Links für 2024 KW 41
Zusammengefasst von LlongOrca.
Nintendo has successfully forced another emulator to cease development due to its aggressive legal strategy against emulation. Ryujinx, an alternative Switch emulator, halted its operations after its lead developer was reportedly offered a settlement by the company. This move reaffirms Nintendo's stance against emulators and showcases the extent of its legal reach. The future impact on game preservation and the emulation community remains uncertain.
Google's AI thinks I left a Gatorade bottle on the moon:
In this article, the author discusses how they tricked Google's AI by providing it with a „special“ set of facts on a web page, which was designed to manipulate the AI. They argue that this technique, known as „weaponized lies,“ can be used by people to potentially bias the search results for AI-driven services, such as LLM. The author also suggests that there might be more hidden content on the web designed to manipulate AI.
Tricks ohne Ende: Fünf Fallen beim Online-Banking:
Online banking has become an integral part of our daily lives but also serves as a popular target for criminals. One of the most common methods used by scammers to obtain sensitive payment data is through fake banking websites that resemble the real thing. These so-called phishing sites can be reached via SMS messages, emails, and even physical letters with QR codes. Entering account or credit card information on such sites sends it directly to the criminals, according to the Warentest Foundation.
Another common trick is for scammers to pose as bank employees in phone calls, often pretending to read off fake account statements or showing what appears to be the actual number of the bank on screen. This is technically manipulated and done to make the conversation more realistic. Scammers also use video identification processes, claiming to test software for identity verification to gain access to personal identification images.
To prevent phishing and ID misuse, Warentest advises the following precautions: always open your bank's website independently; look out for spelling or design errors on websites or letters; use updated secure devices and software that regularly receive security updates; never give away orders unless you initiated them or verified them yourself; ask about the purpose of identity document use and don't pass them on too quickly.
If you fall victim to a scam, firstly you should block your account or credit card by calling the blocking hotline (116116 in Germany, +4930 40504050 elsewhere). Informing your bank is also essential and afterward filing a police report to allow the case to be investigated.
Legally, according to Warentest, the general rule for responsibility in these cases is that banks are liable if anyone could fall victim. This only changes where there has been gross negligence on the part of the customer by blatantly disregarding widely known rules and they must bear their own losses. The article concludes with tips for secure online banking transactions.
The article introduces Omni SenseVoice, a high-speed speech recognition solution based on SenseVoice, which offers lightning-fast inference and precise timestamps for faster audio transcription. It provides key options for installation and usage, benchmarks its performance, and explains how to contribute to the project.
F5-TTS: A Fairytaler that Fakes Fluent and Faithful Speech with Flow Matching:
The article discusses the F5-TTS model, which focuses on fairytale-like speech that appears fluent and faithful while maintaining flow matching. The model uses diffusion transformers with ConvNeXt V2, and has a faster training and inference process. It also mentions the Emilia and Wenetspeech4TTS datasets, which are used to train the model. Additionally, the article provides information on how to install, train, and use the model, as well as evaluation techniques and acknowledgments.
Eating less can lead to a longer life: massive study in mice shows why:
A study involving nearly 1,000 mice found that while dietary restrictions caused weight loss and related metabolic changes, they were not the primary factors contributing to increased lifespan. Instead, immune health, genetics, and physiological indicators of resiliency seemed to better explain the link between calorie cutting and longevity. The research suggests that factors beyond simple metabolic regulation drive how the body responds to limited-calorie diets, with overall resilience being key for longer lifespan in mice.
Stop Ignoring Your High Performers:
The article highlights the importance of high performers in organizations and how they drive innovation and productivity. It argues that managers often make a costly mistake by neglecting these employees in favor of underperformers, who may require immediate intervention. This disregard for high performers can lead to feelings of overlookedness and neglect, eventually resulting in the loss of top talent. The article emphasizes that high performers need recognition, opportunities for growth, clear pathways for advancement, autonomy, trust, and a sense of purpose and belonging within the organization.
Changing Views toward mRNA based Covid Vaccines in the Scientific Literature: 2020 - 2024:
The article discusses the changing views towards mRNA-based COVID vaccines in scientific literature from 2020 to 2024. Before the pandemic, these vaccines had never been administered outside a clinical trial. However, within nine months, they were given to millions through an emergency use authorization (EUA). The article emphasizes that medical science can be biased due to social and economic influences, particularly during high-stress periods in history. It highlights the change from claiming no severe adverse events (SAEs) from mRNA vaccines in 2020/2021 to acknowledging a significant number of various SAEs in 2023/2024, including neurological complications, myocarditis, pericarditis, and thrombosis. The article concludes that the early scientific literature was biased due to social and political concerns and corporate greed but suggests that scientists should remain objective when evaluating health risks.
Removing Windows Recall breaks File Explorer in latest 24H2 update:
In the latest Windows 24H2 update, Microsoft has implemented Recall as a dependency in the modern File Explorer interface. This means that disabling Recall also disables the modern File Explorer features. The YouTuber and software developer Chris Titus Tech discovered this in his testing of the update. While it is possible to disable Recall, in the process, File Explorer loses all the modern features added in recent updates. Microsoft had previously announced that the feature would be opt-in when it eventually launched to a widespread audience, but this does not appear to be the case in the 24H2 update.
Telekom Deutschland-Chef: Gopalan bezeichnet Überbauen als "Kundendienst":
Srini Gopalan, CEO of Telekom Deutschland, stated at the company's capital market day that he would rather build his own fiber-optic networks than partner with private equity-backed ones such as Deutsche Glasfaser, Deutsche Giganetz, BBV Deutschland, and others. He explained that whether to build or not depends on the economic situation of each area. In residential areas, Telekom serves 70% of its customers, and even though Deutsche Glasfaser has a market share of 28%, Gopalan still sees it as possible to maintain connections in many regions. He prefers to call this „customer service“ rather than „overbuilding.“
Nach 194 Jahren: Cyberangriff drängt deutsches Unternehmen in die Insolvenz:
The Aachen-based Schumag AG, a company known for its precision parts worldwide, has recently suffered financially due to a cyberattack. This attack put the company into financial difficulty and caused unforeseen production delays, revenue postponements, and cost burdens, according to an official press release from the company. The incident also resulted in liquidity gaps that could not be compensated for by the company's ongoing restructuring plan. Despite these challenges, Schumag AG plans to continue operating and utilize the insolvency law to intensify its current restructuring process. The company was founded in 1830 and has been producing precision products worldwide with around 450 employees and an annual revenue of approximately €67 million.
Steam-Hinweis stellt klar: Gekaufte Spiele gehören einem nicht:
A California law requires providers of digitally distributed software and music to disclose whether ownership or a usage right is being sold. Steam, an online gaming platform, has recently started displaying a notice in its shopping cart stating that when purchasing digital products (software, games, eBooks, etc.), only a license is acquired, not ownership. This likely stems from California's AB 2426 consumer protection law, which prohibits sellers of digital goods from using terms like „buy“ or „purchase“ if potential buyers are not clearly informed about the conditions and usage restrictions of the license. The change affects U.S. customers as well as German users; a similar notice has been added in Steam's German client.
