Tech Gumbo

Facebook Is 20, Music Disappearing From TikTok, Social Media Platform Updates, Threads Suggest A Fediverse, Google & Yahoo Cracking Down on SPAM, Toothbrushes Cause Cyber Attack

News and Updates:

• Facebook is 20, we discuss some of the changes along the way
• Universal Music Group pulls all of its music from TikTok, including Taylor Swift
• YouTube is still the biggest, TikTok and Threads are growing Twitter is imploding
• Threads wants Fediverse (FEDerated unIVERSE) for other platforms
• Google and Yahoo are cracking down on SPAM
• 3 million smart toothbrushes cause a Direct Denial of Service

Amazon Stops Purchase of Roomba, Gen Z Has Poor Cyber Security Habits, TikTok Feeble Attempt to Protect US User Data

The Big Stories:

• The EU refuses to allow Amazon to purchase iRobot, the makers of Roomba
• Generation Z has a poor cyber security problem
• Gen Z also falls for more cyber scams than their grandparents
• TikTok gives a Wink-And-A-Nod to protecting US user data

Ingenuity Flies Its Last Mission, Russian Hackers Hit HPE, Toyota Promotes Hydrogen-Powered Cars, Apple’s Vision Pro Has Privacy and App Issues

News and Updates:

• NASA’s Mars helicopter has flown its last mission after 72 flights
• The same Russian hacker that tried to get into Microsoft, try to get into HPE
• Toyota says Hydrogen-Powered Cars are the future, not EV’s
• Apple’s Vision Pro and the data collected are still up for grabs
• YouTube and Netflix will not build apps for the Vision Pro, for now

iOS 17.3 Launched With Stolen Device Protection, ChatGPT Sued by Authors, Another AI-Bot Influencer Fired, DNA Used To Create Facial Recognition

The Big Stories:

• Apple’s iOS 17.3 launches with security features, including Stolen Device Protection
• NY Times authors sue Open AI because ChatGPT can go around a pay wall
• Formula E Team creates a female an AI chatbot and then retracts the creepy bot
• Police use DNA to reconstruct suspects facial ID and then deploys facial recognition

Microsoft Is Hacked, Microsoft Is #1 $$$, Big Cable Against User Choices, Google Podcast To Become YouTube Music

News and Updates:

• Microsoft by Russians, but stopped it before it became bad
• Microsoft overtook Apple to become the most valuable company on Earth
• Cable companies think you are incapable of deleting you account on a website
• Google Podcast migrating to YouTube Music

Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), YouTube’s Big Slowdown, Google Killing Cookies, Google Play is a Monopoly, Google Play Will Allow Real Money Gaming Apps

The Question of the Week:  

 What is Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG)?

The Big Stories:

• YouTube’s assault on Adblockers continues with a “Slow Down” if you have an ad blocker
• Google is getting rid of everyone else’s cookies, but keep their own
• Google Play Store found guilty of being a monopoly
• Google Play will allow more Gaming Apps, including apps from Google

 

Starlink at Costco, Starlink Getting Faster, Wi-Fi 7, Apple Vision Pro, @SECGov Hacked

News and Updates:

• Starlink dishes now available at Costco
• Starlink is reducing latency to below 20 milliseconds
• Wi-Fi 7 received certification from the Wi-Fi Alliance
• The very pricy Apple Vision Pro
• @SECGov hacked possibly to inflate the price of Bitcoin

iPhone Anti-Malware, Google’s Robot Constitution, AI-Doctors-Self Diagnosis, AI Bot Sells Vehicle for $1- The Hell Breaks Loose

The Question of the Week:  

Are there any good anti-spyware / anti-malware for iPhone 13?

The Big Stories:

• Google creates a Robot Constitution for AI LLM’s
• AI & Doctors in the era of Self Diagnosis
• GM Dealer uses chat bot, bot tries to sell Tahoe for $1
• Then Chatbot went off script with a few political opinions

New Years Tech Tips, GM Ending CarPlay, Tesla lowers Range Estimates, X Is Down 72%

News and Updates:

• 10 Tech Tip to start the New Year
• GM cancelling Android Auto & CarPlay for “Safety Concerns”
• Tesla lowers estimation on range of several EV’s per charge
• X, formerly known as Twitter, valuation is down 72% in 14 months 

AI &Large Language Models Deep Dive Discussion! (Part 3 of 3)

I am joined by 3 Cyber & AI experts, Don Monistere, Alexander Adams & Justin Obney, We do a deep dive into the Large Language Models, and discuss what the models are doing and how best to use them. (Part 3 of 3)

AI & Large Language Models Deep Dive Discussion! (Part 2 of 3)

I am joined by 3 Cyber & AI experts, Don Monistere, Alexander Adams & Justin Obney, We do a deep dive into the Large Language Models, and discuss what they expect over the next year. (Part 2 of 3)

AI & Large Language Models Deep Dive Discussion! (Part 1 of 3)

I am joined by 3 Cyber & AI experts, Don Monistere, Alexander Adams & Justin Obney, We do a deep dive into the Large Language Models, and what discuss we have learned over the past 6 months. (Part 1 of 3)

COBOL, ChatGPT Turns 1 Year Old

The Question of the Week-  What is COBOL?

