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Doom Runs in a PDF: A Testament to Programming Ingenuity

2025-01-14
Doom Runs in a PDF: A Testament to Programming Ingenuity

Programmers have ported the classic game Doom into a PDF file! This isn't a simple embedding; it leverages PDF's Javascript capabilities to render Doom using clever ASCII character manipulation within a PDF reader. While the frame rate isn't high, it's playable enough to deliver a nostalgic experience. This feat showcases the latent potential of the PDF format and serves as a reminder that seemingly static PDF files may hold hidden surprises.

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(www.theregister.com)
Game

Ransomware Gang Exploits AWS Native Encryption

2025-01-14
Ransomware Gang Exploits AWS Native Encryption

A new ransomware group, dubbed 'Codefinger,' is targeting AWS S3 buckets and leveraging the cloud giant's own server-side encryption with customer-provided keys (SSE-C) to encrypt victims' data. They use leaked AWS keys to encrypt files with AES-256 and set a 7-day self-destruct timer. This unique approach exploits AWS's own security features, making data recovery difficult without the attacker's key. Security experts recommend restricting SSE-C usage, regularly auditing AWS keys, and implementing the principle of least privilege to mitigate risk.

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(www.theregister.com)
Tech ransomware AWS security cloud security

Linus Torvalds to Gift Handmade Guitar Pedal

2025-01-13
Linus Torvalds to Gift Handmade Guitar Pedal

Linus Torvalds, the creator of the Linux kernel, is giving away a hand-built guitar effects pedal to a lucky kernel contributor. This unusual giveaway, announced in his weekly kernel release notes, serves as both a thank-you and a test to see if anyone actually reads his announcements. Torvalds, describing himself as a 'software person with a soldering iron,' will assemble an Aion FX pedal kit, promising a unique, if somewhat unpredictable, reward reflecting the quirky culture of the open-source community.

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(www.theregister.com)
Development

Microsoft Tests 45% M365 Price Hike in Asia, Citing AI Features

2025-01-13
Microsoft Tests 45% M365 Price Hike in Asia, Citing AI Features

Microsoft is testing a 45 percent price increase for its M365 suite in six Asian countries, claiming the hike is necessary to ensure customers have early access to powerful AI features. The move has sparked outrage among subscribers, with many accusing Microsoft of price gouging, especially in regions with high living costs. While Microsoft says users can opt for a cheaper plan without AI features like Copilot, finding this option proves difficult. This test may foreshadow global M365 price adjustments, reflecting Microsoft's massive investment in AI.

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(www.theregister.com)
Tech

Nvidia Fires Back at Biden's AI Chip Export Restrictions

2025-01-13
Nvidia Fires Back at Biden's AI Chip Export Restrictions

The outgoing Biden administration unveiled a final rule on AI diffusion, restricting exports of AI chips to most countries while granting exemptions to key allies. Nvidia vehemently criticized the move, arguing it will harm US technological leadership and potentially evaporate 80% of the GPU market. The company claims the rule is overly restrictive, lacks proper legislative review, and stifles innovation. While framed as an 'anti-China' measure, Nvidia contends it will control technology globally, impacting even widely available consumer hardware.

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(www.theregister.com)
Tech export restrictions

Austrian Cloud Provider Ditches VMware for KVM After 500%+ License Hike

2025-01-13
Austrian Cloud Provider Ditches VMware for KVM After 500%+ License Hike

Facing a massive VMware license cost increase (over 500%), Austrian cloud provider Anexia migrated 12,000 VMs to a KVM-based open-source platform. This move not only saved significant costs, preventing an existential crisis, but also garnered customer support. Anexia leveraged its existing Netcup platform and Anexia Engine abstraction layer for a seamless migration, requiring only a single click and brief reboot. This migration showcases the viability of open-source alternatives and highlights the market backlash against Broadcom's aggressive pricing post-VMware acquisition.

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(www.theregister.com)
Tech Open Source Migration

Massive PowerSchool Data Breach Exposes 60 Million Students' and Teachers' Info

2025-01-10
Massive PowerSchool Data Breach Exposes 60 Million Students' and Teachers' Info

Education software giant PowerSchool suffered a major data breach, with personal information of over 60 million K-12 students and teachers stolen. The breach, which involved 23 database tables containing sensitive data like Social Security Numbers and medical information, was reportedly carried out using a compromised credential. PowerSchool stated it wasn't ransomware or a software vulnerability, but a network penetration. While PowerSchool has implemented security measures, including password resets and access control tightening, and offered credit monitoring, cybersecurity firm Cyble suggests the breach may have started as early as 2011. The incident highlights the vulnerability of educational institutions' data and the importance of timely reporting and response.

