While Facebook has sucked for a long time, its become much worse in the last year or so thanks to the rise of AI-generated slop that has completely taken over the site. And now, according to newly published data, it seems that one of those AI slop posts was the biggest thing on the site last month.
The United Kingdom issued a secret order requiring Apple to create a backdoor for government security officials to access encrypted data, The Washington Post reported today, citing people familiar with the matter.
UK security officials “demanded that Apple create a backdoor allowing them to retrieve all the content any Apple user worldwide has uploaded to the cloud,” the report said. “The British government’s undisclosed order, issued last month, requires blanket capability to view fully encrypted material, not merely assistance in cracking a specific account, and has no known precedent in major democracies.”
Apple and many privacy advocates have repeatedly criticized government demands for backdoors to encrypted systems, saying they would harm security and privacy for all users. Backdoors developed for government use would inevitably be exploited by criminal hackers and other governments, security experts have said.
Ever wondered why your computer has an IP address or why there’s such a heated debate about using IPv4 vs. IPv6? Well, let’s break it down because picking the correct IP address type can affect your home computer usage and your online business.
The post IPv4 vs. IPv6 – Which is Better? appeared first on Linux Today.
The hosts file is a text file in Linux that maps hostnames with IP addresses. It has priority over the DNS resolution, so it can be used for testing applications, development, and blocking websites. There is also a hosts file in other Operating Systems, such as Windows and MacOS. However, this tutorial will show how to edit your hosts file in Linux.
The post How to Edit your Hosts File in Linux appeared first on Linux Today.
Running large language models like DeepSeek locally on your machine is a powerful way to explore AI capabilities without relying on cloud services.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through installing DeepSeek using Ollama on Ubuntu 24.04 and setting up a Web UI for an interactive and user-friendly experience.
The post How to Install DeepSeek Locally with Ollama LLM in Ubuntu 24.04 appeared first on Linux Today.
The BPF verifier is charged with the
challenging task of ensuring that a BPF program is safe for the kernel to
run before that program is loaded. Among many other concerns, the verifier
must ensure that any kfuncs (kernel functions that have been exported to
BPF programs) are called with the correct parameters and from the right
context. The “context” part of that enforcement is showing its age in ways
that are hurting performance; Juntong Deng has been working on
infrastructure to provide finer-grained control over when a kfunc can be
called.
Discover a way to run a Windows 11 machine on a Docker container in your Linux system, such as Ubuntu, Debain, RedHat, Fedora, etc.
The post Run Windows 11 in a Docker Container (Access it via the Browser) appeared first on Linux Today.
The Linux /proc filesystem is a virtual filesystem that provides detailed real-time information about the system, including CPU, memory, processes, and network activity.
The post Understanding the Linux /proc Filesystem: A Beginners Guide appeared first on Linux Today.
If you look back at the creation of the PC in the 1980s, they were just desktop machines that sat in place. They were supposed to be portable but, for the most part, weren’t. Yes, we had PCs from gaming companies like Atari and Commadore, but other than some of us using them for schoolwork, they weren’t taken seriously. IBM PCs and their variants were heavy. The Panasonic I had weighed at a whopping 35 pounds. It came with a printer, and it cost me over $3K then, which would have been $8,514 today if you take inflation into account.
Eventually we got laptop computers, and they were pretty much made by the same people. You had desktop PCs and laptop PCs and sthen came the first smartphone from IBM called Simon (don’t worry; few bought it). After that, we had PDAs that came from a whole different class of company. Palm, Research In Motion (BlackBerry), HP and even Sony got in this market along with Microsoft. Apple, which started the PC revolution with the Apple II, had Newton. On paper it was more capable than the rest, but Jobs killed that and later brought out the iPod. It was just for listening to music, but it gained functions until it morphed into a phone. Over the next few years, it forced even massively powerful cell phone vendors like Nokia, who bet on Microsoft, to their knees.
So why wasn’t the Pocket PC the foundation for the smartphone, which is basically a pocket PC that can make calls? It had nothing to do with telephony and everything to do with execution. And I’m seeing similar execution from Microsoft on AI, suggesting it may be another Zune-like event.
