Tech Talk Thursdays

Tech

• Most states halt use of Google and Apple's COVID-19 exposure notification system
• TikTok ban: First US state approves bill with $10,000 fines …

Tech

• Buffett says Apple is the best business Berkshire owns; users would give up a 2nd car before iPhone
• Apple Announces Final Cut Pro and Logic …

Tech

• You can now use passkeys to sign into your Google Account
• Study reveals top 20 most used passwords; 83% can be cracked in a second - 9to5Mac

Tech

• Hackers reportedly holding Western Digital data hostage - The Verge
• LockBit ransomware gang appears to be targeting Macs for the first time

Tech

• AI can crack most passwords faster than you can read this article | PCWorld
• Meet PassGAN, the supposedly “terrifying” AI password cracker …

Tech

• General Motors to Phase Out Apple CarPlay Starting This Year in EV Transition - MacRumors
• Twitter takes its algorithm ‘open-source,’ as Elon …

Tech

• Amazon’s latest layoffs cut 9,000 more jobs in divisions including Twitch and AWS - The Verge
• Apple further cracks down on remote work by …

Tech

• Samsung caught faking zoom photos of the Moon - The Verge
• Samsung responds to fake Moon controversy - The Verge
• Discord promises outraged …

Tech

• Florida bill would make bloggers who write about governor register with state
• Thousands scammed by AI voices mimicking loved ones in …

Tech

• Twitter has reportedly laid off product manager Esther Crawford | Engadget
• Twitter Payments chief is out as layoffs cut 10% of Twitter staff, …

Tech

• Cloudflare wants to help you set up your own Mastodon server in ‘minutes’ - The Verge
• Reddit was hacked in a phishing attack targeting its …

Tech

Until further notice, think twice before using Google to download software
Google announces ChatGPT rival Bard, with wider availability in ‘coming weeks’ - The Verge
Microsoft’s ChatGPT-powered Bing is open for …

Tech

• 35,000 PayPal accounts breached, and users could've prevented it | PCWorld
• NVIDIA Broadcast will maintain eye contact even if you're looking …

Tech

• ChatGPT is enabling script kiddies to write functional malware | Ars Technica
• CNET has used an AI to write financial explainers nearly 75 …

Tech

• Twitter sued for not paying San Francisco office rent
• First LastPass, now Slack and CircleCI. The hacks go on (and will likely worsen) | Ars …

Tech

• Twitter Blue signups disappear a day after fakes and mayhem - The Verge
• Musk trolls senator demanding answers on Twitter fake-account scandal …

Tech

• Twitter is now an Elon Musk company - The Verge
• Elon Musk reportedly ordered company-wide layoffs at Twitter - The Verge
• Elon Musk’s …

Tech

• Apple store workers go on strike in Australia | Engadget
• Apple Announces 10th-Generation iPad With Complete Redesign, 10.9-Inch Display, …

Tech

• The iPhone 14 keeps calling 911 on rollercoasters
• Lufthansa says it is not banning AirTags from its flights despite tweets claiming otherwise
…

This week, we take a special detour to talk about:

• Steam Deck
• Intel ARC
• Overwatch 2
• Activision Blizzard King
• Stadia
• And so much more!

…

Tech

• Meta axes internal team responsible for asking 'are we the baddies?' | PC Gamer
• Twitter shareholders approve $44 billion Elon Musk buyout - …

Gaming

• Xperia Stream launched: A full-featured cooling system
• Ubisoft CEO defends company against criticism of reforms, but campaigners demand …

Tech

• New Google Play system update tells you when a data breach may have compromised your accounts
• Samsung says a data breach revealed some …

Tech

• Twitter Launches 'Twitter Circle' for Sharing Tweets With a Smaller Number of People
• Twitter starts testing an edit button, but you have to …

Tech

• MacBook Pro workers being paid significant bonuses after riot back in May
• Android 12 is running on over an eighth of all devices - 9to5Google
…

Tech

• TikTok Trend Debunked: No, Apple Is Not Giving Away Free AirPods - MacRumors
• Linus Torvalds uses an Arm-powered M2 MacBook Air to release …

Tech

• A multi-billion crypto lender just filed for bankruptcy
• The James Webb Telescope's hard drive can't store Warzone, but it will withstand the …

Tech

• Elon Musk Wants to Terminate $44 Billion Twitter Acquisition
• Twitter Sues Elon Musk to Force $44 Billion Merger - MacRumors
• Twitter’s new …

Tech

• Government developer leaves database credentials on an old blog post potentially causing the largest data hack in history | PC Gamer
• …

Tech

• Discord introduces new moderation tools, including automod | GamesIndustry.biz
• SpaceX fires at least five employees who criticised 'free …

Tech

• AirTag stalking cop charged and relieved of duty after ex-girlfriend heard anti-stalking alerts
• Grand Central Apple Store union efforts …

