Author: Robin Edgar

Organisational Structures | Technology and Science | Military, IT and Lifestyle consultancy | Social, Broadcast & Cross Media | Flying aircraft
a 3d android logo raising one arm horizontally as seen from a diagonal facing angle. There is a square moustache on the logo where the nose should be. The Singapore skyline is in the background.

Android users in Singapore to be blocked from installing apps from 3rd parties

Posted on by Robin Edgar

SINGAPORE – Android users here will be blocked from installing apps from unverified sources, a process called sideloading, as part of a new trial by Google to crack down on malware scams. The security tool will work in the background to detect apps that demand suspicious permissions, like those that grant the ability to spy Read more about Android users in Singapore to be blocked from installing apps from 3rd parties[…]

The EU wants to criminalize AI-generated deepfakes and the non-consensual sending of intimate images

Posted on by Robin Edgar

[…] the European Council and Parliament have agreed with the proposal to criminalize, among other things, different types of cyber-violence. The proposed rules will criminalize the non-consensual sharing of intimate images, including deepfakes made by AI tools, which could help deter revenge porn. Cyber-stalking, online harassment, misogynous hate speech and “cyber-flashing,” or the sending of Read more about The EU wants to criminalize AI-generated deepfakes and the non-consensual sending of intimate images[…]

COPD: Inhalable nanoparticles could help treat chronic lung disease

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Delivering medication to the lungs with inhalable nanoparticles may help treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In mice with signs of the condition, the treatment improved lung function and reduced inflammation. COPD causes the lungs’ airways to become progressively narrower and more rigid, obstructing airflow and preventing the clearance of mucus. As a result, mucus Read more about COPD: Inhalable nanoparticles could help treat chronic lung disease[…]

OpenAI latest to add ‘Made by AI’ metadata to model output

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Images emitted by OpenAI’s generative models will include metadata disclosing their origin, which in turn can be used by applications to alert people to the machine-made nature of that content. Specifically, the Microsoft-championed super lab is, as expected, adopting the Content Credentials specification, which was devised by the Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity (C2PA), Read more about OpenAI latest to add ‘Made by AI’ metadata to model output[…]

Deep Abandoned Mine In Finland To Be Turned Into A Giant Gravity Battery

Posted on by Robin Edgar

[…] the idea behind gravity batteries is really simple. During times when energy sources are producing more energy than the demand, the excess energy is used to move weights (in the form of water or sometimes sand) upwards, turning it into potential energy. When the power supply is low, these objects can then be released, Read more about Deep Abandoned Mine In Finland To Be Turned Into A Giant Gravity Battery[…]

Decrypting / Mounting Bitlocker protected drives

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Attacks come in two main forms: one is scanning the drive for memory dumps and the other is by sniffing the bitlocker key through RAM dumping on cold boots. Cold Boot Attacks Over time there have been many different physical attacks against full disk encryption, such as Cold Boot attacks [0][1] that we have previously Read more about Decrypting / Mounting Bitlocker protected drives[…]

Shahed-136 drones in launcher

Hackers find out worth of Iranian drones sold to Russia

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Hackers from the Prana Network group have compromised the mail servers of the Iranian company IRGC Sahara Thunder, which contained an array of data on the production of Shahed-136 attack drones for Russia. Source: a statement by Prana Network, reported by Militarnyi Details: As noted, the IRGC Sahara Thunder company is a fictitious company run Read more about Hackers find out worth of Iranian drones sold to Russia[…]

Astronomers Measure the Mass of the Milky Way by Calculating How Hard it is to Escape

Posted on by Robin Edgar

[…] how can we determine the mass of something larger, such as the Milky Way? One method is to estimate the number of stars in the galaxy and their masses, then estimate the mass of all the interstellar gas and dust, and then rough out the amount of dark matter… It all gets very complicated. Read more about Astronomers Measure the Mass of the Milky Way by Calculating How Hard it is to Escape[…]

Inside the Underground Site Where ‘Neural Networks’ Churn Out Fake IDs

Posted on by Robin Edgar

An underground website called OnlyFake is claiming to use “neural networks” to generate realistic looking photos of fake IDs for just $15, radically disrupting the marketplace for fake identities and cybersecurity more generally. This technology, which 404 Media has verified produces fake IDs nearly instantly, could streamline everything from bank fraud to laundering stolen funds. Read more about Inside the Underground Site Where ‘Neural Networks’ Churn Out Fake IDs[…]

Hugging Face launches open source AI assistant maker to rival OpenAI’s custom GPTs

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Hugging Face, the New York City-based startup that offers a popular, developer-focused repository for open source AI code and frameworks (and hosted last year’s “Woodstock of AI”), today announced the launch of third-party, customizable Hugging Chat Assistants. The new, free product offering allows users of Hugging Chat, the startup’s open source alternative to OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Read more about Hugging Face launches open source AI assistant maker to rival OpenAI’s custom GPTs[…]

Virgin Galactic: Alignment pin mishap reported to FAA. If only Musk did that too.

