Episodes

AI is everywhere, and it's not just helping the good guys. In this episode, we dive deep into the world of AI and cybersecurity. From AI-enhanced phishing attacks to deepfakes and malware, we explore how bad actors are using AI to lower the bar for cybercrime and the challenges organizations face in defending against it. Discover how AI is not only making it easier for cybercriminals to target you, but also how it’s being used to fight back. We’ll also discuss emerging security tools, the rise o...

Gallium Is The New Black | Flexible Chips, AR Glasses, and More Tech News In this episode, we explore cutting-edge tech like Indium Gallium Zinc Oxide (IGZO) semiconductors, the potential of flexible processors like Pragmatic Semiconductor’s Flex-RV, and the future of augmented reality. Plus, we discuss SoftBank's latest investment in OpenAI and the rise (and fall) of AR headsets like Microsoft's Hololens. - Gallium Is The New Black: https://www.theregister.com/2024/09/29/pragmatic_semiconduct...

Join Ned and Chris in this episode of Chaos Lever, where they explore the fascinating and sometimes bizarre history of email and the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP). Special guest Dylan Beattie, software development consultant and creator of the Rockstar programming language, shares his insights on how email evolved from early telegraph systems to the global communication tool we rely on today. **Key Topics Covered:** - The origins of SMTP and email's predecessor, telegraph systems - Why e...

In this episode, we discuss how Google is improving Android security with Rust, significantly reducing memory-related vulnerabilities and enhancing developer productivity. We also dive into NIST's latest revision of its Digital Identity Guidelines, a crucial standard for protecting digital identities. Next, we explore the ongoing feud between WP Engine and Matt Mullenweg, which is impacting WordPress users. Finally, we touch on the latest legal development where authors suing OpenAI are granted ...

Remember the movie **Hackers** and its fictional supercomputer, The Gibson? While The Gibson might be fantasy, mainframes are still very much a reality in our modern computing world! In this episode, we'll journey through some legendary Hollywood computers, like the WOPR from *War Games*, before zooming into the real-world star of the show: IBM's **z17** mainframe, powered by the *insanely powerful* Telum II chip. Yes, IBM is still cranking out new mainframes, and guess what? Banks, airlines, a...

This week, the FTC confirmed what many suspected: social media giants like Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok have been willfully collecting user data for profit, with minimal regard for privacy. Meanwhile, former Oracle CEO Larry Ellison proposed a controversial AI-driven surveillance system to monitor citizens and police, a plan that many find dystopian and absurd. In tech updates, Apple's new OS release, Sequoia, is causing issues by breaking key security tools, while Amazon’s CEO, Andy Jassy, ann...

In this episode, we explore the 1995 cult classic Hackers in honor of National Civic Hacking Day. Despite not being a movie podcast, the episode revisits the film’s depiction of hacker culture with fleeting nostalgia and an analysis of its technical inaccuracies. From Angelina Jolie’s memorable performance to the infamous “hacker war” scene, Chris helps us unpack the real-world feasibility of the movie’s hacks while highlighting the absurdity of Hollywood’s portrayal of cybersecurity. We also to...

In this episode, we discuss the European Court of Justice's decision forcing Apple to pay €13 billion in back taxes to Ireland, marking a major moment in corporate taxation within the EU. We also dive into Microsoft's breakthrough in quantum computing, as they announce the creation of 12 error-corrected qubits, a step forward in the notoriously difficult area of error resilience. Lastly, we explore OpenAI's "Strawberry" model, designed to improve reasoning in AI, and the latest drama involving O...

In this episode, Ned and Chris examine classical computing fundamentals, breaking down complex topics like Turing machines, the von Neumann architecture, and the role of logic gates in computing. They explain how binary operations, logic gates, and transistors come together to form the foundation of modern computers. They also get into a discussion of reduced instruction set computing (RISC) vs. x86 architectures and the trade-offs between speed, efficiency, and complexity in modern processors. ...

AT&T has filed a lawsuit against Broadcom, accusing the company of forcing it to purchase unwanted subscription software to maintain support for existing VMware licenses. Windows on ARM has arrived as a competitive platform, security vulnerabilities in Zyxel networking gear, and Intel's struggles to regain market dominance amid significant financial losses and operational challenges. Links: Court Case: AT&T Accuses Broadcom of Doing All The Things That Broadcom is Doing Windows ARM Is Finally ...

Football season is back, and with it comes a reminder of how the NFL has driven significant technological advancements in broadcasting. From the introduction of multi-camera setups and color TV in the 1950s to the creation of instant replay and the telestrator, the demand for better football viewing experiences has led to innovations that have reshaped how all forms of media are consumed. Modern technologies like RFID tracking and real-time 3D replays continue this trend, showcasing how football...

Microsoft will require all Azure customers to enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) starting in October 2024, aiming to enhance security by reducing the risk of account compromise by over 99%. VMWare Explore 2024 was marked by dissatisfaction among attendees due to higher costs, a smaller expo, and lackluster swag, with many feeling alienated by Broadcom's management, despite some solid tech sessions. The Windows Control Panel, initially set to be deprecated in favor of the Settings app, wi...

Ned and Chris cover quirky keyboard history, from missing keys and ThinkPad debacles to vintage typewriters and relic keys like Sys Rq and Scroll Lock. Mo Keys Mo Problems Ned and Chris explore the quirks of keyboards, starting with the irritation of missing home and end keys and the infamous ThinkPad function/control key switch. They journey back to typewriters of the late 1800s, like the Remington which gave us the QWERTY layout, and poke fun at old-school innovations like the shift key and t...

