dWeb News
dWeb News |
- Pentagon considers using AI-controlled drones and robots in combat
- dWeb.News Daily Round-Up From Daniel Webster dWeb Internet Cowboy
- This simple trick could change the way smartphone cameras work
- A ‘Junky’ or Victim of Cancel Culture?
- OPINION: Golden Globes Made Irrelevant, Takes Hollywood With It
- Sony says it’s still going to be hard to find a PS5 in 2022
- Cryptocurrency is Now Valued at More Than ALL US Currency in Circulation
- What happens if you don’t accept Facebook’s new WhatsApp privacy policy?
- Fascinating details emerge about the Russian hackers who attacked a major US fuel pipeline
- Technology Isn’t Always Productive – Here’s How to Use it Appropriately
| Pentagon considers using AI-controlled drones and robots in combat Posted: 10 May 2021 07:40 PM PDT dWeb.News Article from Chris Smith  The future of warfare might involve advanced artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms that would have the ability and authority to assess situations and engage enemies without having a human in control of every robot or drone involved in the operation. It might sound like the kind of scenario that sci-fi movies like the Terminator and Matrix series have depicted. Technology had advanced to the point where a computer might take matters into its own hands during an armed conflict. In the movies, AI usually ends up attacking humans. In real life, AI might help the military conduct operations where independent human control over each drone would slow down the mission. One obvious downside is that the enemy might employ similarly sophisticated technology. Today’s Top DealAmazon’s #1 best-selling XL air fryer just hit a new all-time low price and shoppers are rushing to get it!Price: $99.98
The Pentagon is already studying combat scenarios where AI would be allowed to act on its own accord based on orders that a human issued. Wired has an example of such a drill that took place near Seattle last August. Several dozen military drones and tank-like robots were deployed with a simple mission. Find terrorists suspected of hiding among several buildings. The number of robots involved made it impossible for a human operator to keep an eye on all of them. As a result, they were given instructions to find and eliminate enemy combatants when necessary. Run by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the drill involved radio transmitters that the robots used to simulate interactions with hostile entities rather than actual weapons. The drones and the robots were about the size of a large backpack, and all had an overall objective. The robots had access to AI algorithms to devise plans of attack. Some of the robots surrounded buildings; others carried out surveillance. Some identified beacons designating enemy combatants, and others were destroyed by simulated explosives. This was just one of the AI drills conducted last summer to simulate automation in military systems for situations that are too complex and fast-moving for humans to make every critical decision along the way. The Wired report explains there's increasing interest at the Pentagon for giving autonomous weapons a degree of liberty at executing orders. A human would still make high-level decisions, but AI could adapt to the situation on the ground better and faster than humans. Wired also points out that a report from the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence (NSCAI) recommended this May that the US resist calls for an international ban on developing autonomous weapons. Even so, the debate of using AI weapons in military operations isn't settled, with some arguing that the same algorithms the US might employ to power swarms of drones and robot tanks could also fall into the hands of adversaries. "Lethal autonomous weapons cheap enough that every terrorist can afford them are not in America's national security interest," MIT professor Max Tegmark told Wired. Tegmark, the co-founder of the Future of Life Institute non-profit that opposes autonomous weapons, added that "I think we'll one day regret it even more than we regret having armed the Taliban." He said that AI weapons should be "stigmatized and banned like biological weapons." Today’s Top DealDeal alert: Amazon shoppers are swarming to get this 2K camera drone that folds up as small as a smartphone!Price: $64.99 It might sound like the kind of scenario that sci-fi movies like the Terminator and Matrix series have depicted. Technology had advanced to the point where a computer might take matters into its own hands during an armed conflict. In the movies, AI usually ends up attacking humans. In real life, AI might help the military conduct operations where independent human control over each drone would slow down the mission. One obvious downside is that the enemy might employ similarly sophisticated technology. The Pentagon is already studying combat scenarios where AI would be allowed to act on its own accord based on orders that a human issued. Wired has an example of such a drill that took place near Seattle last August. Several dozen military drones and tank-like robots were deployed with a simple mission. Find terrorists suspected of hiding among several buildings. The number of robots involved made it impossible for a human operator to keep an eye on all of them. As a result, they were given instructions to find and eliminate enemy combatants when necessary. Run by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the drill involved radio transmitters that the robots used to simulate interactions with hostile entities rather than actual weapons. The drones and the robots were about the size of a large backpack, and all had an overall objective. The robots had access to AI algorithms to devise plans of attack. Some of the robots surrounded buildings; others carried out surveillance. Some identified beacons designating enemy combatants, and others were destroyed by simulated explosives. This was just one of the AI drills conducted last summer to simulate automation in military systems for situations that are too complex and fast-moving for humans to make every critical decision along the way. The Wired report explains there's increasing interest at the Pentagon for giving autonomous weapons a degree of liberty at executing orders. A human would still make high-level decisions, but AI could adapt