Month: January 2024
Alphabet’s Search Revenue Disappoints in Fourth Quarter
Google’s parent company reported that sales climbed 13 percent to $86.3 billion while profit jumped 52 percent.
Google’s parent company reported that sales climbed 13 percent to $86.3 billion while profit jumped 52 percent.
How to watch the CEOs of Meta, TikTok, Discord, Snap and X testify about child safety
The CEOs of five social media companies are headed to Washington to testify in a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing about child safety. The hearing will feature Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Snap CEO Evan Spiegel, TikTok CEO Shou Chew, Discord CEO Jason Citron and X CEO Linda Yaccarino.
The group will face off with lawmakers over their record on child exploitation and their efforts to protect teens using their services. The hearings will be live streamed beginning at 10 AM ET on Wednesday, January 31.
Though there have been previous hearings dedicated to teen safety, Wednesday’s event will be the first time Congress has heard directly from Spiegel, Yaccarino and Citron. It’s also only the second appearance for TikTok’s Chew, who was grilled by lawmakers about the app’s safety record and ties to China last year.
Zuckerberg, of course, is well-practiced at these hearings by now. But he will likely face particular pressure from lawmakers following a number of allegations about Meta’s safety practices that have come out in recent months as the result of a lawsuit from 41 state attorneys general. Court documents from the suit allege that Meta turned a blind eye to children under 13 using its service, did little to stop adults from sexually harassing teens on Facebook and that Zuckerberg personally intervened to stop an effort to ban plastic surgery filters on Instagram.
As with previous hearings with tech CEOs, it’s unclear what meaningful policy changes might come from their testimony. Lawmakers have proposed a number of bills dealing with online safety and child exploitation, though none have been passed into law. However, there is growing bipartisan support for measures that would shield teens from algorithms and data gathering and implement parental consent requirements.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/how-to-watch-the-ceos-of-meta-tiktok-discord-snap-and-x-testify-about-child-safety-214210385.html?src=rss
The CEOs of five social media companies are headed to Washington to testify in a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing about child safety. The hearing will feature Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Snap CEO Evan Spiegel, TikTok CEO Shou Chew, Discord CEO Jason Citron and X CEO Linda Yaccarino.
The group will face off with lawmakers over their record on child exploitation and their efforts to protect teens using their services. The hearings will be live streamed beginning at 10 AM ET on Wednesday, January 31.
Though there have been previous hearings dedicated to teen safety, Wednesday’s event will be the first time Congress has heard directly from Spiegel, Yaccarino and Citron. It’s also only the second appearance for TikTok’s Chew, who was grilled by lawmakers about the app’s safety record and ties to China last year.
Zuckerberg, of course, is well-practiced at these hearings by now. But he will likely face particular pressure from lawmakers following a number of allegations about Meta’s safety practices that have come out in recent months as the result of a lawsuit from 41 state attorneys general. Court documents from the suit allege that Meta turned a blind eye to children under 13 using its service, did little to stop adults from sexually harassing teens on Facebook and that Zuckerberg personally intervened to stop an effort to ban plastic surgery filters on Instagram.
As with previous hearings with tech CEOs, it’s unclear what meaningful policy changes might come from their testimony. Lawmakers have proposed a number of bills dealing with online safety and child exploitation, though none have been passed into law. However, there is growing bipartisan support for measures that would shield teens from algorithms and data gathering and implement parental consent requirements.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/how-to-watch-the-ceos-of-meta-tiktok-discord-snap-and-x-testify-about-child-safety-214210385.html?src=rss
iCloud Down: What’s happening and when will it return?
Some users can’t log into iCloud’s email service and some other apps
Apple’s iCloud service is encountering service disruptions across at least one of its major services, with users expressing their frustration on X (formerly Twitter), with some TechRadar staff being locked out as well.
So what’s going on and when will iCloud be back to full service? We’ve reached out to Apple for answers and are covering the outage so you can find out when you’ll be back to business as normal on Apple’s popular cloud service.
(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
Apple iCloud services are down for at least some of TechRadar’s US staff, with widespread reports online from frustrated users who cannot access Apple’s iCloud email server.
Users have taken to X (formerly Twitter) to express their frustration with the iCloud outage, with Downdetector reporting at least 1,499 reports of trouble as of 4:06PM EST.
Is anyone else iCloud email down?January 30, 2024
Anyone else having trouble with @apple #iCloud mail? 😕 sos I’m unreachable 😏January 30, 2024
(Image credit: Downdetector)
The major services that appear to be hit are iCloud mail, which Apple reports as a total outage, with some partial outages being reported for other apps.