This week on Tech News of The Week, Ned and Chris cross their fingers that the latest version of Teams will actually work, “celebrate” the career (and retirement) of Azure Service Manager, sneak past the security flaws of Microsoft MacOS apps, and banter about the now-banned FTC non-compete ban. Links: Microsoft Releases New Version of Teams App That Might Actually Work After Almost A Decade Azure Service Manager Is Finally Being Retired Many Microsoft MacOS Applications Have Major Security Fla...

The guys explore SMTP fixes, quantum mechanics, and how quantum computing might disrupt encryption, plus IBM’s free quantum resources. Bits, Quits, and Quantum Fits: The Mysteries of SMTP and Superposition Ned and Chris dive back into the nightmare disaster hellscape that is SMTP and explore the band-aid solutions of SPF, DKIM, and DMARC. Then, they take on quantum mechanics and computing. After all, who doesn’t love a good brain-melting challenge? The guys also explore the wild world of qubits...

This week on Tech News of The Week, Ned and Chris sit in the audience for Crowdstrike’s award acceptance speech, empathize with FAT32 as it packs on the pounds, take a front-row seat to the newest, largest data breach ever, and use quantum technology to tease ahead to this week’s episode of Chaos Lever. Links: Quantum Encryption Standards Emerge From NIST Crowdstrike President Accepts Most Epic Fail Award in Person Like Many 30 Year Olds FAT32 Gets A Little Bigger We Have a New Contender For Th...

Ned and Chris explore a newly discovered flaw in UEFI Secure Boot that’s led to a critical OEM blunder that allows rootkit attacks, and the only fix is a potentially daunting firmware update. Secure Boot’s Achilles’ Heel Ned and Chris dive into a freshly uncovered flaw in the Secure Boot process of PCs using UEFI firmware. They trace the evolution of boot processes from ENIAC’s manual grind to today’s automated systems, highlighting the crucial role of cryptographic keys in blocking unauthorize...

This week on Tech News of The Week, Ned and Chris release their frustrations on OpenAI’s decision to withhold a ChatGPT cheat-detecting tool, lay into Intel for laying off thousands of employees amid financial chaos, time travel with hackers who are reverting Windows updates, and grab their gardening tools for the latest North Korean laptop farm arrest. Links: OpenAI Has A Tool To Help Stop ChatGPT Based Cheating But Won’t Release It Intel Isn’t Having The Best Week Ever A Flaw In Windows Updat...

The guys discuss Google Chrome’s decision to stop trusting new Entrust certificates. Entrust Distrusted by Google Chrome Ned and Chris take a deep dive into the juicy tidbit about Google Chrome throwing Entrust under the bus. They dissect Chrome's decision to cut off new Entrust certificates starting October 31, 2024, all thanks to Entrust’s persistent screw-ups. Their chat covers how digital certificates are supposed to keep our online world secure and how modern tools like ACME and Certbot ha...

This week on Tech News of The Week, Ned and Chris watch Microsoft Azure continue to miss the mark amid a DDoS attack, turn up the heat on Intels’ CPU meltdown, pour water onto the AI bonfire, and look at how easy it is to prompt a hack of ChatGPT. Links: Microsoft Fiddles While Azure Burns Two Generations of Intel CPUs Affected by Chip-Destroying Voltage Bug AI Isn’t A Pancea? Say It Ain’t So! OpenAI Releases Safety Update To ChatGPT Intended To Stop Some Prompt Hacks

Ned and Chris explore the chaotic fallout from a CrowdStrike Falcon sensor update that crashed Windows systems across various sectors. Where Were You the Day the Screens Turned Blue? The tech industry is a house of cards propped up by a mishmash of redundant systems and safety nets. In this episode, Ned and Chris dive into CrowdStrike’s Falcon sensor update on July 19, 2024. This blunder sent Windows systems crashing, causing chaos across airlines, retail stores, and hospitals. They dissect how...

This week on Tech News of The Week, Ned and Chris scold Google for getting their hand caught in the cookie jar, give their two cents on another CentOS getting off the ground, and list 1,800 reasons why Intuit’s new AI direction is a horrible decision. Links: Advertising Company Google Chooses Not To Harm Their Ad Business Intuit Drinks The AI KoolAid Yet Another Initiative To Maintain CentOS Gets Off The Ground

Ned and Chris discuss Amazon’s claim that their energy use is 100% renewable. Wind Turbines Don’t Kill Birds and Amazon Doesn’t Use 100% Renewable Energy Amazon claimed to be 100% renewable, but Amazon Employees for Climate Justice argues that the company hasn't met its climate pledges, and even threatened a walkout. In this episode, Ned and Chris discuss the growing energy demands of data centers, noting that despite efficiency improvements, their power consumption is set to double by 2026. Th...

This week on Tech News of The Week, Ned and Chris mourn the privacy of millions of AT&T customers after the company quietly announced a massive data breach, lament the failings of SAP security, celebrate the arrival of Markdown in Google Docs, and discuss NVIDIA opening up to open-source kernel modules. Links: AT&T Believes That Sharing Is Caring SAP AI Product, and the Environment its Running On, Breached Markdown In Google Docs! At Least Two People Are Thrilled! NVIDIA Open-Sourcing Kernel Mo...