Chinese Hackers, Data Brokers, and AI Power Grabs | Tech News of the Week

Chaos Lever Podcast

#Tech News #Chaos Lever #Chris Hayner #Ned Bellavance #News #News Weekly

26:46

For many travelers, Antarctica is a bucket-list destination, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to touch all seven continents. In 2023, a record-breaking 100,000 tourists made the trip. But the journey begs a fundamental question: What do we risk by traveling to a place that is supposed to be uninhabited by humans? And as the climate warms, should we really be going to Antarctica in the first place? SHOW NOTES: Kara Weller: The Impossible Dilemma of a Polar Guide Marilyn Raphael: A twenty-first century structural change in Antarctica’s sea ice system Karl Watson: First Time in Antarctica Jeb Brooks : 7 Days in Antarctica (Journey to the South Pole) Metallica - Freeze 'Em All: Live in Antarctica Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices…

il y a un an 10:06

MP3•Maison d'episode

Welcome back to Chaos Lever, where we sift through the latest in tech news so you don’t have to. Please take our listener survey! https://chaoslever.com/survey

This week’s episode covers everything from Meta's nuclear ambitions to Broadcom's sudden change of heart. Let’s break it down:

---

🧠 Meta Joins the Nuke AI Club Meta is doubling down on AI by exploring nuclear power to meet its growing data center demands. They’ve issued an RFP for 1-4 gigawatts of nuclear power, focusing on Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) for faster deployment. With ambitious plans to go live by 2030, this move might reshape energy partnerships in tech. Will SMRs light the path forward, or will Meta hit regulatory roadblocks?
👉 https://sustainability.atmeta.com/blog/2024/12/03/accelerating-the-next-wave-of-nuclear-to-power-ai-innovation/

---

💻 Fear of Losing Customers Has Broadcom Relaxing VMware Policies After a year of painful price hikes and policy overhauls, Broadcom is walking back some of its harshest changes to VMware licensing. Enterprises like Beeks Group are migrating away, citing costs that have ballooned tenfold. In response, Broadcom is introducing SMB-friendly subscription tiers and improving partner relationships. But is it too little, too late?
👉 https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2024/12/new-broadcom-sales-plan-may-be-insignificant-in-deterring-vmware-migrations/

---

📡 Salt Typhoon Isn’t Just a Dish At Applebee’s A Chinese hacking group, Salt Typhoon, has infiltrated U.S. telecom networks, targeting companies like Verizon and T-Mobile. Telecoms blame vulnerabilities stemming from legally required surveillance backdoors. To stay secure, consider using encrypted services like iMessage, Android RCS, or Signal. Is this the wake-up call we need to rethink backdoor policies?
👉 https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2024/12/us-recommends-encrypted-messaging-as-chinese-hackers-linger-in-telecom-networks/

---

🛡 Data Brokers Finally Facing Possible Restrictions on Selling User Data The CFPB is cracking down on data brokers, proposing rules that treat them like credit bureaus under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. This follows a massive breach that exposed 200 million social security numbers. If passed, this regulation could drastically reshape how companies buy and sell personal data. Is the era of unrestricted data brokering finally coming to an end?
👉 https://www.theverge.com/2024/12/3/24311498/cfpb-rule-data-brokers-social-security-number-fico-score

234 episodes

Chaos Lever Podcast

Chinese Hackers, Data Brokers, and AI Power Grabs | Tech News of the Week

Chaos Lever Podcast

published il y a un an

MP3•Maison d'episode

Welcome back to Chaos Lever, where we sift through the latest in tech news so you don’t have to. Please take our listener survey! https://chaoslever.com/survey

This week’s episode covers everything from Meta's nuclear ambitions to Broadcom's sudden change of heart. Let’s break it down:

---

234 episodes

#Tech News #Chaos Lever #Chris Hayner #Ned Bellavance #News #News Weekly

Tous les épisodes

Chaos Lever Podcast

1
Avoiding FAANG's Poison | Chaos Lever 42:46

il y a environ 4 jours42:46

42:46

Are your bones creaking? Is your back mysteriously acquiring new joints just to ache in fresh and exciting ways? Welcome to adulthood—and welcome back to Chaos Lever. In this episode, Ned and Chris dive into the literal pain of aging and the metaphorical pain of living under the digital thumbs of FAANG companies. We’re talking Facebook, Apple, Amazon, Netflix, and Google—and how to maybe, just maybe, live without feeding their bottomless data maws. We’re not just here to complain (though we are very, very good at that). This week, we explore the subtle art of escaping the FAANG ecosystem. Think Signal instead of WhatsApp, Linux instead of Windows, Discord instead of Facebook. You know—radical stuff like using a local bookstore or not accidentally setting your house on fire with a food dehydrator. It’s part one of a two-parter, because wow, turns out there’s a *lot* of tech giants behaving badly. If you’ve ever wondered what your privacy is worth (spoiler: $20 if you’re lucky), or just need an excuse to finally ditch Instagram, this episode is for you. And hey, we even managed to get through it without a single lawsuit. So far. 📌 LINKS 🔗 FAANG data munching: https://human-id.org/blog/faangs-out-what-big-tech-wants-with-your-data/ 🔗 Pixel Fed: https://www.androidheadlines.com/2025/01/pixelfed-decentralized-instagram-competitor.html 🔗 Windows 11 will require an account: https://www.zdnet.com/article/microsoft-just-blocked-this-popular-windows-11-local-account-trick-but-workarounds-remain/ 🔗 Framework laptops are pretty neat: https://frame.work 🔗 System76 is too: https://system76.com 🔗 Check out BookShop: http://bookshop.com…

Chaos Lever Podcast

1
Oracle Breach Cover-Up and Git Turns 20 | Tech News of the Week 11:05

il y a environ 7 jours11:05

11:05

In this week’s episode of *Tech News of the Week*, we’re talking about source control history, cyber cover-ups, licensing shenanigans, and encryption for the quantum future. It’s a spicy lineup, and we’re here for all of it. 🧑‍💻 Git just turned 20! That’s right, the tool most developers have a love-hate relationship with hit the big two-oh. Originally built by Linus Torvalds after he got fed up with BitKeeper, Git has completely transformed how software is developed. Linus wrote the first version in just 10 days—because of course he did. From obscure CLI commands to full-blown GitHub empires, it’s been a wild ride. https://github.blog/open-source/git/git-turns-20-a-qa-with-linus-torvalds/ 🕵️ Oracle got breached… allegedly. Then they claimed everything was fine. Then they kind of admitted something tiny might have happened. All while trying to erase history from the internet and quietly whispering confessions to their biggest clients. It’s shady. Real shady. Also, the vulnerability? In their own software, patched since 2021, but never applied. Neat. https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/oracle-customers-confirm-data-stolen-in-alleged-cloud-breach-is-valid 💸 Microsoft is once again locking horns with the EU, this time over cloud licensing practices. Surprise! Azure gets the discount, and everyone else gets the bill. It’s all about that “hybrid benefit” Windows Server licensing scheme. And while Microsoft says they’ll fix it, deadlines are slipping and complaints are piling up. The EU is not amused. https://www.theregister.com/2025/04/07/legal_clock_ticking_for_microsoft/ 🔐 OpenSSH 10 is here with some serious post-quantum energy. This latest release brings in PQ algorithms to help us stay secure even when quantum computers start flexing. Plus, it drops legacy cryptographic support and plugs a few critical holes. It’s one of those unsexy but *massively* important upgrades. https://www.phoronix.com/news/OpenSSH-10.0-Released Thanks for listening! Now go away.…