Ok, who broke iCloud? https://t.co/xDlfldtKpL pic.twitter.com/nzRTtPzftOJanuary 30, 2024
(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
Apple iCloud services are down for at least some of TechRadar’s US staff, with widespread reports online from frustrated users who cannot access Apple’s iCloud email server.
Users have taken to X (formerly Twitter) to express their frustration with the iCloud outage, with Downdetector reporting at least 1,499 reports of trouble as of 4:06PM EST.
Is anyone else iCloud email down?January 30, 2024
Anyone else having trouble with @apple #iCloud mail? 😕 sos I’m unreachable 😏January 30, 2024
Users have taken to X (formerly Twitter) to express their frustration with the iCloud outage, with Downdetector reporting at least 1,499 reports of trouble as of 4:06PM EST.
Is anyone else iCloud email down?January 30, 2024
Anyone else having trouble with @apple #iCloud mail? 😕 sos I’m unreachable 😏January 30, 2024
(Image credit: Downdetector)
The major services that appear to be hit are iCloud mail, which Apple reports as a total outage, with some partial outages being reported for other apps.
Ok, who broke iCloud? https://t.co/xDlfldtKpL pic.twitter.com/nzRTtPzftOJanuary 30, 2024
Apple Stops Signing iOS 17.2.1, Downgrading No Longer Possible
Apple today stopped signing the iOS 17.2.1 update, preventing iPhone users from downgrading to that version of iOS going forward. iOS 17.2.1 is no longer being signed following the January 22 release of iOS 17.3, which introduced Stolen Device Protection for the iPhone and other changes.
It is not unusual that iOS 17.2.1 is no longer being signed. Apple routinely stops signing older versions of iOS after new releases in order to encourage customers to keep their operating systems up to date and to prevent users from downgrading to older, less secure versions of the iPhone operating system.
Along with iOS 17.2.1, Apple has stopped signing iPadOS 17.2 for the iPad, and the older 15.8 and 16.7.4 versions of iOS and iPadOS for devices unable to run iOS 17.
Apple is already testing iOS 17.4, a major update that is set to come out in March.This article, “Apple Stops Signing iOS 17.2.1, Downgrading No Longer Possible” first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums
Apple today stopped signing the iOS 17.2.1 update, preventing iPhone users from downgrading to that version of iOS going forward. iOS 17.2.1 is no longer being signed following the January 22 release of iOS 17.3, which introduced Stolen Device Protection for the iPhone and other changes.
It is not unusual that iOS 17.2.1 is no longer being signed. Apple routinely stops signing older versions of iOS after new releases in order to encourage customers to keep their operating systems up to date and to prevent users from downgrading to older, less secure versions of the iPhone operating system.
Along with iOS 17.2.1, Apple has stopped signing iPadOS 17.2 for the iPad, and the older 15.8 and 16.7.4 versions of iOS and iPadOS for devices unable to run iOS 17.
Apple is already testing iOS 17.4, a major update that is set to come out in March.
This article, “Apple Stops Signing iOS 17.2.1, Downgrading No Longer Possible” first appeared on MacRumors.com
Discuss this article in our forums
8081.io announces the prelaunch of its automated trading platform for cryptocurrency
San Francisco, California, January 30th, 2024, FinanceWire 8081.io Redefines Crypto Trading with Advanced AI/ML Automation In a landmark development, 8081.io, a leader in cryptocurrency trading automation, today announced the pre-launch of its state-of-the-art automated trading platform. Armed with advanced AI/ML technology, this
The post 8081.io announces the prelaunch of its automated trading platform for cryptocurrency first appeared on TechStartups.
San Francisco, California, January 30th, 2024, FinanceWire 8081.io Redefines Crypto Trading with Advanced AI/ML Automation In a landmark development, 8081.io, a leader in cryptocurrency trading automation, today announced the pre-launch of its state-of-the-art automated trading platform. Armed with advanced AI/ML technology, this […]
The post 8081.io announces the prelaunch of its automated trading platform for cryptocurrency first appeared on TechStartups.
Ars Technica used in malware campaign with never-before-seen obfuscation
Vimeo also used by legitimate user who posted booby-trapped content.
Enlarge (credit: Getty Images)
Ars Technica was recently used to serve second-stage malware in a campaign that used a never-before-seen attack chain to cleverly cover its tracks, researchers from security firm Mandiant reported Tuesday.