to the situation on the ground better and faster than humans. Wired also points out that a report from the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence (NSCAI) recommended this May that the US resist calls for an international ban on developing autonomous weapons. Even so, the debate of using AI weapons in military operations isn't settled, with some arguing that the same algorithms the US might employ to power swarms of drones and robot tanks could also fall into the hands of adversaries. "Lethal autonomous weapons cheap enough that every terrorist can afford them are not in America’s national security interest," MIT professor Max Tegmark told Wired. Tegmark, the co-founder of the Future of Life Institute non-profit that opposes autonomous weapons, added that "I think we’ll one day regret it even more than we regret having armed the Taliban." He said that AI weapons should be "stigmatized and banned like biological weapons."drones, military, Pentagon The post Pentagon considers using AI-controlled drones and robots in combat appeared first on dWeb.News Daniel Webster dWeb Internet Cowboy  |
| dWeb.News Daily Round-Up From Daniel Webster dWeb Internet Cowboy Posted: 10 May 2021 06:39 PM PDT dWeb.News Article from Daniel Webster   DONALD TRUMP vs. HORSE: A 'Junky' or Victim of Cancel Culture? Prices Skyrocket — On EVERYTHING OPINION: Golden Globes Made Irrelevant, Takes Hollywood With It WOW: Cryptocurrency is Now Valued at More Than ALL US Currency in Circulation BIG LEAK: First look at Apple's totally redesigned M2 MacBook Air Jeff Bezos will reportedly join the billionaire boating class with a $500M luxury sailing superyacht OPTIMIZING TIME: The Difference Between Hard Work and Smart Work Explained Israel Strikes Hamas Targets After Rockets Fired at Jerusalem Elon Musk acknowledges having Asperger's How We Can Help Children In Rural Communities Thrive For these stories, plus more worldwide and technology news go to http://dWeb.News #DonaldTrump #Trump #KentuckyDerby #Prices #GroceryPrices #Lumber #FuelPrices #GasPrices #GoldenGlobes #RussianHack #Pipeline #Cryptocurrency #Apple #M2 #MacBook #JeffBezos #SuperYacht #Hamas #Israel #ElonMusk #Aspergers #Rural The post dWeb.News Daily Round-Up From Daniel Webster dWeb Internet Cowboy appeared first on dWeb.News Daniel Webster dWeb Internet Cowboy  |
| This simple trick could change the way smartphone cameras work Posted: 10 May 2021 04:41 PM PDT dWeb.News Article from Chris Smith  When it comes to smartphone design, we've been in a holding pattern for at least a couple of years, as we're waiting for handset makers to bring to the market the perfect phone. The iPhone 12 comes with a brand new design, but the screen has the same notch as the 2017 iPhone X. Over on Android, hole-punch cameras are the norm of all-screen smartphones. The selfie camera might be piercing through the screen from a central position or off-center. It might feature one or two lenses. But the phones look all the same. Things might get even worse when the perfect design drops. Smartphone vendors are working on camera technology that will let them place the selfie cam under a functional OLED screen, at which point phones will lose notches and display holes. Apple is even rumored to be working on Face ID components that would work through the display. We saw prototypes with under-display cameras back in 2019, and the world's first commercial product to use the technology launched last year. But the feature has yet to go mainstream. Camera quality might be a challenge that phone makers still need to overcome, but Xiaomi already has a brilliant idea for killing two birds with one stone. Today’s Top DealAmazon shoppers are obsessed with these Wi-Fi smart plugs – get them for just $3.50 each!Price: $13.99
Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi is known for demoing new smartphone features before they're ready for commercial products. The companies unveiled under-display cameras, fast battery charging tech, and long-distance wireless charging tech in recent years, well before the features were ready for mass consumption. Dutch blog LetsGoDigital found another Xiaomi innovation that might be shown in future concept handsets, a revolving camera that would work both as an under-display selfie camera and a rear camera lens. The patent was filed with the WIPO last February and published a few days ago. Xiaomi patented technology describing a camera that can flip between selfie and rear camera positions. Image source: Xiaomi via LetsGoDigital The revolving camera would feature a mechanism that allows the camera to flip between selfie and rear camera, depending on the user's needs. By default, the rotating camera would be facing the back of the phone, ready to be used for capturing regular photos and videos. The images above show a phone featuring a triple-lens rear camera module, with the top camera being able to rotate between the front and back positions. When in selfie mode, the camera turns internally, and the display area around the camera will be disabled so light can reach the sensor. A magnetic or motorized mechanism will make the camera rotation possible. There are some obvious advantages to be considered for such a camera technology. If employed, the system Xiaomi to use the same primary camera for selfies and video chat apps. Selfie cams are rarely on par with the primary rear camera when it comes to performance. Not to mention that under-display cameras might be further disadvantaged compared to traditional selfie cams. That's where a better selfie cam might help. By rotating the primary camera from the rear module, Xiaomi might improve the selfie cam performance without paying more for a better selfie sensor. Recycling a camera from the rear module wouldn't just save some money, as buying a separate high-end selfie sensor will no longer be required, but also internal space that could be used for increasing the battery capacity. On the other hand, a revolving camera will need additional components to allow that sensor to rotate, which could consume space that would be otherwise allocated to the battery. Rotating a lens inside the phone could have an additional side-effect. The phone's camera bump, which is usually thicker than the rest of the phone, might have to be even thicker to make possible that lens rotation. Then there's also malfunction