Chaos Lever Podcast

1
Why Your AI Assistant Still Sucks (And How MCP Might Help) | Chaos Lever 35:54

il y a environ 11 jours35:54

35:54

This week’s main dish? Agentic AI and the Model Context Protocol (MCP). What the heck do those mean? Why are they being compared to USB-C? And why should you care unless you’re an executive with a robot butler? Ned breaks it all down while Chris offers the occasional therapy check-in. Spoiler alert: MCP is the plumbing behind smarter AI assistants, but whether we trust them with our calendar (or our lives) is still up for debate. Oh, and yes, there’s a “Silver Spoons” reference, some Carlton love, and a side quest into RESTful APIs because this is Chaos Lever and we can’t stay on the rails. Literally. We try to unpack whether MCP could be the REST of the AI world or just another shiny-but-useless indoor train. Buckle up. 🔗 LINKS Model Context Protocol: https://modelcontextprotocol.io/introduction The Train: https://external-preview.redd.it/T4x6zmXqtoaJQxw8uhtcNdquSLFHualiTg1Gnac_ihA.jpg?auto=webp&s=6b728fb53bfab7cbb77d1bc54714f9362d33c4b5…

Chaos Lever Podcast

1
Fast Flux DNS Threats, TikTok Faces EU Fury, NGINX Exposed | Tech News of the Week 9:41

il y a environ 14 jours9:41

9:41

This week we talk lawsuits, leaks, and legacy code—all wrapped in Kubernetes vulnerabilities and good ol' DNS doom. It's everything you didn't know you needed to hear, and more. Let's dive in: 🧠 TikTok is getting slammed with a €500 million fine from the Irish Data Protection Commission for casually throwing GDPR into the sea. The Tok (yes, we're calling it that now) has been caught red-handed shuffling EU user data straight outta the continent. Meanwhile, April 5th was the US deadline for a sale-or-ban situation. You're in the future. You know what happened. We don’t. https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/tiktok-reportedly-faces-a-%25e2%2582%25ac500-million-fine-for-sending-private-user-data-to-china-162214079.html 🐙 NGINX Ingress controller vulnerability alert! Whizz disclosed a cluster of five issues that basically throw open the doors to your entire Kubernetes environment—if, and only if, the attacker is already inside. Still, maybe stop listening to this podcast and go patch your stuff. https://thehackernews.com/2025/03/critical-ingress-nginx-controller.html 💾 Bill Gates just released original Microsoft source code from 1975, and yeah, it’s both nostalgia bait and promo for his new autobiography. The code's printed. As a PDF. It's massive. And full of 1970s programming hacks that might hit a little too close to home for modern devs. https://www.gatesnotes.com/home/home-page-topic/reader/microsoft-original-source-code 🌐 DNS is always the problem. The latest? Fast Flux DNS attacks. CISA is waving red flags about a technique that helps malware stay stealthy by constantly changing IP addresses linked to C2 servers. It's a real “blink and you missed it” kind of threat. Patch your filters, folks. https://www.theregister.com/2025/04/03/cisa_and_annexable_allies_warn/ Don’t forget to patch your stuff and like, subscribe, or just go yell at a router. See you next week!…

Chaos Lever Podcast

1
Women Who Built the Future (and Got None of the Credit) | Chaos Lever 27:35

il y a environ 17 jours27:35

27:35

This week on Chaos Lever, we take a detour through a moldy book, moldy cheese, and somehow land at a celebration of women in tech history. Because that’s how this show works. We kick things off with a hot take on Who Moved My Cheese? and an uncomfortably enthusiastic ode to Gorgonzola, then accidentally spiral into a cinematic sadness spiral featuring Robin Williams. You’re welcome? From there, it’s a genuine salute to some lesser-known (but no less badass) women who shaped the technology landscape. We’re talking Bletchley Park, US Navy Code Girls, early human computers, and the pioneers who helped birth the GUI and the Internet as we know it. There are historical facts, dubious metaphors, and a surprise cameo by the first-generation Prius. I'd say blink and you'll miss it, but this is a Prius we're talking about. So if you’re into awkward transitions, wildly underrated tech heroes, and a sprinkle of righteous rage, then buddy, have we got the episode for you. 📎 LINKS Chaos Lever Website → https://chaoslever.com Code Girls of the US Navy → https://usncva.org/history/women-in-cryptology/world-war-ii-code-girls.html The Rose Code → https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53914938-the-rose-code Behind the Bastards - Steve Jobs → https://youtu.be/aEv08Zzunfc That good government tech book Ned forgot → https://www.recodingamerica.us Mashable article → https://mashable.com/article/unsung-women-in-tech Women of Bletchley Park → https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-27898997 Hedy Lamarr → https://www.history.com/articles/hedy-lamarr-inventor-frequency-hopping-wifi Annie Easley → https://www.nasa.gov/history/history-publications-and-resources/oral-histories/annie-easley-oral-history/ Dr. Adele Goldberg → https://www.extremenetworks.com/resources/blogs/women-who-changed-tech-dr-adele-goldberg Steve Jobs is a nutbar → https://www.uniladtech.com/apple/why-steve-jobs-soaked-feet-in-toilet-water-926274-20240628 Megan Smith on Net Neutrality → https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2014/11/14/u-s-cto-on-net-neutrality-critics-are-you-supposed-to-argue-with-physics/…

