Septimus

Summary
 
 About a year after "security" vendor Cellebrite claimed to be able to extract the Signal messenger's data, the Signal developers have hit back. After reverse-engineering "the latest versions of the Cellebrite software", Signal founder Moxie Marlinspike announced in a blog post that the software has grave security flaws which would allow an attacker to reverse-exploit a PC running the infamous forensics software.
 
 
Marlinspike finished the blog post with a thinly-veiled threat to any organisation which uses  Cellebrite's software:
 
 
My thoughts
On the one hand, this is just another instance of a supposed "security" company with terrible security (like shipping ffmpeg DLLs from 2012). On the other hand, since Cellebrite has been somewhat controversial due to the cooperation with - dubious - institutions, I can certainly understand the glee with which many people are reporting on this. In any case, I was expecting something like this to happen ever since Cellebrite announced that it had "broken" Signal's security.
Also, the blog post itself is quite funny to read with its tongue-in-cheek style (like the claim that the kit had "just fallen off a truck").
 
Sources
https://signal.org/blog/cellebrite-vulnerabilities/
https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2021/04/in-epic-hack-signal-developer-turns-the-tables-on-forensics-firm-cellebrite/

This is an accompanying guide for our recent video trying out Pi-Hole.
 
Note: Image links will be coloured like this: https://google.ca 
 
 
Parts List:
Raspberry Pi (any model) We will be using a Raspberry Pi Zero (https://lmg.gg/8KV3n) - $5 You can optionally install Pi-Hole in a docker container, or inside a VM, but we will be assuming you are using a Raspi for the rest of this tutorial. Micro SD Card (2gb+, but you should probably just buy a 16GB card because they're so cheap) We'd recommend a cheap SanDisk card (https://lmg.gg/8KV3k) 2.5A Micro USB AC Power Supply You can get these really cheap on eBay, but we aren't making any promises about quality. AdaFruit has a solid one: https://lmg.gg/8KVm8 *Optional*: Micro USB to RJ45 Ethernet Adapter This is in case the RasPi you are using doesn't have an ethernet port or WiFi (if you're using the Pi Zero, you will need one of these) *Optional*: Other stuff that you might need: SD/uSD Card Reader (Unless your laptop, or you already has one) Ethernet Cable (Unless you're using WiFi, you will need one of these) Case for your Raspberry Pi Model (Nice to have to keep it protected, but cardboard also works) Heat sinks for your Raspberry Pi (Nice to have to keep it cool, also helpful if you want to overclock your Pi) A display connection for your Pi (Pi Zero's use Mini HDMI) (We will be doing a headless install, so this is not necessary)  
Stage 1 - OS Install/Setup:
Before we can install Pi-Hole or anything else really, we have to setup our operating system of choice: Raspbian Buster Lite (stretch also works) Download and unzip the "Raspbian Buster Lite" image from the Raspbian website: https://www.raspberrypi.org/downloads/raspbian/ Download and install balenaEtcher, our uSD card writer/burner of choice: https://www.balena.io/etcher/ Plug in your uSD card Launch balenaEtcher, select the Raspbian Buster Lite image, your uSD card, and then click Flash. (https://i.imgur.com/GMSZj8Z.png) If you're doing a headless install like us (no monitor/keyboard required), you'll need to enable SSH before booting up the Raspberry Pi Replug your uSD card to allow Windows to recognize the new Raspbian partition layout You should have a lettered drive pop up marked as "boot" (https://i.imgur.com/4ar0ih3.png) If you don't, ensure your uSD is being detected in Disk Management (https://i.imgur.com/ZPmyyz6.png) Then assign the partition a drive letter: https://lmg.gg/8KVm6 Create a file inside the "boot" folder called "ssh" with no extension (https://i.imgur.com/KDyB4nc.png) If you don't know how to make an extension-less file you can download it here: https://lmg.gg/8KVmb Plug your uSD card into the Raspberry Pi followed by networking, and then power. Since we're doing a headless install, we'll need to search for our raspberrypi's IP address so we can access it over SSH. If you know what you're doing, log in to your router's admin page and check the DHCP client/reservation list for "raspberrypi" If you don't know how to do the above, download Angry IP scanner and run it: https://lmg.gg/8KVmS Look for the hostname "raspberrypi", on that line the IP and MAC address of our Raspberry Pi will also be listed: 10.20.0.77 in our case (https://i.imgur.com/lK2ce0R.png) Now that we've found our Raspberry Pi's IP address + MAC Address, we need to assign it an INTERNAL/LOCAL static IP address. This process is going to vary wildly based on which router/DHCP server you use, so we'd recommend Googling your router's model name/number (can be found on the back) + "how to set static IP" (ex: "Netgear R7000 how to set static ip"). If you're willing and somewhat tech savvy, you might also be able to figure it out on your own. Start by navigating to your router's admin page. The IP for this is typically located on a sticker on the back of your ISP's provided router (along with the admin page's default username and password), but you can also find it by running the command "ipconfig" in command prompt on a Windows PC. Your router's IP will be listed after "default gateway" (https://i.imgur.com/S2Ndc0w.png) Log in to the admin page either with the Iogin credentials listed on the back of the router, or by googling