Germany’s 49-euro ticket resulted in significant modal shift from road to rail:
The state-subsidized Deutschland-Ticket, a 49-euro ticket for unlimited local and regional bus and rail travel in Germany, has led to a significant shift in traffic from road to rail. This change was determined by researchers from the Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change, who found that the ticket increased train journeys of over 30 kilometers by 30.4% compared to what would have been without the measure. Personal transportation saw a more moderate decrease with 7.6% fewer car kilometers traveled. This shift in transport mode resulted in 6.7 million tonnes of CO2 emissions being saved, corresponding to 4.7% of total transport emissions in Germany. However, the announced price increase from 49 to 58 euros per month is predicted to cause a decrease in train journeys and an increase in car kilometers traveled, almost halving the reduction in emissions achieved with the 49-euro ticket in its first year. The Ariadne D-Ticket Impact Tracker provides interactive results on these findings.
Solutions to WiindowPop-Up and Java Problems on Engineers Edge:
The article explains that to access Engineers Edge, you need to have Java enabled on your web browser. It provides instructions on how to enable Java for different browsers, including Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome, and AOL. For Opera users, the article mentions that it may already have an embedded version of Java inside the browser or supports Java for other platforms.
Christopher Columbus' remains found as DNA analysis ends mystery:
Scientists have confirmed that the remains of Christopher Columbus have been found after being missing for over 500 years. The legendary explorer's remains were discovered in Seville Cathedral, Spain, through DNA analysis of the bones. Despite multiple relocations of Columbus' body since his death in 1506, researchers were able to definitively confirm its location using modern technology.
PayPal (USA) will automatically share data about you to participating stores:
PayPal is updating its privacy policy starting November 27, 2024, which will allow it to share customers' information with participating stores where they shop. However, users can opt out by updating their preference settings under „Data and Privacy.“ The company claims this update will help provide personalized shopping experiences for customers. In response to the article, many commenters expressed concerns about privacy and data sharing, some even considering deleting their PayPal accounts.
PayPal is making changes to various agreements governing user relationships, effective on different dates. These changes include updates to the Privacy Statement explaining data sharing with merchants for a personalized shopping experience starting in Summer 2025. Other changes involve revising Seller Protection Program requirements and introducing a new service enabling merchants to accept Automated Clearing House (ACH) payments. Additionally, PayPal is discontinuing the Fundraisers program on October 7, 2024.
GitHub - seccode/Sha256: Statistically significant evidence that Sha256 is somewhat predictable:
The article discusses a potential vulnerability in the SHA256 algorithm using a Random Forest Classifier. The author demonstrates statistically significant predictive power for a preimage attack on the algorithm, achieving a 54.9% accuracy rate with a 50% chance of guessing the first char of the input and a 62 standard deviation z-score.
Google Ads announces 11-year data retention policy:
Google Ads is implementing a new data retention policy that will limit historical data access to 11 years, starting November 13th. This move aligns with broader industry trends towards more defined data lifecycles in response to growing data privacy concerns. The change affects account data, including performance metrics, billing information, and historical reports, potentially impacting long-term trend analysis and reporting for advertisers. Advertisers and agencies with needs for longer historical data should act before the implementation date.
In Canada on Thanksgiving weekend, there's been drama surrounding WordPress. Matt Mullenweg promoted a project called FreeWP but it was not an actual fork. He then hijacked the Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) plugin, which is owned by WP Engine and is a requirement for many custom websites. This move has caused controversy within the WordPress community as ACF is something users trust to come from a specific source. The situation has led some to question the integrity of plugins hosted on WordPress.org.
OCR for handwritten documents - r/LocalLLaMA:
The current best model for OCR for handwritten documents is not mentioned in the provided article, as the user tried doctr which does not support handwriting. They also tried llava, but it was unable to accurately transcribe the text due to image angle and resolution issues.
This article introduces Open WebUI, a user-friendly self-hosted web UI designed to operate offline and support various LLM runners, including Ollama and OpenAI APIs. Its key features include easy installation, model builder, hands-free voice and video call, image generation integration, multilingual support, and continuous updates. Users can install Open WebUI via Docker, Python, Kubernetes, or Helm. It supports both CPU and GPU-enabled systems. The article offers guidance on installation, troubleshooting, and updates.
Trying the waters before jumping deep … Actionable steps on how to validate and test your GenAI…:
The article discusses the importance of testing and validation methodologies when implementing GenAI use cases. It suggests creating a validation dataset, allocating time and budget for an SME team to support the process, and validating domain knowledge before making large-scale implementations. The author also emphasizes the need for experience and appropriate expectations in order to achieve the best results with GenAI solutions.
Build systems, not heroes | Hacker News:
This article argues that enterprise software development should prioritize process over individual skill, and suggests implementing systems such as memoization and automated rules in order to minimize the impact of human error. The author emphasizes the importance of making decisions based on written conversations and requiring material evidence to support statements, while also setting strict rules for linters to force programmers to write boring and obvious code. However, the article acknowledges that resistance from some programmers may occur due to individual preferences or a desire to spend time fixing problems over and over again instead of adhering to systematic approaches.
'Nearly unusable': Calif. police majorly push back on Tesla cop cars:
The article discusses the issues faced by police departments in California when considering Tesla electric vehicles (EVs) for their fleets. Chiefs from three police departments have expressed concerns about the suitability of Teslas for modern policing due to their limited size, risks associated with the vehicle's design, and lack of available charging infrastructure. The article highlights the challenges in modifying Teslas for police use and suggests that better EV options for law enforcement are available.
How ‘shoe doping’ changed marathon times forever – in ways we still don’t fully understand:
Five years ago, Eliud Kipchoge ran a significant marathon in Vienna with a time of 1:59:40, but his record was not ratifiable due to hydration delivery by bicycle and other factors. The story highlights the advancements in marathon technology, especially in shoes like Nike's Alphaflys, which have contributed to astonishingly fast marathon times. Supershoes are now commonplace in professional running, but they do not make people faster; rather, they return energy better by reducing metabolic demands and allowing athletes to run at the same speed with less effort.
This article emphasizes the importance of adopting a system-based approach in enterprise programming for minimizing bugs, ensuring scalability, and releasing projects as soon as possible. It highlights that while individual skills may be impressive, they are not sustainable if a project needs to scale or when key personnel leave. The article suggests using processes and rules to improve workflows, rather than focusing solely on the performance of individuals. Examples include setting up strict testing and analysis jobs, requiring programmers to add tests for code changes, and using programming languages with static types. These measures help automate problem avoidance and ensure project quality is not dependent solely on individual skills.