Chaos Lever Podcast

1
Microsoft Azure Is Retiring Your Admin Access | Tech News of the Week 11:43

il y a environ 20 jours11:43

11:43

It's a wild week in tech and we're taking you on a ride through the most ridiculous and revealing stories from the digital frontier. Buckle up. 🎵 Remember Napster? Of course you do. It was the soundtrack to many of our teenage years, sneaking MP3s over college Ethernet networks and dodging Metallica-shaped lawsuits. Well, guess what? It's back... again. Sort of. Another Web3 company has paid *$207 million* for the name and logo of a brand that hasn’t made a dime since Bush was in office. We break down the hilariously tragic life and times of Napster and why, in 2025, someone still thinks it's worth salvaging. https://www.theregister.com/2025/03/27/napster_gets_new_owner/ ☁️ Microsoft Azure is quietly retiring legacy services, and one of them could break your whole environment. Classic Subscription Administrators are officially on the chopping block, and if you don’t migrate to RBAC by April 30, 2025, you’re out of luck—and out of your own account. Chris takes you through the Azure Service Retirement Workbook (yes, that’s a real thing) and how not to get nuked by an expired admin setting. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/advisor/advisor-workbook-service-retirement?tabs=impacted-services 🚀 Fermyon and Akamai just teamed up to drop *Wasm Functions*, a WebAssembly-based service with lightning-fast cold starts and a whole lot of polyglot potential. Think apps spinning up in half a millisecond, edge deployment, and basically a glimpse at the future of serverless. Ned explains why this might be WASM’s breakout moment—and why Azure should probably start taking notes. https://cloudnativenow.com/features/akamai-allies-with-fermyon-to-advance-wasm-adoption/ 📨 And finally, Troy Hunt—yes, *that* Troy Hunt from HaveIBeenPwned—got pwned himself. A very convincing phishing attack stole his Mailchimp credentials and leaked 16,000 email addresses. While the fallout isn’t catastrophic, it’s a humbling reminder that no one is immune. Chris breaks down what went wrong, what to do better, and throws a little shade in the name of cybersecurity hygiene. https://www.darkreading.com/cyberattacks-data-breaches/security-expert-troy-hunt-lured-mailchimp-phish…