Microsoft doesn’t learn from its successes; it isn’t even clear it learned from its failures. I think that’s because Microsoft turns over key people, and those left in charge just don’t want to consider that their predecessors actually knew what they were doing.
When you look at the greatest product successes Microsoft ever had, (besides Office, which started as a productivity product for Apple), Microsoft has had two massive user successes: Windows 95 and Xbox (Azure is more of an enterprise play). Both used basically the same play book but were run by different people.
The formula for success was to put real marketing people in charge, not ex-military people or some reassigned engineer, but people that understood how to market and then give them the budget they need to be successful. That set up resulted in successes like Windows 95 and Xbox.
What was particularly funny about Windows 95 was that marketing did its job well, but operations did not, but Microsoft responded as if the opposite was true. Apparently, operations was better connected because when Windows 95 blew up largely due to poor code choices and horrid customer support, the conclusion was that demand was a bad thing, not poor execution. To this day it is hard for me to understand how they reached that conclusion.
With Xbox, Microsoft again put people who knew how to build demand in charge and took on Sony, a powerfully entrenched consumer electronics company. Xbox would have eventually taken out the PlayStation, but then Microsoft kicked out its lead people and cut the marketing budget. While Xbox is still a powerful platform to this day, it could have been far more. It wasn’t competition that killed it. It was Microsoft’s leadership.
Intel has gone down a similar path, but at least it hasn’t repeated the same mistake over and over again. Intel’s success bloomed under its best CMO, Dennis Carter, who turned an ingredient brand, Intel Inside, into a badge of quality. But he didn’t train his successors, so the amazing brand he built with Andy Grove’s massive support was weakened over time to a point where Pat Gelsinger, who had learned under Grove, also didn’t get the power of marketing and under supported it. I believe that led to his early retirement (termination).
So, had Microsoft executed the Pocket PC and the Windows Phone to the level they’d executed Windows 95 and Xbox they would have been a success, but they didn’t, and the execution around AI is far more similar to their failures rather than their successes.
AI is kind of like Internet Explorer in that Microsoft was late to the game but licensed a technology to close the gap (the browser was Spyglass; with AI it is ChatGPT) and brought it to market. But execution has again been lackluster. Microsoft had to pull back the strongest feature, Recall, because marketing didn’t position it properly. Apple brought out an identical feature, presented it better, and didn’t have to pull it back.
Both Microsoft and Intel need to up the marketing game significantly if they want to be successful going forward. Microsoft needs to pull from the learnings of Brad Silverberg and Rick Thompson, while Intel needs to pull from Dennis Carter to change its trajectory. Otherwise, both firms are likely to miss the AI wave rather than lead it. These skills are in the companies’ histories, they just need to re-learn them. And they need to learn that marketing isn’t optional. It is a requirement for success.
One final reminder. While I worked there, IBM nearly crashed and took massive brand damage, and IBM’s board fired John Akers, who was one of the most qualified CEOs on paper but who was done in by his staff. IBM didn’t hire an engineer or even pull its own people. Instead, it hired Louis Gerstner. Gerstner knew nothing about tech but was a brilliant marketer and he saved the company by first rebuilding its image and brand.
That’s the power of marketing, and too many tech companies forgot this after the 90s. It is also why Qualcomm’s AI PC effort didn’t reach its potential. The ironic thing is that AI is potentially able to recreate the skills of people who are no longer in the workforce, suggesting these companies could build the talent they need if they can’t hire it. Microsoft’s AI effort reminds me a lot of Zune, a lot of inside belief in success, but not enough outside execution, and I just don’t think it will end well.
Recently, our Chief Learning Officer Rachel Arthur and I had the opportunity to attend UNESCO’s International Day of Education 2025, which focused on the role of education in helping people “understand and steer AI to better ensure that they retain control over this new class of technology and are able to direct it towards desired objectives that respect human rights and advance progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals”.
Throughout the event, a clear message from UNESCO was that teachers have a very important role to play in the future of education systems, regardless of the advances in technology — a message I find very reassuring. However, as with any good-quality debate, the sessions also reflected a range of other opinions and approaches, which should be listened to and discussed too.