the model number of the router along with "default password". Some routers use a randomly generated default password, so googling will not work for those. Once logged in, look for a tab labeled "DHCP Reservation", "Static IP Assignment", or something along those lines. (https://i.imgur.com/FeMjd4V.png) You may have to go to the Advanced menu to access this. (https://i.imgur.com/6l4kIqH.png) Enter the MAC address we grabbed earlier with Angry IP scanner, and then enter/select your desired static IP address (make sure you're using something not taken by another device on your network). (https://i.imgur.com/znUTbKv.png) Hit Apply (or whatever the equivalent is for your router)  Re-plug the power connection for your Raspberry Pi, to allow it to restart and fetch it's newly assigned IP. To access the Raspberry Pi over SSH we will need to download and connect to it with an SSH client Download, install and then launch the SSH client of your choice. We will be using PuTTY because it's simple, but any SSH client will do: https://lmg.gg/8KVmQ (https://i.imgur.com/POLV3i4.png) Enter the newly assigned static IP address of your Raspberry Pi into PuTTY, and click "Open" (https://i.imgur.com/BegMcKC.png) After it prompts you with "login as:" enter "pi" (https://i.imgur.com/jfULCu5.png) Then for password, enter "raspberry". You should now be logged in over SSH.  (https://i.imgur.com/Q058Sbw.png) Now that we're logged in over SSH, start by changing the default password, and updating the Raspberry Pi. To change the user password enter the command "passwd" and press enter. You'll then be prompted to enter the current password (this is "raspberry" so enter that) Then enter your desired new password To update the Raspberry Pi, run the command "sudo apt update" - this is going to update the package list to tell us if anything needs to be update. (https://i.imgur.com/ECpLG93.png) Then, to actually upgrade the packages now that the package manager knows which ones need updating, run "sudo apt upgrade -y". (https://i.imgur.com/EYfDhkC.png) Our Raspberry Pi is now updated, set to a secure password and ready to install Pi-Hole onto!  
Stage 2 - Pi-Hole Install/Setup (this is where the tutorial portion in the video starts)
With our RasPi's OS, internet, and SSH ready to go, we can now install Pi-Hole.  Copy the Pi-Hole install command from their website, paste it into the SSH client, and click Enter to run it: https://lmg.gg/8KVm9 (https://i.imgur.com/P20CP2I.png) The installer will spit out some status updates until you're brought to the configuration screen (https://i.imgur.com/t0DHzHo.png) Press Enter until you get to the "Choose An Interface" page. The default "eth0" interface for Ethernet users should be selected by default. Press Enter to continue. ("wlan0" should be selected if you're using WiFI - keep in mind WiFi installation is not supported in this tutorial, but if you have some decent Google-Fu you should be able to figure it out) On the next screen, select your upstream DNS provider. This is where requests will be forwarded if they're not blocked by Pi-Hole (ie. if they're not found in it's block/black lists). We will be using Google DNS, and if you don't know what this means, stick with that. Press Enter to continue. The following screen allows you to select which of the default block list's you'd like to use. We will leave these all on, but you can use your arrow keys and space bar to (de)select any of them as you wish. Press Enter to continue. Next up, it will ask you if which IP protocols you want to block ads over, leave this at the default unless you know what you're doing. Press Enter to continue. The next screen will list the IP address of the Raspberry Pi and the IP of your router, assuming you've set a static IP, just click Enter to continue. If you get a screen about an IP conflict, just ignore it and click Enter to continue. You'll then be asked about the web interface, web server, and logging modes. Leave these all at default by clicking Enter. After all that, Pi-Hole is going to do a bunch of stuff, and it might take a couple minutes so sit back until you're greeted with an "Installation Complete!" page. This will list the IP and password for the Pi-Hole web interface. Copy the IP into your browser, and log with the listed password. Huzzah! You now have a functioning Pi-Hole installation    
Stage 3 - Setting Up Pi-Hole to Run on Your Devices / Whole Network
To enable Pi-Hole on a device-by-device basis, you'll need to manually set the DNS IP address in your device settings.  For each of these, substitute the IP in the tutorial for the IP of your Raspberry Pi How to set DNS on an iPhone: https://lmg.gg/8KVmw How to set DNS on Android phones (your phone manufacturers skin may slightly vary): https://lmg.gg/8KVmh To enable Pi-Hole on a Router level, meaning it will work on all your devices automatically, you'll need to configure your router's DHCP server's default DNS settings. This process is going to vary wildly based on which router/DHCP server you use, so we'd recommend Googling your router's model name/number (can be found on the back) + "how to set DNS servers" (ex: "Netgear R7000 how to set DNS servers").  
Stage 4 - Using Pi-Hole + Common Whitelisting
To enable some common whitelisted false-positives run the command listed here: https://github.com/anudeepND/whitelist For some great info on the Pi-Hole web interface read the lower portion of this tutorial: https://www.smarthomebeginner.com/pi-hole-tutorial-whole-home-ad-blocking/#Configuring_Your_Router_8211_Whole_Home_Ad_Blocking 

