ICT news

• 23andMe To Lay Off 40% of Its Workforce, Discontinue All Therapy Programs

  12-11-2024 23:50 via science.slashdot.org
  
  The genetic testing company 23andMe announced it will cut 40% of its workforce, or 200 jobs, and halt the work on therapies it was developing. As the BBC notes, the company is fighting for survival after hackers gained access to personal information of millions of its users, causing the stock to crater by more than 70%. All seven of its independent directors also resigned in September, following a protracted negotiation with founder and Chief Executive Anne Wojcicki over her plan to take the com
  
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• Open Source Project DeFlock Is Mapping License Plate Surveillance Cameras All Over the World

  12-11-2024 23:10 via yro.slashdot.org
  
  An anonymous reader quotes a report from 404 Media: Flock is one of the largest vendors of automated license plate readers (ALPRs) in the country. The company markets itself as having the goal to fully "eliminate crime" with the use of ALPRs and other connected surveillance cameras, a target experts say is impossible. [...] Flock and automated license plate reader cameras owned by other companies are now in thousands of neighborhoods around the country. Many of these systems talk to each other a
  
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• Bitcoin Pushes Past $90,000

  12-11-2024 22:50 via news.slashdot.org
  
  After setting a record high yesterday, Bitcoin continued its remarkable rally, briefly surging past the $90,000 mark. Since Election Day, the cryptocurrency has gained nearly 30%, adding approximately $20,000 to its value. From a previous report: Bitcoin hit a peak of $90,000 on Coinbase at 12:56 PST on Nov. 12 and is up 11% over the past day, per TradingView data. The cryptocurrency is now just over 11% away from reaching $100,000.Read more of this story at Slashdot.
  
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• Red Hat is Acquiring AI Optimization Startup Neural Magic

  12-11-2024 22:32 via linux.slashdot.org
  
  Red Hat, the IBM-owned open source software firm, is acquiring Neural Magic, a startup that optimizes AI models to run faster on commodity processors and GPUs. From a report: The terms of the deal weren't disclosed. MIT research scientist Alex Matveev and professor Nir Shavit founded Somerville, Massachusetts-based Neural Magic in 2018, inspired by their work in high-performance execution engines for AI. Neural Magic's software aims to process AI workloads on processors and GPUs at speeds equiva
  
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• The US Has a Cloned Sheep Contraband Problem

  12-11-2024 21:50 via news.slashdot.org
  
  Federal authorities are grappling with the aftermath of an illegal sheep cloning operation that has scattered hundreds of contraband hybrid animals across multiple states, following the sentencing of the scheme's mastermind. Montana rancher Arthur Schubarth received a six-month prison term for cloning a near-threatened Marco Polo argali sheep from tissue illegally imported from Kyrgyzstan.
  The cloned animal, named Montana Mountain King, was used to inseminate over 100 ewes, creating a network of
  
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• Growth of AI Adoption Slows Among US Workers, Study Says

  12-11-2024 21:13 via slashdot.org
  
  The percentage of workers in the U.S. who say they are using AI at work has remained largely flat over the last three months, according to a new study commissioned by Slack. From a report: If AI's rapid adoption curve slows or flattens, a lot of very rosy assumptions about the technology -- and very high market valuations tied to them -- could change. Slack said its most recent survey found 33% of U.S. workers say they are using AI at work, an increase of just a single percentage point. That rep
  
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• Microsoft is Killing off Windows 11's Mail and Calendar Apps By the End of the Year

  12-11-2024 19:59 via tech.slashdot.org
  
  Microsoft is planning to no longer support the Windows Mail, Calendar, and People apps later this year. The Verge: The software giant has been moving existing users of these apps over to the new Outlook for Windows app in recent months, and now it has set an end of support date for the Mail, Calendar, and People apps of December 31st.
  Once the apps reach end of support later this year, Microsoft warns that users who haven't moved to the new Outlook app "will no longer be able to send and receive
  
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• Power Shortage To Hit 40% of AI Data Centres by 2027, Gartner Warns

