Author: Robin Edgar

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

Long covid linked to signs of ongoing inflammatory responses in blood

Posted on by Robin Edgar

People who develop long covid after being hospitalised with severe covid-19 have raised levels of many inflammatory immune molecules compared with those who recovered fully after such a hospitalisation, according to a study of nearly 700 people. The findings show that long covid has a real biological basis, says team member Peter Openshaw at Imperial Read more about Long covid linked to signs of ongoing inflammatory responses in blood[…]

Breaking out of kiosk environments using keyboard media buttons via a BadUSB type attack

Posted on by Robin Edgar

In early 2023 an awesome colleague (Andreas) spoke about an incident response case featuring thugs plugging a media keyboard into an ATM, and breaking out of its ATM kiosk software to install malware causing it to dispense $$$. This prompted me to spend some time during spring and summer of 2023 looking into Consumer Control, Read more about Breaking out of kiosk environments using keyboard media buttons via a BadUSB type attack[…]

Russia accused of using chemical gas attacks against Ukrainian soldiers

Posted on by Robin Edgar

[…] Ukrainian troops told the Daily Telegraph that they have been subjected to regular attacks from small drones dropping teargas and other chemicals. The use of such substances, which is known as CS, is banned during wartime under the Chemical Weapons Convention. Moscow was accused of using chemical weapons in a drone assault on the Read more about Russia accused of using chemical gas attacks against Ukrainian soldiers[…]

OpenAI and Google train AIs on transcriptions of YouTube videos – YouTube and NYTimes desperately try to profit somehow without doing anything except lawsuit

Posted on by Robin Edgar

OpenAI and Google trained their AI models on text transcribed from YouTube videos, potentially violating creators’ copyrights, according to The New York Times. Note – the New York Times is embroiled in copyright lawsuits over AI, where they clearly show they don’t understand that an AI reading content is the same as a person reading Read more about OpenAI and Google train AIs on transcriptions of YouTube videos – YouTube and NYTimes desperately try to profit somehow without doing anything except lawsuit[…]

Academics Try to Figure Out Apple’s default apps Privacy Settings and Fail

Posted on by Robin Edgar

A study has concluded that Apple’s privacy practices aren’t particularly effective, because default apps on the iPhone and Mac have limited privacy settings and confusing configuration options. The research was conducted by Amel Bourdoucen and Janne Lindqvist of Aalto University in Finland. The pair noted that while many studies had examined privacy issues with third-party Read more about Academics Try to Figure Out Apple’s default apps Privacy Settings and Fail[…]

Roku’s New Idea to Show You Ads When You Pause Your Video Game and spy on the content on your hdmi cable Is Horrifying

Posted on by Robin Edgar

[…] Roku describes its idea in a patent application, which largely flew under the radar when it was filed in November, and was recently spotted by the streaming newsletter Lowpass. In the application, Roku describes a system that’s able to detect when users pause third-party hardware and software and show them ads during that time. Read more about Roku’s New Idea to Show You Ads When You Pause Your Video Game and spy on the content on your hdmi cable Is Horrifying[…]

It’s Not Just You, Google Pixels Are Glitching Right Now

Posted on by Robin Edgar

[…] As reported by Android Authority, more and more users are complaining about their Pixel phones not working as, well, phones. Users will miss phone calls entirely, and only notice after they see the call went directly to voicemail, while text messages don’t appear as they’re received, but rather pop in all at once in Read more about It’s Not Just You, Google Pixels Are Glitching Right Now[…]

Ubisoft At The Center Of A Fight To Stop Online Game Shutdowns – help out yourself

Posted on by Robin Edgar

In an increasingly digital age, owning media outright has become less and less possible. Whether it’s movies, music, books, or video games, the pivot to digital has made it harder for consumers to own permanent, physical copies of their favorite pieces of media. In video games, myriad titles that players have spent time and money Read more about Ubisoft At The Center Of A Fight To Stop Online Game Shutdowns – help out yourself[…]