With this in mind, I was interested to hear a talk by a school leader from England who is piloting the first “teacherless” classroom. They are trialling a programme with twenty Year 10 students (ages 14–15), using an AI tool developed in-house. This tool is trained on eight existing learning platforms, pulling content and tailoring the learning experience based on regular assessments. The students work independently using an AI tool in the morning, supported by a learning mentor in the classroom, while afternoons focus on developing “softer skills”. The school believes this approach will allow students to complete their GCSE exams in just one year instead of two, seeing it as a solution to the years of lost learning caused by lockdowns during the coronavirus pandemic.
Whilst they were reporting early success in this approach, what occurred to me during the talk was the question of how we can decide if this approach is the right one. The results might sound attractive to school leaders, but do we need a more rounded view of what education should look like? Whatever your views on the purpose of schools, I suspect most people would agree that they serve a much greater purpose than just achieving the top results.
Whilst AI tools may be able to provide personalised learning experiences, it is crucial to consider the role of teachers in young people’s education. If we listed the skills required for a teacher to do their job effectively, I believe we would all reach the same conclusion: teachers play a pivotal role in a young person’s life — one that definitely goes beyond getting the best exam results. According to the Educational Endowment Foundation, high-quality teaching is the most important lever schools have on pupil outcomes.
“Quality education demands quality educators” – Farida Shaheed, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Education
Also, at this stage in AI adoption, can we be sure that this use of AI tools isn’t disadvantageous to any students? We know that machine learning models generate biased results, but I’m not aware of research showing that these systems are fair to all students and do not disadvantage any demographic. An argument levelled against this point is that teachers can also be biased. Aside from the fact that systems have a potentially much larger impact on more students than any individual teacher, I worry that this argument leads to us accepting machine bias, rather than expecting the highest of standards. It is essential that providers of any educational software that processes student data adhere to the principles of fairness, accountability, transparency, privacy, and security (FATPS).
We are undeniably at a very early stage of a changing education landscape because of AI, and an important question is how teachers can be supported.
“Education has a foundational role to play in helping individuals and groups determine what tasks should be outsourced to AI and what tasks need to remain firmly in human hands.” – UNESCO
I was delighted to have been invited to be part of a panel at the event discussing how the agency of teachers can be cultivated in AI adoption. The panel consisted of people with different views and expertise, but importantly, included a classroom teacher, emphasising the importance of listening to educators and not making decisions on their behalf without them. As someone who works primarily on AI literacy education, my talk was centred around my belief that AI literacy education for teachers is of paramount importance.
Having a basic understanding of how data-driven systems work will empower teachers to think critically and become discerning users, making conscious choices about which tools to use and for what purpose.
For example, while attending the Bett education technology exhibition recently, I was struck by the prevalence of education products that included the use of AI. With ever more options available, we need teachers to be able to make informed choices about which products will benefit and not harm their students.
“Teachers urgently need to be empowered to better understand the technical, ethical and pedagogical dimensions of AI.” – Stefania Giannini, Assistant Director-General for Education, UNESCO, AI competency framework for teachers
A very interesting paper released recently showed that individuals with lower AI literacy levels are more receptive towards AI-powered products and services. In short, people with higher literacy levels are more aware of the capabilities and limitations of AI systems. Perhaps this doesn’t mean that people with higher AI literacy levels see all AI tools as ‘bad’, but maybe that they are more able to think critically about the tools and make informed choices about their use.
For me, the most powerful talk of the day came from Farida Shaheed, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Education. I would urge anyone to listen to it (a recording is available on YouTube — the talk begins around 2:16:00).
The talk included many facts that helped to frame some of the challenges we are facing. Ms Shaheed stated that “29% of all schools lack access to basic drinking water, without which education is not possible”. This is a sobering thought, particularly when there is a growing narrative that AI systems have the potential to democratise education.
When speaking about the AI tools being developed for education, Ms Shaheed questioned who the tools are for: “It’s telling that [so very few edtech tools] are developed for teachers. […] Is this just because teachers are a far smaller client base or is it a desire to automate teachers out of the equation?”