The Big AI Story:

• ChatGPT turns 1, 5 things have we learned in the first year

TikTok Ban Blocked, UK Could Require Facial Scans, Kansas Courts Reduced To Faxing, Hackers Discloses Breach to SEC, Streaming Services Bundling, Hackers Demand Idaho National Lab research “CatGirls”

News and Updates:

• TikTok Ban in Montana blocked by Federal Court
• UK considering facial scans to view online porn
• Cyberattack cripples Kansas courts for lawyers to fax documents
• Ransomware group turns victim into the SEC because they did not disclose the network breach
• Streaming platforms are considering bundles libraries potentially lowering monthly cost
• Hacker group “Gay Furry Cats” breach nuke lab, demand research on creating “catgirls”

OpenAI Fired-Unfired Sam Altman, AI Diagnosing Autism, SI Using Fake AI Writers, AI Weapons To Kill Humans?

The Question of the Week-  Can you summarize what happened at OpenAI?

OpenAI’s Board fired CEO Sam Altman, then Unfired him, Board Resigns

The Big AI Stories:

• AI can diagnose Autism with 98.5% accuracy
• Sports Illustrated using Fake AI Writers for published articles
• The Pentagon is looking into letting AI weapons autonomously kill humans

iOS NameDrop is Safe, Stopping Porch Pirates, Google Deleting Accounts, Digital Car Keys, Google Passkeys

News and Updates:

• New feature in iOS 17, NameDrop, is safe, despite fearmongering
• Protecting your deliveries from Porch Pirates
• Google deactivating dormant account
• Digital car keys maybe here a reality in not too distant future

Google – Apple and the EU, CFPB Apple-Google and Banks, Auto Makers and the Data Cars Create and Store

The Big Stories:

• Google ask the EU force Apple to make iMessage work on all platforms, not just the iPhone
• The CFPB wants regulate Apple and Google like banks because of $$ transactions
• Car makers disables features to cars to protect data created by cars, users not happy
• Cars retain the data the transmits through the infotainment system, long term risk

Dumb Cybersecurity Mistakes, Better Cyber Policies, Robocalls Not Stopping, Tesla Cybertruck Caveat, Hybrids Instead of EV’s, NASA’s Long Distance Call to Voyager 2

News and Updates:

• The NSA releases Top 10 dumbest Cybersecurity mistakes
• NY State Dept of Financial Services Cyber Rules are better than National Cyber Policies
• Robocalls keep happening, especially in Baton Rouge
• Tesla will not allow the resale of a Cybertruck for 1 full year
• More people are buying Hybrids than EV’s
• NASA communicates with Voyager 2 which is over 12 Billion miles away from Earth

Updating Smart Phones and Computers?, Deepfake Porn Videos, Deepfake Images of High School Classmates, Monitoring Software Is Security Concern, AI Generates Very Disturbing Clichés

The Question of the Week: Do I really need to update my phone & computer?

The Big Stories:

• Deepfake videos are mostly porn
• High school boys create generate deepfake nude pictures of female classmates
• The Speaker of the House uses Monitoring software on PC’s and phones raising security concerns
• A study found AI Generated images are very stereotypical and disturbing clichés

YouTube Ad Blocking, US v. Google, College Students And Dating Apps, HackerOne $300M Payout, SEC Sues SolarWinds Over 2020 Russian Hack

News and Updates:

• YouTube’s ad blocking crackdown is aggravating people worldwide
• US v. Google antitrust suit exposes the most profitable search
• Are college students backing away from dating apps?
• HackeOne has paid out over $300 Million to white hat hackers, and that is a good thing
• The SEC sues SolarWinds over the 2020 Russian hack because of negligence
• Disney is taking full control of Hulu

Quishing, Google CEO testifies, Amazon Used Nessie, Automakers and Suppliers Argue Over Car Data

The Big Stories:

• What is Quishing?- QR Code Phishing
• Google CEO testifies in the antitrust case, says dominance is a good thing
• Amazon used a secret algorithm called “Project Nessie” to raise everyone’s prices
• Automakers and suppliers disagree your over car’s data  in the EU

The Start Of Season 10- Executive Order for A.I., iOS 17.1, Twitter-X Full of Misinformation, Media Not Missing Twitter, Sports Sticking With X For Now, Pirating Making a Comeback

The Start Of Season 10!

