Introduction In a decisive move to protect the integrity of the web, Google has announced that its Chrome browser will no longer trust certificates issued by two specific Certificate Authorities (CAs). This action follows a pattern of questionable behavior and transparency violations by these authorities, leading to a loss of confidence in their ability to … Read more
Introduction Telemetry is the science and technology of automatically measuring and transmitting data from remote or inaccessible sources to receiving systems for monitoring, analysis, and decision-making. Originally developed for military and aerospace applications, telemetry has become integral to a wide range of technologies humans use daily. From smartphones to smartwatches, cars to medical devices, telemetry … Read more
Introduction Software does not usually age well. Most applications either evolve rapidly or disappear completely. CD2WAV32 is a rare exception. After sixteen years of silence, the once-popular CD ripping tool has returned with a new version that works on modern Windows systems. Version 4.00jp has been released by its original developer, Moroboshi Ramu, bringing the … Read more
The Internal Revenue Service has released the full source code for its Direct File tax filing system. The codebase is now hosted on GitHub under a government open license. This marks a major milestone in the development of federal public-interest software. The release supports both public inspection and independent replication of the software system. Direct … Read more
Cortical Labs, an Australian biotechnology firm, has begun selling what it calls the world’s first commercially available biocomputer. The product, called the CL1, is powered by live human neurons grown from reprogrammed adult cells. Each unit integrates 800,000 neurons with digital systems to process information in real time. The company positions the CL1 as a … Read more
The settlement ends litigation that sought to impose direct financial liability on Frontier for failing to disconnect internet users after receiving multiple infringement notices. The plaintiffs had demanded that the ISP permanently terminate subscribers flagged in repeat copyright violation notices sent under the framework of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. The case did not result … Read more
Meta and Yandex, two of the world’s most influential data-driven platforms, have been implicated in a tracking method that subverts core privacy protections in Android. The method, discovered by academic researchers from Radboud University, KU Leuven, and IMDEA Networks, relies on the exploitation of localhost communications. This technique enables installed apps to receive and correlate … Read more
India’s Ministry of Consumer Affairs has launched an enforcement campaign against dark patterns in digital commerce. Eleven companies, including Zepto, Rapido, Uber, and Ola, have received formal notices for violating interface design guidelines that undermine consumer autonomy. The ministry is enforcing the Guidelines for Prevention and Regulation of Dark Patterns, published in 2023, and has … Read more
AT&T has introduced a new mobile service plan that redefines the minimum age for its senior discount, setting it at 55 years old. This policy shift significantly broadens eligibility for reduced wireless rates and aligns AT&T more closely with market competitors who already offer similar age-based incentives. By expanding access to discounted services, AT&T addresses … Read more
Introduction The advent of generative artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots, such as ChatGPT, GPT-4, Bing, and Bard, has revolutionized human-computer interactions. These models, trained on extensive datasets, can generate human-like text, offering users assistance across various domains, including mental health. While these tools present opportunities for psychoeducation and support, concerns have emerged regarding their potential to … Read more
