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$1.5 Billion Crypto Heist: North Korea's audacious theft

2025-02-26
$1.5 Billion Crypto Heist: North Korea's audacious theft

Dubai-based exchange Bybit suffered the largest-ever cryptocurrency heist, losing $1.5 billion in over 400,000 Ethereum and staked Ethereum. Hackers exploited a vulnerability in a 'multisig cold wallet,' transferring the cryptocurrency to a hot wallet and then to wallets under their control. Blockchain analysis firm Elliptic and others linked the attack to North Korean threat actors, consistent with their history of using cryptocurrency theft to fund weapons programs. The incident highlights the vulnerability of even multisig cold wallets, underscoring the ongoing need for enhanced cryptocurrency security.

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(arstechnica.com)
Tech

Framework's First All-in-One Mini PC: Powerful, But Not Upgradable

2025-02-25
Framework's First All-in-One Mini PC: Powerful, But Not Upgradable

Framework has launched its first all-in-one mini PC, boasting a compact 4.5-liter chassis, comparable to a game console. Powered by Ryzen AI Max processors and starting with 32GB of RAM, it's capable of 1440p gaming and workstation tasks. Pricing starts at $1099, topping out at $1999 for the highest configuration. While offering strong performance at a relatively competitive price, its soldered CPU, GPU, and RAM make it non-upgradeable – a significant departure from Framework's usual modular design philosophy.

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(arstechnica.com)
Hardware mini PC

Court Halts Access to Sensitive Data After Unions Sue Over Privacy Breach

2025-02-25
Court Halts Access to Sensitive Data After Unions Sue Over Privacy Breach

A US judge has ordered a halt to access of sensitive personal data after unions representing millions of teachers and nurses sued the government. The lawsuit alleges that six Department of Education (and Office of Personnel Management) employees with ties to a group called DOGE had unauthorized access to highly sensitive information, including Social Security numbers, addresses, and financial details. The judge ruled that the government failed to demonstrate a legitimate 'need-to-know' for such broad access, citing a lack of precedent and violation of data privacy regulations. This highlights significant vulnerabilities in government data security and raises concerns about the protection of personal information.

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(arstechnica.com)
Tech

Rust in the Linux Kernel: Slow Progress, Heated Debate

2025-02-24
Rust in the Linux Kernel: Slow Progress, Heated Debate

Rust's integration into the Linux kernel, while initially promising, has faced significant headwinds. Despite Linus Torvalds' approval in 2022, progress has been slow due to resistance from veteran kernel developers hesitant to learn a new language and non-technical hurdles. Recently, the resignation of Hector Martin, lead of the Asahi Linux project, over obstacles to Rust implementation ignited intense debate. While Torvalds acknowledges Rust's potential, he emphasizes that adoption won't be forced, suggesting a nuanced solution is in the works.

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(arstechnica.com)
Development

SpaceX Starship Set for Another Launch Attempt After January Explosion

2025-02-24
SpaceX Starship Set for Another Launch Attempt After January Explosion

A month after a spectacular explosion during its first test flight, SpaceX is preparing Starship for another launch attempt. The FAA announced a launch window between February 26th and 28th from Starbase in South Texas. While the January 16th launch saw the first stage land successfully, the upper stage experienced engine failure and broke apart, scattering debris across the Caribbean. Despite this setback and the ongoing FAA investigation into the incident, SpaceX is pressing ahead, aiming to get the Starship program back on track.

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(arstechnica.com)
Tech

Twitch's 100-Hour Highlight Limit Sparks Outrage: Erasing Gaming History?

2025-02-22
Twitch's 100-Hour Highlight Limit Sparks Outrage: Erasing Gaming History?

Twitch announced a new 100-hour limit on archived highlight videos, sparking controversy among users. While Twitch claims only 0.5% of users will be affected, many gamers fear the move will erase significant portions of gaming history. Highlights allow streamers to showcase their best moments permanently, unlike full broadcasts which auto-delete after seven days (or 60 for partners). Twitch cites the cost of indefinite storage and aims to promote features like Clips and the mobile feed. However, users criticize the impact on shared gaming history, especially for speedrunners who use highlights to document world records and important moments, arguing the loss is incalculable.

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(arstechnica.com)
Game game streaming video archive

HP's 15-Minute Mandatory Wait Times for Tech Support Backfire Spectacularly

2025-02-21
HP's 15-Minute Mandatory Wait Times for Tech Support Backfire Spectacularly

HP implemented a controversial policy of forcing 15-minute wait times on tech support calls in several European countries. The goal was to push customers towards online self-service options. However, the policy backfired, causing significant customer frustration and internal backlash. After facing criticism, HP reversed the policy, admitting that timely access to live support was paramount. The incident highlights a disconnect between management decisions and the impact on both customers and employees.