A benign image of a pizza was uploaded to a third-party website and was then linked with a URL pasted into the “about” page of a registered Ars user. Buried in that URL was a string of characters that appeared to be random—but were actually a payload. The campaign also targeted the video-sharing site Vimeo, where a benign video was uploaded and a malicious string was included in the video description. The string was generated using a technique known as Base 64 encoding. Base 64 converts text into a printable ASCII string format to represent binary data. Devices already infected with the first-stage malware used in the campaign automatically retrieved these strings and installed the second stage.
Not typically seen
“This is a different and novel way we’re seeing abuse that can be pretty hard to detect,” Mandiant researcher Yash Gupta said in an interview. “This is something in malware we have not typically seen. It’s pretty interesting for us and something we wanted to call out.”
NY attorney general files lawsuit against Citibank for failing to protect customers from online fraud
New York Attorney General Letitia James has initiated a lawsuit against Citibank, citing the bank’s inadequate response to protecting its
The post NY attorney general files lawsuit against Citibank for failing to protect customers from online fraud appeared first on ReadWrite.
New York Attorney General Letitia James has initiated a lawsuit against Citibank, citing the bank’s inadequate response to protecting its customers from online fraud and its refusal to reimburse those who suffered financial losses due to unauthorized transactions.
The lawsuit accuses Citibank of violating the Electronic Fund Transfer Act (EFTA), which requires financial institutions to refund customers for losses incurred through unauthorized electronic transactions. This legal requirement is akin to the protections offered to victims of credit or debit card fraud under similar circumstances.
According to Bleeping Computer, the investigation led by Attorney General James into Citibank’s security protocols revealed several flaws. Notably, the bank’s systems were ineffective in identifying and responding to warning signs of fraudulent activity, such as logins from unfamiliar devices or locations, or changes in user banking details. The bank also reportedly failed to adequately monitor and prevent the consolidation of funds from various accounts into a single one, facilitating the rapid movement of stolen money by fraudsters.
Customers reporting fraudulent activities to Citibank experienced significant delays, which provided scammers with additional time to transfer funds out of their reach. Furthermore, Citibank representatives are alleged to have misled customers by assuring them of the safety of their funds and promising reimbursement, without taking prompt action to resolve the issues.
The lawsuit seeks to put an end to Citibank’s alleged deceptive practices and aims to secure compensation for victims who were denied reimbursement over the past six years, in addition to demanding penalties and disgorgement. This legal challenge follows Attorney General James’s previous efforts to encourage major banks to eliminate overdraft fees for consumer accounts.
In response to the allegations, Citibank has defended its practices, stating its adherence to relevant laws and regulations concerning wire transfers. The bank emphasized to Bleeping Computer its commitment to preventing and addressing threats to its clients and highlighted its ongoing investment in fraud prevention technologies to enhance the security of client accounts against evolving cyber threats.
The post NY attorney general files lawsuit against Citibank for failing to protect customers from online fraud appeared first on ReadWrite.
Microsoft Reports 33% Rise in Profit
Revenue was up 18% in the latest quarter, the tech giant said, as investors look for signs that it’s beginning to profit from artificial intelligence.
Revenue was up 18% in the latest quarter, the tech giant said, as investors look for signs that it’s beginning to profit from artificial intelligence.
Some suggested events for Peter Thiel’s all-drug Olympics
I have some proposed enhancements. | Kristen Radtke / The Verge; Getty Images
In a case of life imitating Saturday Night Live, Peter Thiel has invested in a seed round of the Enhanced Games, which describes itself as “the modern reinvention of the Olympic Games that does not have drug testing.”
It does seem to go a little beyond just not testing, though, at least judging by the press release. The investors “see the vision of a new model of sports, that openly celebrates scientific innovation and honestly represents the use of performance enhancements in sports today,” said Aron D’Souza, president of the Enhanced Games, in the statement. Thiel himself certainly has no problem backing medical experiments.
The release says some weird things about not burdening taxpayers because it’s a private company, which made me laugh pretty hard, given the history of privately owned teams demanding taxpayer-funded stadiums. In fairness to the Enhanced Games, their initial focuses appear to be track and field, swimming, gymnastics, weight lifting, and “combat sports,” which have less of a history of strong-arming the public than, let’s say, baseball or football. Of course, that may simply be because those sports are less popular!
I am not going to ask too many questions about the legality of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs); many are legal with a prescription, anyway. (Laws and enforcement also vary by country.) There are some health risks involved with PEDs, as there are with all drugs. The Enhanced Games attempts to allay this concern by noting it will do extensive medical checks before events, which seems wise; having an athlete’s arms fall off during competition would be, at minimum, bad press.