Window coating blocks sun heat from any angle but not view

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Windows welcome light into interior spaces, but they also bring in unwanted heat. A new window coating blocks heat-generating ultraviolet and infrared light and lets through visible light, regardless of the sun’s angle. The coating can be incorporated onto existing windows or automobiles and can reduce air-conditioning cooling costs by more than one-third in hot Read more about Window coating blocks sun heat from any angle but not view[…]

Stanford: Biomarkers predict weight loss on either low carb or low fat diet (one of these will work best for you) – suggest personalized diets

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Strictly following a diet – either healthy low-carb or healthy low-fat – was what mattered for short-term weight loss during the first six months. But people who maintained long-term weight loss for a year ate the same number of calories as those who regained weight or who did not lose weight during the second six Read more about Stanford: Biomarkers predict weight loss on either low carb or low fat diet (one of these will work best for you) – suggest personalized diets[…]

Google will delete data collected from private browsing

Posted on by Robin Edgar

In hopes of settling a lawsuit challenging its data collection practices, Google has agreed to destroy web browsing data it collected from users browsing in Chrome’s private modes – which weren’t as private as you might have thought. The lawsuit [PDF], filed in June, 2020, on behalf of plaintiffs Chasom Brown, Maria Nguyen, and William Read more about Google will delete data collected from private browsing[…]

10 second Euro Instant payments now mandatory in NL

Posted on by Robin Edgar

It will become mandatory for payment service providers, such as banks, that offer standard credit transfers in euros to offer the sending and receipt of instant payments in euros. The regulation relating to this has now been published. Thanks to the regulation, people will be able to transfer money within 10 seconds at any time Read more about 10 second Euro Instant payments now mandatory in NL[…]

The Digital Identity Wallet approved by parliament and council

Posted on by Robin Edgar

On the 28th February, The European Parliament gave its final approval to the Digital Identity Regulation, with 335 votes to 190, with 31 abstentions. It was adopted by the EU Council of Ministers on 26th of March. The next step will be its publication in the Official Journal and its entry into force 20 days Read more about The Digital Identity Wallet approved by parliament and council[…]

Aston Martin Show the way forward: Don’t trigger the piss off factor with your touchscreens

Posted on by Robin Edgar

To decide how to best implement their cars’ touchscreens, Aston designers went out and sampled a range of vehicles, using their controls and noting the steps necessary to activate certain functions. Any feature expected to be immediately available that wasn’t triggered the “piss-off factor.” The new Vantage is a good example of Aston’s design philosophy. Read more about Aston Martin Show the way forward: Don’t trigger the piss off factor with your touchscreens[…]

flight course of an aircraft being gps spoofed and almost entering dangerous airspace

63 hour GPS jamming attack over Baltics affects 1600 aircraft over Europe

Posted on by Robin Edgar

[…] Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Europe has experienced an uptick in the number of large-scale disruptions of GPS and other global navigation satellite systems (GNSS). The disruption has been felt near the Mediterranean and Black Sea, and near the Baltic Sea and Arctic. Since December 2023, for instance, the Baltic region has Read more about 63 hour GPS jamming attack over Baltics affects 1600 aircraft over Europe[…]

No Man’s Sky gets unique computer-generated space stations and ship customisation

Posted on by Robin Edgar

No Man’s Sky is still getting major updates. Developer Hello Games’ “Orbital” update, due Wednesday, adds procedurally generated space stations (so they’ll be different every time), a ship editor and a Guild system to the nearly eight-year-old space exploration sim. Up until now, space stations have been one of the few parts of No Man’s Read more about No Man’s Sky gets unique computer-generated space stations and ship customisation[…]

Twitch bans streams overlaid on boobs and butts – because Americans are petrified of sex