Chaos Lever Podcast

1
OpenAI’s Freedom Salad and the Two-Page Apocalypse | Chaos Lever 33:25

il y a environ 24 jours33:25

33:25

Biden’s executive order on AI safety was 111 pages of not-terrible ideas like protecting privacy and creating AI guidelines. Naturally, big tech was *not* a fan. Because when you ask Meta and Google to behave responsibly, they act like you just insulted their mom. Meanwhile in Europe: The EU held its AI Action Summit in Paris, making it clear they’re not messing around with AI governance. Public interest, worker protection, and global cooperation were on the table. Investors dangled €150B like a carrot—if only the EU would be a little less…protective of its citizens. 🙄 🧠 Then came Trump's executive order, aka the “let’s delete all the thoughtful stuff” memo. A whole two pages long, it replaced nuance with “make America #1 in AI because democracy and stuff.” Or, more accurately: “drill, baby, drill” but for GPUs. 📄 Enter OpenAI’s response to that call for action. On the surface, it’s just another document—but wow, the vibes are chaotic. There’s flag-waving, fear-mongering about China, and a healthy dose of “we want your data and your blessings.” Also, violently incoherent sentences that barely represent English. 📉 What *wasn’t* in OpenAI’s proposal? Anything about ethics, safety, upskilling displaced workers, or protecting vulnerable communities. But don’t worry—they did include buzzwords, bad logic, and more patriotic tech posturing than a Fourth of July parade. LINKS: 🔗 Executive order 14110: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/11/01/2023-24283/safe-secure-and-trustworthy-development-and-use-of-artificial-intelligence 🔗 OpenAI’s Response to the RFI: https://cdn.openai.com/global-affairs/ostp-rfi/ec680b75-d539-4653-b297-8bcf6e5f7686/openai-response-ostp-nsf-rfi-notice-request-for-information-on-the-development-of-an-artificial-intelligence-ai-action-plan.pdf 🔗 The original RFI: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/02/06/2025-02305/request-for-information-on-the-development-of-an-artificial-intelligence-ai-action-plan 🔗 Trumps AI EO: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/01/31/2025-02172/removing-barriers-to-american-leadership-in-artificial-intelligence 🔗 Forbes Article: https://www.forbes.com/sites/dianaspehar/2025/02/10/paris-ai-summit-2025-5-critical-themes-shaping-global-ai-policy/…

Chaos Lever Podcast

1
Facebook’s Legal Meltdown & Google’s $32B Power Move | Tech News of the Week 10:03

il y a environ 28 jours10:03

10:03

This week we get into Facebook's ongoing saga of being the actual worst, a massive Google acquisition, some shady AI data scraping, and why the FCC is basically handing over rural America’s internet to the wolves. Buckle up. 📘 Facebook is Literally the Worst, Part One: Leadership Edition Mark Zuckerberg tries to suppress a former Facebook exec’s memoir, *Careless People*, and accidentally Streisand-effects the entire thing. From board game tantrums to predatory ad targeting of teens, this segment is a greatest hits of dysfunction. LINK: https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/careless-people-facebook-memoir-1235299645/ 💰 Google Buys Wiz for $32 Billion Remember when Wiz said no to $23 billion and wanted to IPO instead? Well, turns out $32 billion can change a lot of minds. What does this mean for multi-cloud security? Spoiler: nothing good. LINK: https://blog.google/inside-google/company-announcements/google-agreement-acquire-wiz/ 🤖 Facebook is Literally the Worst, Part Two: AI Shenanigans LLaMA, Facebook's open-source AI darling, was apparently trained on a treasure trove of pirated books and papers from LibGen—with exec sign-off. Internal emails show employees questioning the legality while still hitting "Download." Classic. LINK: https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2025/03/libgen-meta-openai/682093 📞 Say Goodbye to Your Copper Lines FCC’s new head Brendan Carr wants to let ISPs rip out copper lines without proving they’re replacing them with better service. It’s deregulation theater at its finest. Rural internet users, prepare to get fleeced. LINK: https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2025/03/fcc-chairman-brendan-carr-starts-granting-telecom-lobbys-wish-list/…

Chaos Lever Podcast

1
Thor, Thumb Drives, and Terrible Tech: Blackhat 2015 | Chaos Lever 41:14

il y a 4 weeks41:14

41:14

We’ve got bruised shins, sketchy USB drives, and a surprisingly judgmental cat—so you know it’s a classic Chaos Lever episode. This week, Chris walks us through the wonderfully terrible 2015 movie *Blackhat*, a film that tried really hard to be tech-savvy and instead gave us Thor doing cybercrimes. Ned’s never seen it, which is great, because now he gets to be appalled in real time. Join us as we unravel: 🎬 A plot powered entirely by bad computer graphics 🖥️ Ankle bracelet hacking and thumb drive nonsense 🧠 A hacker who’s apparently too jacked to fail 🐱 A feline who's both off-camera and always judging There’s also a deep dive into why a nuclear plant *doesn’t* explode in 12 seconds (you're welcome), some shouty FBI negotiating, and one very suspicious biometric thumb drive.…

