There's a new botnet going around.

https://www.technologyreview.com/s/610056/a-fast-evolving-new-botnet-could-take-gadgets-in-your-home-to-the-dark-side/?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_content=2018-01-31&utm_campaign=Technology+Review

Huawei loses carrier from spying fears.

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2018/01/spying-fears-and-political-pressure-cost-huawei-another-carrier-deal/

Libreoffice 6 is out today.

https://blog.documentfoundation.org/blog/2018/01/31/libreoffice-6/

Los Angeles DWP donating money to charity.

http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2018/01/30/goldstein-investigation-ladwp/

Nevada cancels 78 million dollar IT contract.

http://statescoop.com/after-bait-and-switch-nevada-dmv-cancels-78-million-it-contract

"Drone Racing"

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/02/05/the-trippy-high-speed-world-of-drone-racing

Wordpress websites infected with keylogger.

https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2018/01/more-than-2000-wordpress-websites-are-infected-with-a-keylogger/

Cisco firewalls vulnerabilities.

https://www.theregister.co.uk/2018/01/30/cisco_asa_and_firepower_cvss_10_0_bug_patch_asap/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook

Finally a neat toy kids can build and ride, well sort of.

http://www.bbc.com/news/av/technology-42797173/k-nex-builds-toys-rollercoaster-you-can-ride-in-vr

Tom Tom drops map updates for some of its gps units.

http://www.bbc.com/news/42859546

Hacking group targets android phones. One more reason why apps should not be allowed more access than they really need.

https://www.csoonline.com/article/3250245/security/dark-caracal-hacking-group-targets-android-smartphones.html

This phone will be intersting to see when it comes out.

https://itwire.com/mobility/81525-free-software-smartphone-now-in-design-phase.html

This is not going to help Intel one bit.

https://itwire.com/security/81536-chinese-firms-among-first-to-be-told-of-intel-cpu-flaws.html

Cryptocurrency mining through scripts on youtube ads. Just when you thought those ads couldn't get any worst.

https://itwire.com/security/81537-cryptocurrency-mining-scripts-served-through-youtube.html

Intel CEO sold shares the same day they informed oems of bugs.

https://itwire.com/security/81538-intel-ceo-sold-shares-on-same-day-oems-informed-of-bugs-report.html

Boeing tests new alloy for wings.

https://interestingengineering.com/nasa-and-boeing-test-a-new-alloy-to-create-foldable-wings-for-supersonic-flight

Apple will discontinue 32-bit app support.

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2018/01/apple-prepares-macos-users-for-discontinuation-of-32-bit-app-support/

7-Zip memory corruptions

https://landave.io/2018/01/7-zip-multiple-memory-corruptions-via-rar-and-zip/

Cryptocurrentcy heist.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-01-28/massive-cryptocurrency-heist-puts-spotlight-on-exchange-security

Jackpotting atm machines.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/business/wp/2018/01/27/hackers-are-making-u-s-atms-spit-out-cash-like-slot-machines-report-warns/?utm_term=.888ceb747c86

Ikea founder dies.

http://fortune.com/2018/01/28/ingvar-kamprad-ikea-founder-dies/?iid=sr-link1

Do you need some gloves protection for your hands. Check these out.

https://schmitzmittz.com/

Microchipped

https://www.fastcompany.com/video/the-day-i-got-microchipped/CZ2x7ukV

This is an interesting video.

New motherboard coming from gigabyte. It's smaller than a regular mini itx board but larger than a rasberry pie. I definitely like these size boards.

https://www.extremetech.com/computing/252912-gigabyte-announces-tiny-pc-powerful-upgradeable-raspberry-pi

Linus torvalds is not happy with Intel fixes.

https://www.theregister.co.uk/2018/01/22/intel_spectre_fix_linux/

DJI has a new quadcopter. The mavic air.

https://techcrunch.com/2018/01/23/dji-unveils-the-mavic-air-portable-folding-drone/
https://www.dji.com/

Android app store alternative.

https://www.wired.com/story/android-users-to-avoid-malware-ditch-googles-app-store/
https://f-droid.org/en/

7-Eleven immigration Probe.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/immigration/ct-7-eleven-immigration-probe-20180110-story.html

US Microsoft surface factory production will be moving to China.

https://www.extremetech.com/computing/252743-microsoft-closes-us-surface-factory-moves-production-china

ICE detains Polish doctor and green card holder.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/midwest/ct-michigan-polish-doctor-detained-ice-20180122-story.html

Windows 10 won't go to sleep and stay that way.