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(www.theregister.com)
Tech education

Microsoft Starts the New Year with More Layoffs

2025-01-09
Microsoft Starts the New Year with More Layoffs

Microsoft has begun the new year with another round of layoffs, affecting less than 1 percent of its workforce. The company claims the cuts are performance-based, aiming to improve overall team efficiency. While Microsoft laid off over 10,000 employees in 2023 and more in 2024, these latest cuts come despite record earnings. The layoffs may be linked to Microsoft's aggressive push into AI, with some suggesting that the eliminated positions will be quickly refilled with AI-related roles. This suggests a significant shift in Microsoft's strategic direction.

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(www.theregister.com)
Tech Microsoft layoffs AI transformation tech industry

LA Wildfires Force Mass Evacuations, NASA JPL Shuts Down

2025-01-08
LA Wildfires Force Mass Evacuations, NASA JPL Shuts Down

Massive wildfires raging across Los Angeles County have forced tens of thousands to evacuate, leading to the closure of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). Fueled by strong winds, the fires have consumed thousands of acres, resulting in casualties and widespread property damage. California's governor has declared a state of emergency. While JPL itself remains undamaged, many staff have evacuated their homes, with some reporting significant losses. The disaster highlights the severity of climate change and raises concerns about the safety of invaluable scientific data and equipment.

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(www.theregister.com)
Tech wildfires California

Microsoft Ends OneDrive's Unlicensed Free Ride

2025-01-08
Microsoft Ends OneDrive's Unlicensed Free Ride

Microsoft is closing a loophole that allowed users to store data for free in unlicensed OneDrive accounts. Starting January 27th, 2025, accounts unlicensed for over 93 days will have their data moved to the recycle bin or archived. Data remains in the recycle bin for 93 days before permanent deletion. Organizations needing to reactivate accounts face a $0.60/GB reactivation fee and a $0.05/GB monthly fee. This move addresses security and compliance concerns.

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(www.theregister.com)
Tech Cloud Storage

Akamai Exits China's CDN Market

2025-01-08
Akamai Exits China's CDN Market

Akamai announced it will cease offering CDN services in mainland China on June 30, 2026. This isn't due to operational difficulties in China, but rather a strategic shift towards cloud computing and security services, which now account for two-thirds of its revenue. Akamai is recommending its Chinese customers migrate to CDN services offered by Chinese companies like Tencent Cloud and Wangsu Science & Technology, offering support for the transition. This move reflects a shift in Akamai's approach to the Chinese market and highlights the challenges and opportunities faced by global tech companies operating within China.

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(www.theregister.com)
Tech China Market

China's Xiangshan RISC-V Project Aims for 2025 Launch, Challenging Arm's Dominance

2025-01-08
China's Xiangshan RISC-V Project Aims for 2025 Launch, Challenging Arm's Dominance

The Xiangshan project, spearheaded by the Institute of Computing Technology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, aims to develop high-performance chips using the open-source RISC-V instruction set architecture. Its third-generation chip, Kunminghu, is slated for a 2025 release, targeting performance comparable to Arm's Neoverse 2. Using the Mulan PSL-2.0 license, the designs will be fully open-source, posing a significant challenge to established players like Arm and reducing China's reliance on foreign technology. While the project has faced delays, its open-source nature and ambitious performance goals make it a compelling development to watch.

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(www.theregister.com)
Tech Xiangshan Project Chip

DEF CON Security Chief Faces Massive Medical Bills After Neck Injury

2025-01-08
DEF CON Security Chief Faces Massive Medical Bills After Neck Injury

Marc Rogers, DEF CON's head of security, is facing tens of thousands of dollars in medical bills after a neck injury left him temporarily quadriplegic. Initially experiencing minor symptoms, delayed MRI scans due to insurance issues worsened his condition. He underwent emergency surgery and is now recovering. Despite the substantial medical costs, he's partially regained function and continues his cybersecurity work. Friends have launched a fundraiser to help cover the expenses.

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(www.theregister.com)
Tech medical emergency fundraiser

Google's 10-Year Chromebook Update Promise: Older Devices Still Facing the Scrap Heap

2025-01-06
Google's 10-Year Chromebook Update Promise: Older Devices Still Facing the Scrap Heap

Despite Google's 2023 promise of a decade of updates for Chromebooks to prevent premature obsolescence, many older models are still set to reach their end-of-life in 2025 and beyond. This promise only applies to Chromebooks released from 2021 onwards. While administrators can opt-in to extended updates for some older devices, this doesn't solve the problem entirely. The Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) points out that many Chromebook models are still reaching their end-of-life this year and in the coming years, raising concerns about e-waste and consumer rights.

