Researchers trick Tesla Autopilot into steering into oncoming traffic

Found on Ars Technica on Tuesday, 02 April 2019
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The proof-of-concept exploit works not by hacking into the car's onboard computing system, but by using small, inconspicuous stickers that trick the Enhanced Autopilot of a Model S 75 into detecting and then following a change in the current lane.

The attack worked by carefully affixing three stickers to the road. The stickers were nearly invisible to drivers, but machine-learning algorithms used by the Autopilot detected them as a line that indicated the lane was shifting to the left.

That's a point which marketing people often forget: being an attack surface. Driving without help sounds pretty useful, but if three stickers can possibly kill you it's getting less interesting very quickly.

Dubstep artist Skrillex could protect against mosquito bites

Found on BBC News on Monday, 01 April 2019
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According to a recent scientific study, the way to avoid mosquito bites is to listen to electronic music - specifically dubstep, specifically by US artist Skrillex.

"The observation that such music can delay host attack, reduce blood feeding, and disrupt mating provides new avenues for the development of music-based personal protective and control measures against Aedes-borne diseases."

You wouldn't expect his music to be so bad even mosquitos don't want to mate.

Boeing takes $5 billion hit as Indonesian airline cancels 737 MAX order

Found on Ars Technica on Friday, 22 March 2019
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The Garuda cancellation would only put a small dent in the number of total 737 MAX aircraft on order. Based on data from Boeing, as of February there were 4,636 unfilled orders, so the outstanding order from Garuda would account for a little more than one percent of Boeing's backlog. Still, Garuda's exit could signal bigger long-term problems for Boeing as other carriers with mixed fleets of aircraft re-evaluate their positions.

Other major customers such as FlyDubai and the leasing company GECAS (formerly GE Capital Aviation Services) may be less reluctant to pull the plug if they see the aircraft as a potential liability.

If you try to save money by not adding security extras, you get what you deserve.

Hacked tornado sirens taken offline in two Texas cities ahead of major storm

Found on ZD Net on Tuesday, 19 March 2019
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Following the unauthorized intrusion, city authorities had to shut down their emergency warning system a day before major storms and potential tornados were set to hit the area.

According to CBS Dallas, DeSoto and Lancaster officials who investigated the incident confirmed the two emergency alarm systems had been hacked and set off "intentionally," excluding the possibility of a freak technical accident in the two cities at the same time.

It quickly gets obvious when someone found a way to mess with sirens.

Wildlife World Zoo: Jaguar attacks selfie-taker

Found on BBC News on Sunday, 10 March 2019
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When she crossed the barrier and approached the enclosure to photograph herself with the jaguar, it swiped out through the fencing, leaving deep gashes on her arms.

"The jaguar lets go of the girl somewhat because the claw catches on just her sweater. At that moment, I grabbed the girl around the torso and pulled her away from the cage and it unlatches from her claw.

People just get more and more stupid.

Two in five 'AI startups' essentially have no AI, mega-survey of nearly 3,000 upstarts finds

Found on The Register on Tuesday, 05 March 2019
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A full 40 per cent of tech companies describing themselves as "AI startups" had no evidence of machine-learning tech "material" to what the firms actually did, a report by VC investor MMC Ventures.

VC investment in AI has increased 15x in five years, the firm estimated. MMC also found that a greater proportion of AI startups are highly valued – for now.

Obviously. AI is just another buzzword that makes investors drool; like 5G, Smartwhatever, Cloud and Agile. Many of the so-called experts don't even have a clue and define AI as "algorithms".

“Xi Jinping Winnie the Pooh Moron” Found In Devotion; Game Is Being Review Bombed By Chinese Players

Found on Spieltimes on Wednesday, 27 February 2019
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Any discussions related to Devotion are currently banned in Chinese gaming forums, which includes NGA.Cn, China’s leading video games forum. Recent reviews of the game have taken a drastic negative turn, the majority of them being from Chinese players.

If the concerned authority of the People’s Republic of China finds out about the discussed controversy, not just will they ban the game, but there’s a possibility they’ll ban Steam entirely.

Devotion has been completely pulled out of Steam following the controversy.

Someone is very very thin-skinned there. It would be fun to see what happens when they block Steam though.

GCHQ: Chinese tech 'threats' must be understood

Found on BBC News on Monday, 25 February 2019
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GCHQ director Jeremy Fleming will give a rare speech on Monday emphasising the need for better cyber-security practices in the telecoms industry.

In December, MI6 chief Alex Younger raised questions over China's role in the UK tech sector, and a recent report from the Royal United Services Institute said it would be "naive" and "irresponsible" to allow Huawei access.

Until a few years ago, China was called the workbench of the US and Europe. It looks like nobody back then even considered the idea that the Chinese will simply learn what they were taught.

PepsiCo is laying off corporate employees

Found on Business Insider on Sunday, 24 February 2019
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PepsiCo has kicked off a round of layoffs impacting employees in multiple offices, two people who were laid off by the company told Business Insider.

PepsiCo also recently announced plans to restructure the organization and "relentlessly" invest in automation.

"Our second set of priorities ... involves becoming more capable, leaner, more agile and less bureaucratic," CEO Ramon Laguarta said.

Remember that whenever media or politicians say that automation won't cost any jobs.

Amazon triples profit to $11.2bn, pays ZERO DOLLARS in corp tax – instead we pay it $129m

Found on The Register on Sunday, 17 February 2019
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According to the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP), the tech titan was actually paid $129m by US taxpayers thanks to an income tax rebate.

With the average American paying an income tax rate of between 10 and 15 per cent, and the corporate tax rate reduced recently from 35 to 21 per cent, Amazon as one of the largest corporations in the world paid a tax rate of minus one per cent.

According to ITEP, the entire company has been specifically constructed to avoid paying tax.

That's so digusting that it speaks for itself and does not need any comment.