News and Updates:

• President Biden issues Executive Order for safeguards on A.I.
• iOS 17.1 is and time to upgrade
• Twitter-X has 10 times more disinformation than all other social media
• NPR left Twitter 6 months ago, does not miss it
• Sprots Media & Fans still using X
• Online piracy is rising along with streaming rates

AI To Cause Financial Crash, US-China To Cause Tech Supply Chain Issues, Deepfakes & Celebrities, Fake Amazon Reviews, Utah Sues TikTok, Titter Will Charge New Users

The Big Stories:

• SEC Chair says AI will cause a crash Within the next 10 years
• DC Commissioner say US-China conflict will cause supply chain issues for Tech Companies
• Celebrities denounce appearing in deepfake ads
• Amazon is littered with fake reviews and trying to fight back
• Utah sues TikTok over children’s Mental Health concerns
• X (Twitter) will charge $1 for new users in the South Pacific, as a test

AI At Walmart Checkout Is Hostile, Microsoft Buys Activision, Netflix Password Update & Price Increase, YouTube Blocks Ad Blockers, BestBuy Ends DVD Sales, iPhone 15 Screen “Burn In”

News and Updates:

• Walmart employees report customers are hostile because of AI “eye in the sky”
• Microsoft completes the purchase of Activision, what’s next?
• 14% of Netflix still shares passwords
• Netflix emboldened to raise subscription rates
• YouTube shuts down ad blockers, users angry
• BestBuy ends DVD & Blu-Ray says in Q1 of 2024
• iPhone 15 users are getting screen “burn in” images on the OLED

Microsoft Win 12 in 2024 And With Subscriptions?, OneDrive Storage Backlash, Win 11 Updates, Win 10 Ends Free Upgrade, And Copilot

The Big Stories:

Microsoft:

• Intel suggest Win 12 rollout in 2024
• Win 12 may come with subscription model or free with ads
• Backtracks on change of data storage in OneDrive
• Warns admins of new Google anti-Spam rules
• Ends free upgrade from Win 7 to Win 10, officially
• Win 11 rolls out updates like Windows Copilot, Passkey Support, OCR in Snipping Tool among others
• Windows Copilot vs. Microsoft 365 Copilot

Grocery Checkout Counter AI, Uber Return, Vermont Utility To Give Out Wall Batteries, LSU to have AI-Engaged Classrooms

News and Updates:

• Kroger plans to use AI to reduce Shrinkage
• Uber is starting a Package Return Service
• A Vermont Utility will give out batteries to reduce outages and transmission lines
• LSU College of Humanities & Social Sciences will introduce AI into the classroom in Spring 2024

Deepfake Cheer Mom & US v. Google Antitrust Case

Deepfake Cheer mom is innocent, creates the “liar’s dividend” in court

The Big Stories:

US v. Google Antitrust- Get your popcorn & a drink for the show

First witness, Microsoft CEO, says:

• Google dominance is a nightmare
• Search is the largest software category, bigger than Windows & Office
• Google alters your search request to fit their advertisers

Facebook’s Disappointing Ray-Bans, Facebook & Instagram for $20/Month, iPhone Fix, Smartphone Sales Down, China Hacks Cisco, Dish Gets Space Debris Fine

News and Updates:

• Facebook releases very disappointing Ray-Ban w/ bad speaker and poor camera
• Meta floats the idea of approx. $20/month for FB & IG in the EU
• Apple to release a fix to overheating iPhone 15
• Sale of smartphones down by over 20%
• Chine Gov’t hacks into Cisco Router Firmware
• FCC issues first ever fine for space debris to Disch Network

AI- Amazon, ChatGPT, Deepfakes, Google

The Big Stories:

• Amazon Buys into Anthropic
• ChatGPT Has Spoken Conversations
• Deepfakes Breach Into A Corporate Security
• Google Will Require Disclosure of AI

iPhone 15 is Really HOT, NYPD Robot, You’ve Been Breached, So What?, Tech Company You’ve Never Heard Of, Nvidia and Spotify Translating Podcast

News and Updates:

• iPhone 15 is Overheating
• NYPD has a 400 Lb. robot in a subway station
• Most people do nothing when their data has been breached
• A really important tech company you’ve never heard of
• Nvidia chips rule AI & video gaming
• Spotify is using AI to translate podcast into different languages

iOS 17, MGM Casino Hack, Microsoft Wanted To Buy Nintendo

The Question of the Week-  Last week you talked about the iPhone 15, this week they released iOS 17, should I do the upgrade?

