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German Navy Ships Sabotaged, Raising Concerns About Russia

2025-02-14

German Navy Ships Sabotaged, Raising Concerns About Russia

Germany's Inspector of the Navy announced Tuesday that multiple German warships were sabotaged. This follows a report by Süddeutsche Zeitung detailing metal shavings found in the engine system of a new corvette. While not explicitly accusing any party, the naval chief warned of a growing threat from Russia. The incidents follow a string of suspicious fires and explosions at German ammunition facilities and factories, raising concerns about potential Russian involvement and the escalating threat to German and NATO security. Investigations are ongoing, but the sabotage points to a potential deliberate act of aggression.

(www.businessinsider.com)

Tech German Navy

Jooki's Ghost in the Machine: Exploiting Vulnerabilities in a Dead Audio Player

2025-02-14

Following the bankruptcy of its manufacturer, many Jooki kid-friendly audio players became unusable. This post details the reverse engineering of the Jooki firmware, revealing multiple vulnerabilities, including a backdoor and remote code execution. The author analyzes the firmware, filesystem, Mender OTA update mechanism, and HTTP server interface, demonstrating how to gain control of the device. Methods for exploiting these vulnerabilities to achieve remote code execution by modifying configuration files, using flags, and leveraging the OTA update mechanism are shown. A call to the creator to open-source their work is included.

(nv1t.github.io)

Hardware

TikTok Returns to US App Stores After Ban

2025-02-14

TikTok Returns to US App Stores After Ban

Nearly a month after being banned in the US, TikTok has returned to the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. This follows a letter from US Attorney General Pam Bondi to Apple assuring them of no penalties for hosting the app. While President Trump issued an executive order temporarily suspending enforcement of the ban, Apple and Google hesitated due to potential billion-dollar fines. Vice President JD Vance is reportedly overseeing negotiations for a potential sale of TikTok.

(www.theverge.com)

Tech app stores

Windows Activation Exploit: TSforge Breaks SPP

2025-02-14

Windows Activation Exploit: TSforge Breaks SPP

Security researchers have discovered a major vulnerability in Windows' Software Protection Platform (SPP) and developed an exploit called TSforge. This exploit bypasses activation for all versions of Windows since Windows 7, and Office since 2013. Researchers analyzed SPP's inner workings, focusing on Confirmation ID (CID) validation and the 'trusted store' data. They ultimately found the keys to decrypt and modify activation data. This discovery not only reveals SPP's security flaws but also provides valuable insights into Windows activation.

(massgrave.dev)

Development Windows activation

Cruz Releases NSF DEI Grant Database, Sparks Controversy

2025-02-14

Senator Ted Cruz released a database of purportedly "woke" NSF DEI grants, alleging that the Biden administration weaponized federal agencies to push a far-left ideology. However, searches within the database for terms like "homo," "hetero," and "race" yielded results contradicting Cruz's claims. Several research projects, such as those on wireless networking and molecular spintronics, appear unrelated to the accusations. This suggests Cruz's critique may lack factual basis, raising questions about the integrity of his claim to restore integrity to scientific research and the United States Senate itself.

(ramadda.org)

Misc

Passwordless Two-Person Authentication

2025-02-14

A simple and clever method for two-person remote authentication has emerged! Two individuals use a shared device to generate time-based one-time passcodes (TOTP) QR codes. Each person scans their respective code into a mobile authenticator app (like Authy or Google Authenticator). Later, during a phone or video call, one person simply asks the other for the 6-digit TOTP code to verify identity, effectively preventing digital impersonation. No complex passwords required – secure and convenient!

(www.schneier.com)

Tech security protocol

Amazon Kills Kindle USB Sideloading Loophole: DRM War Heats Up

2025-02-14

Amazon Kills Kindle USB Sideloading Loophole: DRM War Heats Up

Amazon is shutting down its Kindle 'Download & Transfer via USB' feature, long exploited to bypass DRM on ebooks. This move is the latest in Amazon's ongoing battle against ebook piracy, but it also reignites the debate surrounding digital rights management. While users can still transfer ebooks via Wi-Fi, this significantly hinders DRM circumvention. The action highlights the ongoing conflict between publishers and readers regarding copyright, and the arms race between technology and DRM.

(www.androidpolice.com)

Tech eBooks

Apple Returns to X Ads After Musk's Controversial Remarks

2025-02-14

Apple Returns to X Ads After Musk's Controversial Remarks

Apple has resumed advertising on X after more than a year-long hiatus. The company pulled its ads in November 2023 following controversial statements made by Elon Musk. Now, Apple's @Apple and @AppleTV accounts are promoting Safari's privacy features and the Apple TV+ show Severance, respectively. Following the November 2023 backlash, Musk has maintained a lower profile, avoiding controversy. Apple appears to now deem the platform safe enough for advertising.