risk to consider. A flip camera with moving parts can always fail, and that was the main worry with camera systems sliding out from the phones in the years that followed the iPhone X launch. But with this internal rotating camera, there's no worry that debris will get into the camera mechanism, as everything would happen inside the handset. As with other patented technology, there's no telling if or when Xiaomi will use the technology. Xiaomi isn't the only handset maker looking at using the same image sensors for front and rear cameras. Apple has a 2015 patent that proposes a system of mirrors to beam light from the front and rear cameras to the same internal sensor. Like Xiaomi, the technology would help Apple reduce the number of sensors used in a phone. But unlike Xiaomi, the tech doesn't involve an actual camera rotating inside the iPhone. Today’s Top DealDeal alert: Amazon shoppers are swarming to get this 2K camera drone that folds up as small as a smartphone!Price: $64.99 Things might get even worse when the perfect design drops. Smartphone vendors are working on camera technology that will let them place the selfie cam under a functional OLED screen, at which point phones will lose notches and display holes. Apple is even rumored to be working on Face ID components that would work through the display. We saw prototypes with under-display cameras back in 2019, and the world's first commercial product to use the technology launched last year. But the feature has yet to go mainstream. Camera quality might be a challenge that phone makers still need to overcome, but Xiaomi already has a brilliant idea for killing two birds with one stone. Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi is known for demoing new smartphone features before they're ready for commercial products. The companies unveiled under-display cameras, fast battery charging tech, and long-distance wireless charging tech in recent years, well before the features were ready for mass consumption. Dutch blog LetsGoDigital found another Xiaomi innovation that might be shown in future concept handsets, a revolving camera that would work both as an under-display selfie camera and a rear camera lens. The patent was filed with the WIPO last February and published a few days ago. The revolving camera would feature a mechanism that allows the camera to flip between selfie and rear camera, depending on the user's needs. By default, the rotating camera would be facing the back of the phone, ready to be used for capturing regular photos and videos. The images above show a phone featuring a triple-lens rear camera module, with the top camera being able to rotate between the front and back positions. When in selfie mode, the camera turns internally, and the display area around the camera will be disabled so light can reach the sensor. A magnetic or motorized mechanism will make the camera rotation possible. There are some obvious advantages to be considered for such a camera technology. If employed, the system Xiaomi to use the same primary camera for selfies and video chat apps. Selfie cams are rarely on par with the primary rear camera when it comes to performance. Not to mention that under-display cameras might be further disadvantaged compared to traditional selfie cams. That's where a better selfie cam might help. By rotating the primary camera from the rear module, Xiaomi might improve the selfie cam performance without paying more for a better selfie sensor. Recycling a camera from the rear module wouldn't just save some money, as buying a separate high-end selfie sensor will no longer be required, but also internal space that could be used for increasing the battery capacity. On the other hand, a revolving camera will need additional components to allow that sensor to rotate, which could consume space that would be otherwise allocated to the battery. Rotating a lens inside the phone could have an additional side-effect. The phone's camera bump, which is usually thicker than the rest of the phone, might have to be even thicker to make possible that lens rotation. Then there's also malfunction risk to consider. A flip camera with moving parts can always fail, and that was the main worry with camera systems sliding out from the phones in the years that followed the iPhone X launch. But with this internal rotating camera, there's no worry that debris will get into the camera mechanism, as everything would happen inside the handset. As with other patented technology, there's no telling if or when Xiaomi will use the technology. Xiaomi isn't the only handset maker looking at using the same image sensors for front and rear cameras. Apple has a 2015 patent that proposes a system of mirrors to beam light from the front and rear cameras to the same internal sensor. Like Xiaomi, the technology would help Apple reduce the number of sensors used in a phone. But unlike Xiaomi, the tech doesn't involve an actual camera rotating inside the iPhone.Xiaomi The post This simple trick could change the way smartphone cameras work appeared first on dWeb.News Daniel Webster dWeb Internet Cowboy  |
| A ‘Junky’ or Victim of Cancel Culture? Posted: 10 May 2021 04:10 PM PDT dWeb.News Article from Daniel Webster  Donald Trump calls Kentucky Derby Winner Medina Spirit a ‘Junky’By Daniel Webster dWeb.News President Donald Trump didn’t mince words on his new blogging platform DonaldJTrump.com. “So now even our Kentucky Derby winner, Medina Spirit, is a junky,” Trump wrote on his new blogging platform DonaldJTrump.com. “This is emblematic of what is happening to our Country. The whole world is laughing at us as we go to hell on our Borders, our fake Presidential Election, and everywhere else!”  Legendary racehorse trainer Bob Baffert announced earlier that his Kentucky Derby-winning horse, Medina Spirit, tested positive for a banned drug on Sunday. Doping in horse racing is a serious offense. It’s an issue that dates back many years. Trump Connects Hose Race with ElectionTrump has gone on record calling the 2020 election “the greatest fraud in the history of our country from an electoral standpoint” and has raised several accusations of voter fraud. Arizona is currently auditing the results. However, during a Fox News interview, Baffert responded to the public outcry he and his horse received, saying cancel culture is to blame. “We live in a different world now, this America is different, and it was like a cancel culture kind of a thing,” Baffert told Fox News.  