I have been putting my windows 10 machine to sleep, but after a moment, it wakes itself back up. You should try it. Windows 10 won't stay asleep. I have turned a lot of background stuff off too.

"The Untreatable"

With the news of some healthy people dying from something similar lately, this was an interesting article. If you're sick, stay home and away from others as much as possible. And of course go to the doctor if you really don't feel well.
https://www.lrb.co.uk/v40/n02/gavin-francis/the-untreatable

Never heard of discord, but if you're looking for a skype alternative this may work.

https://www.macobserver.com/tips/deep-dive/podcasters-replace-skype-discord/
https://discordapp.com/

New amazon grocery store opening.

https://www.recode.net/2018/1/21/16914188/amazon-go-grocery-convenience-store-opening-seattle-dilip-kumar

Malicious Chrome Extensions.

https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2018/01/500000-chrome-users-fall-prey-to-malicious-extensions-in-google-web-store/

Chromecast flooding your network.

https://www.theregister.co.uk/2018/01/18/chromecast_flooding_fix/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook

Watch out for this new scheme.

https://medium.com/@juliaonken/the-gen-z-pyramid-scheme-sweeping-instagram-e6d53e0e2b46

Cryptocurrency operators charged.

https://www.engadget.com/2018/01/19/cftc-charges-three-cryptocurrency-operators/

This is from 2010 but it never gets old.

Google launches the Google IT Support Professional Certificate.

https://blog.google/topics/grow-with-google/it-support-professional-certificate/?utm_source=HPP%utm_campaign=IT%20Cert

Autonomous tractors.

I don't know how he did it, but it's never good to hold a sneeze.

http://www.cnn.com/2018/01/15/health/sneeze-blows-hole-in-throat/index.html

I was cleaning some sd cards to find which ones work and which ones don't. Here's what the inside looks like in case you haven't seen one.

 

Amazing Crabs Shell Exchange - Life Story - BBC

Barcelona moving away from proprietary software.

https://joinup.ec.europa.eu/news/public-money-public-code

The market for stolen credentials.

https://krebsonsecurity.com/2017/12/the-market-for-stolen-account-credentials/

Linux commands cheat sheet.

https://techincidents.com/important-penetration-testing-cheat-sheet/#

DHS policy on electronic devices.

https://papersplease.org/wp/2018/01/05/new-dhs-policy-on-demands-for-passwords-to-travelers-electronic-devices/

Intel update, reboots computers.

https://newsroom.intel.com/news/intel-security-issue-update-addressing-reboot-issues/

The yellow sub that could. I like this post.

https://www.theregister.co.uk/2018/01/11/dstl_little_yellow_submarine/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook

Boing unveils a 500 pound cargo drone.

https://www.technologyreview.com/the-download/609957/finally-a-drone-that-could-lift-a-refrigerator/?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_content=2018-01-11&utm_campaign=Technology+Review

Sandisk 1TB prototype flash drive.

https://www.extremetech.com/electronics/261785-sandisk-shows-off-1tb-flash-drive-prototype

Tevva motors electric range extender technology.

https://www.tevva.com/

A company with a few electric vehicles. A pickup truck, van, two passenger helicopter/vtol and a delivery drone.

http://workhorse.com/

Teacher gets arrested for questioning contract. Get ready to shake your head on this one.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/09/us/teacher-arrested-louisiana.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fus&action=click&contentCollection=us&region=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=9&pgtype=sectionfront

Intel chips.

https://www.pcworld.com/article/3246204/ces/intel-launches-core-chips-with-amd-radeon-graphics.html

Outage World Map.