(daringfireball.net)

Tech

Asahi Linux Founder Steps Down, Project Embraces Sustainable Future

2025-02-14

Asahi Linux Founder Steps Down, Project Embraces Sustainable Future

Following the resignation of founder Hector Martin, the Asahi Linux team announced a new governance structure and funding model to ensure the project's long-term sustainability. Seven developers will share decision-making power, and donations will be facilitated through Open Source Collective, replacing the previous Patreon model. The project will prioritize kernel upstreaming and continuous integration testing to improve stability and maintainability. While support for M3 and M4 chips is temporarily on hold, M1 and M2 users can look forward to features like DP alt mode, sparse image support in the Vulkan driver, and built-in microphone support.

(asahilinux.org)

Development

From Open Source to AI Unicorn: The Timefold AI Story

2025-02-14

From Open Source to AI Unicorn: The Timefold AI Story

Three years ago, the author's open-source project, OptaPlanner, was facing the axe. Instead of giving up, he founded Timefold AI. This article recounts his journey of transforming a nearly defunct open-source project into a rapidly growing Planning AI company, achieving commercial success without sacrificing open-source values. From a humble hobby project to acquisition by Red Hat and finally, independent entrepreneurship, the author navigates the challenges of building a startup: finding a sustainable business model, assembling a team, securing funding. Timefold AI ultimately launched a cloud SaaS platform based on its open-source project and gained market traction. It's an inspiring story of perseverance, innovation, and teamwork, demonstrating the potential of open-source commercialization.

(timefold.ai)

Startup

TikTok's Return to the App Store Imminent

2025-02-14

TikTok's Return to the App Store Imminent

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports that a letter from Trump-era Attorney General Pam Bondi to Apple allows the restoration of TikTok on the App Store. Currently, iPhones with TikTok can continue using it, and a web version exists. However, updates and re-downloads are blocked, and transfer between iPhones (crucially impacting Apple's upcoming low-end launch) is impossible. Apple confirmed TikTok's return for Thursday evening. Previously, Apple and Google were legally obligated to remove TikTok due to ByteDance's failure to divest. Despite a bill passed and signed by President Biden, his administration delayed enforcement, leaving the decision to the Trump administration. Trump, after initially pushing for a ban, later supported TikTok's continued availability, granting ByteDance a 75-day extension to negotiate with US firms and potentially the government.

(9to5mac.com)

Tech

Arm to Start Making Its Own Chips This Year

2025-02-14

Arm to Start Making Its Own Chips This Year

Arm, the SoftBank-owned semiconductor giant, is entering the chip manufacturing arena. Secured by a major deal with Meta, Arm will launch its first in-house server CPU chip this year, targeting large data centers. While production will be outsourced, this marks a significant strategic shift for Arm, potentially turning some existing licensees into competitors and reshaping the semiconductor landscape.

(techcrunch.com)

Tech

OpenAI Quietly Removes DEI Commitment Page Amidst Growing Backlash

2025-02-14

OpenAI Quietly Removes DEI Commitment Page Amidst Growing Backlash

OpenAI has silently removed a webpage detailing its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). This follows similar moves by tech giants like Meta, Google, and Amazon, who have adjusted or eliminated DEI initiatives. While OpenAI's replacement page emphasizes contributions from employees with diverse backgrounds, the omission of terms like "diversity" sparks speculation about internal policy shifts. This action may be linked to increasing government scrutiny and legal challenges against DEI programs in the US, potentially influenced by OpenAI's existing government contracts and collaborations.

(techcrunch.com)

Tech Tech Company Policies

Simulating a Cambrian Explosion: Evolve Your Own Virtual Creatures

2025-02-14

MIT researchers have developed a Cambrian Vision Simulator allowing users to define and evolve their own embodied agents. You can set tasks, evolve agents' eyes or brains, and explore generative design of visual intelligence. This project will also be exhibited at the MIT Museum, showcasing evolving eyes in virtual reality. The research aims to use biological principles (natural evolution) to study the evolution of vision and design more intelligent artificial vision, triggering a Cambrian Explosion of artificial vision.

(eyes.mit.edu)

AI Evolutionary Algorithms

Doctor Droid: AI-Powered Incident Response for Engineering Teams

2025-02-14

Doctor Droid: AI-Powered Incident Response for Engineering Teams

Doctor Droid is building a smart assistant to help engineering teams quickly resolve production incidents. This open-source platform, used globally, aims to reduce downtime and boost developer productivity. Their vision is to empower any team member to debug common production issues without needing senior engineers. Backed by Accel and a Y Combinator W23 graduate, Doctor Droid is looking for passionate developers to join their team.