Panama gibt's auch in Bayern: Die Steueroase im Forst:
The Ebersberg Forest in Bavaria has become home to a dozen companies seeking to save on taxes by operating from the area. Known as „briefcase firms,“ they are registered at an address within the forest, with only a mailbox and no actual structure on-site. These companies pay an extremely low 200% rate in business tax compared to the up to 17% rate in Munich. While the practice is legal, it has faced criticism due to its secrecy and lack of transparency.
E-Fuel-Förderung: Lindner bläst seine Luftnummer ab:
The German government plans to tax e-fuel vehicles only from 2030, revealing Christian Lindner's „growth initiative“ as a mere PR stunt without substance. E-fuel vehicles that are powered exclusively by e-fuels will not be taxed until 2030, when they will be treated the same way as locally emission-free vehicles like electric cars. This is an important aspect of Lindner's growth initiative, but it lacks substance and may have harmed the e-mobility industry.
Serversystem: Fiskers Bankrott lässt Kunden im digitalen Nirwana:
Der bankrotte Elektrofahrzeughersteller Fisker ist bei seinen Versuchen, einem Großabnehmer der restlichen Fahrzeuge zu helfen, auf ein Hindernis gestoßen. Demnach kann die Verwaltung der Elektrofahrzeuge nicht auf ein neues Serversystem übertragen werden. Das Problem wurde durch eine Gerichtsakte bekannt, die Einzelheiten zu Fiskers Kommunikation mit American Lease beleuchtet, einem in New York ansässigen Unternehmen, das sich bereit erklärt hatte, den verbleibenden Bestand an Fisker-Ocean-SUVs zu kaufen. Die Transaktion stieß jedoch auf unerwartete Schwierigkeiten, als Fisker bekannt gab, dass es technisch unmöglich sei, die Fahrzeuge auf einen von American Lease kontrollierten Server zu migrieren. Der Fall Fisker wirft eine Reihe neuer Fragen für potenzielle Käufer von Elektrofahrzeugen auf. Im Gegensatz zu herkömmlichen Fahrzeugen können moderne Elektrofahrzeuge ohne kontinuierlichen Softwaresupport und Serverzugriff mit erheblichen Betriebsproblemen konfrontiert sein. Warum die Übertragung nicht möglich sei, teilte das Unternehmen nicht mit.
Wegen Hack: Niederlande müssen fast alle Ampeln austauschen:
In the Netherlands, traffic light control systems are vulnerable to hacking and need to be replaced entirely. Hacker Alwin Peppels discovered that the system could be easily controlled using a self-built setup. The KAR (Korteafstandsradio) system allows for remote control of traffic lights by emergency services, among other things. It is used in the Netherlands since 2005 and in Belgium as well. Since it cannot be secured against hacking, it needs to be replaced with systems that use Talking-Traffic-System, which has a secure internet connection. This process is expected to last until 2030.
The article is about a user's homepage that is still under construction and encourages the reader to explore it by clicking around. The homepage includes various buttons, links, and information for interacting with the author via different platforms such as email or chat services like Matrix and MTP. There are also mentions of an „indieweb webring“ and 88×31 button links that the user is working on adding to the site.
The illusion of information adequacy:
The article discusses the concept of „the illusion of information adequacy,“ which suggests that people often assume they have sufficient information to understand a situation and make decisions based on it, even when they lack key details or perspectives. The authors conducted an experiment where participants were exposed to either half or all the relevant information about a hypothetical scenario involving school mergers. Results showed that individuals with less information still perceived their decision-making competence as high and made recommendations influenced by the limited information provided. This illusion of adequate information can contribute to misunderstandings in social interactions, reinforcing biases such as naïve realism and the false consensus effect. The study suggests potential practical strategies for improving social perspective taking, including questioning one's knowledge about a situation and seeking additional information before passing judgment.
Working From Home Is Powering Productivity:
The article discusses the potential positive impacts of remote work on productivity, labor supply, capital, and economic growth. With remote work increasing tenfold after the pandemic, it has the potential to boost economic growth and bring wider benefits. Working from home can increase labor supply by several percent by attracting people on the edge of the workforce, such as those with childcare or eldercare responsibilities. The release of office space for other uses, like residential and retail, can also contribute to capital gains. Additionally, the positive feedback loop from working from home to faster growth and back can boost productivity. Overall, the article highlights the broad benefits of working from home and presents a more optimistic view for the future of economics.
Physicists Generated Sound Waves That Travel in One Direction Only:
Scientists from ETH Zurich and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne have developed a device that allows sound waves to ripple in only one direction, similar to people huddled in a circle so that only two can hear what one says. The disk-shaped cavity with three equally-spaced ports sends or receives sound when the system is active, with only port 2 hearing port 1's sounds. By blowing swirling air into the cavity at a specific speed and intensity, sound waves are guided in a single direction while gaining energy so they don't dissipate. This technique could inform future communications technologies, potentially allowing for loss-compensated non-reciprocal wave propagation in other systems beyond sound waves.
The article discusses a small inquiry by the CDU about the mask scandal and raises concerns about Jens Spahn's competence. The CDU wants to know what specific powers the „investigator“ should have, who appointed them, and whether there is any political pressure on the outcome. The author sarcastically suggests that the government is akin to a mafia organization, with concern over their handling of the pandemic in comparison to other countries and the use of taxpayer money under Olaf Scholz's tenure as finance minister.
Millions of conversations leaked after AI call center hacked:
A major call center service provider in the Middle East lost a significant amount of private customer data after being hacked by threat actors who breached its cloud services. The stolen database contained over 10 million conversations between customers, operators and AI bots, along with national ID documents, making it valuable for phishing attacks, identity theft, social engineering attacks, etc. The database is being sold on the dark web for $15,000 in bitcoin or monero.
Pluralistic: Cars bricked by bankrupt EV company will stay bricked (10 Oct 2024):
The article discusses the impact of bankruptcy on Fisker, an EV company that degraded all its „software-based cars“ by shutting down its servers. It highlights how „software-based cars,“ which are dependent on regular server connectivity for various operations and diagnostics, can become bricks without access to these servers, leading to severe consequences for owners who now possess expensive and inert vehicles. The article also emphasizes the importance of regulating succession planning in industries like automotive manufacturing to mitigate the risk of such collapses.
Pluralistic: Cars bricked by bankrupt EV company will stay bricked (10 Oct 2024):
Cars bricked by bankrupt EV company will stay bricked: The article discusses the situation of Fisker, an electric vehicle (EV) maker that went bankrupt and left their customers with inert lumps of conflict minerals and auto-loan debt. Fisker billed its products as software-based cars, meaning that every subsystem required frequent connection to the company's servers for operations or diagnostics. Since the company's collapse, Fisker owners have found themselves unable to fix their vehicles without cashing in on recalls, which has caused difficulties with brakes, airbags, shifting, battery management, locking and unlocking doors, and other essential vehicle functions. This situation highlights the potential dangers of internet-of-things nonsense and the reliance on software for automotive operations.