The Drug TestA test after the horse’s victory on May 1 exposed that it had 21 picograms of betamethasone in its system. Betamethasone is a corticosteroid and can be used to “relieve redness, itching, swelling or other discomforts caused by certain skin conditions,” according to Mayo Clinic. It is legal in Kentucky as a therapeutic for a horse, but testing positive on a race day is a reported violation. “I was totally shocked when I heard this news,” Baffert said Sunday at a press conference. “I am the most scrutinized trainer. And I am OK with that. The last thing I want to do is something that would jeopardize the greatest sport. I’m worried about the sport. This is a pretty serious accusation. We’re going to get to the bottom of it. We didn’t do it … There’s problems in racing. But it’s not Bob Baffert,” Churchill Downs has suspended Baffert from entering horses at the track after Sunday’s announcement. A second positive test is required before the suspension is upheld and the horse is disqualified. If the second test sample comes back positive, Baffert and Medina Spirit will have their title stripped, and the runner-up, Mandaloun, will be declared the winner. The post A ‘Junky’ or Victim of Cancel Culture? appeared first on dWeb.News Daniel Webster dWeb Internet Cowboy  |
| OPINION: Golden Globes Made Irrelevant, Takes Hollywood With It Posted: 10 May 2021 03:15 PM PDT dWeb.News Article from Daniel Webster  NBC Cancels 2022 Golden Globes — Hollywood Foreign Press Association Not Woke Enough By Daniel Webster dWeb.News Hollywood got so woked that it’s woking itself out of relevance. NBC woked itself out of an awards show and the big Hollywood night woked itself out of a show. Hollywood is so woke, it’s no longer woke. It’s become dewoked. What is “woke” anyway? Is that a real word anymore or did Uncle Noah remove it from his dictionary because it no longer was a word? Yes, the Golden Globes 2022 show has been canceled — otherwise known as dewoked — on NBC the Hollywood Foreign Press Association struggles to be woke enough for the industry they helped build. The Academy Awards hit the lowest ratings ever. The Oscars became so woke they went to sleep. That’s right, there will be no Golden Globes on NBC in 2022, as the demoted HFPA continues to fail in reforming itself to the satisfaction of Hollywood studios and stakeholders. There was a day when those presenting the awards were more powerful than those receiving them. That was an era when the press was more prestigious than those they wrote about. That was prewoke. "We continue to believe that the HFPA is committed to meaningful reform," NBC stated. "However, change of this magnitude takes time and work, and we feel strongly that the HFPA needs time to do it right. As such, NBC will not air the 2022 Golden Globes. Assuming the organization executes on its plan, we are hopeful we will be in a position to air the show in January 2023." By 2023 the public may forget who Tom Cruise was. We’ll move on to the awards presented for the next internet sensation. Oddly, Netflix and Amazon seem to be driving the death of the Golden Globes by cutting their ties to the HFPA this weekend. AMZN and NFLX aren’t stupid and may not be so woke as you think. They need to kill the theater industry to reshape the Hollywood industry. Tom Cruise returned his three trophies from the Golden Globe in protest. Bully for him. He’s one woke dude. To be fair, NBC should still pay the $60 million annual fee to HFPA for the Golden Globes. That would show that they are fully woke. So far, HFPA is silent. It was revealed that the HFPA has zero Black members. After the #metoo storm hit Hollywood, the self-righteous Tinseltown power brokers are in no position to judge HFPA. There’s still housecleaning to be done. It’s time for Hollywood to shut up. Tom Cruise who? He’s never even won a Golden Globe, if I understand woke history correctly. The post OPINION: Golden Globes Made Irrelevant, Takes Hollywood With It appeared first on dWeb.News Daniel Webster dWeb Internet Cowboy  |
| Sony says it’s still going to be hard to find a PS5 in 2022 Posted: 10 May 2021 02:40 PM PDT dWeb.News Article from Jacob Siegal  We're now seven months into the life cycle of the PlayStation 5, and it's still virtually impossible to find a console in stock anywhere. There are a number of reasons for this, some of which we'll get into shortly, but if you were hoping the PS5 drought might come to an end in the near future, we have some bad news for you. According to Bloomberg, one of Sony's chief executives recently told analysts that supply could be constrained into 2022. At the end of last month during its earnings announcement, Sony revealed that it had sold 7.8 million PS5 consoles through March 31st, 2021. The company also announced it was planning to sell at least 14.8 million consoles before the end of the fiscal year. After reporting its financial results, Sony spoke to analysts about the difficulty of keeping up with the demand for its next-generation gaming console. People who were present for those remarks told Bloomberg that Sony's CFO made it clear demand wouldn't likely be met any time soon. Today’s Top DealAirPods Pro are finally back in stock at Amazon… at the lowest price of 2021!Price: $197.00
"I don't think demand is calming down this year and even if we secure a lot more devices and produce many more units of the PlayStation 5 next year, our supply wouldn't be able to catch up with demand," Sony's CFO Hiroki Totoki reportedly said during the briefing. He also said: "We have sold more than 100 million units of the PlayStation 4 and considering our market share and reputation, I can't imagine demand dropping easily." If Sony could somehow ramp up production to meet demand, it seems inevitable that the PS5 would outsell the PS4 over the course of its first year on the market, but the global semiconductor shortage is not expected to be resolved in the near future either. Therefore, finding a PS5 will continue to be a challenge over the summer and into the fall, at the very least. In all likelihood, those shopping over the holidays won't fare any better. As The Verge points out, this runs counter to the narrative Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO Jim Ryan was trying to sell in February when he told the Financial Times: "It will get better every month throughout 2021. The pace of the improvement in the supply chain will gather throughout the course of the year, so by the time we get to the second half of [2021], you're going to be seeing really decent numbers indeed." For now, if you're in the market for a PS5, you're going to have to be just as diligent as you were last year, following as many Twitter accounts as possible and staying logged in to every retailer's website just in case you can get lucky and add a console to your cart before the thousands of humans and bots with which you're competing. Today’s Top DealAmazon shoppers are obsessed with these Wi-Fi smart plugs – get them for just $3.50 each!Price: $13.99 At the end of last month during its earnings announcement, Sony revealed that it had sold 7.8 million PS5 consoles through March 31st, 2021. The company also announced it was planning to sell at least 14.8 million consoles before the end of the fiscal year. After reporting its financial results, Sony spoke to analysts about the difficulty of keeping up with the demand for its next-generation gaming console. People who were present for those remarks told Bloomberg that Sony’s CFO made it clear demand wouldn’t likely be met any time soon. "I don't think demand is calming down this year and even if we secure a lot more devices and produce many more units of the PlayStation 5 next year, our supply wouldn't be able to catch up with demand," Sony’s CFO Hiroki Totoki reportedly said during the briefing. He also said: "We have sold more than 100 million units of the PlayStation 4 and considering our market share and reputation, I can't imagine demand dropping easily.” If Sony could somehow ramp up production to meet demand, it seems inevitable that the PS5 would outsell the PS4 over the course of its first year on the market, but the global semiconductor shortage is not expected to be resolved in the near future either. Therefore, finding a PS5 will continue to be a challenge over the summer and into the fall, at the very least. In all likelihood, those shopping over the holidays won’t fare any better. As The Verge points out, this runs counter to the narrative Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO Jim Ryan was trying to sell in February when he told the Financial Times: "It will get better every month throughout 2021. The pace of the improvement in the supply chain will gather throughout the course of the year, so by the time we get to the second half of [2021], you're going to be seeing really decent numbers indeed.” For now, if you’re in the market for a PS5, you’re going to have to be just as diligent as you were last year, following as many Twitter accounts as possible and staying logged in to every retailer’s website just in case you can get lucky and add a console to your cart before the thousands of humans and bots with which you’re competing.PlayStation 5, sony The post Sony says it's still going to be hard to find a PS5 in 2022 appeared first on dWeb.News Daniel Webster dWeb Internet Cowboy  |
| Cryptocurrency is Now Valued at More Than ALL US Currency in Circulation Posted: 10 May 2021 02:01 PM PDT dWeb.News Article from Daniel Webster  U.S. Treasury Seeks to TraceBy Daniel Webster dWEb.News Cryptocurrency prices hit a significant milestone: It's now worth more than all US dollars currently in currency circulation. Cryptocurrencies valuation hit $2 trillion on April 29, according to The Wall Street Journal. That is close to the same valuation as all US dollars in circulation. It has since hit as high as $2.25 trillion. Cryptocurrency prices is now in the process of actually exceeding all dollars in circulation. The Crypto boom is a part of a trend across numerous investment classes and categories, such as real estate and green energy, according to the WSJ. It appears to be fueled by low interest rates from the Federal Reserve. US Treasury Seeks to TraceWe knew this was coming. The U.S. Treasury Office of Global Targeting is looking for multiple tools to track the flow of virtual currencies and user behaviors. A Treasury unit seeks to tap commercial, internet tools for tracking virtual currency transactions. These include involving Bitcoin, recorded on a blockchain.  Within its Office of Foreign Assets Control or OFAC is the Office of Global Targeting, or OGT. The OFAC carries out economics and trade-based sanctions. That group captures intelligence on and builds cases against individuals, entities or organizations that might appear on the Specially Designated Nationals List. This listis generally blocked from conducting business with Americans. According to a published sources sought notice, OGT wants vendor-provided solutions to analyze and track blockchain-based transactions. This tracing would gather attribution information on involved parties that are under consideration to be put on the SDN List. Entries on that list have generally been formally deemed detrimental to U.S. national security. "These tools will be used specifically to support cyber sanctions implementation undertaken by OFAC," officials wrote. "More than one tool is preferred, in order to corroborate attribution of cyber actors, sufficient to meet legal requirements for use as evidence in OFAC designations determinations." Crypto Goes Via dWeb Decentralized NetworkCryptocurrency is transmitted via a dWeb decentralized network. As blockchain technology grows, it's tougher for those who aim to trace transactions but it's possible with the right tools. This is the new goal of OFAC.. Other federal and Treasury entities have explored tools for cryptocurrency tracking and digital ledger technology over the last few years. A department spokesperson told Nextgov they could not offer any commentary on whether OFAC has applied virtual currency-tracing mechanisms before. "Treasury does not comment on procurement processes," they further added. The sources sought notice lists several features the department would want to see. These include transaction flow mapping, analysis of user behavior and more. The post Cryptocurrency is Now Valued at More Than ALL US Currency in Circulation appeared first on dWeb.News Daniel Webster dWeb Internet Cowboy  |