The Big Stories:

• MGM Casino & Hotel hack
• Microsoft tried to buy Nintendo

Google Extends Chromebooks, Apple Resolve Radiation In France, SpaceX Fixes Photobombs And Is Still Growing, Security Cameras Not Very Secure, Section 702 Of FISA

News and Updates:

• Google back tracks and extends the useful life of Chromebooks
• Apple to release software update to excess radiation on iPhone 12 in France
• SpaceX will start put a film on satellites to stop reflecting the sun and disrupting astronomy
• SpaceX is growing, but not meeting their lofty goals
• Home security cameras allow people see other people’s cameras
• Reauthorizing Section 702 of FISA

FOBO (Fear Of Becoming Obsolete) and Big Tech on Capitol Hill Talking A.I. and LLM’s

The Question of the Week-  

With the advancements of ChatGPT & AI, should I be worried about my job?

The Big Stories:

• Big Tech leaders meet with Senators in Closed Door Session to discuss AI & LLM’s

iPhone- A week of Good, Bad and Ugly

News and Updates:
iPhone:

• France says iPhone 12 radiation levels are too high
• Banned in China for governmental use
• No Click Zero Days Exploit- Updates to 16.6.1
• The new 1Phone 15 Released with surprises
• Buying a new iPhone

IBM Watson?, AI Biases, AI Heling Hackers, GPT Not Helping Bing, AI Sports Gone Wrong

The Question of the Week-  

Is IBM’s Watson an LLM?

The Big Stories:

• LLM’s have biases based upon the data they learn from
• Generative AI is helping Hackers too
• ChatGPT inside of Bing is not making a dent in the Google search domination
• AI written sports stories gone bad

U.S. v. Google- Monopoly, Court Rules Against Age Verification, Paying for FB & IG in EU, Cars Scaping Your Personal Data

News and Updates:

• US Justice Dept is suing Google for being monopoly in the search engine field
• Judge ruled against Texas over Age-Verification Law
• Facebook & Instagram consider a pay option to get around EU laws
• Modern cars fail at data privacy

End of Life Chromebooks, LLMs “Drifting” and Causing Chaos in Education

The Question of the Week-  

I was bought a Chrome Book during the Pandemic, it is going end of life, now what?

The Big Stories:

• ChatGPT’s accuracy is “drifting”
• Students are using LLM’s and getting turned in for plagiarism

Subtitles Instead of Volume, Streaming Overtakes Cable, Google Maps for EV’s, EV Road Issue, Tesla Internal Data Breach, Autonomous Vehicles Have Trouble with Kids and Dark Skin, Right0To-Repair

News & Updates:

• Majority of viewers in the US use subtitles while watch shows
• More people are streaming than linear TV for the 1^st time
• Google Maps upgrades for Android Auto for EV’s
• An EV road trip that was not planned well
• Tesla has a data breach from rogue employees
• Autonomous vehicles have trouble seeing kids and dark skin pedestrians
• Apple now supports Right-To-Repair, sort of

Favorite Interviews Week: US Rep Garret Graves - 12Dec2020

US Rep Garret Graves discusses antiquated laws still being used towards technology

Favorite Interviews Week: Don Monistere - AI & Large Language Models w/ Guest Justin Obney, Kenny Nguyen & Alexander Adams - 21Jul2023

Guest Host Don Monistere - AI & Large Language Models w/ Guest Justin Obney, Kenny Nguyen & Alexander Adams

• A deep dive discussion into AI & LLM’s like ChatGPT:
• How they are impacting your life
• Why we should be using these new tools
• Why we should be teaching these tools in schools
• The ethics of using AI & LLM’s
• The need for guardrails on AI & LLM’s

Favorite Interviews Week: Greg Trahan, Director of Economic Development LSU - 11May2023

LSU is becoming the leader in Cyber Security

Our guest this week:
Greg Trahan, Director of Economic Development LSU

• LSU working with US Secret Service on:
• Cyber Security research & training
• Encouraging athletes to become Secret Service Agents
• Working to defend Ports from Cyber attacks
• Training students to become cyber security experts

Favorite Interviews Week: Keith Comeaux, Deputy Chief Engineer, Mars 2020 Mission‬‬‬ at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) - 13Mar2021

Keith Comeaux, Catholic High & LSU Grad and Deputy Chief Engineer, Mars 2020 Mission at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)

Keith Comeaux  from Nasa’s JPL talks about growing up in Baton Rouge, going to LSU & Stanford and then getting to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory to be the Deputy Chief Engineer in charge of the last 2 Mars Rovers! He talks about what you need to do if you are a student and want to work for NASA, and about the Mars Helicopter on Perseverance!  