Old People Are Trolling Young People With This ‘Hack’ And The Comments Are Hilarious:
This article discusses a humorous Twitter thread about the hardships people faced while using computers in the past, specifically that one had to cook an egg for their mouse every week to scroll on the screen. The joke took off as many youngsters could not comprehend this concept and the elderly reminisced about these challenges. German artist Aram Bartholl commented positively on the prank, stating it showcases the gap of knowledge between generations and how social media can spread misinformation quickly.
Studien: Kuscheln macht gesund:
A study has found that pleasant touch can help alleviate pain, depression, and anxiety. The researchers analyzed data from over 10,000 people and discovered that positive effects on health are dependent on consensual, pleasurable contact. Skin-to-skin touch is crucial for premature babies, as it helps regulate breathing and promotes bonding between parents and their child. Touch also plays an important role in the growth of a healthy microbiome in infants. The production of oxytocin, known as the „cuddle hormone,“ is linked to positive health effects from touch, regardless of whether it comes from a stranger or a family member.
Deutsche Maschinen für Russlands Militär:
The article reports that despite sanctions, German industrial goods continue to reach Russia. According to SWR research, over 300 machines were delivered in 2023, which can be used for the manufacture of vehicle parts or ammunition - often through Turkey. Since the war against Ukraine, Russia has been dependent on a constant supply of military equipment. President Vladimir Putin has therefore converted much of the industry to wartime production: all available companies must produce military equipment, munitions, or spare parts.
To avoid importing goods that can be used militarily due to sanctions, Russia is trying to produce as much as possible domestically. German machinery manufacturers play a significant role in this effort, with SWR research showing that the products of German machine builders have been crucial. According to Russian customs data available to SWR, more than 300 deliveries from German suppliers had reached Russia by the end of December 2023. These include large industrial machines and computer-controlled (CNC) machines that can cut steel, bend plates, or weld metal parts. The production of vehicle or aircraft components or munitions is almost impossible without these machines.
According to Olena Yurchenko from the Economic Security Council of Ukraine, 80% of CNC machines in Russia are currently being used in military production: „With computer-controlled CNC machines, they can produce much faster and more accurately, which is particularly important in the weapons sector. This allows them to ultimately produce even more lethal weapons. Germany is the market leader in producing these machines with a share of up to 30% in Russia.“
German machinery also plays a large role as military suppliers for Russian companies Parsek, Kamaz, NIR or Industrial Solutions, which supply the Russian military with engines and parts for aircraft and missiles. In all these companies, German machines are used, according to customs data. More than 30 German manufacturers were identified by SWR as having had their machines imported to Russia in the previous year, many of them based in Baden-Württemberg, a traditional center for machine building.
In around two-thirds of cases, these machines were imported through Turkey, and some Turkish intermediaries had direct connections with Russia or had even been founded by Russian companies. Benjamin Hilgenstock, an expert on sanctions from the Kyiv School of Economics, argues that stricter controls are needed for these machinery: „Sanctions circumvention is extremely lucrative. You usually find someone in a third country willing to do it and pay them handsomely.“
However, Hilgenstock believes that the extent of sanctions evasion could be dramatically reduced if proper export controls were enforced: „Ultimately, we need to reach the point where authorities make it clear that export controls must be enforced and that the credibility of the sanctions regime depends on private companies participating in this.“
The German manufacturers accused the intermediaries. According to SWR research, these machines may have been illegally delivered to Russia - contrary to the knowledge of the German manufacturers, who were apparently unaware that their machines were being supplied to Russia by Turkish intermediaries. The claims could not be verified.
Olena Yurchenko from Ukraine believes that the European Union must step up its efforts to tighten sanctions: „We urgently need the political will at the European level to strengthen sanctions regulations, for example when it comes to subsidiaries of European companies in Russia. We have to tighten the sanctions as in the banking sector - this would help.“
The company Walter Maschinenbau from Tübingen is listed with 11 deliveries in the Russian customs lists for 2023, and these deliveries may still be ongoing according to SWR research. The company's machines are also used by NIR JSC, a Russian company that supplies engines and parts for aircraft and missiles. Walter Maschinenbau did not respond to multiple inquiries from the SWR about its Russia business or how its machines reached Russia.
The machinery manufacturer Vollmer from Biberach has an active Russian website with contact persons for service and maintenance, despite sanctions. According to customs data, four large, several-ton heavy machines of the brand Vollmer were imported into Russia in the previous year. Vollmer did not respond directly to questions about its business in Russia or about the machinery delivered there.
Vom Fein GmbH from Schwäbisch Gmünd had seven deliveries to Russia and maintains an active Russian website for service and sales, despite sanctions. The company stated that it complies with all sanction regulations and asked for understanding as it would not provide further information.
The machinery manufacturer Heller from Nürtingen has been identified on video footage at several Russian companies involved in the military industry - Parsek and Kamaz among them. Both are involved in the Russian military production.
Heller stated that they comply with all sanctions regulations and cannot explain how their machines ended up in Russia. Turkish intermediaries were also involved, according to SWR research. The SWR was able to identify further German machinery manufacturers whose products are used by Russian military suppliers. The Association of German Machine Builders stated: „We assume that the machine and equipment manufacturers generally adhere to sanctions regulations and laws. Companies or intermediaries that do not comply with the applicable legal situation make themselves criminally liable. We reject a ban on deliveries to Turkey.“
Hilgenstock, the expert on sanctions, believes that German companies may not always know how their products end up in Russia but could ensure it if they tried. He calls for stricter control requirements for companies because this would „make a significant difference if a company knows it might face legal trouble and be subject to financial penalties if it does not take certain steps in its internal supply chain controls.“
Schleim lösen: 7 Tipps, wie Sie Ihre Lunge schonend von Schleim befreien:
The article discusses various methods to gently resolve and remove mucus from the lungs without relying on medications or oral mucolytics. Some tips include avoiding strong coughing, practicing autogenic drainage, using lip bubble techniques, staying hydrated, using a nebulizer for feucht inhalation, utilizing hypertone saline solutions, and performing chest vibrations or coughing techniques. It is important to consult with a doctor before trying any of these methods.
How to make Product give a shit about your architecture proposal:
The article discusses the role of a software engineer as the „plumber“ to product development. It explains how engineers can negotiate with product teams on work scope, timeline, and quality to deliver the best possible results for customers while ensuring they don't compromise on quality or performance. The author emphasizes that developers should prioritize high-return projects and focus on making a compelling argument about return-on-investment (ROI).
The article discusses the relationship between high intelligence and generosity, as mentioned by organizational psychologist Adam Grant. It explains that several studies have found that people with higher cognitive abilities are more likely to exhibit charitable behavior and unconditional altruism. The article suggests that being generous, thoughtful, and kind can be signs of high intelligence, as they are often associated with successful people. Additionally, the author highlights how being generous can benefit personal and professional relationships, ultimately leading to more success in both areas.