  12-11-2024 19:01 via slashdot.org
  
  40% of AI data centers will face operational constraints due to power shortages by 2027 as AI drives unprecedented energy consumption, research firm Gartner said on Tuesday.
  Data center power requirements for AI-optimized servers are projected to reach 500 terawatt-hours annually by 2027, more than double 2023 levels, as companies rapidly expand facilities to handle large language model training and implementation.
  The surge in power demand will outpace utility providers' ability to expand capac
  
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• US Senate To Revive Software Patents With PERA Bill Vote On Thursday

  12-11-2024 18:24 via news.slashdot.org
  
  zoobab writes: The US Senate to set to revive Software Patents with the PERA Bill, with a vote on Thursday, November 14, 2024.
  A crucial Senate Committee is on the cusp of voting on two bills that would resurrect some of the most egregious software patents and embolden patent trolls. The Patent Eligibility Restoration Act (PERA), S. 2140, would dismantle vital safeguards that prohibit software patents on overly broad concepts. If passed, courts would be compelled to approve software patents on m
  
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• Apple Gets EU Warning To Stop Geo-Blocking on App, iTunes Stores

  12-11-2024 17:50 via apple.slashdot.org
  
  Apple was notified by the European Union that its geo-blocking practices are potentially in breach of consumer protection rules, adding to the iPhone maker's regulatory issues in the bloc. From a report: Apple's App Store, iTunes Store and other media services unlawfully discriminate against European customers based on their place of residence, according to a European Commission statement on Tuesday.
  The notification comes as Apple is facing the first-ever fine under the Digital Markets Act, or
  
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• Retailers Explore Radio-Emitting Threads To Combat Surging Theft

  12-11-2024 17:05 via tech.slashdot.org
  
  Major retailers are considering embedding radio-emitting threads into clothing as a novel anti-theft measure amid soaring retail crime rates, according to Bloomberg, citing industry sources. The technology, developed by Spanish firm Myruns, uses conductive ink derived from cellulose to create threads five times thinner than human hair that can trigger security alarms.
  Zara owner Inditex has discussed implementing the system, though the company says it has no plans for in-store testing. Retail th
  
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• Pakistan Limits Outdoor Activities, Market Hours To Curb Air Pollution-Related Illness

  12-11-2024 16:38 via news.slashdot.org
  
  Pakistan's Punjab province banned most outdoor activities and ordered shops, markets and malls in some areas to close early from Monday to curb illnesses caused by intense air pollution. From a report: The province has closed educational institutions and public spaces like parks and zoos until Nov. 17 in places including Lahore, the world's most polluted city in terms of air quality, according to Swiss group IQAir's live ratings.
  The districts of Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad and Gujranwala have se
  
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• Ecosia and Qwant, Two European Search Engines, Join Forces on an Index To Shrink Reliance on Big Tech

  12-11-2024 15:45 via tech.slashdot.org
  
  Qwant, France's privacy-focused search engine, and Ecosia, a Berlin-based not-for-profit search engine that uses ad revenue to fund tree planting and other climate-focused initiatives, are joining forces on a joint venture to develop their own European search index. TechCrunch: The pair hopes this move will help drive innovation in their respective search engines -- including and especially around generative AI -- as well as reducing dependence on search indexes provided by tech giants Microsoft
  
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• China Displays New Stealth Fighter in Race To Match US

  12-11-2024 15:05 via tech.slashdot.org
  
  China's air force showcased a suite of new armaments this week, including a new stealth fighter and an attack drone, demonstrating its advancing ability to challenge the U.S. military presence in the Asia Pacific. From a report: The public debut of the J-35A stealth fighter and other weapons systems at China's premier airshow, which started Tuesday, represent the centerpiece in the Chinese air force's celebrations of its 75th anniversary -- a milestone in Chinese leader Xi Jinping's sweeping cam
  
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• LG's New Stretchable Display Can Grow By 50%

  12-11-2024 14:00 via hardware.slashdot.org
  
  An anonymous reader quotes a report from Tom's Hardware: LG Display, one of the global leaders in display technologies, unveiled a new stretchable display prototype that can expand by up to 50%. This makes it the most stretchable display in the industry, more than doubling the previous record of 20% elongation. [...] The prototype being flexed in [this image] is a 12-inch screen with a 100-pixel-per-inch resolution and full RGB color that expands to 18-inches when pulled. LG Display said that it
  