Chaos Lever Podcast

1
Apple AI Fail, Quantum Hype & SUSE’s Bold Move | Tech News of the Week 9:35

il y a 5 weeks9:35

9:35

🚀 Welcome back to Tech News of the Week, where Chris and I break down the biggest, weirdest, and occasionally most questionable tech stories from the past week. 🧪 **D-Wave’s Dubious Quantum Supremacy Claim** D-Wave is back at it again, this time claiming "quantum supremacy" (insert dramatic echo here). They say their quantum chip solved a complex magnetic field simulation in 20 minutes—something they claim would take a classical supercomputer 200 years. But some researchers aren't buying it. Teams at NYU and EPFL Switzerland have already shown that a laptop or a few GPUs can solve parts of the problem much faster than D-Wave suggests. So, is this true supremacy or just more quantum marketing hype? 🤔 https://siliconangle.com/2025/03/12/d-wave-claims-achieved-quantum-supremacy-last-others-disagree/ 🐧 **SUSE Wants to Support Red Hat (Yes, Really)** In a move that has everyone doing a double take, SUSE announced at SUSECon that they’re launching the "SUSE Multi My Linux" support program—meaning they’ll support older Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) systems, even after Red Hat stops maintaining them. It's a bold strategy, Cotton. The program covers proactive and reactive support for different Linux versions, and, oh yeah, SUSE Enterprise Linux 16 is dropping soon with support through *2047*. Optimistic much? 🌍 https://thenewstack.io/suse-displays-enhanced-enterprise-linux-at-susecon/ 🚗 **Hacking Infotainment Systems: A New Cybersecurity Nightmare** If your car has a Pioneer DMH infotainment system, you might want to pay attention. Researchers at NCC Group exploited multiple zero-day vulnerabilities to inject spyware, track locations, and gain access to system data—all through a flaw in the Gracenote music database. While the proof-of-concept required physical access, they say it could be adapted for remote attacks. Pioneer has issued patches, so update your system… or just rip it out and go back to that 5-disc CD changer. 🎶 https://www.darkreading.com/vulnerabilities-threats/car-exploit-spy-drivers-real-time 🍏 **Apple Delays AI-Powered Siri Updates—Blames Marketing** Apple’s much-hyped "Apple Intelligence" features for Siri have been shelved, possibly for up to a year, after internal testing revealed they don’t actually work. Success rates hovered between 66–80%, which is, uh, *not great*. Apple’s decision to pull back has led to some well-deserved mockery, but let’s be real—shipping half-baked AI features would’ve been way worse. Still waiting on that flying car, though. 🚁 https://9to5mac.com/2025/03/14/siri-delays-hurt-but-apple-averted-disaster-by-not-shipping-half-baked-product/…

Chaos Lever Podcast

1
Quantum Computing, Sandwiches, and Superconductors | Chaos Lever 40:05

il y a 5 weeks40:05

40:05

This week on Chaos Lever, we explore a heartwarming yet launch into an in-depth (and completely correct, don’t question us) discussion about quantum computing and the hardware solutions behind a qubit. 🧠⚛️ Google, IBM, Amazon, and even Microsoft have been making big moves in quantum tech, each promising advancements that may or may not totally destroy encryption as we know it. Superconducting qubits, quantum tunneling, and the mysterious Majorana zero modes—it’s all here, and it’s all *probably* real. Stick around for deep dives into how different qubit architectures compare, what quantum error correction means for scalability, and why tech companies are obsessed with giving their chips weird animal names. If you make it to the end, congratulations—you've earned yourself a snack from the fridge, preferably one that doesn’t require quantum coherence to stay intact. 🍕 --- 📌 **LINKS** 🔗 Superconducting Qubit Physics: https://web.physics.ucsb.edu/~martinisgroup/classnotes/finland/LesHouchesJunctionPhysics.pdf 🔗 Google's Willow chip: https://blog.google/technology/research/google-willow-quantum-chip/ 🔗 Microsoft's Majorana chip: https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/quantum/2025/02/19/microsoft-unveils-majorana-1-the-worlds-first-quantum-processor-powered-by-topological-qubits/ 🔗 Amazon's Ocelot chip: https://www.technologyreview.com/2025/02/27/1112560/amazon-quantum-computing-chip-makes-its-debut/ 🔗 IBM's Heron chip: https://newsroom.ibm.com/2024-11-13-ibm-launches-its-most-advanced-quantum-computers,-fueling-new-scientific-value-and-progress-towards-quantum-advantage 🔗Topological state of matter paper: https://journals.aps.org/prb/pdf/10.1103/PhysRevB.107.245423 🌀 Thanks for listening! Follow Chaos Lever for more questionable but entertaining tech discussions. See you next week! 🚀…