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(arstechnica.com)
Tech tech support

Meta Denies Sharing Pirated Books for AI Training

2025-02-21
Meta Denies Sharing Pirated Books for AI Training

Meta claims it didn't seed a torrent of pirated books used for AI training, despite admitting to downloading it. In a court filing, Meta stated it took precautions to avoid seeding the downloaded files, arguing authors can't prove distribution occurred during the torrenting process. While admitting to downloading the dataset from sources like LibGen and Z-Library, Meta contends downloading itself isn't illegal, merely accessing publicly available data. This case involves copyright infringement claims, with authors alleging Meta engaged in large-scale data piracy and violated California's Computer Data Access and Fraud Act (CDAFA).

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(arstechnica.com)
Tech

Amazon Shuts Down Appstore for Phones, Leaving Fire Devices in the Dust

2025-02-20
Amazon Shuts Down Appstore for Phones, Leaving Fire Devices in the Dust

Amazon announced it will shut down its Appstore for phones in 2024, a move potentially linked to the Google Android antitrust case. However, Amazon's Fire tablets and Fire TVs will continue using the Appstore. Amazon downplays the fact that Fire OS is based on Android, maintaining its distinct ecosystem. While developers might be disappointed, the impact is minimal given the Appstore's minuscule phone user base. The move highlights the limited success of Amazon's attempt to compete directly with Google in the mobile app market.

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(arstechnica.com)
Tech

Musk Calls for ISS Deorbiting 'As Soon As Possible'

2025-02-20
Musk Calls for ISS Deorbiting 'As Soon As Possible'

Elon Musk, SpaceX founder, advocated for the International Space Station's deorbiting 'as soon as possible.' He tweeted that the ISS has served its purpose, offering diminishing returns, and resources should be redirected to Mars exploration. While NASA contracted SpaceX to deorbit the station safely into the Pacific in 2030, Musk proposed an accelerated timeline, aiming for early 2027. This sparked debate, encompassing political and budgetary complexities, as congressional approval is needed to fund the deorbiting process.

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(arstechnica.com)
Tech

Microsoft Shows Real-Time AI Game Generation Prototype: WHAM

2025-02-19
Microsoft Shows Real-Time AI Game Generation Prototype: WHAM

Microsoft showcased a prototype real-time AI video generation tool called WHAM. This tool instantly generates game footage based on user input, allowing scene transitions by simply feeding new sample frames. While currently limited to a very low resolution (300x180) and frame rate (10fps), with noticeable distortions, it represents a significant step towards AI-generated interactive experiences. Microsoft envisions a future where AI can create high-quality interactive games on the fly.

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(arstechnica.com)
Game AI gaming real-time generation

Exoplanet Tylos: A Lava Planet Defying Our Understanding of Weather

2025-02-19
Exoplanet Tylos: A Lava Planet Defying Our Understanding of Weather

Astronomers using the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope have conducted in-depth research on an exoplanet named Tylos (WASP-121b). Located 900 light-years from Earth, this planet has a 30-hour orbital period, with one side perpetually scorching and the other perpetually dark. By analyzing its atmospheric iron, sodium, and hydrogen elements, researchers discovered an unprecedented phenomenon: a high-speed jet stream at the equator, alongside a lower atmospheric flow transporting gas from the hot side to the cold side. This bizarre climate pattern challenges our understanding of planetary weather systems and reads like something out of science fiction.

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(arstechnica.com)
Tech atmospheric circulation

NASA Halts Layoffs: New Administrator Nominee Behind the Scenes?

2025-02-19
NASA Halts Layoffs: New Administrator Nominee Behind the Scenes?

NASA has temporarily halted its planned layoffs, with the reason remaining unclear. Sources suggest this might be linked to President Trump's nominee for NASA administrator, private astronaut Jared Isaacman. Isaacman may want more control over NASA's cuts, avoiding the blunt approach of firing all probationary employees, which could impact key positions and high-performing individuals. While the layoffs are paused, NASA still faces potential significant budget and staff reductions in the coming months, requiring negotiations with Congress.

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(arstechnica.com)
Tech Isaacman

Trump Admin Slashes NASA Workforce: Significant Cuts Hit Space Agency

2025-02-18
Trump Admin Slashes NASA Workforce: Significant Cuts Hit Space Agency

In just four weeks, the Trump administration has cut NASA's workforce by approximately 10%, impacting nearly 1800 employees. Around 750 accepted a deferred resignation offer, while roughly 1000 probationary employees were terminated. However, further significant cuts are anticipated. NASA field center directors have been instructed to prepare for substantial reductions in force in the coming months. This casts a pall of uncertainty over already demoralized staff and signals the Trump administration's intention to implement deeper budget cuts, potentially jeopardizing the future of American space exploration.