| What happens if you don’t accept Facebook’s new WhatsApp privacy policy? Posted: 10 May 2021 01:40 PM PDT dWeb.News Article from Chris Smith  Facebook planned a massive WhatsApp privacy policy change for February 8th that would allow it to collect e-commerce data from WhatsApp users in specific markets. Users started seeing notifications early in 2021 about the imminent change, which made it clear that there was no way to opt-out. The backlash that followed forced Facebook to delay the change to May 15th, with the company giving itself more than three extra months to clarify what the changes mean. Facebook insisted in its explanations that the new privacy policy will not alter the robust end-to-end encryption that protects chats and calls but only impact data related to optional e-commerce activities done through its platforms. But Facebook never really explained why it needs to collect user data and acknowledged that the privacy policy would not impact WhatsApp users in the UK and Europe. The company then gave people time until May 15th to accept the new terms or risk losing access to some WhatsApp functionality. It all changed late last week when Facebook confirmed it would not delete WhatsApp accounts if the terms aren't accepted by May 15th. It seemed like a loss for the company at the time, with Facebook seemingly ready to allow people who don't accept the new terms to use WhatsApp. But it turns out that Facebook is still planning to WhatsApp functionality even if you don't accept the new terms. Today’s Top DealDeal alert: Amazon shoppers are swarming to get this 2K camera drone that folds up as small as a smartphone!Price: $64.99
We noted on Friday that the WhatsApp FAQ page that Facebook put up in mid-February seemed to contain the same language as before, indicating that WhatsApp functionality will be limited if the privacy policy isn't accepted. Even back in February, Facebook said it would not delete WhatsApp accounts that do not accept the terms by May 15th and that users can accept them after that deadline to reenable full app functionality. Otherwise, they would be able to receive calls and notifications for a while before Facebook disabled the ability to read or send messages. Eventually, the inactivity period might lead to the account being terminated according to WhatsApp's preexisting rules. Facebook has changed the FAQ page to confirm that it still plans to ruin the WhatsApp experience for all users who do not accept the privacy policy update (here's a version of the FAQ page from mid-February). Facebook makes it clear from the start that it doesn't intend to delete accounts and that it'll keep pushing people to accept it via what it calls "persistent reminders:" No one will have their accounts deleted or lose functionality of WhatsApp on May 15th because of this update. For the last several weeks we've displayed a notification in WhatsApp providing more information about the update. After giving everyone time to review, we're continuing to remind those who haven't had the chance to do so to review and accept. After a period of several weeks, the reminder people receive will eventually become persistent. If that's still not enough to convince you to accept, your WhatsApp functionality will be limited — here's what it'll feel like: You won't be able to access your chat list, but you can still answer incoming phone and video calls. If you have notifications enabled, you can tap on them to read or respond to a message or call back a missed phone or video call. After a few weeks of limited functionality, you won't be able to receive incoming calls or notifications and WhatsApp will stop sending messages and calls to your phone. The following image also briefly recaps the consequences of not accepting the privacy changes: Infographic explains what happens if WhatsApp users do not accept the new privacy policy. Image source: Facebook Facebook also reminds users that they can still export chat histories if they want, and that WhatsApp inactivity could still lead to account deletion. If users are inactive for 120 days, the account is deleted regardless of whether or not they accepted the privacy changes. Facebook only makes it clear that failure to accept the terms of service changes by or after May 15th will not result in immediate account deletion. Millions of people have already moved to Signal and Telegram earlier this year, with these WhatsApp rivals seeing increasing interest thanks to controversial privacy policy changes. But even so, it's likely that many people will keep WhatsApp installed and accept the new privacy policy to ensure they can still stay in touch with friends and family members who don't want to move to a different chat platform. Today’s Top DealDeal alert: Amazon shoppers are swarming to get this 2K camera drone that folds up as small as a smartphone!Price: $64.99 It all changed late last week when Facebook confirmed it would not delete WhatsApp accounts if the terms aren't accepted by May 15th. It seemed like a loss for the company at the time, with Facebook seemingly ready to allow people who don't accept the new terms to use WhatsApp. But it turns out that Facebook is still planning to WhatsApp functionality even if you don’t accept the new terms. We noted on Friday that the WhatsApp FAQ page that Facebook put up in mid-February seemed to contain the same language as before, indicating that WhatsApp functionality will be limited if the privacy policy isn't accepted. Even back in February, Facebook said it would not delete WhatsApp accounts that do not accept the terms by May 15th and that users can accept them after that deadline to reenable full app functionality. Otherwise, they would be able to receive calls and notifications for a while before Facebook disabled the ability to read or send messages. Eventually, the inactivity period might lead to the account being terminated according to WhatsApp's preexisting rules. Facebook has changed the FAQ page to confirm that it still plans to ruin the WhatsApp experience for all users who do not accept the privacy policy update (here’s a version of the FAQ page from mid-February). Facebook makes it clear from the start that it doesn't intend to delete accounts and that it'll keep pushing people to accept it via what it calls "persistent reminders:" For the last several weeks we’ve displayed a notification in WhatsApp providing more information about the update. After giving