I think it's pretty clear in the statement that they had no special arrangement, and were simply asking people to take advantage of existing return policies.
 
But I'm a rare breed, I read things carefully.

To me it looks like this is actually true..... for Intel systems LOL

Intel:
"People shouldn't rely on benchmarks so much to decide on products"
 
Also Intel:
"Well the benchmarks show..."

inb4 gets political
 
friendly reminder of CS before you reply

I wonder if he'll go back to Verizon, or maybe he'll start at AT&T. Wherever he can screw over the largest number of people daily, I suppose. 

Spoiler alert:
 

My guess is that it will be like with the other AMD cards.
Roughly the same performance.
Slightly lower power consumption.
Worse ray tracing and features availability (like good video encoding and DLSS).
Roughly the same price.
Even worse availability.
 
 
Apparently this card is about 163% faster than my 1060. It is pretty tempting, but at the same time I feel like my 1060 is more than enough for my needs.
Still, that's a pretty good increase in performance over two generations.

More UI changes? Why not just leave it alone and work on getting dark mode consistent like adding it to task manager?
I'm not excited for more UI changes that weren't needed, and its too bad that MS are forcing UI changes such as taking away the Windows 7 control panel functions and forcing the crappy settings app where settings are all over and more confusing.

This scares me, a lot. 
Windows 10 already seems to be having an identity crisis, with rather large UI changes happening like every year and none of them are consistent. 
Secondly, a lot of the UI stuff Microsoft has been focusing on recently is shit. Stuff like Windows 10X which I wouldn't want anywhere near my pc because it looks like a smartphone UI, and a very basic one at that. 

Summary
Windows 10 codename "Cobalt" is rumored to bring a long awaited refresh to the design of Windows, codenamed "Sun Valley". This update is expected to "modernize" the Start Menu, Action Center, and the File Explorer. I have no idea what the hell Microsoft's definition of "modernize" is this year, seeing as in 2001 their definition for "modernize" was Fisher Price, but this update is expected to come out by Holiday 2021 if all goes well. 
 