The Ultimate Guide to Error Handling in Python:
This article discusses the importance of understanding different aspects of error handling in Python programming. It highlights two main styles of writing error handling code: Look Before You Leap (LBYL) and Easier to Ask Forgiveness than Permission (EAFP). The author emphasizes that while EAFP is a better approach, it's crucial to know what exception classes to catch. Catching all exceptions is considered a bad practice and should be avoided in most cases. In conclusion, the article provides guidance on handling recoverable and non-recoverable errors effectively using various strategies for different types of errors.
Dell's sudden 5-day RTO order leaves parents scrambling to find childcare:
The article discusses the challenges faced by employees due to the return-to-office (RTO) policy implemented by various companies. Employees are having difficulty balancing their work commitments with childcare and commuting, especially for those who have moved away from their original locations during the pandemic. Many people argue that RTO is primarily beneficial to employers, as it allows them to save on costs associated with remote working such as increased salaries and benefits, while employees are left struggling with the logistics of childcare and commuting. Some companies have reportedly used RTO as a way to conduct no-severance departures of employees who were expensive to fire but could be replaced by cheaper workforce.
You Don’t Know Jack about Bandwidth – Communications of the ACM:
The article discusses the issue of poor internet performance for remote employees or customers complaining about ISPs. It argues that bandwidth is not necessarily the problem when users have speeds in the range of 50 to 100 Mbps, and instead, latency—the time it takes for data to be processed by an ISP's routers—is more likely the issue. The article suggests a solution, LibreQoS, which is designed to adapt techniques used in the home to improve internet performance for businesses and ISPs alike.
The Trump Bible apparently didn't sell well, but don't worry - Trump's corrupt friends have a plan. Oklahoma happens to need many Bibles for their school rooms right now. But wouldn't it be easier just to buy them from nonprofits that give you the Bibles or purchase them at a different source where they cost $2 instead of $60 per copy? However, since Trump's corruption bible has certain specifications - King James version, Old and New Testaments, Pledge of Allegiance, Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution, Bill of Rights, bound in leather or leather-like material - it seems that only Trump's corruption Bible remains as an option. A salesperson at Mardel Christian & Education searched but none fit the criteria. Furthermore, producing a Trump corruption bible with leather binding and containing Pledge of Allegiance, Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution, and Bill of Rights would cost money. However, it's likely produced in China. So don't worry, God bless America!
A free and open internet shouldn’t come at the expense of privacy | The Mozilla Blog:
Mozilla is taking an active role in fixing the broken system of online advertising by focusing on three areas: regulation, standards, and products. They are advocating for better privacy protections through legislation while actively working on technical proposals at the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) and World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). Mozilla is also developing products that respect user privacy and exploring ways to support other businesses in achieving these goals. The ultimate goal is to balance commercial profit and public benefit, leading to an open, healthy internet that protects privacy and access while encouraging innovation and rewarding creativity.
Cognitive Load is what matters:
The article discusses the importance of reducing cognitive load for software developers, emphasizing that it affects the time and money spent on understanding code. It provides various practical examples and explains how to reduce cognitive load by simplifying code and avoiding extraneous complexity. The article concludes by reminding developers to prioritize reducing unnecessary cognitive load in their code for better overall productivity and understanding.
Windows 11 vs. Ubuntu 24.10 Performance For Intel Core Ultra 7 Lunar Lake Review:
The article discusses the performance of Linux-based systems, specifically Ubuntu 24.10, in comparison with Microsoft Windows 11 on an Intel Lunar Lake powered ASUS Zenbook S 14 laptop. The results show that on average, Ubuntu 24.10 was around 14% faster than Windows 11 out-of-the-box. This performance is consistent with other Linux and AMD Ryzen hardware benchmarks where Ubuntu typically outperforms Windows. However, it is noted that Xe2 graphics were slower on Linux than Windows, which is being investigated in conjunction with Intel.
This article discusses the author's current thoughts on Rust, a programming language. The author touches upon various aspects of Rust such as its macros, type-classes, sum types, and error handling. They also mention concerns regarding unsafe usage in the language, the potential complexity of Rust compared to Haskell, and the introduction of async functions. Additionally, the article addresses the growing popularity of Rust for general programming purposes rather than just systems programming. The author concludes by expressing their personal decision not to use Rust for their own projects due to various reasons but acknowledges its potential as a replacement for single-threaded C if used with the standard library.
Kommentar zum VMware-Debakel: Hoch gepokert, leider verloren:
This article discusses the growing search for alternatives to vSphere and ESXi by companies unwilling to pay Broadcom's prices. Proxmox, based in Vienna, is presented as a logical alternative for those needing virtualization without having enough workload to justify building their own IaaS platform. The article argues that while migrating from VMware to Proxmox may be an actual upgrade due to its open-source nature, many companies are still drawn toward proprietary products like NetApp. The author suggests that the focus should be on embracing open standards and free software for IT infrastructure for long-term stability.
Practices of Reliable Software Design:
The article discusses eight practices adopted with experience for building fast, small in-memory caches. These include using off-the-shelf solutions when possible, prioritizing cost and reliability over features, quickly moving from idea to production, using simple data structures, reserving resources early, setting maximums, making testing easy, and embedding performance counters. The author shares experiences and insights gained through years of software engineering for building efficient caches with these practices.
Exclusive: BP abandons goal to cut oil output, resets strategy:
BP has abandoned its goal to cut oil output by 25% by 2030, as CEO Murray Auchincloss seeks to regain investor confidence. The company has shifted its focus towards investments in the Middle East and the Gulf of Mexico to boost oil and gas production. BP continues to target net-zero emissions by 2050, but the immediate strategy is now focused on returns and profitable businesses, primarily in oil and gas.
How To Use an Emoji as a Favicon Easily:
Lea Verou developed an idea to use an emoji as a favicon, which is now possible due to browsers supporting SVG for favicons. To implement the idea, one can place an emoji inside an SVG <text> element and set it as the favicon. A demo project showcases this concept working in Firefox and Chrome, but not in Safari due to its limited support for „mask“ style icons in SVG. Other related concepts include Ada Rose Cannon's badge that can increment and Taylor Hunt's code for creating an SVG favicon based on the current Git branch name.
What Is LibreDrive | Hacker News:
This article discusses the usefulness of Makemkv and how it can convert BD or DVD files to a more convenient format, MKV. Users mention their experiences with various media players, such as VLC, which do not have region restrictions like Windows Media Player. The conversation then shifts towards LibreDrive, which could potentially allow users to read data from old and broken CDROM and DVD devices more reliably. Some legal concerns are raised about the distribution of this type of software, but others argue that it may not necessarily be a violation depending on the user's location and nationality.