Tech

• iOS 16 Introduces Ability to Edit or Unsend iMessages
• iOS 16 Brings New Lock Screen Personalization Features, Including Widgets
• iOS 16 adds …

Tech

• Twitter pays $150M fine for using two-factor login details to target ads | Ars Technica
• Twitter shutting down TweetDeck for Mac on July 1, …

Tech

• Google releasing one last Pixel 3a and 3a XL update, arriving 'by July'
• Google can now remove search results that dox you without …

• Netflix blames 100M users without paid accounts for revenue and subscriber drop
• Decentralized Twitter alternative Mastodon officially arrives …

Tech

• Apple fixes multiple zero-day exploits with iOS 15.4.1 and macOS 12.3.1
• macOS 12.3.1 fixes bug affecting game controllers and other Bluetooth …

Tech

• AirTag stalking controversy leads Tile to add its own anti-stalking feature
• Digital sanctions against Russia could create a ‘splinternet,’ …

Tech

• Windows 11 gets a new tabbed interface for File Explorer
• YouTube Offers Up to $300,000 to Get Podcasters to Make Videos | Financial Post
• …

• Apple shareholders vote for third-party civil rights audits in contrast to board recommendation
• Apple announces new ‘Mac Studio’ desktop …

Tech

• Ransomware group claiming responsibility for Nvidia attack is hacked in turn
• Hacker group threatens to release bypass of Nvidia's hash rate …

Tech

- Verizon moves to 36-month payment contracts, ditching 24-month and 30-month plans

- Amazon Set to Increase Prime Membership Fee By 17% for US …

Tech

- Epic Games antitrust appeal gets support from White House - 9to5Mac

- Apple two-factor authentication feature now blocks SMS autofill for …

Tech

• Apple is no longer letting users stay on iOS 14 with security updates
• Apple Says Option to Stay on iOS 14 Was Always Meant to Be Temporary
• …

Tech

• Norton installs an Ethereum crypto miner with its 360 security suite | PC Gamer
• NORTON’S BUILT IN CRYPTOMINER EXTENDS TO AVIRA ANTIVRUS
• …

Tech

• AMD's Radeon vulnerability haul shows why you should always update your GPU drivers
• Rittenhouse mistrial motion filed, again with Apple tech …

Tech

• Twitter Blue Available in US for $3/Month, If You’re a Sucker
• Twitter announces new dedicated crypto team
• Discord teases NFT integration …

Tech

• Facebook's parent company is now named Meta
• Facebook is dropping the Oculus name after rebrand
• Facebook Shuttering Facial Recognition …

Tech

• Apple Releases Polishing Cloth for $19
• Fake YouTube Apple event stream draws 30k viewers before turning into crypto scam
• Governments …

FYI: This is an Animal Crossing episode. Needless to say, there will be plenty of distractions in between news stories!

Tech

• Shareholders have …

Tech

• Storage study finds SSDs might not be much more reliable than HDDs after all
• Apple TV+ 'Its the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown' to air on PBS …

Tech

• Twitter to Pay $809.5 Million to Settle Investor Class-Action Lawsuit
• Amazon Drivers Are Punished When Other People Cut Them Off: Report
• …

Tech

• Everything Announced at Today's Apple Event
• Apple fires engineering manager Ashley Gjøvik for allegedly violating company’s rules
• Epic vs …

• Facebook Apologizes After A.I. Puts ‘Primates’ Label on Video of Black Men
• ProtonMail under fire after giving authorities an activist's IP …

This week, we have a frank and honest discussion on why it isn't so easy to just leave Twitch.

If there are any topics you'd like to see covered, reach out to ttt@majorshouse.com or join the Discord at …

• Facebook adds end-to-end encryption to audio and video calls in Messenger
• 100M T-Mobile customers at risk from 'full personal data' hack
• …

• Privacy Whistleblower Edward Snowden and EFF Slam Apple's Plans to Scan Messages and iCloud Images
• Apple CSAM FAQ addresses misconceptions …

Tech

- Pocket Casts Has Been Acquired

- Report: active zero-click iMessage exploit in the wild targeting iPhones running the latest software, used against activists and journalists

- Apple defends iPhone security amid …

Tech

• Latest iOS 14.7 beta fixes bug that caused certain network names to disable your iPhone's Wi-Fi
• President Biden signs executive order calling …

• Popular Audacity audio app dubbed 'spyware' by users over policy changes from new owner
• Audacity under fire for a terms of service update
• …

Tech

• You should unplug your WD My Book Live immediately if you don't want to lose all your data
• Carrier caught injecting ‘SMS AD’ into Google …

Tech

• Biden abandons Trump's plan to ban TikTok, calls for broader security review instead
• TikTok privacy policy now references 'faceprints and …

• iPadOS limits iPad Pro power: apps only able to use up to 5 GB RAM each
  
• Have I Been Pwned teams up with the FBI to collect a lot more stolen …

Tech

• Windows 10 has a built-in ransomware block, you just need to enable it
• The “Twitter Blue” subscription plan will cost you $3 monthly but you …