Chaos Lever Podcast

1
VMware Under Attack Again—Three New Zero Days! | Tech News of the Week 9:40

il y a 6 weeks9:40

9:40

Welcome to another round of tech news! This week, we're diving into the resurrection of a once-popular social media site, the EU's big bet on RISC-V, fresh zero days for VMware, and Broadcom's bold money-making moves. 🎯 **Reddit's Co-Founder Wants to Fix Social Media... With More Social Media?** Alexis Ohanian, one of Reddit’s original creators (the one who *doesn’t* suck), is teaming up with the founder of Digg to bring it back from the dead. Digg was a big deal in the mid-2000s before it collapsed under bad management, but now it’s making a comeback with AI in tow. Will it be the next big thing or another failed revival? Only time will tell. Want to get in early? They’re taking email sign-ups now. 🔗 https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/05/technology/digg-alexis-ohanian-kevin-rose.html 💾 **The EU Goes All-In on RISC-V for Supercomputing** Europe is pushing hard for digital independence with a $260 million investment in RISC-V-based supercomputing chips. The project, named DAR (Digital Autonomy with RISC-V for Europe), aims to develop three chiplets for high-performance computing. It’s a bold move to move away from x86 and ARM dominance, but can they deliver on their aggressive timeline? 🔗 https://www.theregister.com/2025/03/07/dare_europe_risc_v_project/ ⚠️ **Three New VMware Zero Days—Because One Isn't Enough!** VMware ESX is under attack again, with three fresh zero-day vulnerabilities actively exploited in the wild. The worst of the bunch (CVE-2025-22224) lets attackers execute code on an ESXi host. Microsoft actually reported these to Broadcom, which is a fun little twist. If you haven't patched your VMware hosts yet, now would be a *really* good time. 🔗 https://support.broadcom.com/web/ecx/support-content-notification/-/external/content/SecurityAdvisories/0/25390 💰 **Broadcom's VMware Cash Grab is Working... For Now** Broadcom is cashing in on its $69 billion VMware acquisition by slashing products, jacking up prices, and locking in big customers. The strategy seems to be working—at least in the short term—as revenue soars. But with frustrated customers looking for alternatives, could VMware's long-term future be in jeopardy? Competitors like Nutanix are already gaining ground. 🔗 https://investors.broadcom.com/news-releases/news-release-details/broadcom-inc-announces-first-quarter-fiscal-year-2025-financial That’s it for this week! Like, subscribe, and maybe, just maybe, we'll see you again next time. 🚀…

Chaos Lever Podcast

1
How the Internet Became a Glorious Mess | Chaos Lever 32:25

il y a 7 weeks32:25

32:25

The Internet: it was never supposed to work this well, and yet, here we are. This week, we’re diving into how we went from isolated, room-sized computers to a global, decentralized network that somehow (mostly) functions. We break down the early days of networking, when computers had to physically dial each other up, and how we eventually arrived at the distributed, self-healing, packet-switching magic that powers everything today. Along the way, we cover the different network models—centralized, decentralized, and fully distributed—and why only one of them could survive a nuclear attack (always an important design consideration). We also touch on ARPANET, the first real Internet, and how a bunch of researchers, military contractors, and a few weirdly named computers set the stage for what we have now. Spoiler: it involves a lot of improvised problem-solving and some very lonely PDP-10s. So if you’ve ever wondered how routing actually works, why the Internet doesn’t just collapse under its own weight, or what an “IMP” is, we’ve got you covered. Just don’t blame us if you leave this episode with a sudden urge to dig through RFCs. 🚀 LINKS 🔗 RFC 1206: https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc1206 🔗BGP episode: https://pod.chaoslever.com/break-the-glass-and-walk-away-a-very-brief-overview-of-bgp/ 🔗Supercomputing episode: https://pod.chaoslever.com/from-cray-1-to-el-capitan-the-evolution-of-supercomputers-chaos-lever/ 🔗Classical computing: https://pod.chaoslever.com/turing-to-transistors-classical-computing-101/ 🔗Brief history of the internet: https://www.internetsociety.org/internet/history-internet/brief-history-internet/…