Favorite Interviews Week: Cody Worsham Chief Brand Officer of LSU Athletics & Winning the Content Arms Race - 21Nov2022

How LSU is winning the Content Arms Race

Guest Cody Worsham, Chief Brand Officer of LSU Athletics talks about:

• How was the LSU Athletics Social Media team created?
• For those interested in content creation, what can they do to get started?
• How does LSU Athletics Social Media team make decisions?
• What is the LSU Athletics Social Media team’s role in supporting N.I.L.?
• LSU Gold for those who want deeper engagement

Upgrading to iPhone 15?, Black Hat Conference 2023

The Question of the Week-  

I heard there is a new iPhone coming out, should I upgrade?

The Big Stories:

• Black Hat 2023
• Good Guys, researchers and enthusiast collaborating for the good of the Cyber community
• FBI, CIA, NSA & DHS are there to recruit
• Hacking into a Tesla
• Las Vegas turned off the Globe during the conference to remove the target
• Call for Transparency
• NSA Dir. Gets heckled

Cybersecurity Labels for IoT, Investigating Microsoft, FEC & AI in Political Ads, Autonomous Vehicles in Calif, Streamflation, More Password Sharing Crackdown

News & Updates:

• Whitehouse pushing for cybersecurity labels to protect IoT devices
• Sen. Wants to investigate Microsoft for involvement in SolarWinds hack in 2020
• FEC wants to prevent AI in political ads before 2024 elections
• Calif green lighted more Autonomous vehicles across the state, especially in SanFran
• Streamflation
• Disney announces password sharing crackdown likely in 2025

LK-99?, Cyberattack Warnings, Cyber Incident Rules, More Cyber Attacks

The Question of the Week-  

I heard something called LK-99 in the news, what is it and why should I care?

• What is a superconductor
• Is this one real

The Big Stories:

• Critcal Infrastructure companies warned of imminent cyberattacks
• SEC changes report rules for public companies with cyber incidents
• Huge upswing in cyber malware and how it impacts your business

Intel Patches, Processors Removed from Win11, Chrome Security Updates, NYC Couple Arrested with Bitcoins, Robocallers Fined $300M, Nasa Ingenuity Still Going

News & Updates:

• Intel releases patches for billions of processors
• Microsoft cancels Win11 support for Xeon E processors
• Google releasing weekly security patches for Chrome
• Chrome ads 2FA for Password Manager
• NYC couple arrested after stealing $4.5B of crypto
• Robocallers fined $300M for doing 5 billion robocalls
• Nasa’s Ingenuity completes 54^th flight on Mars, after dangerous 53^rd

Stealing Hyundais & Kias via USB, AI in Business, AI in PC Chips, WormGPT, Bard & ChatGPT Legal Troubles

The Question of the Week-  
Are Hyundais really being stolen via the USB?

• “Kia Challenge”, a Tik-Tok 2022 viral challenge video

The Big Stories:

• CFO’s pushing to use AI in the accounting & finance departments
• Intel to create a processor specifically for AI
• WormGPT- What bad AI looks like
• Google’s Bard faces class action lawsuit
• ChatGPT investigated by the FTC

China to Limit Online Time, Tik-Tok Ban Challenged, Meta, Microsoft & Amazon Building a Map App, Cell Data & City Planning, NASA+, La OMV Breach Notice

News & Updates:

• China proposes online limit for kids
• Tik-Tok ban in Texas challenged in court
• Meta, Microsoft & Amazon to build map app to compete w/ Google Maps
• Cellphone user data used for city planning
• NASA to launch a streaming service called NASA+
• La. OMV sends notice of breach and how t protect yourself

PC’s Supply Chain & Solar Panels, Batteries, Hybrids & EV’s

The Question of the Week-  Does it still take forever to buy a PC? Or have supplies caught back up?

The Big Stories:

• Price of Solar Panels failing
• Batteries to Charge your home
• 50% of US Ready Hybrid or EV’s
• Supercharging Stations open to more Makes & Models
• Tesla exaggerated range of EV’s by 25% or more