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Virgin Galactic has reported itself to the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) after discovering a detached alignment pin from the mechanism used to keep its suborbital spaceplane attached to the mothership aircraft. According to the company, the alignment pin is used to ensure the spaceplane (in this case, Unity) is aligned correctly to the mothership Read more about Virgin Galactic: Alignment pin mishap reported to FAA. If only Musk did that too.[…]

Netherlands reveals Chinese attack on defence servers using CoatHanger malware on Fortinet Devices – a real pain to remove

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Dutch authorities are lifting the curtain on an attempted cyberattack last year at its Ministry of Defense (MoD), blaming Chinese state-sponsored attackers for the espionage-focused intrusion. Specialists from the Netherlands’ Military Intelligence and Security Service (MIVD) and the General Intelligence and Security Service (AIVD) were called in to investigate an intrusion at an MOD network Read more about Netherlands reveals Chinese attack on defence servers using CoatHanger malware on Fortinet Devices – a real pain to remove[…]

Orient at 45o for stronger, better looking 3D Printed Enclosures

Posted on by Robin Edgar

When it comes to 3D printing, the orientation of your print can have a significant impact on strength, aesthetics, and functionality or ease of printing. The folks at Slant 3D have found that printing enclosures at a 45° provides an excellent balance of these properties, with some added advantages for high volume printing. The trick Read more about Orient at 45o for stronger, better looking 3D Printed Enclosures[…]

Criticism as Dutch domain registry plans move to Amazon cloud

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Questions are being asked in parliament about the decision by Dutch domain registration foundation SIDN to transfer the dot nl domain and its “complete ICT services” to Amazon’s cloud services.  SIDN says the move will make managing the technology easier but some tech entrepreneurs have doubts, and now MPs have asked the government, which supports Read more about Criticism as Dutch domain registry plans move to Amazon cloud[…]

cloudflare bad gateway error page

Cloudflare Hacked

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Web security company Cloudflare on Thursday revealed that a threat actor used stolen credentials to gain access to some of its internal systems. The incident was discovered on November 23, nine days after the threat actor, believed to be state-sponsored, used credentials compromised in the October 2023 Okta hack to access Cloudflare’s internal wiki and Read more about Cloudflare Hacked[…]

EU countries give crucial nod to first-of-a-kind Artificial Intelligence law

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The ambassadors of the 27 countries of the European Union unanimously approved the world’s first comprehensive rulebook for Artificial Intelligence, rubber-stamping the political agreement reached in December. In December, EU policymakers reached a political agreement on the main sticking points of the AI Act, a flagship bill to regulate Artificial Intelligence based on its capacity Read more about EU countries give crucial nod to first-of-a-kind Artificial Intelligence law[…]

Google Search’s cache links are unfortunately being retired

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Google has removed links to page caches from its search results page, the company’s search liaison Danny Sullivan has confirmed. “It was meant for helping people access pages when way back, you often couldn’t depend on a page loading,” Sullivan wrote on X. “These days, things have greatly improved. So, it was decided to retire Read more about Google Search’s cache links are unfortunately being retired[…]

Marauder DIY WiFi and Hacking tool

Posted on by Robin Edgar

[…] The ESP32 Marauder is a suite of WiFi/Bluetooth offensive and defensive tools created for the ESP32 and was originally inspired by Spacehuhn’s esp8266_deauther project. The tool itself serves as a portable device used to test and analyze WiFi and Bluetooth devices. […] Do It Yourself If you would like to create your own ESP32 Read more about Marauder DIY WiFi and Hacking tool[…]

Consumers still pay too much to call another EU country – wait, wasn’t there free roaming?!

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The EU single market holds many advantages. To be able to travel, work or purchase goods effortlessly across numerous different countries creates all kinds of opportunities for consumers. But there are still areas where it is not working or has simply not been accomplished, even if it would be the most logical and appropriate thing Read more about Consumers still pay too much to call another EU country – wait, wasn’t there free roaming?![…]

The European Space Agency will test 3D metal printer metal on the ISS

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The first metal 3D printer that will be used in space is on its way to the International Space Station. The Cygnus NG-20 supply mission, which is carrying the 180kg (397 lbs) printer, launched on Tuesday and is set to arrive at the ISS on Thursday. Astronaut Andreas Mogensen will install the printer, which Airbus Read more about The European Space Agency will test 3D metal printer metal on the ISS[…]

Cory Doctorow’s McLuhan lecture on enshittification (30 Jan 2024)

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Last year, I coined the term ‘enshittification,’ to describe the way that platforms decay. That obscene little word did big numbers, it really hit the zeitgeist. I mean, the American Dialect Society made it their Word of the Year for 2023 (which, I suppose, means that now I’m definitely getting a poop emoji on my Read more about Cory Doctorow’s McLuhan lecture on enshittification (30 Jan 2024)[…]

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

EASA and IATA start work on aviation GPS interference

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) held a recent workshop on incidents where people spoofed and jammed satellite navigation systems, and concluded these pose a “significant challenge” to safety. Mitigating the risks posed by such actions will require measures to be enacted in the short term as Read more about EASA and IATA start work on aviation GPS interference[…]

Design Secrets Of Fantastic, Hand-made Puzzle Boxes

Posted on by Robin Edgar

[Kagen Sound] is a woodworker and artist who gives a great behind-the-scenes look at his amazingly high-quality puzzle boxes (video). Not only do his varied puzzle box designs show his math background, but they are all made entirely of wood. There are no nails or fasteners; just intricately-fitted wood and some glue. There’s a lot Read more about Design Secrets Of Fantastic, Hand-made Puzzle Boxes[…]

people of different ethnic backgrounds dancing with music notes floating in the air

Music causes similar emotions and bodily sensations across cultures

Posted on by Robin Edgar

“Music that evoked different emotions, such as happiness, sadness or fear, caused different bodily sensations in our study. For example, happy and danceable music was felt in the arms and legs, while tender and sad music was felt in the chest area,” explains Academy Research Fellow Vesa Putkinen. The emotions and bodily sensations evoked by Read more about Music causes similar emotions and bodily sensations across cultures[…]