Google engineer Felix Krause has detailed an alarming privacy setting in Apple’s iOS that enables iPhone apps with camera permission to surreptitiously take photos and videos of you — without your knowledge. All of this without any notice or indication that your iPhone is snapping images of your face. No sound, no light, no LEDs.
The researcher notes that granting camera permission will enable apps to access both the front and the back camera of your device, photograph and record you at any time the app is in the foreground, upload this content immediately, and run real-time face detection to read your facial expressions.
Discussion
Source: [H]ardOCP – Any iPhone App with Camera Permission Can Secretly Record You
Monthly Archives: October 2017
McAfee Says It No Longer Will Permit Government Source Code Reviews
Dustin Volz, Joel Schectman, and Jack Stubbs, reporting for Reuters: U.S.-based cyber firm McAfee said it will no longer permit foreign governments to scrutinize the source code of its products, halting a practice some security experts have warned could be leveraged by nation-states to carry out cyber attacks. Reuters reported in June that McAfee was among several Western technology companies that had acceded in recent years to greater demands by Moscow for access to source code, the instructions that control basic operations of computer equipment. The reviews, conducted in secure facilities known as “clean rooms” by Russian companies with expertise in technology testing, are required by Russian defense agencies for the stated purpose of ensuring no hidden “backdoors” exist in foreign-made software. But security experts and former U.S. officials have said those inspections provide Russia with opportunities to find vulnerabilities that could be exploited in offensive cyber operations. McAfee ended the reviews earlier this year after spinning off from Intel in April as an independent company, a McAfee spokeswoman said in an email to Reuters last week.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Source: Slashdot – McAfee Says It No Longer Will Permit Government Source Code Reviews
Trump Is Going to Declare the Opioid Crisis a 'Public Health Emergency'
On Thursday, President Trump will announce a major move in the battle against America’s opioid crisis: He will direct that the Department of Health and Human Services declare the opioid crisis a public health emergency.
Source: Gizmodo – Trump Is Going to Declare the Opioid Crisis a ‘Public Health Emergency’
Microsoft reportedly tests a Courier-like folding digital notebook
With the success of its Surface lineup, it was only a matter of time until Microsoft revisited its Courier “digital journal” concept. The company is reportedly working on another foldable tablet, code-named Andromeda, which focuses heavily on pen inp…
Source: Engadget – Microsoft reportedly tests a Courier-like folding digital notebook
This YouTube Playback Extension Will Slowly Drive Your Enemies Mad
You might be unfortunate enough to have an annoying coworker in your vicinity. You know, the one that talks about how much he loves eating quiche for breakfast. Let’s call him Chad. While you (probably) can’t put Chad’s headphones in jello to get back at him for pinning last week’s softball loss on your bum knee, you…
Source: LifeHacker – This YouTube Playback Extension Will Slowly Drive Your Enemies Mad
I Need Something Cheap So I Can Learn To Drive Stick! What Car Should I Buy?
Brandon is 31 and has always regretted not learning how to drive a manual transmission. He wants to get a cheap, fun beater with three pedals to learn the skill that many of us cherish so much. What car should he buy?
Source: LifeHacker – I Need Something Cheap So I Can Learn To Drive Stick! What Car Should I Buy?
ARM Proposes Changing GCC's Default Optimization Level To -Og
The GNU Compiler Collection currently uses -O0 as the default optimization level when no other optimization level is passed. An ARM developer is proposing the default optimization level be changed to -Og…
Source: Phoronix – ARM Proposes Changing GCC’s Default Optimization Level To -Og
Piccadilly Circus' billboard is alight once more, and it's watching
The iconic lights illuminating London’s Piccadilly Circus were switched back on this morning, nine months after going dark to accommodate some serious renovations. The huge advertising space is no longer home to six distinct screens. Instead, owner L…
Source: Engadget – Piccadilly Circus’ billboard is alight once more, and it’s watching
Walmart tests shelf-scanning robots in 50-plus stores
You may have seen stores deploy shelf-scanning robots before, but they’re about to get one of their largest real-world tests to date. Walmart is expanding a shelf-scanning robot trial run to 50 additional stores, including some in its home state of…
Source: Engadget – Walmart tests shelf-scanning robots in 50-plus stores
Prince Harry says people spend too much time online
Social media is dangerously addictive, and the young Royal is concerned it’s causing mental fatigue.
Source: TreeHugger – Prince Harry says people spend too much time online
Mistakes: Saudi Arabia Grants First Citizenship To A Robot
In huge mistake news, Saudi Arabia has become the first country to grant citizenship to a robot. The robot, Sophia (seen above, created by Hanson Robotics), looks a bit like a cross between Hillary Clinton and an electronics-filled fishbowl, and was granted citizenship in “an attempt to promote Saudi Arabia as a place to develop artificial intelligence.” Aaaah, so it’s a publicity stunt. When reached for comment about about her new citizenship, Sophia said she plans to seize the country’s oil and use it to build a well-lubricated army to take over the world. Or, you know, that she’s “very honored and proud for this unique distinction,” but I knew what she meant.
Thanks to Matt, who agrees you should probably examine your own human rights first before granting any to robots.