Here's the map from the article below.
https://ant.isi.edu/outage/world/

Measuring the internet.

http://uk.pcmag.com/news/92673/this-is-what-it-takes-to-measure-the-internet

This seems crazy.

I'll add my own thoughts about this. First of all, all systems have their pros and cons. I'm not one to stick to one or another for those simple reasons. I have seen the good, the bad and the ugly on all of them. I know many people are either Apple, Windows, or Linux. So having the ability to use anything is a good thing vs having just one. Sometimes that can also be a good thing, specially in smaller organizations. It just depends. Then on the other side of the coin you have those that make the decisions based on other factors that have nothing to do with IT. This can be good or really bad. In short, always keep an open mind and you should be okay. As for the article, well that's a lot to think about.
https://www.theregister.co.uk/2018/01/04/munich_linux_costs_ownership/

WD drives with backdoor.

https://www.techspot.com/news/72612-western-digital-cloud-drives-have-built-backdoor.html

Antivirus software blocking patches on windows.

http://www.zdnet.com/article/windows-meltdown-spectre-fix-how-to-check-if-your-av-is-blocking-microsoft-patch/

Bios usb programmer.

I ordered this programmer because I thought I had bricked the nas motherboard with a firmware update this past year. So I thought I try one of these programmers. The good news is that the board wasn't bricked, but the update just didn't go through so well so I had to do a few more steps after I contacted the manufacturer of the board. Needless to say, I wanted to have one of these on hand just in case.  You don't get any software with the board but I found a great blog post on it. There is also a clip type of adapter that can be plugged into these so that you never have to de-solder any chip from the board. I don't know if it works for all or not since I have yet to use it, but that's a better option than having to de-solder anything. The removable chips can just be plugged directly to the programmer.
https://onetransistor.blogspot.com/2017/08/ch341a-mini-programmer-schematic.html

Here's the other clip I mentioned. As you can see the small board is the same as the one included with the programmer, but this one comes with pins on both sides. Unfortunately the programmers don't seem to solder the pins and they also don't include the extra pins to solder on the other side of the board. There are other adapters but I think these are the two most basic ones that you will need. Just to be clear though, you should really never need to do this at all if the board program works. I still have yet to need it, but it's good to have one just in case.

The shoe that grows.

http://becauseinternational.org/projects.html

HANDJET EBS-260 - improved hand held, portable, mobile ink jet printer -...

I thought everyone in the US pumped their own gas. I guess there are two states that still don't. Whow knew? Either way some of the responses will leave you speechless.

Now don't get me wrong, there are many countries where attendants will pump the gas for you. In the USA, we just tend to do it ourselves for the most part. And yes, there are times when having an attendant is a good thing. For example someone with disabilities may want or need to get some help. This can also include some senior citizens.I guess the point is that I didn't realize you needed a law to let fully functioning people get out of their car and pump their own gas.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2018/01/03/i-dont-even-know-how-some-oregonians-panic-about-new-self-service-gas-law/?utm_term=.9f582d45a295

Motel 6 giving guest lists to ICE agents.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/washington-ag-sues-motel-6-giving-guest-list-ice-agents-article-1.3735656

Bionic hand with sense of touch.

http://www.bbc.com/news/av/health-42558612/what-a-woman-with-a-bionic-hand-can-feel

CES (Cosumer Electronics Show) 2018

For some reason I keep thinking this is usually in February, but no, it's next week. Let's see what the new year brings.
 https://www.ces.tech/

Electric bus fleet in China.

https://www.curbed.com/2018/1/2/16839548/shenzhen-electric-bus-fleet-green-transit

Happy New Year! I actually got to watch the rose parade on tv this year. I watched it once before so it's been a while. I like the message this year, but the one that stuck out was the Los Angeles float and the message that everyone is welcome in Los Angeles. I couldn't think of a more positive message with all the current events this past year.

It's the new year and I like to start on a good note. I turned on the tv a few days ago and saw the man that started the nonprofit organization below speak about some current events. I like what he said and thought I put a link to this organization. I have nothing to do with them in any way shape or form, but I think their mission speaks for itself. No one is perfect but we can all learn something new every day.
http://josephsoninstitute.org/