everyone time to review, we’re continuing to remind those who haven't had the chance to do so to review and accept. After a period of several weeks, the reminder people receive will eventually become persistent. After a few weeks of limited functionality, you won't be able to receive incoming calls or notifications and WhatsApp will stop sending messages and calls to your phone. Facebook also reminds users that they can still export chat histories if they want, and that WhatsApp inactivity could still lead to account deletion. If users are inactive for 120 days, the account is deleted regardless of whether or not they accepted the privacy changes. Facebook only makes it clear that failure to accept the terms of service changes by or after May 15th will not result in immediate account deletion. Millions of people have already moved to Signal and Telegram earlier this year, with these WhatsApp rivals seeing increasing interest thanks to controversial privacy policy changes. But even so, it's likely that many people will keep WhatsApp installed and accept the new privacy policy to ensure they can still stay in touch with friends and family members who don’t want to move to a different chat platform.facebook, WhatsApp The post What happens if you don't accept Facebook's new WhatsApp privacy policy? appeared first on dWeb.News Daniel Webster dWeb Internet Cowboy  |
| Fascinating details emerge about the Russian hackers who attacked a major US fuel pipeline Posted: 10 May 2021 01:40 PM PDT dWeb.News Article from Andy Meek  US national security officials are still scrambling to get to the bottom of this weekend's Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack that was believed to have been executed by a gang of Russian cybercriminals, and Colonial Pipeline itself is struggling to contain the fallout from the attack on this major US fuel pipeline — and to get things up and running again as soon as possible. Meanwhile, on Monday morning the FBI released a statement confirming the speculation in news reports that started trickling out on Sunday. It confirms that DarkSide, a relatively new but very experienced gang of Russian cybercriminals, is behind the Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack, with DarkSide itself even posting a statement to its own website, for good measure, claiming responsibility for the incident. As we noted over the weekend, the hackers stole almost 100GB of data from the pipeline operator before locking its computer network down, which led to Colonial then taking its operational network offline out of what it said was an abundance of caution. That's a big deal, because some 45% of the fuel consumed by the US East Coast is carried by Colonial Pipeline. Major installations like the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, which until this year was ranked as the world's busiest airport, also receive fuel from Colonial Pipeline, as do military bases across the pipeline's footprint. Today’s Top DealAmazon shoppers are obsessed with these Wi-Fi smart plugs – get them for just $3.50 each!Price: $13.99
The FBI's statement pinning the attack on DarkSide can be found below. It comes after the federal government also issued an emergency declaration on Sunday that will help support alternative transportation routes for fuel so that damage from this attack can be minimized. FBI Statement on Compromise of Colonial Pipeline Networks https://t.co/XxHgezpref pic.twitter.com/McrRFOil64 — FBI (@FBI) May 10, 2021 As it turns out, DarkSide itself has also released its own statement claiming responsibility for the ransomware attack, which struck at what's essentially the "jugular" of the US pipeline system, as one energy researcher has described it. According to New York Times cybersecurity reporter Nicole Perlroth, this gang of hackers has spurred several frantic meetings at the White House, which is putting the finishing touches on a cybersecurity-focused Executive Order. interestingly, the DarkSide hackers, while relatively new to this space, also operate according to their own quasi-"code of conduct." As Perlroth explains it, the DarkSide hackers refuse to target hospitals, funeral homes, and non-profits — and sometimes they even donate the proceeds from their ransomware attacks to charity. In a statement posted to the gang's own website, according to NBC News, the hackers also seem to realize that they've crossed a red line in the US — pulling off something that no ransomware gang has done to this scale before. "We are apolitical, we do not participate in geopolitics, do not need to tie us with a defined goverment and look for other our motives," the hackers' statement reads, including a misspelling of the word "government" and some other grammatical errors. "Our goal is to make money, and not creating problems for society. From today we introduce moderation and check each company that our partners want to encrypt to avoid social consequences in the future." Today’s Top DealAirPods Pro are finally back in stock at Amazon… at the lowest price of 2021!Price: $197.00 Meanwhile, on Monday morning the FBI released a statement confirming the speculation in news reports that started trickling out on Sunday. It confirms that DarkSide, a relatively new but very experienced gang of Russian cybercriminals, is behind the Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack, with DarkSide itself even posting a statement to its own website, for good measure, claiming responsibility for the incident. As we noted over the weekend, the hackers stole almost 100GB of data from the pipeline operator before locking its computer network down, which led to Colonial then taking its operational network offline out of what it said was an abundance of caution. That’s a big deal, because some 45% of the fuel consumed by the US East Coast is carried by Colonial Pipeline. Major installations like the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, which until this year was ranked as the world's busiest airport, also receive fuel from Colonial Pipeline, as do military bases across the pipeline's footprint. The FBI’s statement pinning the attack on DarkSide can be found below. It comes after the federal government also issued an emergency declaration on Sunday that will help support alternative transportation routes for fuel so that damage from this attack can be minimized.