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• Microsoft Releases November 2024 Security Updates

  12-11-2024 13:00 via cisa.gov
  Microsoft released security updates to address vulnerabilities in multiple products. A cyber threat actor could exploit some of these vulnerabilities to take control of an affected system.
  CISA encourages users and administrators to review the following and apply necessary updates:Microsoft Security Update Guide for November
  
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• JCDC’s Collaborative Efforts Enhance Cybersecurity for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games

  12-11-2024 13:00 via cisa.gov
  The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), through the Joint Cyber Defense Collaborative (JCDC), enabled proactive coordination and information sharing to bolster cybersecurity ahead of the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris. Recognizing the potential for cyber threats targeting the Games, CISA worked to strengthen U.S. private sector ties and facilitate connections with key French counterparts to promote collective defense measures.
  Utilizing its role as a key facilita
  
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• Ivanti Releases Security Updates for Multiple Products

  12-11-2024 13:00 via cisa.gov
  Ivanti released security updates to address vulnerabilities in Ivanti Endpoint Manager (EPM), Ivanti Avalanche, Ivanti Connect Secure, Ivanti Policy Secure, and Ivanti Security Access Client.
  CISA encourages users and administrators to review the following Ivanti security advisories and apply the necessary guidance and updates:Ivanti Security Advisory EPM
  Ivanti Security Advisory Avalanche
  Ivanti Security Advisory Connect Secure, Ivanti Policy Secure, and Ivanti Security Access Client
  
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• Citrix Releases Security Updates for NetScaler and Citrix Session Recording

  12-11-2024 13:00 via cisa.gov
  Citrix released security updates to address multiple vulnerabilities in NetScaler ADC, NetScaler Gateway, and Citrix Session Recording. A cyber threat actor could exploit some of these vulnerabilities to take control of an affected system.  
   CISA encourages users and administrators to review the following and apply necessary updates:   NetScaler ADC and NetScaler Gateway Security Bulletin for CVE-2024-8534 and CVE-2024-8535
  Citrix Session Recording Security Bulletin fo
  
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• CISA, FBI, NSA, and International Partners Release Joint Advisory on 2023 Top Routinely Exploited Vulnerabilities

  12-11-2024 13:00 via cisa.gov
  Today, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), National Security Agency (NSA), and international partners released joint Cybersecurity Advisory, 2023 Top Routinely Exploited Vulnerabilities.
  This advisory supplies details on the top Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs) routinely exploited by malicious cyber actors and their associated Common Weakness Enumeration(s) (CWE) to help organizations better understand the impact of e
  
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• SpaceX To Attempt Daring Orbital Refueling Test of Starship

  12-11-2024 11:00 via science.slashdot.org
  
  SpaceX plans an ambitious in-orbit refueling test between two Starships in March 2025. "The orbital demonstration is a major step for Starship, and a crucial part of SpaceX's capability of delivering NASA's Artemis mission to the Moon," reports Gizmodo. The plans were unveiled during Spaceflight Now's recent interview (source: YouTube) with Kent Chojnacki, the deputy manager for NASA's Human Landing System program. Gizmodo reports: SpaceX is under a $53.2 million contract with NASA, signed in 20
  
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• Somebody Moved UK's Oldest Satellite, No-One Knows Who or Why

  12-11-2024 08:00 via tech.slashdot.org
  
  The UK's oldest satellite, Skynet-1A, mysteriously shifted from its original orbit above East Africa to a new position over the Americas, likely due to a mid-1970s command whose origins remain unknown. "The question is who that was and with what authority and purpose?" asks the BBC. From the report: "It's still relevant because whoever did move Skynet-1A did us few favours," says space consultant Dr Stuart Eves. "It's now in what we call a 'gravity well' at 105 degrees West longitude, wandering
  
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• SpaceX Alums Find Traction On Earth With Their Mars-Inspired CO2-To-Fuel Tech