What is LibreDrive? - www.makemkv.com:
A LibreDrive is a mode of operation for optical disc drives (DVD, Blu-ray, or UHD) that allows data on the disc to be accessed directly without restrictions or transformations enforced by drive firmware. This requires a compatible drive to read UHD discs. The LibreDrive eliminates the complex set of rules governing disc access and instead functions as a „primitive“ device that positions the laser, reads, and decodes data from the disc, providing users with complete control over their optical drives' functionality.
Who died and left the US $7 billion?:
The US Treasury Department recorded an estate-tax payment of $7 billion on February 28, 2023, which has led to speculation about the identity of the deceased individual and their wealth. This mysterious case highlights the complexities of determining true wealth in today's capitalist society. Thomas Piketty's work suggests that Forbes' list of ultra-wealthy individuals may not be accurate, as it is challenging to know the extent of billionaires' wealth. The estate tax has become optional for many estates, with some using advanced planning and philanthropic contributions to minimize its impact.
Possible explanations for the $7 billion payment include a deceased individual who had no heirs or who had disputes within their family. The identity of the person behind the large tax payment remains unknown. The estate tax is an important tool in the politics of taxation, with conservatives opposing it and progressives advocating for increased regulation on inherited wealth. As tax policies evolve, so does the landscape of billionaires' wealth management strategies.
An unbroken night’s sleep is a myth. Here’s what good sleep looks like:
A good night's sleep involves moving through different stages of sleep throughout the night and experiencing brief awakenings during these cycles. It is normal for adults to go through five or six sleep cycles in a night, each lasting around 90 minutes. Good sleep should allow for falling asleep quickly, staying asleep without waking up too often, and feeling rested upon waking up. Sleep disorders such as insomnia and sleep apnea are common, affecting up to 25% of adults. If waking up in the night is interfering with daily activities or making it difficult to get up in the morning, it may be necessary to seek help from a healthcare professional. Sleep-tracking devices can provide rough estimates but should not replace discussions with a sleep specialist if concerns arise.
The article discusses the challenges faced by students in maintaining reading stamina due to various factors such as standardized testing and Common Core requirements. It argues that the simplistic blame placed on these factors is misplaced, and suggests that a more nuanced approach is needed to understand and address this issue. The author highlights the importance of engaging students in diverse and representative literature that reflects their interests and experiences, as well as considering the impact of language evolution on reading comprehension and comfort. It emphasizes the need for educators to create space for the joy and curiosity of reading while also teaching students how to read for fun versus academic purposes.
Autobestand wächst schneller als Bevölkerung:
The number of vehicles in Germany continues to grow, with almost every region seeing an increase in cars per 1000 inhabitants compared to ten years ago. Berlin is the only state where the number of cars has decreased since 2014. In January 2024, there were 580 cars per 1000 inhabitants, which is two more than in 2023 and 37 more than in 2014. The Saarland had the highest number of vehicles per 1000 inhabitants with 655, followed by Rheinland-Pfalz and Bavaria. All eastern German states have a lower car density compared to western ones.
Mordstatistik nach Geschlecht:
In diesem Artikel wird berichtet, dass weltweit 78,7% der Mordopfer Männer sind und in 193 von 202 untersuchten Ländern oder Regionen mehr Männer getötet werden als Frauen. Es gibt auch eine Statistik zum Verhältnis von Männern und Frauen im Verbrechen. In den letzten 4 Jahren waren die Fällen, bei denen das Verhältnis 50:50 betrug (Schweiz und Britische Jungferninseln) und in den verbleibenden Ländern 66.7%-89.0%
Die Global Study of the United Nations Office for Drug and Crime from 2000 found that men made up about 96% of all murderers worldwide and 79% of victims (see table below). The murder rate per year is 100,000 inhabitants.
In this article, it is reported that globally 78.7% of murder victims are men and in 193 out of 202 investigated countries or regions, more men than women were killed. There is also a discussion on the percentage of men and women involved in crime. In the last 4 years, there have been cases where the ratio was 50:50 (Switzerland and British Virgin Islands) and in the remaining 87 countries-Tonga, Iceland, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Latvia, Hong Kong-the percentage of men and women killed was approximately equal.
This article discusses how personal websites have become increasingly complex due to software engineers' preferences for using CMS platforms like Wordpress, despite the ease and simplicity of static HTML sites. The author argues that making web development more accessible could help society and make the web a more interesting place by involving a wider range of people.
China-linked group Salt Typhoon hacked US broadband providers and breached wiretap systems:
The Wall Street Journal has reported that a group tied to the Chinese government, known as Salt Typhoon or FamousSparrow and GhostEmperor, breached U.S. broadband providers such as Verizon, AT&T, and Lumen Technologies in 2024. This poses a significant national security risk, as experts believe that the threat actors were aimed at gathering intelligence. The Salt Typhoon group targeted surveillance systems used by the US government to investigate crimes and threats to national security. Intelligence experts warn that Chinese cyber efforts could enable disruptive attacks during potential future conflicts, with security breaches like this becoming increasingly prevalent.
Want Growth? Kill Small Businesses:
This article discusses the relationship between firm size and productivity in developing countries. The basic point is that larger companies are not inherently better; instead, it depends on industry factors and lack of capital investment. Developing countries often have a higher number of businesses due to limited resources. It is essential for these countries to develop their industries and provide access to resources and capital in order to grow economically. Adopting free markets has proven successful in many cases, as it encourages wealth creation and prosperity.
Want Growth? Kill Small Businesses—Asterisk:
The randomized controlled trial (RCT) has revolutionized development economics and international aid policy by allowing researchers to test the effectiveness of interventions such as cash transfers or malaria protection nets on recipients' well-being. RCT pioneers, Esther Duflo, Abhijit Banerjee, and Michael Kremer, won the Nobel Prize in Economics in 2019 for their work with RCTs. However, skeptics argue that RCTs may distort policymakers' focus away from addressing hard problems in underfunded schools or poverty-stricken countries towards technocratic questions.
Development economists are now searching for a „missing middle“ - interventions likely to impact growth while having a strong evidence base and being easily implementable. One such approach involves firms in developing countries, where researchers have studied the impact of economic policies on companies within countries without making messy cross-country comparisons or using RCTs. This allows for more credible prescriptions and sharp policy recommendations.
Five key takeaways from firm growth studies are: 1. Firms in developing countries are smaller, stagnant, and self-employment is prevalent. 2. Small market size and information frictions constrain firm growth. 3. Developing country firms do not use advanced technologies or management practices. 4. Exporting internationally helps firms learn frontier techniques and become more productive. 5. Making businesses big is an effective intervention for boosting economic growth.