(www.ycombinator.com)

Development Incident Response

The Plight of Linux Kernel Maintainers: Technical Debt and Community Engagement

2025-02-14

Veteran Linux kernel maintainer Theodore Ts'o details the challenges of kernel maintenance in an email. He notes that maintainers aren't all-powerful but rather the "thin blue line" striving for code quality. Contributors often vanish after their code is accepted, leaving maintainers to clean up the mess. Ts'o urges development teams to actively participate in the community, jointly maintaining code quality instead of focusing solely on short-term goals. He cites Rust for Linux as an example of positive community engagement, but also points out the need for more time to build trust and address code maintenance burdens.

(lore.kernel.org)

Development code maintenance

Reddit's AI Licensing Revenue and Ad Business Boom

2025-02-14

Reddit's AI Licensing Revenue and Ad Business Boom

Reddit COO Jen Wong revealed that content licensing agreements now account for roughly 10% of Reddit's total revenue, a significant portion for a business of its size. Reddit has partnered with Google and OpenAI for content licensing, focusing on collaborations with AI developers who adhere to their user privacy and brand representation terms. While AI licensing is a valuable revenue stream, advertising remains the core driver. Reddit's ad revenue surged 60% year-over-year in Q4 2024, fueled by new offerings like AMA Ads and Pro Trends, and investments in machine learning and AI to enhance ad targeting and user engagement. Reddit's daily active users are also growing, but the company hasn't yet achieved annual profitability, despite posting a profit in Q4.

(www.adweek.com)

Tech AI Licensing Advertising Revenue Ad Revenue

Feature Flags: Pitfalls and Lessons Learned from Configurable Systems Research

2025-02-14

This article explores the potential problems of feature flags, a widely used technique in software development. While convenient, the authors argue that feature flags can lead to difficult-to-maintain code, especially concerning feature interactions, flag removal, and testing. The article reviews existing research in configurable systems and software product lines, summarizing lessons learned such as: clearly defining configuration decision-makers, choosing appropriate binding times, using standardized implementation and documentation, and leveraging techniques like combinatorial testing to improve software quality.

(www.cs.cmu.edu)

Development configurable systems

Burning Sensation Leads to Shocking Brain Parasite Diagnosis

2025-02-14

Burning Sensation Leads to Shocking Brain Parasite Diagnosis

A 30-year-old woman experienced a burning sensation in her feet that progressed to her entire body after a trip to Thailand, Japan, and Hawaii. Two emergency room visits yielded only elevated eosinophil counts. A third visit to Massachusetts General Hospital revealed the cause: brain parasites. Her symptoms were linked to consuming sushi, highlighting the importance of food safety, especially while traveling abroad.

(arstechnica.com)

Tech parasite infection medical case travel health

Broken OBS Studio Flatpak on Fedora: A Third-Party Package Masquerading as Official

2025-02-14

Broken OBS Studio Flatpak on Fedora: A Third-Party Package Masquerading as Official

The unofficial OBS Studio Flatpak package on Fedora is reportedly broken, leading to user complaints directed at the official developers. This isn't an isolated incident; many users express frustration with Fedora's aggressive Flatpak deployment and lack of clear opt-out options. The author requests either removal of the package or clear labeling as third-party, questioning the decision to replace a functional Flatpak with a broken one, thus undermining official efforts.

(gitlab.com)

Development

Media Giants Sue AI Startup Cohere for Copyright Infringement

2025-02-14

Media Giants Sue AI Startup Cohere for Copyright Infringement

Condé Nast and other media companies are suing AI startup Cohere for allegedly using their news articles to train its large language model without permission. The lawsuit claims Cohere engaged in systematic copyright and trademark infringement, not only using articles without authorization but also fabricating articles and falsely attributing them to the publishers. The plaintiffs are seeking substantial damages, while Cohere calls the lawsuit frivolous and maintains it employs responsible training practices.

(arstechnica.com)

Tech

Open Source's Corporate Capture: A Subtle Power Play

2025-02-14

Open Source's Corporate Capture: A Subtle Power Play

This article explores the reality of large-scale corporate involvement in open-source software. Initially conceived to attract commercial interests, corporations largely leverage open source to reduce costs rather than contribute back. The Heartbleed vulnerability highlighted the under-resourcing of open-source projects. While corporate investment has increased, it's channeled through employee contributions, creating power imbalances. Corporate employees, with more time and influence, skew project priorities, potentially leading to relicensing. The article proposes updating open-source governance models, diversifying funding for maintainers, rejecting projects with relicensing risks, and establishing a shared definition of open governance to build resilience against corporate capture and ensure a more equitable ecosystem.

