energy weapon from a British Army combat vehicle. This ground-breaking test, conducted at Dstl’s range in Porton Down, saw the laser weapon neutralise targets at distances in excess of 1km. The high-energy laser weapon mounted on to a British Army Wolfhound Read more about First trial on British Army vehicle for high-powered laser weapon[…]

So that Global Microsoft IT outage – turns out a Crowdstrike update borked your PC. Here’s some memes to make you feel better.

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Businesses worldwide grappled with an ongoing major IT outage Friday, as financial services and doctors’ offices were disrupted, while some TV broadcasters went offline. Air travel has been hit particularly hard, with planes grounded, services delayed and airports issuing advice to passengers. The outage came as cybersecurity giant CrowdStrike experienced a major disruption early Friday Read more about So that Global Microsoft IT outage – turns out a Crowdstrike update borked your PC. Here’s some memes to make you feel better.[…]

Meta and Apple are Keeping their Next Big AI things Out of the EU – that’s a good thing

Posted on by Robin Edgar

[…] In a statement to The Verge, Meta spokesperson Kate McLaughlin said that the company’s next-gen Llama AI model is skipping Europe, placing the blame squarely on regulations. “We will release a multimodal Llama model over the coming months,” Mclaughlin said, “but not in the EU due to the unpredictable nature of the European regulatory Read more about Meta and Apple are Keeping their Next Big AI things Out of the EU – that’s a good thing[…]

Indian WazirX halts withdrawals after losing $230M worth crypto assets – still cowboy country there

Posted on by Robin Edgar

[…] The Mumbai-based firm said one of its multisig wallets had suffered a security breach. A multisig wallet requires two or more private keys for authentication. WazirX said its wallet had six signatories, five of whom were with WazirX team. Liminal, which operates a wallet infrastructure firm, said in a statement to TechCrunch that its Read more about Indian WazirX halts withdrawals after losing $230M worth crypto assets – still cowboy country there[…]

Critical Cisco bug allows anyone to change all (including admin) passwords

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Cisco just dropped a patch for a maximum-severity vulnerability that allows attackers to change the password of any user, including admins. Tracked as CVE-2024-20419, the bug carries a maximum 10/10 CVSS 3.1 rating and affects the authentication system of Cisco Smart Software Manager (SSM) On-Prem. Cisco hasn’t disclosed too many details about this, which is Read more about Critical Cisco bug allows anyone to change all (including admin) passwords[…]

How to unsnarl a tangle of threads, according to physics

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Physicists may have found a solution for the rage-inducing tangles that crop up in everything from electronics cords to necklaces: to free a single thread from a tangle of many, you must shake it not too fast and not too slow but with just the right frequency. Ishant Tiwari at the Georgia Institute of Technology Read more about How to unsnarl a tangle of threads, according to physics[…]

Major IT outage hits Microsoft Azure and Office365 users worldwide leading to cancelled flights, stock exchange outages and more chaos. What a great idea cloud is for critical infrastructure!

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Companies and banks worldwide have been reportedly hit by a mass IT outage, leading to grounded flights. A major IT outage has reportedly hit banks, media outlets, and airlines on Friday, causing chaos at airport check-in and cancelled flights. The outage is believed to be caused by an outage of Microsoft’s Azure and Office365 services. Read more about Major IT outage hits Microsoft Azure and Office365 users worldwide leading to cancelled flights, stock exchange outages and more chaos. What a great idea cloud is for critical infrastructure![…]

The tinyPod transforms your old Apple Watch into an iPod-like minimalist phone

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The tinyPod is a case for your Apple Watch, which probably doesn’t sound too exciting on its own. However, its unique angle — a click wheel that controls the watch’s Digital Crown — makes Apple’s wearable look and feel (at least in its marketing) like the company’s first breakthrough product of the 21st century: the Read more about The tinyPod transforms your old Apple Watch into an iPod-like minimalist phone[…]

Apparently the idiots who pay for pre-order are now paying for ‘early access’ in games

Posted on by Robin Edgar

While it didn’t technically start last year, in 2023 we saw an increase in the number of games offering “early access” for a price. Mortal Kombat 1, The Crew: Motorfest, Starfield, Diablo 4, and a few others all offered players an option: Pay the standard price to play the game at launch or pay extra Read more about Apparently the idiots who pay for pre-order are now paying for ‘early access’ in games[…]

Firefox’s New ‘Privacy’ Feature Actually Gives Your Data to Advertisers – How and Why to Disable Firefox’s ‘Privacy-Preserving’ Ad Measurements

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Firefox finds itself in a tricky position at times, because it wants to be a privacy friendly browser, but most of its funding comes from Google, whose entire business is advertising. With Firefox 128, the browser has introduced ‘privacy-preserving ad measurement,’ which is enabled by default. Despite the name, the actual implications of the feature Read more about Firefox’s New ‘Privacy’ Feature Actually Gives Your Data to Advertisers – How and Why to Disable Firefox’s ‘Privacy-Preserving’ Ad Measurements[…]

Only 5 years too late: British regulators to examine Big Tech’s digital wallets – and where is the EU?

