Audio player loading… Netflix seemingly hasn’t decided what its password-sharing rules should be, as it’s recently made changes to those rules, only to revert to its original ones almost immediately. If you’ve somehow missed it over the past year or so, Netflix has been saying that it wants to stop users from sharing their passwords . This is because, as the company sees things, these sharers are undermining its ability to invest in its platform and content – weakening its position as one of the best streaming services and reducing the amount it can invest in new best Netflix shows . But exactly how it will restrict password sharing may not yet have been finalized – with the rules seemingly changing and changing again in the span of a few days. On January 27, we shared an explanation of how Netflix will stop you from sharing passwords . The TL;DR is that Netflix will use device data and account users’ IP addresses to determine if they’re part of a household … [Read more...] about Even Netflix doesn’t know what its password-sharing rules should be
Communism
Enter the hunter satellites preparing for space war
Former US Air Force major Even “Jolly” Rogers is worried about a space war. “Conflict exists on a continuum that begins with competition and ultimately leads into full-scale conflict like what you’re seeing in Ukraine,” he says. The US, he adds, is already “in active competition with Russia and China for freedom of action and dominance of the space domain. And it’s evolving very quickly.” So on January 26 last year, the former US Air Force major incorporated True Anomaly, Inc to “solve the most challenging orbital warfare problems for the US Space Force,” he later tweeted . According to a recent filing with the US Federal Communication Commission (FCC), True Anomaly is now gearing up for its first orbital mission. In October, True Anomaly hopes to launch two Jackal “orbital pursuit” spacecraft aboard a SpaceX rocket to low earth orbit. The Jackals will not house guns, warheads, or laser blasters, but they will be capable of rendezvous proximity operations (RPO)—the ability to … [Read more...] about Enter the hunter satellites preparing for space war
This PoS malware blocks contactless payments to steal credit card data
Audio player loading… Cybersecurity researchers have spotted new versions of a known Point of Sale (PoS) malware (opens in new tab) that blocks advanced features to be able to steal credit card data. The team from Kaspersky observed the Prilex PoS malware versions 06.03.8070, 06.03.8072, and 06.03.8080, in the wild. These versions were released in November 2022, and prevent the terminal from accepting contactless credit card transactions. Contactless transactions, made possible due to near-field communication (NFC) chips found in both PoS terminals on one end, and credit/debit cards, smartphones and smart watches on the other, exploded in popularity during the Covid-19 pandemic. The technology allows consumers to purchase goods and services without actually inserting their credit cards, making it almost impossible for hackers to steal the data via PoS malware. Swiping away the data However to work around this issue, the threat actors deployed a new … [Read more...] about This PoS malware blocks contactless payments to steal credit card data
ISP admits lying to FCC about size of network to block funding to rivals
Ryan Grewell, who runs a small wireless Internet service provider in Ohio, last month received an email that confirmed some of his worst suspicions about cable companies. Grewell, founder and general manager of Smart Way Communications , had heard from some of his customers that the Federal Communications Commission's new broadband map falsely claimed fiber Internet service was available at their homes from another company called Jefferson County Cable. Those customer reports spurred Grewell to submit a number of challenges to the FCC in an attempt to correct errors in Smart Way's service area. One of Grewell's challenges elicited a response from Jefferson County Cable executive Bob Loveridge, who apparently thought Grewell was a resident at the challenged address rather than a competitor. "You challenged that we do not have service at your residence and indeed we don't today," Loveridge wrote in a January 9 email that Grewell shared with Ars. "With our huge investment in … [Read more...] about ISP admits lying to FCC about size of network to block funding to rivals
Anker’s Eufy admits unencrypted videos could be accessed, plans overhaul
After two months of arguing back and forth with critics about how so many aspects of its "No clouds" security cameras could be accessed online by security researchers, Anker smart home division Eufy has provided a lengthy explanation and promises to do better. In multiple responses to The Verge , which has repeatedly called out Eufy for failing to address key aspects of its security model, Eufy has plainly stated that video streams produced by its cameras could be accessed, unencrypted, through the Eufy web portal, despite messaging and marketing that suggested otherwise. Eufy also stated it would bring in penetration testers, commission an independent security researcher's report, create a bug bounty program, and better detail its security protocols. Prior to late November 2022, Eufy had enjoyed a distinguished place among smart home security providers. For those willing to trust any company with video feeds and other home data, Eufy marketed itself as offering "No Clouds or … [Read more...] about Anker’s Eufy admits unencrypted videos could be accessed, plans overhaul