The costs of the i386 to x86-64 upgrade:
The article discusses the evolution of computer memory from 8-bit processors to 64-bit processors and how the growth in program size has not always been a net positive in performance terms. It explains code density, address spaces, L1 thrashing, CISC vs. RISC architectures, and the switch to 32 bits. The article also compares LP32 (x86-32) and LP64 (x86-64) programming models and x32 ABI (x86-64-Linux-gnu-x32). While LP64 is the predominant choice for 64-bit processors, it does not necessarily mean better performance. The article suggests that focusing on data density rather than code size may have a more significant impact on overall system performance.
Stalking und Partnerschaftsgewalt - Wenn Männer zu Opfern werden:
This article discusses the issue of men experiencing stalking and relationship violence, and highlights that there are not enough counseling centers and shelters specifically for men in Germany. According to a full-scale survey, three-quarters of Germans believe that stalking and domestic violence against men are not taken seriously enough. The article also mentions the Netflix series „Baby Reindeer“, which has led to an increase in young men seeking help from counseling centers for abusive relationships in the UK. In Germany, however, there are not enough specialized counseling centers for male victims of violence. The article also states that many men do not seek help due to traditional gender roles and the fear of being seen as weak. There are currently only around a dozen men's shelters in Germany.
Studenten identifizieren Passanten mit Metas Smart-Brille:
Meta's Ray Ban Smart Glasses were used by two Harvard students to identify people on the street in real-time using facial recognition technology. The students utilized a computer program that streamed their visual field live on Instagram and searched public databases for names, addresses, phone numbers, and relatives. Meta's glasses are designed to provide augmented reality functionality in everyday life but may also raise privacy concerns.
The article discusses the concept of logical clocks for distributed systems to create a partial or total ordering of events when physical time is unreliable. Logical clocks assign numbers (timestamps) to events in a system, allowing them to be ordered based on their timestamps. Using a set of processes and their events, the article explores how logical clocks can be implemented in Python and used to order previously unrelated events.
Two Generals and Time Machines:
The Two Generals' Problem is an unsolvable problem in distributed systems concerning reaching consensus over a lossy network. It involves two generals, Alice and Bob, who need to agree on whether to attack or retreat against General Eve's army. This issue arises because messages sent between them can be burned by General Eve without her opening the envelope. The problem is inherently unsolvable due to its nature of uncertain message delivery, leading to an infinite cycle of uncertainty in decisions. Therefore, there does not exist an algorithm that guarantees consensus in this scenario.
Two Generals and Time Machines:
The Two Generals' Problem is an unsolvable problem in distributed systems concerning reaching consensus over a lossy network. It involves two generals, Alice and Bob, who need to decide whether to attack or retreat from enemy General Eve's army. Their communication is limited to enveloped messages sent through the mail, which can be intercepted and burned by Eve. The Two Generals' Problem is impossible to solve due to uncertainties in message delivery and lack of guaranteed consensus among the generals.
An Illustrated Proof of the CAP Theorem:
The CAP Theorem states that any distributed system can have at most two of the three properties: consistency, availability, and partition tolerance. A distributed system is a network of servers that communicate with each other and with external clients. Consistency ensures that reads return the latest value after a write operation; availability guarantees that every request received by a non-failing node results in a response; and partition tolerance enables the system to function correctly despite arbitrary network partitions. The CAP Theorem proves that it's impossible for a distributed system to be consistent, available, and partition tolerant simultaneously, as demonstrated through an example of a simple distributed system.
LongWriter: Unleashing 10,000+ Word Generation From Long Context LLMs:
This article discusses LongWriter, an open-source project that enables the generation of over 10,000 words from long context LLMs. It provides two models, LongWriter-glm4-9b and LongWriter-llama3.1-8b, which can be deployed using either transformers or vllm. The project also introduces AgentWrite, a tool for automated ultra-long output data construction, and provides evaluation benchmarks, LongBench-Write and LongWrite-Ruler. Lastly, the article mentions a citation for the LongWriter project.
What's New in Ruby on Rails 8 | AppSignal Blog:
The first Rails 8 beta has been released with new features, bug fixes, and improvements, building on the foundation of Rails 7.2. Key highlights include an integration with Kamal 2 for hassle-free deployments, the introduction of Propshaft as the new default asset pipeline, and extensive ActiveRecord enhancements. Rails 8 also brings several SQLite integration upgrades that make it a viable option for production use. Some other features include simpler deployments by reducing the number of additional services needed to implement common web application requirements, leaner Rails deployments with Solid Adapters, SQLite being ready for production, and various enhancements in Active Record.
Google Will Track Your Location ‘Every 15 Minutes’—‘Even With GPS Disabled’:
A report by Cybernews suggests that Google's Pixel 9 Pro XL phones may be secretly transmitting data to Google's servers every 15 minutes, even with GPS disabled. The data includes location, email address, phone number, network status, and other telemetry, which is sent to various Google endpoints. Cybernews claims that the device periodically contacts endpoints for features users did not explicitly consent to. While there are security risks associated with this practice, it appears that the data is only being shared within Google's ecosystem and no third parties have been involved.
How private intelligence companies became the new spymasters:
This article discusses how computers have infiltrated every aspect of life, leading to an increase in digital surveillance and data collection. In 2014, Dan Geer, a computer security analyst, predicted that everyone could see what only intelligence officers once could, which is now being realized. An episode from 2021 demonstrated this when CCTV cameras in Taiwan and South Korea were found to be communicating with the Indian power grid, highlighting the change in what it means to be an intelligence officer. The article explores how digital technology has enabled covert actions on a large scale and that private companies are now playing a significant role in cyber-security operations. It also discusses how the internet and deep web have caused a blurring of secrets, making intelligence more democratic.
Private Equity Ruins Tech Companies:
The article discusses the impact of private equity firms on tech companies, particularly open source ones, and how their focus on short-term profitability can lead to negative consequences such as mass layoffs, reduced benefits, and wholesale outsourcing. Open source communities are vulnerable to this model due to their delicate ecosystems of volunteer contributors and transparent governance. Acquisitions by private equity firms have been linked to a decline in open source projects' health and sustainability. The article suggests supporting companies like WordPress that prioritize long-term values and leadership.
Japan's Cat Island Won’t Survive Much Longer:
Aoshima, a Japanese island commonly known as Cat Island due to its large number of feline inhabitants, is facing a potential decline in tourism and may even see the end of its ferry service. The number of cats on the island has been gradually decreasing, with no kittens born since spaying and neutering was carried out in 2018. As tourist numbers dwindle, the future of Cat Island is uncertain; when the current „Cat Mama,“ a 73-year-old resident who cares for most of the felines, grows old or leaves, it may signal the end of Aoshima's popularity as a tourist destination.
O Captain! My Captain! – Wikipedia:
The article discusses the poem „O Captain! My Captain!“ written by American poet Walt Whitman in 1865 as a tribute to assassinated President Abraham Lincoln. The poem was included in Whitman's anthology Sequel to Drum-Taps and later in his Leaves of Grass collection. It conveys the emotions surrounding Lincoln's death and the end of the American Civil War, with themes of victory and mourning. The poem has been referenced in various films, TV series, and musical works, and has become a symbol of respect and grief for important figures who have passed away.
