Links 🔗 on Lost In Haste

Mon, 05 Aug 2024 13:56:52 -0500

🔗 Blocking AI bots from Microsoft, others has been “pain in the a**": Reddit CEO | Ars Technica // Scharon Harding // arstechnica.com

The irony of a company that both profits off the (free) labor of other’s work, and who shut down all 3rd party API integration because of the “high costs” associated with supporting it complaining about other companies taking their “work” for free and costing them money by scraping their site (and by-passing their APIs).

Love the comment section at Ars…and 100% agree with that comment. 😆

Fri, 19 Jul 2024 10:14:17 -0500

🔗 Global Microsoft Meltdown Tied to Bad Crowdstrike Update - Krebs on Security // krebsonsecurity.com

A faulty software update from cybersecurity vendor Crowdstrike crippled countless Microsoft Windows computers across the globe today, disrupting everything from airline travel and financial institutions to hospitals and businesses online.

The Crowdstrike issue is striking everywhere, two people on my Team can’t use their computers today…and I’m one of them. 😭😤

Mon, 15 Jul 2024 11:22:55 -0500

🔗 LGBT and Marginalized Voices Are Not Welcome on Threads - MacStories // Niléane // macstories.net

Threads hasn’t felt like a breath of fresh air for all who tried to use it. In my experience as a trans woman, at its best, it has felt like Jack Dorsey’s old Twitter: a social platform overrun by an opaque moderation system, free-roaming hate speech, and a frustrating algorithm that too often promotes harmful content.

Yet another reason to avoid Threads, seems like Facebook (I refuse to call them by their “M” name) are just ignoring harassment, as they’ve always done. 🏳️‍🌈

Wed, 05 Jun 2024 10:56:22 -0500

🔗 Bartender has a new owner – Six Colors // Jason Snell // sixcolors.com

Software companies don’t owe their users complete transparency, and it’s possible that there were extenuating circumstances in the transaction (from either side) that led to the lack of communication. But the inverse is also true: customers don’t owe software companies their loyalty.

Using this as a good opportunity to try a new (to me, at least) menu bar utility. 🤣

Fri, 19 Apr 2024 10:20:26 -0500

🔗 US drug shortages reach record high with 323 meds now in short supply | Ars Technica

In some cases, generic manufacturers lose money on the drugs, disincentivizing other players in the pharmaceutical industry from stepping in to bolster fragile supply chains. Several generic manufacturers have filed for bankruptcy recently.

I know a lot of folks will scream “commie” or “freedom” at this question but…why doesn’t the government just make generic drugs? If the goal is to save lives and businesses “have” to make money, just let the government do it. 🤔

Fri, 19 Apr 2024 10:10:38 -0500

🔗 Sleeping more flushes junk out of the brain | Ars Technica // ELIZABETH RAYNE // arstechnica.com

Sleep is something like a soft reboot.

I really do need to get more sleep… 🥱

Fri, 12 Apr 2024 13:48:06 -0500

🔗 Roku hit with second major breach of 2024, this time affecting 576,000 users - The Verge // Emilia David // theverge.com

Roku says the attackers used the login information of account holders, a technique called credential stuffing, to gain access to the streaming service and the payment methods of some users.

Good lord, what is going on over @ Roku?! Is this why they forced everyone into arbitration…?

Wed, 10 Apr 2024 19:22:58 -0500

🔗 Starting today, ISPs must display labels with price, speeds, and data caps | Ars Technica

I commend these ISPs for accomplishing so difficult a task in the face of such adversity. The sheer impertinence of the government, expecting them to tell you what you get and how much it costs in advance of purchasing it.

Yea, sounds about right…after all, ISPs are among the most hated companies in ‘Murica. 🤣

Mon, 08 Apr 2024 22:20:22 -0500

🔗 Apple now allows retro game emulators on its App Store—but with big caveats | Ars Technica

There actually are some security implications to emulation; a malicious ROM can potentially exploit a hosting emulator. Emulation code needs to run very fast, so safety measures like bounds checks often don’t exist. In terms of code safety, emulators are some of the worst programs you can run.

The ability to play my NES / SNES / N64 games on my iPad, to go back to Symphony of the Night or Breath of Fire 3, that would be lovely but given the risks I have to wonder if Apple will really allow it. 🎮

Mon, 08 Apr 2024 21:56:55 -0500

🔗 German state gov. ditching Windows for Linux, 30K workers migrating | Ars Technica

Schleswig-Holstein looks to succeed where Munich failed.

It’s funny, I remember reading about Munich’s effort to move away from Windows back in the day; it’s funny how the more things change, the more they stay the same. 🤣

Wed, 03 Apr 2024 22:51:39 -0500

🔗 Man pleads guilty to stealing former coworker’s identity for 30 years | Ars Technica

Victim was jailed for 428 days after LA cops failed to detect true identity.

This is one of my biggest fears in life… 😱

Tue, 20 Feb 2024 13:18:18 -0500

🔗 “So violated”: Wyze cameras leak footage to strangers for 2nd time in 5 months

It seemed neat at first, when it was a random coffee machine or vending machine hooked up just to prove it could be done. But between then and now, we've learned that the Internet is full of relentless a$$holes (at best) who will take advantage of any little crack in security.
…

IMO, stop trying. Accept that the Internet is a dangerous place. Have fun with all the smart home tech you want, but keep it local.

I love the Ars comment section, it’s always a delight. Also, this is why I have no cameras @ home. 🤣

Tue, 23 Jan 2024 12:23:08 -0500

🔗 HP CEO evokes James Bond-style hack via ink cartridges

It's clear that HP's tactics are meant to coax HP printer owners into committing to HP ink, which helps the company drive recurring revenue and makes up for money lost when the printers are sold.

This is why I will never again buy an HP printer; claiming you're _"protecting"_ consumers from viruses when in reality, you're protecting your bottom line...at least have the fortitude to own up to your ~~financial priorities~~ greed.

Wed, 27 Dec 2023 17:47:25 -0500

🔗 So You Just Found Out Amazon Is Greedy

There won’t be mass cancellations of Prime over ads in Prime Video because it is too integral to your life.

I guess I’m one of the rare people who doesn’t have a Prime membership…? They try to hook me in with free trials from time to time but I always cancel it just before renewal. 🤷🏼‍♂️ We just don’t like the waste that is Amazon’s shipping practices… 😮‍💨