I’m not sure if I know the answer to this question, but it speaks to my worry that the motivation for tech development does not prioritise taking a human-centred approach. We have to remember that as consumers, we do have more power than we think. If we do not want a future where AI tools are replacing teachers, then we need to make sure that there is not a demand for those tools.
The conference was a fantastic event to be part of, as it was an opportunity to listen to such a diverse range of perspectives. Certainly, we are facing challenges, but equally, it is both reassuring and exciting to know that so many people across the globe are working together to achieve the best possible outcomes for future generations. Ms Shaheed’s concluding message resonated strongly with me:
“[Share good practices], so we can all move together in a co-creative process that is inclusive of everybody and does not leave anyone behind.”
As always, we’d love to hear your views — you can contact us here.
The post UNESCO’s International Day of Education 2025: AI and the future of education appeared first on Raspberry Pi Foundation.
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The most important thing a beginner trader can do is find a platform that is easy to use, offers the right learning tools, and is a secure place for trading. TradeFT is among the new online trading platforms that claim to be a good option for novice traders who want to enter the financial markets. But how good is TradeFT for a beginning trader?
In this TradeFT review, we’ll examine how TradeFT caters to newcomers by looking at its account types, user interface, educational resources, customer support, and overall accessibility. We’ll also explore its market offerings and how well the platform helps beginners navigate the complex world of trading.
The diversity and accessibility of the account types are among the most important things for any trading platform in case of a beginner. TradeFT has several account options to suit various levels of trading expertise, but let’s review the ones which will be the most suitable for beginners.
Basic Account: This is the most appropriate account class for any new trader. This account class offers the basic trading features and tools, which are not too overwhelming for a beginner. The low barrier to entry allows new traders to experiment with the markets and gain experience without having to invest large sums of money. The Basic account provides basic spreads, standard customer support, and is an excellent way to dip your toes into the market with minimal risk.
Silver Account: Designed for traders who have gathered some trading experience and grown comfortable with the basics, the Silver account opens further options like tighter spreads and even access to added tools. But at the same time, this account remains friendly enough for complete beginners who have started their journey into broadening their trade knowledge.
They help the starters just nicely, whereby their newness may be directed through learning the courses while making progress. More importantly, with TradeFT’s flexibility with regards to different accounts, it could definitely mean easy changes toward more sophisticated Gold, Platinum, or even VIP accounts to be used for greater functionality, better suited to serious traders as soon as such novice traders decide that they’ve been more certain and advanced for a certain amount of time.
For beginners, the trading platform is usually one of the most daunting parts of getting started. Fortunately, TradeFT has designed its platform to be simple and easy to use. The user interface is intuitive and streamlined, allowing new traders to access key features without feeling overwhelmed by complicated menus or excessive information.
The dashboard is very well-organized, and market data, accounts information, and trading tools are very easy to access. TradeFT’s trading platform supports a wide variety of assets, from stocks, forex, commodities, and indices to crypto, all accessible with just a few clicks.
The ease with which this platform can be accessed, even by novices and those on the go, is made further possible through its mobile-friendly interface. Since a mobile app is not yet provided by TradeFT, their web-based platform is responsive, so flexibility is opened to those traders who would wish to trade right from their smartphones.
For rookie traders, the key is education. Education will help them understand how the markets work, the different trading strategies, and basically how things go within financial markets. TradeFT goes that extra mile in ensuring that through its educational resources, beginners have a solid foundation.
The TradeFT blog is full of articles ranging from the very basics a trader should know up to some tips and current market analysis. The language is simple and easy to understand, hence even the most complex ideas and strategies can be digested by beginners. From risk management to how the markets trend, this educational blog adds value to traders of all levels.
Economic Calendar: It is important for any trader to know the greater events in store for the markets. The TradeFT economic calendar shows real-time information on upcoming events, including earnings reports, economic data releases, and geopolitical events that could potentially move markets. This tool will be useful for a beginner trader interested in being well-informed and timely with his decisions.
There is lots of jargon involved when trading, and for a fresher, many times it may get very hard to keep up. TradeFT’s dictionary is such a wonderful tool that it explains the commonly used terms of trade. It always remains helpful in having a glossary for more confidence in understanding terms among beginners while trading.