• This panda hungers for your Steam and Discord logins
  
• Microsoft yanks a dodgy AMD driver that is bricking some Windows 10 PCs
  
• Instagram …

Tech

• NY AG report finds 18 million FCC net neutrality comments were fake
• PlayStation invests in Discord and plans integration with PSN in 2022
• …

Tech

- Intel and TSMC say chip shortage could last until 2022 or beyond

- Apple agrees to let Parler back on the App Store, citing improved moderation

Tech

• Apple admits that iMessage for Android was killed to keep its walled garden
• Tim Cook: Epic wants to turn the App Store into a 'flea market'

Tech

• Snap has tested workaround to App Tracking Transparency; 95% effective
• Personal data from over 500M Facebook users leaked online
• Mark …

Tech

• U.S. Carriers Fix SMS Routing Vulnerability That Let Hackers Hijack Texts
• New spyware on Android pretends to be a system update for your phone

Topics

Tech

• Cheaper, Ad-Supported HBO Max Subscription Launching in June
• Hackers hack at unhackable new chip for three months. Chip remains …

Topics

Tech

• The SolarWinds Hack Gets Worse, But Offers A Tiny Bit Of Amusement
• Twitter addresses sharing 30% cut with Apple for Super Follow
• Not …

• LastPass analytics code raises questions about potential security issues
• Instagram Live Now Supports Up to 4 People Simultaneously
• …

Topics

Tech

• Mark Zuckerberg Reportedly Told Staff Facebook Needs to 'Inflict Pain' on Apple Over Privacy Dispute
• NZXT is recalling 32,000 H1 PC …

• That Slack email you just got asking to reset your password is legit, not a scam
  
• Researcher Breaches Systems of Over 35 Companies, …

Topics

Tech

- Robinhood app controversy grows, with likely motive revealed

- Google salvaged Robinhood’s one-star rating by deleting nearly 100,000 negative reviews

- More Than a Dozen Apps With 'Misleading or Flat-Out …

Topics

Tech

• Twitter launches new 'Birdwatch' initiative to combat misinformation
• iOS 14.4 Patches Two Vulnerabilities That May Have Been Actively …

• Tom Cruise Buys COVID-Robots To Patrol Mission Impossible Set – Report
• Twitter plans for presidential transition; interactive Parler …

Topics

Tech

• Roku Acquires Rights to Quibi Content for Less Than $100 Million
• Twitter permanently suspends Trump's account over 'risk of further' …

Topics

Tech

• Over 100 million PCs still run Windows 7 a year after Microsoft ended support
• The Mandalorian Is 2020's Most Pirated Show
• Nvidia …

Topics

Tech

• FCC chairman Ajit Pai to resign next month after controversial four years under President Trump
• Salesforce to acquire Slack in $27.7 …

Topics

Tech

- Deeper look at Apple’s recent server outage reveals potential Mac privacy concerns

- United States military has been purchasing user location data from apps with millions of downloads

- Twitter’s …

Topics

Tech

- Solid, the privacy project created by web inventor, takes 1st step

- The EU may be looking into breaking end-to-end encrypted chats

- …

Topics

Tech

- Sony is paying almost one billion dollars to acquire some anime

- Apple TV app coming to Xbox One, Series X, and Series S next week

- …

Special Guest: IdiosynAnca (@IdiosynAnca)

The Weeb Closet: https://discord.gg/S3vQSbZjUU

Tech

- Google Pixel 4a Hands On/Review

- PSA: Contact tracing apps on iPhone 12 may need re-enabling

- YouTube introduces smart …

Tech

- Trump's Twitter hacked after Dutch researcher claims he guessed password – report

- 'Infamous' GravityRAT spyware now hits Macs as well as Windows

- Apple TV+ adding classic 'Charlie Brown' specials and new …

Topics

Tech

- Everything Apple announced during its October event: iPhone 12, HomePod mini, and more

- New Beats Flex Earphones Take BeatsX to the Next Level for Just $49.99

- For only the second time, security …

• GeForce RTX 3070 delayed until October 29
  
• MSI Subsidiary Caught Scalping RTX 3080, 3090 Cards on eBay
  
• T2 security chip on Macs can …

Topics

• Judge expects Epic vs. Apple trial in July 2021, says Epic was 'not honest' with its tactics
  
• Folding@home's COVID-19 research now …

Topics

Tech

- TikTok deal with Oracle and Walmart gets Trump's approval, judge blocks WeChat ban

- Epic Games, Spotify, and Tile Form 'Coalition for …

Topics

Tech

- 'Apple One' Bundles Introduced With Apple Music, Apple TV+ and More, Pricing Starts at $14.95/Month

- Apple Watch Series 6 Features New Watch Faces With Memoji, Stripes, and More

- Lower-Cost Apple Watch …

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