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Users Can Opt Out of Wi-Fi Location Tracking by Adding '_nomap' to SSID

Users Can Opt Out of Wi-Fi Location Tracking by Adding '_nomap' to SSID

Smartphone operating systems, including those from Apple and Google, utilize Wi-Fi Positioning Systems (WPS) to enhance GPS accuracy and speed. When a smartphone encounters a new Wi-Fi hotspot, it sends the router's unique BSSID (Basic Service Set Identifier), signal strength, and other data to these tech giants' databases. These databases aggregate reports for a given BSSID to estimate the router's location. If a router remains stationary for several days to a week, its location is added to the database. This system allows mapping applications to quickly pinpoint a user's location by identifying routers in range and finding the intersection of their corresponding location circles. While beneficial for navigation, this process also means that the physical location of Wi-Fi routers, including personal home networks, can be tracked and stored in these databases. This raises privacy concerns, as individuals with sufficient technical skills can access these WPS databases via APIs and potentially determine the ...

SignalTrace Technology Links Device Signals to License Plate Readers, Raising Privacy Concerns

SignalTrace Technology Links Device Signals to License Plate Readers, Raising Privacy Concerns

A new technology called SignalTrace, marketed by security company Leonardo to law enforcement, is capable of linking wireless device signals to license plate reader location data. This system works by detecting electronic signals from consumer devices such as phones, smartwatches, and in-car electronics as vehicles pass automatic license plate readers (ALPRs). SignalTrace software identifies signals that repeatedly appear together, creating an 'electronic fingerprint' for that group of devices. This fingerprint is then correlated with license plate information and time-stamped locations. While Leonardo states the technology does not decrypt communications or access stored data, it can establish recurring electronic patterns associated with specific vehicles. This allows investigators to potentially start an investigation with a pattern of electronic signals and work backward to identify a vehicle or, with additional steps, its registered owner. The company emphasizes that SignalTrace data is an investigati...

Samsung hikes chipmaking prices by up to 15% on demand spike, sources say

Samsung hikes chipmaking prices by up to 15% on demand spike, sources say

Aug 19 (Reuters) - Samsung Electronics has raised prices for some advanced contract chipmaking services by up to 15% for new orders, two people familiar with the matter said, as demand for AI chips tightens capacity in a business long dominated by TSMC.

Israel's Largest Crypto Broker Bits of Gold Suffers Data Breach Affecting 200,000 Customers

Israel's Largest Crypto Broker Bits of Gold Suffers Data Breach Affecting 200,000 Customers

Israel's Largest Crypto Broker Bits of Gold Suffers Data Breach Affecting 200,000 Customers

How AES Encryption Quietly Underpins Most Software You Use

How AES Encryption Quietly Underpins Most Software You Use

From Wi-Fi to online banking, the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) is the invisible technology that keeps your digital life secure.

Local LLMs Now Feasible on Smartphones, Offering Privacy and Offline Functionality

Local LLMs Now Feasible on Smartphones, Offering Privacy and Offline Functionality

Running Large Language Models (LLMs) locally on smartphones is becoming increasingly feasible, offering users enhanced privacy and offline capabilities. While advanced AI features in modern phones often rely on cloud-based LLMs, recent advancements in phone hardware and the development of smaller, more efficient AI models (often called Small Language Models or SLMs) mean that users can now run these models directly on their devices. This allows for an LLM that is always available and private, as no data is sent to external servers like Google, OpenAI, or Anthropic. The primary benefits include increased data privacy and the ability to use AI functionalities without an internet connection. However, this comes with some trade-offs, such as potentially slower performance and a greater drain on battery life compared to cloud-based solutions.

Hims Hers CEO Advocates Open-Weight AI Models for Significant Cost Savings in Data-Rich Companies

Hims Hers CEO Advocates Open-Weight AI Models for Significant Cost Savings in Data-Rich Companies

Hims Hers CEO Advocates Open-Weight AI Models for Significant Cost Savings in Data-Rich Companies

Billionaire Investor Bill Ackman Sells Alphabet Stake, Citing AI Competition and Regulatory Concerns

Billionaire Investor Bill Ackman Sells Alphabet Stake, Citing AI Competition and Regulatory Concerns

Billionaire Investor Bill Ackman Sells Alphabet Stake, Citing AI Competition and Regulatory Concerns

Wall St up after tech selloff as yields retreat; Moderna surges

Wall St up after tech selloff as yields retreat; Moderna surges

By Avinash P and Purvi Agarwal Aug 19 (Reuters) - The main U.S. stock indexes recovered on Wednesday after a technology-driven slump in the previous session as government bond yields retreated from multi-decade highs and investors assessed a slew of corporate updates.

How Kubernetes Quietly Underpins Most Software You Use

How Kubernetes Quietly Underpins Most Software You Use

Ever wonder how your favorite apps handle millions of users without crashing? The answer is often Kubernetes, the invisible engine of the modern internet.

Ransom Busters Demands Up to $60,000 from Ransomware Victims, Claims Hacked Servers

Ransom Busters Demands Up to $60,000 from Ransomware Victims, Claims Hacked Servers

A group identifying itself as 'Ransom Busters' is proactively contacting organizations that have been victims of ransomware attacks, offering to delete stolen data from ransomware groups' servers in exchange for payments ranging from $20,000 to $60,000. This unusual approach has been observed by GuidePoint Research and Intelligence Team (GRIT), which noted that cybersecurity firms typically offer recovery services only after an attack becomes public. Ransom Busters claims to have found vulnerabilities in administrative panels of Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) groups and asserts it has been breaking into these servers for over three years. The group requests contact with the victim's CEO or IT leadership, stating they found the company's stolen data on recently accessed servers and can facilitate data recovery and deletion of backups held by the ransomware group. GuidePoint has responded to several incidents involving this threat actor, who is believed to be an affiliate working across multiple RaaS operati...

AI Tools Exploit Social Media Holiday Photos for Sophisticated Fraud Attempts

AI Tools Exploit Social Media Holiday Photos for Sophisticated Fraud Attempts

A new and sophisticated scam is emerging where artificial intelligence (AI) tools are being used to exploit holiday photos posted on social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook. Fraudsters are leveraging AI to accurately detect the precise location where a photo was taken, even from seemingly indistinct images. New research conducted by McAfee, a prominent anti-virus software producer, demonstrated that common AI tools can identify photo locations with over 90% accuracy by analyzing subtle details such as background architecture, signage, and ambient light. This advanced capability allows criminals to create highly convincing fraud attempts, such as text messages or emails claiming 'unusual activity' on a bank card while the user was in a specific, AI-identified location. The scam relies on the credibility lent by knowing the victim's travel details, prompting them to click on malicious links and inadvertently divulge sensitive financial information, making it difficult for victims to recognize the ...