This development comes shortly after Panos Panay (Head of Surface) was appointed to also be in charge of Windows Experiences. Will this be the update that finally ties everything together? Probably not.
 
Quotes
 
My thoughts
As hinted above, yes I don't believe this will solve anything. Microsoft has had a track record of changing their design language at what seems like a roll of the dice, and look where that's landed us. Now what we'll have is Win9x/XP designed applications, Pre-WinRT/8 designed applications, WinRT/8 designed applications, Pre-Win10 Fluent Design, Win10 Fluent Design, and finally this new Neo-Fluent Design or whatever the hell they call it all on one system. Great for a timepiece, bad for OCD.
 
We may have our first glances on what this new UI will look like though, Windows 10X. <Speculation> The Action Center is most likely getting ported straight from 10X to Windows 10, and we may see the ability to center taskbar icons like in 10X. <\Speculation> Whatever this is, we should be sure that almost no app developer will adopt this new style, and Microsoft will quickly switch to another one.
 
Sources
Microsoft plans big Windows 10 UI refresh in 2021 codenamed 'Sun Valley' | Windows Central

The last number is the generation, that's why the current EYPCs all end with a 2 as they are the second generation.
 

holy crap thats huge

I remember when the days when OnePlus was the little disruptor that could, you know when one could actually afford their phones....
 
Those were the days

They might aswell tweet "We are really trying to build up hype. Please be hyped. Pleeeeeaaaase!!!"

Summary
Researchers over at Cornell University accidentally created previously unknown type of superconductor. Our current knowledge before this was of 2 types, and theorized third kind which the scientists attempted to create.  The experiment to create the third kind turned out to be failure, sort of. Instead of creating the theorized third (also new) kind of superconductor something unexpected happened and they discovered previously completely new 4th kind of superconductor.
 
Quotes
 
My thoughts
I'm excited about any new discoveries like this, as they advance other technologies using superconductors which benefits all of us in so many ways. 
And as added bonus we get to hear new carbon nanotube joke from Riley out of these. Maybe.
 
Sources
https://www.sciencealert.com/researchers-have-discovered-a-brand-new-type-of-superconductor

So when will we see pictures like this?

 
It is just bound to happen with such little packaging

Summary
In a move we can only hope Adobe copies, Microsoft's Office 2022 is stated to keep the one time purchase model.
 
Quotes
 
My thoughts
I'm so glad Microsoft is continuing the one-time purchase model. While a lot of us would also prefer other companies would still be following suit, it unfortunately doesn't seem like companies will. Regardless, I think we should all applaud Microsoft for keeping One-Time purchases for as long as they have.
 
Sources
FossBytes
Mac Rumors
The Next Web

hey, or $20 in store credit! gotta at least acknowledge that, might be able to buy a dirty Xbox 360 controller with that...

So I can trade in my RTX 3090 P edition for like, $2? Nice.

I can see the API flags now
 
EncryptData(https://server1/encrypt?=<data>&flags=NoHomo,SHA256)

Something rather interesting to be honest. The fact you can search a database that is encrpyted for data without actually knowing what that data is is... mind boggling. Some really smart folks over at IBM. Any of you get this stuff? My brain broke halfway through. 

Source

According to this AdoredTV article, Intel’s Xe Graphics project, the Xe team and the discreet GPU based products are already effectively dead before they even launch the first Discrete graphics card.
Also, it’s rumored that Raja Koduri is leaving Intel within the next few months.
 
 
 
Overall, it’s incredible stuff if true, especially on top of all Intel’s CPU [manufacturing] woes, and Jim Keller’s premature departure.
It really does like Intel is in big trouble, and is going to need a very dramatic turn around...

One of my biggest questions here would be recharge cycles. Higher voltage, lower amperage = less heat but still how much heat is produced and how will that impact the integrity of the pack on each recharge.
 
I mean it's great if I can charge a phone in 15 minutes but if I only get say 400 cycles out of it instead of 1000+ from degradation then I'd rather take it slow and easy.