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(www.theregister.com)
Tech software updates

OS/2's Demise: How IBM's Commitment Shaped Modern Software

2025-01-06
OS/2's Demise: How IBM's Commitment Shaped Modern Software

A retrospective on a 1995 Usenet post by Gordon Letwin, Microsoft's lead architect on the OS/2 project, reveals the true reason for OS/2's failure. It wasn't the lack of native applications, but IBM's commitment to designing OS/2 for 286 machines already sold, missing the opportunity to embrace the 386 processor and its potential. This allowed Windows 3.0 to rise and dominate the market. The article argues that IBM's adherence to customer promises, while seemingly responsible, ultimately led to OS/2's downfall and profoundly impacted the direction of modern software, such as the ever-increasing size of programs.

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(www.theregister.com)
Tech

US Net Neutrality Rules Struck Down Again

2025-01-05
US Net Neutrality Rules Struck Down Again

A US appeals court has dealt another blow to net neutrality, overturning the FCC's latest attempt to reinstate the rules. The 6th Circuit Court of Appeals cited the Supreme Court's Loper Bright decision, arguing the FCC lacked the authority to reclassify internet service providers as common carriers. This decision, based on a Supreme Court ruling limiting agencies' power to interpret laws, effectively kills the FCC's April order. The long-running battle over net neutrality continues, with FCC Chairwoman Rosenworcel calling for Congressional action to codify open internet principles into federal law.

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(www.theregister.com)
Tech court ruling

Microsoft's Windows 11 24H2 Update Breaks Scanners

2025-01-04
Microsoft's Windows 11 24H2 Update Breaks Scanners

Microsoft's latest Windows 11 24H2 update has rendered many users' scanners unusable. Despite Microsoft claiming to have fixed an issue with the eSCL scan protocol, numerous Canon users are still experiencing problems, with their multifunction devices failing to scan properly on Windows 11 unless connected via wired Ethernet. Canon has confirmed the issue and says Microsoft is working on a fix, expected in January 2025. Affected users can use the built-in Windows Fax and Scan app as a workaround. This highlights the compatibility challenges that can arise from major OS updates.

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(www.theregister.com)
Tech Scanner Issues Compatibility Problems

IBM and GlobalFoundries Settle Multibillion-Dollar Lawsuits

2025-01-03
IBM and GlobalFoundries Settle Multibillion-Dollar Lawsuits

IBM and GlobalFoundries have settled all their ongoing litigation, encompassing breach of contract, patent, and trade secret disputes. Details of the confidential settlement remain undisclosed, but both companies stated it opens the door for future collaboration. The dispute, initiated by IBM in 2021, stemmed from a $1.5 billion chip manufacturing agreement and accusations by GlobalFoundries of IBM's unlawful disclosure of trade secrets. This resolution clears the path for future projects, particularly IBM's collaboration with Rapidus on 2nm chip technology.

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(www.theregister.com)
Tech GlobalFoundries

Apple Secretly Enables AI Photo Analysis, Sparking Privacy Concerns

2025-01-03
Apple Secretly Enables AI Photo Analysis, Sparking Privacy Concerns

Apple silently enabled a feature called "Enhanced Visual Search" in iOS 18.1 and macOS 15.1, which analyzes photos for landmarks without explicit user consent. While Apple claims to use homomorphic encryption and differential privacy to protect user privacy, the lack of transparency and opt-in choice has sparked concern. Developers criticize Apple's lack of explanation and user notification, arguing the approach is even more intrusive than its abandoned CSAM scanning plan. Although no evidence suggests Apple violated its privacy statements, the lack of communication is the core of user discontent.

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(www.theregister.com)
Tech

Windows 10 Remains Dominant Despite Impending Support End

2025-01-03
Windows 10 Remains Dominant Despite Impending Support End

With only 10 months until support for Windows 10 ends, its market share has surprisingly risen to 62.7%, while Windows 11 lags behind at 34.12%. Statcounter data reveals that many users, after trying Windows 11, reverted back to Windows 10. Enterprises and government institutions are also sticking with Windows 10 due to compatibility issues and stability concerns. Windows 11's hardware requirements and the prevalence of pre-installed Windows 10 devices contribute to this trend. Microsoft appears to have yet to find a solution, and the promotion of Windows 11 still faces significant challenges.