Personally, I don’t especially care what adults do with their bodies, drug-wise. I do think, however, the Enhanced Games is missing out on some chances to innovate. Here are some of my proposals:
Drunken horseshoes. This is a fine American pastime enjoyed by many people — it just needs to be formalized. In order to play, participants must have a blood alcohol level that renders them unable to drive; they must additionally hold a can of beer as ballast while they throw. Optional cornhole division for Midwesterners.
Bong hit high jump. Just what it sounds like: athletes must take a tremendous rip off the bong before attempting to jump as high as possible.
LSD-enhanced no-hitter. I recognize this would require the participation of baseball players, but surely Dock Ellis can’t be the only person in history capable of this spectacular feat. The pitcher is dosed; everyone else is sober. Can the pitcher pull it off?
Podcast hosting. Participants will be rated by a panel of five judges on a 1–10 scale of (a) neck size relative to head, (b) facial redness, (c) quality of temper tantrums, (d) visible forehead veins, and (e) ability to converse with guests. Each 60-minute podcast session will be focused on supplements and nootropics, obviously, but watch out for the Russian judge! He doesn’t like to give 10s and is a stickler for form in the temper tantrum.
The point of testing for PEDs in sports is, as I understand it, to provide an equal playing field for athletes who can’t or won’t use them. (Russia even ran state-sponsored doping programs, which certainly feels like an unfair advantage against smaller competitors.) But detection and enforcement have been decidedly uneven. Who knows? Maybe the Enhanced Games will draw the PED users away from other sports, leaving the athletes who prefer to work clean better able to showcase their own abilities.
I have some proposed enhancements. | Kristen Radtke / The Verge; Getty Images
In a case of life imitating Saturday Night Live, Peter Thiel has invested in a seed round of the Enhanced Games, which describes itself as “the modern reinvention of the Olympic Games that does not have drug testing.”
It does seem to go a little beyond just not testing, though, at least judging by the press release. The investors “see the vision of a new model of sports, that openly celebrates scientific innovation and honestly represents the use of performance enhancements in sports today,” said Aron D’Souza, president of the Enhanced Games, in the statement. Thiel himself certainly has no problem backing medical experiments.
The release says some weird things about not burdening taxpayers because it’s a private company, which made me laugh pretty hard, given the history of privately owned teams demanding taxpayer-funded stadiums. In fairness to the Enhanced Games, their initial focuses appear to be track and field, swimming, gymnastics, weight lifting, and “combat sports,” which have less of a history of strong-arming the public than, let’s say, baseball or football. Of course, that may simply be because those sports are less popular!
I am not going to ask too many questions about the legality of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs); many are legal with a prescription, anyway. (Laws and enforcement also vary by country.) There are some health risks involved with PEDs, as there are with all drugs. The Enhanced Games attempts to allay this concern by noting it will do extensive medical checks before events, which seems wise; having an athlete’s arms fall off during competition would be, at minimum, bad press.
Personally, I don’t especially care what adults do with their bodies, drug-wise. I do think, however, the Enhanced Games is missing out on some chances to innovate. Here are some of my proposals:
Drunken horseshoes. This is a fine American pastime enjoyed by many people — it just needs to be formalized. In order to play, participants must have a blood alcohol level that renders them unable to drive; they must additionally hold a can of beer as ballast while they throw. Optional cornhole division for Midwesterners.
Bong hit high jump. Just what it sounds like: athletes must take a tremendous rip off the bong before attempting to jump as high as possible.
LSD-enhanced no-hitter. I recognize this would require the participation of baseball players, but surely Dock Ellis can’t be the only person in history capable of this spectacular feat. The pitcher is dosed; everyone else is sober. Can the pitcher pull it off?
Podcast hosting. Participants will be rated by a panel of five judges on a 1–10 scale of (a) neck size relative to head, (b) facial redness, (c) quality of temper tantrums, (d) visible forehead veins, and (e) ability to converse with guests. Each 60-minute podcast session will be focused on supplements and nootropics, obviously, but watch out for the Russian judge! He doesn’t like to give 10s and is a stickler for form in the temper tantrum.
The point of testing for PEDs in sports is, as I understand it, to provide an equal playing field for athletes who can’t or won’t use them. (Russia even ran state-sponsored doping programs, which certainly feels like an unfair advantage against smaller competitors.) But detection and enforcement have been decidedly uneven. Who knows? Maybe the Enhanced Games will draw the PED users away from other sports, leaving the athletes who prefer to work clean better able to showcase their own abilities.