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Monthly Archives: December 2022

Google is making its internal video-blurring privacy tool open source

engadget: “Google has announced that two of its latest privacy-enhancing technologies (PETs), including one that blurs objects in a video, will be provided to anyone for free via open source. The new tools are part of Google’s Protected Computing initiative designed to transform “how, when and where data is processed to technically ensure its privacy… Continue Reading

Spam texts are out of control, say all 51 attorneys general

FoxNews:”A proposal to force cellphone companies to block certain spam texts is gaining momentum. Meanwhile, there are simple things you can do right now to stop spam texts, which I’ll get to shortly. California Attorney General Rob Bonta has expressed his support for a proposal by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to put an end… Continue Reading

Cyber Criminals Impersonating Brands Using Search Engine Advertisement Services to Defraud Users

FBI Alert: “The FBI is warning the public that cyber criminals are using search engine advertisement services to impersonate brands and direct users to malicious sites that host ransomware and steal login credentials and other financial information. Methodology – Cyber criminals purchase advertisements that appear within internet search results using a domain that is similar… Continue Reading

Depletion and Dysfunction of Dendritic Cells: Understanding SARS-CoV-2 Infection

Chang T, Yang J, Deng H, Chen D, Yang X, Tang ZH. Depletion and Dysfunction of Dendritic Cells: Understanding SARS-CoV-2 Infection. Front Immunol. 2022 Feb 21;13:843342. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.843342. PMID: 35265087; PMCID: PMC8898834. “The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic poses a serious threat to public health and economic systems worldwide. As of January 27, 2022, more… Continue Reading

Gone But Not Forgotten (Yet): The Tech That Died in 2022

PC Mag: “This year saw the usual introduction of next-gen smartphones, laptops, operating systems, and smart home devices, with a few unique offerings thrown in there, too. But for all the innovative tech that made headlines or passed through our labs in 2022, there were just as many products and services that powered down for… Continue Reading

A New Chat Bot Is a ‘Code Red’ for Google’s Search Business

The New York Times: “A new wave of chat bots like ChatGPT use artificial intelligence that could reinvent or even replace the traditional internet search engine. Over the past three decades, a handful of products like Netscape’s web browser, Google’s search engine and Apple’s iPhone have truly upended the tech industry and made what came… Continue Reading

Inventing the dark Web: Criminalization of privacy and the apocalyptic turn in the imaginary of the Web

Inventing the dark Web: Criminalization of privacy and the apocalyptic turn in the imaginary of the Web by Thais Sardá, Simone Natale, and John Downey. First Monday, Volume 27, Number 11 – 7 November 2022. doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.5210/fm.v27i11.12691 “This paper examines how the deep Web, i.e., Web sites that are not indexed and thus are not… Continue Reading

Fake job postings are stealing applicants’ money and identities

Washington Post: “…Job sites such as ZipRecruiter, LinkedIn and Indeed say they try to weed out fake job listings and employers, though scammers are getting more sophisticated. These websites also offer tools to flag suspicious content in case a scam gets past their screening. Still, many job seekers are airing their horror stories across social… Continue Reading

Lead and Cadmium Could Be in Your Dark Chocolate

“Consumer Reports found dangerous heavy metals in chocolate from Hershey’s, Theo, Trader Joe’s and other popular brands…People also choose dark chocolate in particular for its potential health benefits, thanks to studies that suggest its rich supply of antioxidants may improve heart health and other conditions, and for its relatively low levels of sugar. In fact,… Continue Reading