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(www.theregister.com)
Tech

SvarDOS: DR-DOS Reborn as an Open Source OS

2025-01-02
SvarDOS: DR-DOS Reborn as an Open Source OS

SvarDOS, an open-source operating system based on DR-DOS, recently transitioned from being a FreeDOS distribution to having its own EDRDOS kernel. It can run on 8086 or 8088 PCs and boasts a network-capable package manager. While the default install is incredibly small, its robust repository contains over 400 packages, including network drivers, editors, and games. SvarDOS requires more manual configuration than FreeDOS, but its powerful features and online update mechanism make it a noteworthy retro OS.

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(www.theregister.com)
Development open source OS

Salt Typhoon: Major US Telecoms Confirm Chinese Government-Backed Hacks

2024-12-31
Salt Typhoon: Major US Telecoms Confirm Chinese Government-Backed Hacks

AT&T, Verizon, and Lumen Technologies have confirmed that their systems were compromised earlier this year by the Chinese government-backed Salt Typhoon hacking group. A White House official called the intrusion the "worst telecom hack in our nation's history," enabling the hackers to geolocate millions of individuals and record phone calls at will. While the companies claim a limited number of customers were affected and that the attacks have been contained, the incident highlights significant security vulnerabilities in US telecom networks. This has prompted the government to strengthen cybersecurity oversight and push for stricter standards.

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(www.theregister.com)
Tech nation-state attack telecom security

AI-Generated Bug Reports Flood Open Source Projects

2024-12-24
AI-Generated Bug Reports Flood Open Source Projects

Open source maintainers are drowning in low-quality bug reports generated by AI. These reports often waste valuable time and resources, as AI systems currently lack the ability to understand code and frequently produce false or even malicious reports. Seth Larson of the Python Software Foundation and Daniel Stenberg of the Curl project have both highlighted the issue, emphasizing the strain on volunteer maintainers and the risk of overlooking genuine vulnerabilities. The problem necessitates a community-wide effort to improve funding, enhance efficiency, and develop better filtering mechanisms to identify and handle AI-generated junk reports.

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(www.theregister.com)
Development Bug Reports

Interpol Drops 'Pig Butchering' Term

2024-12-18
Interpol Drops 'Pig Butchering' Term

Interpol announced it will no longer use the term "pig butchering" to describe online scams, citing its potential to shame and discourage victims from reporting. The organization believes the term dehumanizes victims and prefers "romance baiting," a term it believes is more sensitive and respectful. This change highlights a shift towards prioritizing victim support and emphasizes the need for more considerate language when discussing sensitive crimes. However, many US law enforcement agencies continue to use the original term.

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(www.theregister.com)
Tech online scams Interpol victim support

Mystery Drone Sightings Continue to Plague US East Coast

2024-12-18
Mystery Drone Sightings Continue to Plague US East Coast

A wave of mysterious drone sightings is causing widespread concern and airspace closures along the US East Coast. These SUV-sized drones have been reported near military bases and airports in New Jersey and New York, disrupting air travel. While federal agencies are investigating, explanations remain elusive, with speculation ranging from political conspiracies to other unknown causes. The ongoing mystery fuels public anxiety and calls for swift resolution to prevent further disruptions and potential threats.

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(www.theregister.com)
Misc drones US East Coast airspace closures

Perplexity Overtakes Google as the Top Search Engine

2024-12-16
Perplexity Overtakes Google as the Top Search Engine

A veteran tech columnist recounts the evolution of search engines, from early pioneers like AltaVista to Google's dominance, and now the rise of AI-powered search. The article argues that Google's over-reliance on ads has degraded search quality, while Perplexity, with its AI-driven approach, provision of source links, and focus on user experience, has emerged as a superior alternative. While acknowledging the imperfections of AI answers, the author highlights Perplexity's verifiable sources as a key differentiator, delivering more accurate and reliable search results. Google's future is uncertain, and its ability to regain its former glory remains to be seen.

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(www.theregister.com)
AI AI search engine

Coder's Million-Dollar Mistake: A Bug with a Dramatic Twist

2024-12-16
Coder's Million-Dollar Mistake: A Bug with a Dramatic Twist

Trey, a programmer working for a 3G telecom startup, wrote an automated payment testing program intended for small test transactions. Three bugs in the code, however, caused the program to credit his test account with $100 every five minutes. A lack of liveness check meant that when one gateway failed, the program continued running for hours, accumulating a substantial sum. The next morning, Trey faced questioning from the security team until his department head explained the situation, but the test account balance was reset to zero.

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(www.theregister.com)
Development programmer error automated payments
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