Download Centre: TradeFT also includes a download centre that provides a set of useful resources such as trading guides, educative eBooks, and video tutorials. From these, a beginner will learn the very basics of trading and further develop his skills.
These learning tools allow for a holistic approach to learning and give novice traders a platform on which they can lay a proper foundation for trade. This care, among others, assures the beginners of some necessary care as they embark on the trade journey.
When it comes to trading, having access to prompt and reliable customer support is vital, especially for beginners who may have questions or face challenges while using the platform. TradeFT offers 24/5 customer support, so help will always be there when needed.
Support is available through multiple channels, including live chat, email, and phone. The live chat feature is really helpful for beginners to get answers to specific questions fast. TradeFT’s support team is very knowledgeable and responsive with everything from technical issues to account management. Be it questions regarding trading tools, some technical glitch, or how to go about on the platform, beginners can be assured that help is available.
Second, TradeFT has a very extensive and comprehensive FAQ section, answering most of the questions related to account creation, deposit/withdrawal problems, trading options, and tools. That’s nice self-service for beginners who won’t wait for an agent to get the simple issues sorted out.
One of the most important aspects of trading is the speed of execution, which may either make or break a beginner’s experience. Slow execution translates to missed opportunities and frustration, especially for a beginner trying to learn the ropes.
Thankfully, TradeFT offers high execution speeds, resulting in quick order fulfillment. This proves very helpful for those desiring to enter volatile markets of cryptocurrencies or Forex, where everything is decided based on time and speed. Giving the opportunity for fast execution, TradeFT instills confidence in the beginnings, knowing one can get into and out of positions with as little delay as possible.
So, how good is TradeFT for a beginner trader? It’s good for new traders, considering it has a friendly web-based interface, account types available to all, and solid education. The presence of the Basic account makes access quite easy, while the beginners can go further with the confidence gained and explore additional features and tools available on higher-tier accounts.
TradeFT’s focus on education through the blog, dictionary, economic calendar, and download center helps beginners build a strong foundation, while 24/5 customer support assures one of always getting support whenever the need arises. Moreover, the mobile-friendly interface and fast transaction speed ensure ease and swiftness for new traders to start trading online.
After this TradeFT review overall, TradeFT would be a great option for young traders seeking a sound and supportive environment in 2025. As long as you take your time to research the educational tools and practice some risk management, TradeFT can be an enabling atmosphere for growth and learning. Due to its user-oriented design, solid support, and helpful features, TradeFT can be the ideal platform for any aspiring trader looking to enter the financial markets.
Jonathan Bryce has announced two open community meetings to hear
input on the topic of the OpenInfra
Foundation migrating to the Linux Foundation. Bryce
wrote that the OpenInfra board has carefully evaluated its options,
and sees joining the Linux Foundation as the best way forward.
Like the Linux Foundation, the OpenInfra Foundation is 501(c)(6)
nonprofit. According to the FAQ,
OpenInfra “is in great health, financially and otherwise
” with
a growth in membership of about 15% in the last year. However, its
needs in 2025 are different than when it was founded as the OpenStack
Foundation in 2012.
While the opportunities ahead for open source to make a positive
impact on the world are greater than they have ever been, the
challenges are more significant as well, particularly with respect to
regulations, licensing and geopolitical tensions that threaten global
collaboration.
The meetings will be held on February 11 and February 13 as
Zoom calls. The OpenInfra board will schedule a vote after feedback
has been collected and draft governance documents have been
published.
Version 25.2 of the LibreOffice productivity suite is out. Changes include
the ability to remove all personal information from any document, support
for ODF version 1.4, a number of accessibility improvements, and more;
see the
release notes for details.
We love hearing from members of the community and sharing the stories of amazing young people, volunteers, and educators who are using their passion for technology to create positive change in the world around them.
When Daniela made the transition from working in retail to joining the team at Thetford Library, she never imagined that she would one day be leading a Code Club. Her manager, who had previously run the club, asked if Daniela would be interested in taking over, and although she was nervous, she was also eager to embrace the challenge and learn new skills.
“At first, I was nervous about teaching coding, but seeing the children’s excitement made me realise it was so important, and I was learning just as much as they were.”