  12-11-2024 04:30 via news.slashdot.org
  
  An anonymous reader quotes a report from TechCrunch: A trend has emerged among a small group of climate tech founders who start with their eyes fixed on space and soon realize their technology would do a lot more good here on Earth. Halen Mattison and Luke Neise fit the bill. Mattison spent time at SpaceX, while Neise worked at Vanderbilt Aerospace Design Laboratory and Varda Space Industries. The pair originally wanted to sell reactors to SpaceX that could turn carbon dioxide into methane for u
  
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• Amazon Developing Driver Eyeglasses To Shave Seconds Off Deliveries

  12-11-2024 02:50 via tech.slashdot.org
  
  Amazon is developing smart eyeglasses for delivery drivers to improve efficiency by offering turn-by-turn navigation. "Such directions could shave valuable seconds off each delivery by providing left or right directions off elevators and around obstacles such as gates or aggressive dogs," reports Reuters. "With millions of packages delivered daily, seconds add up. The glasses would also free drivers from using handheld Global Positioning System devices, allowing them to carry more packages." Fro
  
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• 'Punctuation Is Dead Because the iPhone Keyboard Killed It'

  12-11-2024 02:10 via apple.slashdot.org
  
  Android Authority's Rita El Khoury argues that the decline in punctuation use and capitalization in social media writing, especially among younger generations, can largely be attributed to the iPhone keyboard. "By hiding the comma and period behind a symbol switch, the iPhone keyboard encourages the biggest grammar fiends to be lazy and skip punctuation," writes El Khoury. She continues: Pundits will say that it's just an extra tap to add a period (double-tap the space bar) or a comma (switch to
  
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• A New Streaming Customer Emerges: The Subscription Pauser

  12-11-2024 01:31 via entertainment.slashdot.org
  
  Customers have formed new habits of regularly pausing subscriptions and returning to them within a year. From a report: As subscription prices rise and streaming-centric home entertainment becomes the norm, families are establishing their own hierarchies of always-on services versus those that come and go with seasons of hit shows or sports. New data from subscription analytics provider Antenna offer a deeper look at the subscription pausing habits customers are developing as services like Netfl
  
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• D-Link Won't Fix Critical Flaw Affecting 60,000 Older NAS Devices

  12-11-2024 01:10 via it.slashdot.org
  
  D-Link confirmed no fix will be issued for the over 60,000 D-Link NAS devices that are vulnerable to a critical command injection flaw (CVE-2024-10914), allowing unauthenticated attackers to execute arbitrary commands through unsanitized HTTP requests. The networking company advises users to retire or isolate the affected devices from public internet access. BleepingComputer reports: The flaw impacts multiple models of D-Link network-attached storage (NAS) devices that are commonly used by small
  
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• Beatles' 'Now and Then' Makes History As First AI-Assisted Song To Earn Grammy Nomination

  12-11-2024 00:50 via entertainment.slashdot.org
  
  "Now and Then" by the Beatles has been nominated for Record of the Year and Best Rock Performance at the 2025 Grammy Awards -- marking the first time a song created with the assistance of AI has earned a Grammy nomination. From a report: When "Now and Then" first came out in late 2023, the disclosure that it was finalized utilizing AI caused an uproar. At the time, many fans assumed that the remaining Fab Four members -- Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr -- must have used generative AI to deepfake
  
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• GIMP 3.0 Enters RC Testing After 20 Years

  12-11-2024 00:30 via tech.slashdot.org
  
  GIMP 3.0, the long-awaited upgrade from the popular open-source image editor, has entered the release candidate phase, signaling that a stable version may be available by the end of this year or early 2025. Tom's Hardware reports: So, what has changed with the debut of GIMP 3? The new interface is still quite recognizable to classic GIMP users but has been considerably smoothed out and is far more scalable to high-resolution displays than it used to be. Several familiar icons have been carefully
  
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• Apple Will Let You Share AirTag Locations With a Link

  12-11-2024 00:10 via news.slashdot.org
  
  With iOS 18.2, Apple will allow you to share the location of a lost AirTag with other people and with more than 15 different airlines. The Verge reports: When using the feature, you can generate a Share Item Location link within the Find My app on an iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Once you share the link with someone, they can click on it to view an interactive map with the location of your lost item. Apple will update the website automatically when the lost item moves, and it will also display a timesta
  
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