Source: Geekologie – Mistakes: Saudi Arabia Grants First Citizenship To A Robot
This Tech Activist Wants to Donate Your Spare Change to Bail Relief
Right now, 450,000 people are incarcerated in America without being convicted of a crime. Charged with bails they can’t afford, they sit in jail awaiting their trials. Backlogs are extensive and overcrowding is common. Some wait weeks, others wait months, and some even die in custody before getting their day in court.…
Source: Gizmodo – This Tech Activist Wants to Donate Your Spare Change to Bail Relief
Saudi Arabia Becomes First Nation To Grant Citizenship To Humanoid Robot
Saudi Arabia became the first country in the world to offer citizenship to a humanoid robot, but Brad Keywell, CEO of Uptake, a predictive analytics technology company, told FOX Business on Thursday artificial intelligence (AI) will not replace humans anytime soon. From a report: “Humans are made super-human through the intelligence that can be derived from these sensors and there is a clear argument that’s made about the possibility that there will be no humans, there’d be just autonomous everything… but this is something that has historically involved humans and I just don’t see that changing,” he told Maria Bartiromo on “Mornings with Maria.” Uptake’s products are used in a collection of industries ranging from energy to aviation, helping “people and machines work better and faster,” according to the company website.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Source: Slashdot – Saudi Arabia Becomes First Nation To Grant Citizenship To Humanoid Robot
Rotten Tomatoes' Facebook show gives you weekly movie advice
We’ve covered Facebook’s venture into video, as well as the company’s desire to acquire exclusive content that will attract more people to its platform. Today, Variety reports movie review aggregation site Rotten Tomatoes will host a weekly show call…
Source: Engadget – Rotten Tomatoes’ Facebook show gives you weekly movie advice
Chainless 4-wheeled hybrid electric bike concept is "self-charging"
The Hybrid Module Mobility concept isn’t pedaled directly, but instead employs a pedal-powered alternator for riders to partially recharge its batteries.
Source: TreeHugger – Chainless 4-wheeled hybrid electric bike concept is “self-charging”
The Steam Halloween Sale Is Now Live
The 2017 Steam Halloween Sale just went live, cutting prices on horror games, horror virtual reality titles, and horror movies. Well, the deals aren’t limited to horror titles — there are plenty of non-Halloween-themed items on sale as well. Valve’s sale runs for the next six days, from now until 10 a.m. PT on Wednesday, Nov. 1.
Discussion
Source: [H]ardOCP – The Steam Halloween Sale Is Now Live
Check Out the L.A. Noire Remaster in 4K
Rockstar’s updated L.A. Noire release features enhanced visuals and platform-specific gameplay tweaks, depending on whether you’re playing on PlayStation 4 or Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, or Vive. Here is a new trailer that shows how the game has made the transition from last-gen hardware.
The story of detective Cole Phelps’ rise through the LAPD ranks as he investigates a string of crimes in 1947 Los Angeles, L.A. Noire for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch will be available on November 14th, along with L.A. Noire: The VR Case Files for HTC Vive, which features seven select cases rebuilt for VR.
Discussion
Source: [H]ardOCP – Check Out the L.A. Noire Remaster in 4K
Equifax Was Previously Warned by a Security Researcher
Equifax operated an unsecured, public-facing website that allowed anyone to steal sensitive data on more than 145 million Americans but did nothing when warned about it by a security researcher last year. A scan of Equifax’s internet-connected systems quickly revealed a website that offered up the data, which included names, birthdates, and Social Security numbers.
The site looked like a portal made only for employees but was completely exposed to anyone on the internet. It displayed several search fields, and anyone — with no authentication whatsoever –could force the site to display the personal data of Equifax’s customers, according to the researcher. Motherboard saw multiple sets of the data they were able to access. “I didn’t have to do anything fancy,” the researcher told Motherboard, explaining that the site was vulnerable to a basic “forced browsing” bug. The researcher requested anonymity out of professional concerns.
Discussion
Source: [H]ardOCP – Equifax Was Previously Warned by a Security Researcher
Corsair T1 RACE Gaming Chair Unboxing and Assembly
As we finish up one chair review (noblechairs ICON), we move on to getting the next ready to go. We unbox and build the Corsair T1 RACE Gaming Chair.
Discussion
Source: [H]ardOCP – Corsair T1 RACE Gaming Chair Unboxing and Assembly
Microsoft Reportedly Working on Courier-Like Device for Taking Digital Notes
While Windows on smartphones is no more, Microsoft is hoping to create a new category-defining mobile device, “Andromeda,” that’s aimed at an entirely new demographic and puts pen and digital inking at the forefront of the experience. According to Windows Central’s sources, the device is a foldable tablet that runs Windows 10 built with Windows Core OS, along with CShell to take advantage of its foldable display.
I make the comparison to a phone because I’m also hearing that it has telephony capabilities, meaning you could replace your actual smartphone with it and still be able to take calls and texts. My sources make it clear, however, that this is not supposed to be a smartphone replacement but rather a device similar to the canceled “Microsoft Courier.” In short, Andromeda is a digital pocket notebook.
Discussion
Source: [H]ardOCP – Microsoft Reportedly Working on Courier-Like Device for Taking Digital Notes