Posted on by Robin Edgar

British regulators said on Monday they were looking into the soaring use of digital wallets offered by Big Tech firms, including whether there are any competition, consumer protection or market integrity concerns. The Financial Conduct Authority and Payments Systems Regulator is seeking views on the benefits and risks, and will assess the impact digital wallets, Read more about Only 5 years too late: British regulators to examine Big Tech’s digital wallets – and where is the EU?[…]

Linksys Velop Routers Caught Sending WiFi Creds In The Clear – alerted in November 2023 still not fixed

Posted on by Robin Edgar

A troubling report from the Belgian consumer protection group Testaankoop: several models of Velop Pro routers from Linksys were found to be sending WiFi configuration data out to a remote server during the setup process. That would be bad enough, but not only are these routers reporting private information to the mothership, they are doing Read more about Linksys Velop Routers Caught Sending WiFi Creds In The Clear – alerted in November 2023 still not fixed[…]

Dutch DPA gets off its’ ass, Fine of 600,000 euros for tracking cookies on Kruidvat.nl – detected in 2020

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The Dutch Data Protection Authority (AP) has imposed a fine of 600,000 euros on the company behind the Kruidvat drugstore. Kruidvat.nl followed consumers with tracking cookies, without their knowledge or permission. AS Watson collected and used sensitive personal data from millions of website visitors against the rules. The company behind Kruidvat collected data from website Read more about Dutch DPA gets off its’ ass, Fine of 600,000 euros for tracking cookies on Kruidvat.nl – detected in 2020[…]

Are Intel’s i9-13900k’s and -14900k’s Crashing at a Higher Rate?

Posted on by Robin Edgar

“Intel’s problems with unstable 13th-gen and 14th-gen high-end CPUs appear to run deeper than we thought,” writes TechRadar, “and a new YouTube video diving into these gremlins will do little to calm any fears that buyers of Raptor Lake Core i9 processors (and its subsequent refresh) have.” Level1Techs is the YouTuber in question, who has Read more about Are Intel’s i9-13900k’s and -14900k’s Crashing at a Higher Rate?[…]

WTFBBQ?! Firefox Starts collecting personal ad preferences

Posted on by Robin Edgar

In a world where so much of our lives depend on the use of online services, the web browser used to access those services becomes of crucial importance. It becomes a question of whether we trust the huge corporate interests which control this software with such access to our daily lives, and it is vital Read more about WTFBBQ?! Firefox Starts collecting personal ad preferences[…]

A hydrogen-powered air taxi flew 523 miles emitting only water vapor

Posted on by Robin Edgar

A flying-car-like vertical takeoff aircraft created by Joby Aviation has completed a first-of-its-kind, 523 mile test flight using hydrogen power. The aircraft, which reportedly left only a trail of water vapor in its wake, is being pitched as a more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional gas powered jets for mid-range, regional travel. Though questions remain Read more about A hydrogen-powered air taxi flew 523 miles emitting only water vapor[…]

Apple settles EU case by opening its iPhone payment system to rivals

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The EU on Thursday accepted Apple’s pledge to open its “tap to pay” iPhone payment system to rivals as a way to resolve an antitrust case and head off a potentially hefty fine. The European Commission, the EU’s executive arm and top antitrust enforcer, said it approved the commitments that Apple offered earlier this year Read more about Apple settles EU case by opening its iPhone payment system to rivals[…]

Why all Chromium browsers tell Google about your CPU, GPU usage? A whitewashing bullshit explanation.

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Running a Chromium-based browser, such as Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge? The chances are good it’s quietly telling Google all about your CPU and GPU usage when you visit one of the search giant’s websites. The feature is, from what we can tell, for performance monitoring and not really for tracking – Google knows who Read more about Why all Chromium browsers tell Google about your CPU, GPU usage? A whitewashing bullshit explanation.[…]

AT&T says criminals stole phone records of ‘nearly all’ customers in another data breach there – also, Snowflake again

Posted on by Robin Edgar

In a statement, AT&T said that the stolen data contains phone numbers of both cellular and landline customers, as well as AT&T records of calls and text messages — such as who contacted who by phone or text — during a six-month period between May 1, 2022 and October 31, 2022. AT&T said some of Read more about AT&T says criminals stole phone records of ‘nearly all’ customers in another data breach there – also, Snowflake again[…]