(www.alilleybrinker.com)

Development corporate influence open governance

arXivLabs: Building New arXiv Features with Community Collaborators

2025-02-14

arXivLabs is a framework enabling developers to collaborate and share new arXiv features directly on the website. Participants must adhere to arXiv's values of openness, community, excellence, and user data privacy. Got an idea to enhance the arXiv community? Explore arXivLabs.

(arxiv.org)

Development

Apple's Mysterious New Product Launch Next Week: iPhone SE 4 Frontrunner

2025-02-13

Apple's Mysterious New Product Launch Next Week: iPhone SE 4 Frontrunner

Apple CEO Tim Cook announced on X that a new product will debut on February 19th. While details remain scarce, a teaser video hints at a 'newest member of the family.' Strong speculation points to the iPhone SE 4, potentially featuring an OLED edge-to-edge display, A18 chip, USB-C port, 8GB RAM, a 48MP camera, Face ID, and 5G. However, other possibilities include the M4 MacBook Air and M3 iPad Air. Analysts lean towards the iPhone SE 4 being the likely candidate.

(9to5mac.com)

Hardware Apple product launch

Banksy's Trademark Battle: A Street Artist's Fight for His Name

2025-02-13

Banksy's Trademark Battle: A Street Artist's Fight for His Name

Anonymous graffiti artist Banksy is facing a legal battle over his trademark. Greeting card company Full Colour Black claims Banksy hasn't properly used his trademark, seeking its cancellation. Banksy denies this, stating he's used the trademark for merchandise sales. The April trial at the Intellectual Property Office marks a potential first public appearance for Banksy and his team. The case highlights the conflict between Banksy's artistic ethos and commercialization, questioning the limits of trademark rights in art.

(robbreport.com)

Misc Trademark Art Commercialization

WADA's Funding Crisis: Who Guards Fair Play?

2025-02-13

WADA's Funding Crisis: Who Guards Fair Play?

The US government's withholding of funds from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) exposes a precarious funding model. WADA's reliance on nations with large elite athlete populations makes it vulnerable to manipulation. The article explores WADA's financial struggles and proposes three reforms: an independent global trust fund, expanding WADA's social science research program, and an athlete levy. These reforms aim to ensure WADA's independence and transparency, safeguarding the fairness and integrity of sport.

(phys.org)

Misc anti-doping sports funding

Decoding the Startup Software Engineer Interview Process

2025-02-13

Decoding the Startup Software Engineer Interview Process

This startup uses a two-step interview process: a phone screen and a two-day onsite interview. The phone screen assesses interest in startups and teamwork, along with basic web programming skills and project experience. The onsite interview delves deeper into technical abilities, product thinking, and team fit, emphasizing communication, ownership, and autonomy through a small project.

(www.ycombinator.com)

Development Interview Process

Mozilla's Continued Partnership with Onerep: A Year After Broken Promises?

2025-02-13

In March 2024, KrebsOnSecurity revealed that Onerep's founder also runs numerous people-search companies, including the data broker Nuwber. Following this revelation, Mozilla announced it would end its partnership with Onerep. However, nearly a year later, Onerep remains bundled with Firefox. Despite Mozilla's assurances of user data safety, the continued partnership raises questions about its commitment to its stated values. Further complicating matters, Onerep appears to be collaborating with another problematic people-search service, Radaris. This situation highlights the complexities and challenges within the personal data removal industry and prompts ethical considerations regarding data broker business models.

(krebsonsecurity.com)

Tech

1812: The Birth of Energy as a Service

2025-02-13

1812: The Birth of Energy as a Service

In 1812, Frederick Winsor, a visionary entrepreneur, revolutionized energy delivery. His Gas Light and Coke Company pioneered the concept of a public utility, piping gas directly to London homes instead of relying on individual coal and firewood purchases. This model leveraged economies of scale, lowering costs for consumers and improving efficiency. Winsor's innovation laid the groundwork for the modern 'energy as a service' model.

(www.economist.com)

Tech public utility economies of scale

NVIDIA's Security Shift: Formal Verification with SPARK

2025-02-13

NVIDIA's Security Shift: Formal Verification with SPARK

Facing increasing cybersecurity threats, NVIDIA's security team moved away from traditional testing and embraced SPARK formal verification. A proof-of-concept project successfully converted security-sensitive C code to SPARK in just three months, demonstrating improved security without performance loss. Now, over fifty NVIDIA developers are trained in SPARK, with numerous products shipping SPARK components. This case study highlights the successful adoption of formal verification, offering valuable lessons for other organizations seeking enhanced security.

(blog.adacore.com)

Tech

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