The Code Club was designed to run in eight-week blocks, with a new group of children joining for each term. However, the kids loved it so much that they didn’t want to leave. Daniela, with her growing passion for coding and mentoring, welcomed the children to attend as often as they wanted, with some children, including one particularly enthusiastic young creator, attending every session. This continuity allowed the children to delve deeper into the world of coding, learning in a different way to what they were used to at school.
One of the key things that Daniela has found resonates most with the children is the combination of creativity and coding. She encourages the kids to draw and plan their projects first, which makes the process more engaging and accessible to all of the young people who want to attend. The freedom to be creative is something that she feels is crucial, especially when compared to the more structured and rigid environment of school curriculums. This approach has been particularly rewarding for one young girl in the club who insists on planning and drawing her own characters and backgrounds for all of her projects.
“Coding isn’t just about writing lines of code — it’s about storytelling, problem solving, and imagining what’s possible.”
Daniela’s journey into coding took a significant leap when she decided to explore the Astro Pi challenge, a project that involves writing code to run on Astro Pi computers aboard the International Space Station. Despite her initial nerves about diving into Python, a more advanced programming language than she had tried at the club previously, she was blown away by the possibilities it opened up. When telling the children, she almost felt that she was more excited at the prospect of them trying out real space science than them. But once she showed them some examples, the buzz was infectious and the sessions ran far smoother than she could have hoped. Daniela’s tip for trying Astro Pi for the first time? Find a fellow mentor to help you along the way and dream big.
“I never imagined we’d be working on space science at our library. Introducing children to coding early isn’t just about technology; it’s about giving them the confidence to dream big and think differently.”
The success of the Code Club at Thetford Library is part of a broader initiative by Norfolk Libraries to provide digital skills to the community. They are committed to offering resources and opportunities for people of all ages to engage with technology. From their Digital Week, which focuses on improving digital literacy, to offering mentorship for adults learning to navigate the digital world, Norfolk Libraries is working hard to bridge the digital divide.
For Daniela, the importance of introducing children to coding at an early age is not something she thought would become a passion for her when moving careers. She sees firsthand how these skills empower the children, giving them confidence and opening up future career opportunities.
“Code Club has shown me that stepping outside your comfort zone is where the real growth happens. Both for me and the kids!”
It’s this combination of creativity, learning, and the sheer joy of discovery that keeps Daniela passionate about running the Code Club, and why she continues to welcome every eager child who walks through the door.
If you are interested in encouraging your child to explore coding, take a look at the free coding project resources we have available to support you. If you would like to set up a Code Club for young people in your community, or attend one, head to codeclub.org for information and support.
The post Community Story | Daniela, Thetford Library appeared first on Raspberry Pi Foundation.
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On February 2, local time in the United States, Evan Ryan, the wife of former United State Secretary of State Antony Blinken publicly stated that she had joined and invested in Genesis Cloud Mining.
Genesis Cloud Mining, headquartered in Denver, USA, is a world-renowned TRX mining platform. The company has signed a multi-year cooperative operation agreement with the United State Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Financial Money Service Provider (MSB), establishing its legitimacy and professionalism. As one of the most influential, secure and legal TRX mining platforms in the world, Genesis Cloud Mining has attracted widespread attention with its excellent technology and robust operating model.
Evan Ryan believes that Genesis Cloud Mining has broad prospects in the field of blockchain and cryptocurrency technology, and its strong strategic development capabilities and clear development core make it a highly potential industry leader. She particularly emphasized that Genesis Cloud Mining has always been helping people achieve stable employment as its core mission, and this sense of social responsibility will help the company win more support and trust from users.
Evan Ryan further pointed out that driven by the policy environment and user demand, TRX currency has greater room for appreciation in the future. To this end, she announced that she would invest $300,000 in TRX and choose to invest it in Genesis Cloud Mining, which is not only a support for the development of local United States enterprises, but also an expectation of obtaining considerable returns.
Finally, she expressed her good wishes for Genesis Cloud Mining: “I hope that Genesis Cloud Mining can continue to grow in the future, accelerate the pace of business globalization, cover more countries and regions, and become a global benchmark in the field of blockchain technology.”