Do not use secrets in environment variables and here's how to do it better:
We developers often use environment variables to store application configuration and sensitive information like secrets. This practice is easy but not secure or a best practice. Environment variables can be easily leaked in .env files, logs, process lists, and build arguments. Leaking sensitive data in these ways poses significant security risks and compliance issues, such as difficulty managing, rotating, or auditing secrets. To better manage secrets, consider using a secrets store or secrets management service, which separates application configuration from secret data and provides more secure ways to fetch and manage sensitive information.
This article introduces Decoding Bitcoin, a resource for understanding bitcoin, privacy, and decentralization. It covers various modules, such as scripts, keys, addresses, wallets, and transactions. Users can also join the community on Discord to ask questions and connect with others.
TODO
Putin’s ‘Merchant of Death’ Is Back in the Arms Business. This Time Selling to the Houthis.:
Viktor Bout, the Russian arms dealer known as the „Merchant of Death,“ is reportedly brokering a small arms sale to Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi militants. Bout spent decades selling Soviet-made weapons in Africa, South America, and the Middle East before being arrested in 2008. Since his release in a prisoner swap with the U.S., he has joined a pro-Kremlin far-right party and won a seat in a local assembly in 2023. The potential arms transfers would stop short of the sale of Russian antiship or antiair missiles that could pose a significant threat to the U.S. military's efforts to protect international shipping from Houthi attacks, but even small arms shipments to the Houthis would be opposed by Washington.
ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, has launched its own web crawler or scraper bot called Bytespider in April, according to research from Kasada. The bot is reportedly one of the most aggressive scrapers on the internet, scraping data at a rate much higher than other major companies such as Google, Meta, Amazon, OpenAI, and Anthropic. ByteDance's aggressive scraping comes despite the possibility of TikTok being banned in the U.S due to national security concerns.
This article discusses the content-visibility CSS property, which aims to improve rendering performance by allowing browsers to skip rendering invisible content. By using this property, content that is not visible on the screen can be skipped during the initial loading process, resulting in shorter load times and faster interactions with page content. The article also provides examples of implementing content-visibility to achieve significant performance gains, particularly during the start-up phase when most rendering and layout work takes place.
Hetzner Object Storage | Hacker News:
The article discusses the availability of native object storage in Hetzner Cloud and compares it with other cloud providers such as Amazon S3, Backblaze B2 buckets, and Linode. Hetzner's object storage is currently in beta mode with some limitations like 1 Gbit/s limit per bucket and 10 buckets for all projects. The article mentions the different prices of various cloud services, highlighting that Hetzner's pricing is competitive but not revolutionary.
Linux-Malware "Perfctl" befällt offenbar schon seit Jahren Linux-Server:
Eine ausgeklügelte Malware namens „Perfctl“ befällt massenweise Linux-Server mit falschen Konfigurationen, um diese heimlich als Proxyserver und für Cryptomining zu nutzen. Das Schadprogramm kann auch als Loader für weitere unerwünschte Programme fungieren. Es hat vermutlich seit 2021 im Umlauf und hat wahrscheinlich bereits Millionen von Servern attackiert. Die Malware sucht nach rund 20.000 verschiedenen Arten von Fehlkonfigurationen, welche Linux-Server potenziell aufweisen können. Sie kommuniziert über TOR-Server und nutzt Polkit-Schwachstellen auszunutzen. Ein typisches erstes Symptom für die Malware ist eine enorm hohe CPU-Auslastung von nahezu 100 Prozent.
Microsoft 365: Fieser Word-Bug löscht Dateien beim Speichern:
A bug in Microsoft Word is causing data loss when saving documents with certain criteria. The issue occurs only if the file name has a sharp (#) or if the file extension consists of uppercase letters (.DOCX, .RTF). When users save an unsaved document over a security prompt and the file meets these conditions, it gets unexpectedly deleted. This can be fixed by saving the file manually before closing Word or enabling „Don't show the Backstage when opening or saving files using keyboard shortcuts“ in the File > Options > Save menu. Microsoft is investigating the issue but does not provide a timeline for a fix.
Ecovacs Deebot: Saugroboter sammeln Aufnahmen für KI-Training:
Ecovacs suction robot Deebot is reportedly gathering photos and videos from its users' homes to train their AI models. Users may not be aware that they are consenting to this data collection when agreeing to help the company „improve product functions and quality.“ The data is collected anonymously, but there is still concern over how well Ecovacs can protect user information from unauthorized access or misuse. In August, media attention was drawn to security vulnerabilities in some of Ecovacs' vacuum and mowing robots at the Defcon 32 hacker conference.
Flugtaxis: Wissing will Staatshilfe für Lilium bewilligen:
Lilium, a Munich-based eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) aircraft manufacturer, is in urgent need of funds. The company has requested the German government to provide a guarantee of 50 million euros. However, there are opposing views on this matter. It is reported that the company requires immediate additional capital to continue its operations and needs private investors to release their commitment of around 32 million euros once the decision from the German government regarding the guarantee is made. If the requested funds do not arrive, cost-cutting measures, including a significant reduction in business operations, could become necessary. Furthermore, an insolvency for Lilium and its subsidiaries cannot be ruled out. The company had initially planned to start commercial operations with electric air taxis on the Côte d'Azur in 2026 but has not yet flown with a passenger on board. It is currently estimated that Lilium will need up to $500 million until approval. Due to the current economic situation and high losses, there are doubts among politicians as to whether the German government should agree to the guarantee. This uncertainty is also partly due to private investors linking their contribution to the decision of the government.
Huawei Watch GT 5 Pro im Test： Ist die Akkulaufzeit wirklich so beeindruckend？ (Video):
This YouTube video discusses the Huawei Watch GT5 Pro smartwatch, comparing it to other models like the Apple Watch 10 and highlighting its key features. The watch is available in two sizes (42mm and 46mm) and four colors: ceramic white, rose gold, black, and silver. It weighs around 53 grams, has a Titanium build, and uses a 1.43-inch AMOLED display. The video focuses on the watch's battery life (up to 14 days of active use), sensors for health tracking (such as sleep monitoring, heart rate monitoring, blood oxygen level measurement, and temperature monitoring), and compatibility with Android devices through the Harmony OS system.
Some key points in the video include:
- The watch has a solid build quality with an elegant design
- It boasts impressive battery life with up to 14 days of usage on a single charge, even when using multiple features
- The Health app provides detailed data about sleep patterns and overall health, including suggestions for improvement
- Although limited in additional apps compared to Android phones, it is sufficient for essential daily tasks like messaging and controlling smart home devices
- Some users might find the Harmony OS operating system lacking in functionality compared to other mobile systems, but it performs well overall.
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