Posted on by Robin Edgar

[…] Twitch is putting a stop to its streamers’ shenanigans, though, and will officially prohibit “content that focuses on clothed intimate body parts such as the buttocks, groin, or breasts for extended periods of time” starting on March 29. In a writeup on the trend, Kotaku explained that it all started when controversial streamer Morgpie Read more about Twitch bans streams overlaid on boobs and butts – because Americans are petrified of sex[…]

Posted in Sex

Song lyrics really are getting simpler, more repetitive

Posted on by Robin Edgar

You’re not just getting older. Song lyrics really are becoming simpler and more repetitive, according to a study published on Thursday. Lyrics have also become angrier and more self-obsessed over the last 40 years, the study found, reinforcing the opinions of cranky aging music fans everywhere. A team of European researchers analyzed the words in Read more about Song lyrics really are getting simpler, more repetitive[…]

Posted in Art

In-app browsers still a privacy, security, and choice issue

Posted on by Robin Edgar

[…] Open Web Advocacy (OWA), a group that supports open web standards and fair competition, said in a post on Tuesday that representatives “recently met with both the [EU’s] Digital Markets Act team and the UK’s Market Investigation Reference into Cloud Gaming and Browsers team to discuss how tech giants are subverting users’ choice of Read more about In-app browsers still a privacy, security, and choice issue[…]

Soofa Digital Kiosks Snatch Your Phone’s Data When You Walk By, sell it on

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Digital kiosks from Soofa seem harmless, giving you bits of information alongside some ads. However, these kiosks popping up throughout the United States take your phone’s information and location data whenever you walk near them, and sell them to local governments and advertisers, first reported by NBC Boston Monday. “At Soofa, we developed the first Read more about Soofa Digital Kiosks Snatch Your Phone’s Data When You Walk By, sell it on[…]

Mass claim CUIC against virus scanner (but really tracking sypware) Avast

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Privacy First has teamed up with Austrian NOYB (the organisation of privacy activist Max Schrems) to form the new mass claim organisation CUIC founded. CUIC stands for Consumers United in Court, also pronounceable as ‘CU in Court’ (see you in court). […] Millions spied on by virus scanner CUIC today filed subpoenas against software company Read more about Mass claim CUIC against virus scanner (but really tracking sypware) Avast[…]

Software vendors dump open source, go for the cash grab – Redis is the latest

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Essentially, all software is built using open source. By Synopsys’ count, 96% of all codebases contain open-source software. Lately, though, there’s been a very disturbing trend. A company will make its program using open source, make millions from it, and then — and only then — switch licenses, leaving their contributors, customers, and partners in Read more about Software vendors dump open source, go for the cash grab – Redis is the latest[…]

Amazon fined almost $8M in Poland over dark patterns

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Poland’s competition and consumer protection watchdog has fined Amazon’s European subsidiary around $8 million (31.9 million Zlotys) for “dark patterns” that messed around internet shoppers. The preliminary ruling applies to Amazon EU SARL, which oversees Amazon’s Polish e-commerce site, Amazon.pl, out of Luxembourg. Poland’s Office of Competition and Consumer Protection said the decision, subject to Read more about Amazon fined almost $8M in Poland over dark patterns[…]

OpenAI reveals tool to re-create human voices

Posted on by Robin Edgar

OpenAI said on Friday it’s allowed a small number of businesses to test a new tool that can re-create a person’s voice from just a 15-second recording. Why it matters: The company said it is taking “a cautious and informed approach” to releasing the program, called Voice Engine, more broadly given the high risk of Read more about OpenAI reveals tool to re-create human voices[…]

Age Verification Laws Drag Us Back to the Dark Ages of the Internet

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The fundamental flaw with the age verification bills and laws passing rapidly across the country is the delusional, unfounded belief that putting hurdles between people and pornography is going to actually prevent them from viewing porn. What will happen, and is already happening, is that people–including minors–will go to unmoderated, actively harmful alternatives that don’t Read more about Age Verification Laws Drag Us Back to the Dark Ages of the Internet[…]