Webtagr - Technology News Summarizer

Interpol Drops 'Pig Butchering' Term

2024-12-18

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.

(www.theregister.com)

Tech online scams Interpol victim support

Mystery Drone Sightings Continue to Plague US East Coast

2024-12-18

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.

(www.theregister.com)

Misc drones US East Coast airspace closures

Perplexity Overtakes Google as the Top Search Engine

2024-12-16

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.

(www.theregister.com)

AI AI search engine

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

2024-12-16

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.

(www.theregister.com)

Development programmer error automated payments