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(arstechnica.com)
Tech job cuts

X (formerly Twitter) Appears to Block Links to Signal

2025-02-18
X (formerly Twitter) Appears to Block Links to Signal

X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, is reportedly blocking links to the encrypted messaging app Signal, according to journalist Matt Binder and other users. Links to Signal.me, a domain for directly connecting with Signal users, are blocked on posts, DMs, and profiles, resulting in error messages. While links to Signal handles and the main Signal website remain functional, previously posted Signal.me links now display a warning. This move has sparked speculation about X's reasons for restricting Signal.

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(arstechnica.com)
Tech

Reddit Moderators Battle Generative AI Spam: A Time-Wasting War

2025-02-17
Reddit Moderators Battle Generative AI Spam: A Time-Wasting War

Reddit moderators are grappling with a surge of generative AI-produced spam, filled with irrelevant posts and attacks on users. While some moderators acknowledge AI's potential for novel content, many find the low-quality output and difficulty in distinguishing AI-generated content from human-generated content overwhelming. The biggest issue, however, isn't the content itself but the significant time investment required for moderation. This time drain, spent identifying AI-generated posts, responding to AI evangelists, and handling appeals, diverts resources from other community-building activities. Moderators describe battling AI enthusiasts as a constant struggle.

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(arstechnica.com)
Development Reddit Moderation Spam

Diablo Speedrun Champion Exposed as Cheater

2025-02-15
Diablo Speedrun Champion Exposed as Cheater

Maciej "Groobo" Maselewski reigned supreme in Diablo speedrunning for years, his 3-minute, 12-second Sorceror run seemingly unbeatable. However, a team of speedrunners, attempting to replicate his seemingly lucky dungeon runs using external software, uncovered inconsistencies. An automated search through billions of legitimate Diablo dungeons proved Groobo's run impossible within the game's legitimate parameters. This revelation sparked controversy within the speedrunning community, exposing years of unearned praise and accolades based on fraudulent gameplay.

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(arstechnica.com)
Game game cheating speedrun diablo

Musk's DOGE Website: Anyone Can Edit the Database!

2025-02-14
Musk's DOGE Website: Anyone Can Edit the Database!

Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) website has revealed a major security flaw. Reports indicate the site's database is open for anyone to edit, allowing developers to easily alter website content, leaving messages like, "This is a joke of a .gov site." The site appears to run on Cloudflare Pages, not government servers, raising serious concerns about database security. This incident follows Musk's claim of DOGE's commitment to transparency, highlighting his team's negligence of security measures during website construction. Federal employees are worried about sensitive data leaks, particularly after previous criticism of DOGE's use of personal emails, exposing further chaos and inadequacy in security management.

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(arstechnica.com)
Tech Government Website

Reddit to Introduce Paywall for Exclusive Subreddits

2025-02-14
Reddit to Introduce Paywall for Exclusive Subreddits

Reddit CEO Steve Huffman announced plans to introduce a paywall this year, focusing initially on new subreddits offering exclusive content accessible only to paying members. The company is exploring compensation models for content creators, potentially leveraging the existing Reddit Contributor Program which rewards users for contributions. While paid content is coming, Huffman assures that free Reddit will continue to exist and thrive. A key challenge lies in balancing paid and free content, and incentivizing volunteer moderators to manage paid subreddits.

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(arstechnica.com)
Tech content monetization

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.

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(arstechnica.com)
Tech parasite infection medical case travel health

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.

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(arstechnica.com)
Tech

Apple Finally Lets You Migrate Purchases Between Accounts

2025-02-12
Apple Finally Lets You Migrate Purchases Between Accounts

Apple released a new support document detailing how users can migrate their movie, music, and app purchases from older iTools/.Mac/MobileMe/iTunes accounts to their primary Apple ID. This long-awaited feature addresses the fragmentation of accounts that many long-time users have experienced. The migration process takes place on an iPhone or iPad within the Settings app, under 'Media & Purchases'. However, there are limitations: only one migration per year is allowed, child accounts and Family Sharing are not supported, and the feature is unavailable in the EU, UK, and India.