As it turns out, DarkSide itself has also released its own statement claiming responsibility for the ransomware attack, which struck at what’s essentially the "jugular" of the US pipeline system, as one energy researcher has described it. According to New York Times cybersecurity reporter Nicole Perlroth, this gang of hackers has spurred several frantic meetings at the White House, which is putting the finishing touches on a cybersecurity-focused Executive Order. interestingly, the DarkSide hackers, while relatively new to this space, also operate according to their own quasi-“code of conduct.” As Perlroth explains it, the DarkSide hackers refuse to target hospitals, funeral homes, and non-profits — and sometimes they even donate the proceeds from their ransomware attacks to charity. In a statement posted to the gang’s own website, according to NBC News, the hackers also seem to realize that they’ve crossed a red line in the US — pulling off something that no ransomware gang has done to this scale before. "We are apolitical, we do not participate in geopolitics, do not need to tie us with a defined goverment and look for other our motives," the hackers’ statement reads, including a misspelling of the word “government” and some other grammatical errors. "Our goal is to make money, and not creating problems for society. From today we introduce moderation and check each company that our partners want to encrypt to avoid social consequences in the future."colonial pipeline, FBI, hackers, Ransomware The post Fascinating details emerge about the Russian hackers who attacked a major US fuel pipeline appeared first on dWeb.News Daniel Webster dWeb Internet Cowboy  |
| Technology Isn’t Always Productive – Here’s How to Use it Appropriately Posted: 10 May 2021 12:40 PM PDT dWeb.News Article from Timothy Carter  Technology has revolutionized the way we live, work, and play. It's a field of miraculous, magical developments that always have the power to help us save time, do more, and ultimately become more productive. Right? Technology Isn't Always ProductiveYou might have had some experiences with technology that make you question whether a new app, a new gadget, or a new system is actually adding value to your life. For example, you might have upgraded to a new project management system that ends up taking twice as much time to use. Or, even more commonly, you might have found yourself endlessly scrolling through your Twitter feed in the middle of an important project. As a generalized, overarching trend, technology definitely makes us productive.We're capable of far more than we were even 10 years ago, and new industries and opportunities emerge every year from new tech. But technology isn't always productive – in fact, it can sometimes rob you of productive time. What steps can you take to ensure that all your technology choices end in higher productivity (or at least neutrality)? Here's How to Use Technology AppropriatelyOutline Your Goals in AdvanceBefore adopting any new technology, it's important to outline all your goals in advance. What, exactly, are you hoping to achieve? Many new technologies make vague promises about making your life better, and many consumers end up buying those products because they seem, in some ambiguous way, "better" than what you currently have. For example, you have the option to upgrade your refrigerator to a smart fridge. But what are you actually hoping to achieve from this upgrade? Do you want your food to spoil less often? Do you want to stay better organized with your food purchases? A refrigerator upgrade may not be necessary to achieve these goals. What does productivity mean to you?You'll also need to think about what "productive" actually means to you. If a piece of new technology improved your productivity, what would that look like? Some technologies automate or simplify some aspect of your job (or life), only to introduce new problems. For example, you might develop an algorithm that automatically generates a reading list for you – but it doesn't always work quite right, so you have to sort through the list manually. You've saved an hour on task A, but you're spending an hour on a new task, task B. The clearer your goals are, the less likely you'll be to use technology that has a net negative effect. Rely on Objective DataWhen choosing new technologies and evaluating their ability to improve your productivity, you need to rely on hard, objective data. What, specifically, is this improving and how much is it improving it? This will help you filter out: Cognitive biases. Human beings aren't very logical creatures. We're afflicted with a variety of cognitive biases that can distort how we perceive things. Always Review Your Options in DepthWhen searching for new technology, you'll probably have many options to choose from. There are dozens, if not hundreds, of competitors in almost every imaginable niche, so it's important to review your choices carefully before making a final call. Consider these choices for your technology:Features and functionality. What does this product have that other competing products don't have? Even more importantly, what does it do to boost your productivity? Automate Whatever You Can – but Understand the LimitsAutomation is one of the best ways to save time and increase productivity in a business environment. Accordingly, you should strive to automate whatever you can. That said, there are some limitations to what you can automate effectively. Automation relies on predictability and consistency; in an environment with unknown variables or areas that require human creativity, automation becomes less practical. Excessive automation can also compromise certain aspects of your business; for example, you might be able to automate all your email marketing and sales campaigns, but it could turn people off for being too repetitive and "cold." Minimize AppsFor the most part, you should strive to limit the number of apps you rely on, both to simplify your infrastructure and to minimize time spent jumping between systems. You can do this by consolidating the functionality of several apps into one, relying on integrations to send data to and from various apps, and by resisting the temptation to buy new apps just because they're new and look cool. Set Limits and RestrictionsSome apps and devices make it hard to be productive because they occupy too much of your time or interfere with your life in some crucial way. Accordingly, it's advisable to set limits and restrictions for yourself, sometimes within the apps themselves. For example: Screen time. Most smartphones and modern devices have built-in settings and apps to help you track your screen time. You might even be able to limit it. This is especially important for apps and devices that tend to distract you or pull you away from more productive work. Measure and ReflectRely on a combination of built-in tech tools, time trackers, and other analytics dashboards to keep track of your productivity and your progress. How are you using the various tools available in your arsenal? How much time are you spending on various platforms and on screens? How many hours are you working and how much were you able to get done? Consistently measure your productivity and observe how it changes over time. Don't just assume that a new piece of tech is boosting your performance; try to prove it. If it's not working for you, consider cutting it and moving onto something else. If you aren't careful, a new app, a new gadget, or another high-tech investment can end up working against you, either by distracting you, interfering with your work, or making something you were already doing harder. As long as you think critically about your new tech adoption and continue to be discerning in your tech infrastructure, you can end up benefitting from new tech. Image Credit: curioso photography; pexels; thank you! The post Technology Isn't Always Productive – Here's How to Use it Appropriately appeared first on ReadWrite. Technology has revolutionized the way we live, work, and play. It's a field of miraculous, magical developments that always have the power to help us save time, do more, and ultimately become more productive. Right? Technology Isn't Always Productive You might have had some experiences with technology that make you question whether a new app, The post Technology Isn't Always Productive – Here's How to Use it Appropriately appeared first on dWeb.News Daniel Webster dWeb Internet Cowboy  |
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