After 16 years of freeware,
The month before Dwarf Fortress was released on Steam (and Itch.io ), the brothers Zach and Tarn Adams made $15,635 in revenue, mostly from donations for their 16-year freeware project. The month after the game's commercial debut, they made $7,230,123, or 462 times that amount. "The fairytale ending is reality, but you didn't kiss the toad," Zach Adams wrote on Bay 12 Games' forums . "You gave him money." He went on to write the kind of grateful response to fans you don't often see from game developers: The appreciation you give us is part of our being now. It carries us in the cars we drive. It sustains us as the food that we eat. There is now no longer any existence except the one that you have provided. When we pass from this world, you will be the reason we are remembered. Tarn Adams noted that "a little less than half will go to taxes," and that other people and expenses must be paid. But enough of it will reach the brothers themselves that "we've solved the main … [Read more...] about After 16 years of freeware,
The Best Portable Speakers of 2023
Table of Contents What to Look For in a Portable Speaker in 2023 Frequently Asked Questions Best Portable Speaker Overall: Sonos Move Best Budget Portable Speaker: DOSS SoundBox Touch Best Bluetooth Portable Speaker: JBL Charge 5 Best Waterproof Portable Speaker: Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3 Best Outdoor Portable Speaker: Sony SRS-XE300 Best Portable Speaker with Bass: JBL Boombox 3 Update, 01/27/2023: We’ve reviewed our recommendations and are confident these are still the best portable speakers you can buy. What to Look For in a Portable Speaker in 2023 Because portability is key, one of the first things you’ll want to consider while speaker shopping is size. On one hand, larger speakers tend to sound better and offer more volume, but they sacrifice some easy portability in the process. Likewise, smaller speakers may have less volume, but they’re far easier to carry. Weather resistance is another important factor when shopping for a portable speaker. … [Read more...] about The Best Portable Speakers of 2023
The Best Boomboxes of 2023
Table of Contents What to Look For in a Boombox in 2023 Best Boombox Overall: JBL Boombox 2 Best Budget Boombox: Jensen FM Stereo CD555 Best Bluetooth Boombox: Anker Soundcore Motion Boom Best Boombox With CD Player: Sony ZSRS60BT CD Boombox Best Vintage Boombox: Victrola 1980s Retro Bluetooth Boombox Update, 01/29/2023: We’ve reviewed our recommendations and are confident these are still the best boomboxes you can buy. What to Look For in a Boombox in 2023 We live in a different world than the one that produced the boomboxes of old. As much as we might feel nostalgic for the style and utility of older boomboxes, that doesn’t mean we’re not looking for modern features. Bluetooth , or wireless communication in general, is the cornerstone of those modern features we’re talking about. For most of us, our phone, tablet, or computer is the main source of our music. Every single model we’re looking at in this article features Bluetooth, so the boomboxes can … [Read more...] about The Best Boomboxes of 2023
Report: Migrants Arriving on Buses to Cost New Yorkers More than $4 Billion
Border crossers, arriving on buses from Texas to New York City, are expected to cost New Yorkers more than $4 billion over the next two years, according to new estimates. Since the spring of last year, close to 50,000 border crossers and illegal aliens have arrived in the sanctuary city of New York City — sent on buses mostly from Texas, although Arizona has also sent a few thousand. In November 2022, an estimate from the Independent Budget Office found that the steady arrival of border crossers would cost New Yorkers “at least” $850 million. Sources close to Mayor Eric Adams’ office now reveal to local media that the cost estimate to New Yorkers is closer to about $4.2 billion for Fiscal Years 2022 and 2023. That cost estimate includes what it will take to clothe, house, educate, and provide medical services to border crossers arriving on a weekly basis to the city. @datainput via Storyful In an interview with CBS News, Adams again called on President Joe Biden to … [Read more...] about Report: Migrants Arriving on Buses to Cost New Yorkers More than $4 Billion
Supporters of Anti-American Protester Colin Kaepernick Protest Outside NFL HQ in New York
A small group of supporters of national anthem protester Colin Kaepernick paraded in front of the National Football League’s New York headquarters, upset that the former San Francisco 49er second-string quarterback has not found a new team. A group of about 50 Kaepernick supporters gathered outside the NFL’s New York HQ at about 5PM on Wednesday evening, Sports Illustrated reported . Among the protesters were black lives matters advocates, anti-war protesters, and people who work to create support networks for ex-convicts. “He stood up for our community,” said ex-con advocate Kevin Livingston. “He took these issues to a national platform. I feel that it’s only right that we stand up for him. We want to let the NFL know, we are not sitting silently, we are buying consumers, and we want to make sure he gets a fair shot.” Another protester insisted that Kaepernick had become a “scapegoat.” “Look at where we are at as a nation,” protester Luis Mercado said. “It’s a trying … [Read more...] about Supporters of Anti-American Protester Colin Kaepernick Protest Outside NFL HQ in New York