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(arstechnica.com)
Tech account migration content migration

US Warns Against AI Deals with Authoritarian Regimes, Exacerbating Tensions with Allies

2025-02-12
US Warns Against AI Deals with Authoritarian Regimes, Exacerbating Tensions with Allies

US Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves delivered a strong message at an AI summit, cautioning countries against AI deals with "authoritarian regimes" and asserting the US's unwavering leadership in AI. This contrasted sharply with a jointly signed declaration advocating international cooperation, prompting concerns from participating nations about US unilateralism. These nations expressed disagreement with US terminology regarding multilateralism and international collaboration, and voiced suspicion over a French-initiated AI fund. This move is interpreted as a US response to European and other nations' attempts to challenge its dominance in AI, sparking debate over the future of global AI governance.

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(arstechnica.com)
Tech

Chrome's AI-Powered Password Savior: Auto-Replacing Compromised Credentials

2025-02-11
Chrome's AI-Powered Password Savior: Auto-Replacing Compromised Credentials

A new AI feature in Chrome Canary automatically replaces passwords compromised in data breaches. When Chrome detects a leaked password, it offers to generate and store a stronger replacement upon login. This simplifies password management and enhances security, with passwords encrypted within Google's Password Manager. The feature is currently experimental and requires enabling specific flags in Chrome's settings.

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(arstechnica.com)
Tech

Boeing Prepares for Potential SLS Program Cancellation, 400 Layoffs Looming

2025-02-09
Boeing Prepares for Potential SLS Program Cancellation, 400 Layoffs Looming

Boeing, the primary contractor for NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, is bracing for the potential cancellation of the program. The company informed roughly 800 employees working on SLS that contracts could end in March, with approximately 400 layoffs anticipated by April 2025. This move comes ahead of President Trump's anticipated FY2026 budget proposal, which may include cuts to the SLS program. Internal debate within the White House and NASA leadership regarding the future of SLS and the Artemis program is ongoing, with some advocating for its outright cancellation.

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(arstechnica.com)
Tech SLS rocket

DeepSeek App's Security Flaws Spark US Government Concerns, Potential Ban Looms

2025-02-08
DeepSeek App's Security Flaws Spark US Government Concerns, Potential Ban Looms

A mobile app called DeepSeek is facing potential government ban in the US due to security vulnerabilities. Security experts discovered the app bypasses Apple's App Transport Security (ATS), using insecure HTTP protocols for communication, potentially exposing sensitive data to the Chinese government. Experts warn that even with encrypted communication, sending sensitive data to servers in China remains risky. US lawmakers are pushing for a 60-day ban on DeepSeek from government devices due to national security concerns that the Chinese Communist Party may have created a backdoor for accessing Americans' private data.

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(arstechnica.com)
Tech Chinese Company

Donkey Kong's Broken Ladder Glitch: Luck and Skill Combine for a New Kill Screen

2025-02-08
Donkey Kong's Broken Ladder Glitch: Luck and Skill Combine for a New Kill Screen

The 'broken ladder' glitch in the classic arcade game Donkey Kong, long thought impossible to exploit, has been conquered. Player Kosmic, using an emulator and a hefty dose of luck, utilized the glitch to not only complete the game but discover a new, true kill screen at level 22-6. The glitch exploits a random delay in Donkey Kong's barrel throwing, giving Mario precious extra frames. This achievement highlights the game's intricate mechanics and underscores the crucial role of both skill and chance in overcoming seemingly insurmountable challenges.

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(arstechnica.com)
Game game glitch luck

Quantum Teleportation Breakthrough: 70% Fidelity Achieved for Quantum Gate Operations

2025-02-08
Quantum Teleportation Breakthrough: 70% Fidelity Achieved for Quantum Gate Operations

Researchers successfully teleported quantum gates using photons, achieving a fidelity of 70%. The experiment relied on a controlled-Z gate operation, serving as a building block for other two-qubit gates. While fidelity was limited by local operations rather than the teleportation process itself, the researchers believe that using commercial hardware with lower error rates would dramatically improve performance. Furthermore, they successfully executed Grover's algorithm using this method, further validating the technology's potential. This research is hardware-agnostic and promises to advance the construction of large-scale fault-tolerant quantum networks.

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(arstechnica.com)
Tech quantum gates

Football Manager 2024 Skips a Season: A Surprisingly Smart Move

2025-02-07
Football Manager 2024 Skips a Season: A Surprisingly Smart Move

Football Manager 2024 has been delayed, foregoing an update with the new season's player data and issuing refunds to pre-order customers. While disappointing for fans eager for updated rosters, this decision showcases Sports Interactive's boldness and long-term vision. Annual sports game releases are often criticized for their lack of innovation and prevalence of microtransactions. Football Manager's delay represents a thoughtful departure from this trend, prioritizing quality over rushed deadlines. This unexpected move could signal a refreshing change in the sports game landscape, promising future improvements and innovation.

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(arstechnica.com)
Game sports game football manager
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