Chaos Lever Podcast

1
GPT-4.5 Drops & The Biggest Crypto Heist Ever | Tech News of the Week 9:37

il y a 7 weeks9:37

9:37

📢 Welcome to another episode of Tech News of the Week, where Chris and I break down the biggest stories in tech—sometimes with insight, sometimes with sarcasm, but always with desks. Maybe? This week, we're talking about IBM finally sealing the deal with HashiCorp, Microsoft's continued Notepad nonsense, OpenAI's latest attempt to justify its existence, and the biggest crypto heist of all time. Buckle up! 🟡 **HashiCorp Joins IBM** After 10 long months of regulatory limbo, IBM’s $6.4 billion acquisition of HashiCorp is finally official. Now that the deal has closed, IBM is set to integrate Terraform with Ansible, strengthen HashiCorp Vault with OpenShift, and generally try to make their aging product lineup more cloud-native. As a HashiCorp fan, I wasn’t exactly thrilled, but hey—at least IBM is dumping money into R&D. Cautiously optimistic? Maybe. Full breakdown here: https://www.hashicorp.com/en/blog/hashicorp-officially-joins-the-ibm-family and convo with Armon Dadgar here: https://www.youtube.com/live/p9VZMDRJ6m0 🟡 **Microsoft Notepad Gets AI Because… Reasons?** Notepad was perfect. It was simple. It was beautiful. And now, Microsoft is stuffing it with AI features nobody asked for—just like they’re doing with Paint. Oh, and they killed off WordPad, pushing people toward paid Microsoft Word instead. At least the AI-infested versions of Notepad and Paint are optional (for now), but this is a slippery slope, folks. More details: https://www.pcworld.com/article/2614943/microsoft-is-paywalling-these-features-in-notepad-and-paint.html 🟡 **GPT-4.5: Bigger, Better, and Full of Lies** OpenAI just dropped GPT-4.5, and it’s… well, it’s a thing. It’s bigger, more power-hungry, and claims to be "friendlier" and "more truthful"—which means it only lies to you **37%** of the time instead of **59%**. Progress? Maybe. Desperation? Definitely. Sam Altman’s money-burning machine continues, and SoftBank is still writing checks, so here we are. The full scoop: https://www.technologyreview.com/2025/02/27/1112619/openai-just-released-gpt-4-5-and-says-it-is-its-biggest-and-best-chat-model-yet/ 🟡 **Bybit Suffers the Largest Crypto Heist Ever** Dubai-based crypto exchange Bybit just lost **$1.5 billion** to North Korea’s Lazarus Group, making it the biggest crypto theft in history. Hackers exploited Bybit’s Ethereum wallet system, faked transactions, and walked away with an absolute fortune. The good news? Bybit says it’ll reimburse customers. The bad news? This whole mess proves, once again, that "faster" and "secure" are rarely friends. More on this wild story: https://www.reuters.com/technology/cybersecurity/cryptos-biggest-hacks-heists-after-15-billion-theft-bybit-2025-02-24/ Now, go away. Bye. 🚀…

Chaos Lever Podcast

1
The Rise of NAT: A Necessary Evil in Networking | Chaos Lever 49:25

il y a 7 weeks49:25

49:25

Fifth-generation programming languages? Generations don’t even matter anymore. We’re basically at iPhone generation 16-and-a-half, and at some point, people are just making stuff up. Speaking of making things up, today’s episode of Chaos Lever is all about NAT (Network Address Translation), a necessary evil—or maybe just evil—that helped shape the internet as we know it. To break it all down, we’re joined by the legendary Ivan Pepelnjak, a CCIE Emeritus, BGP wizard, and all-around networking guru. He’s here to walk us through the chaotic history of NAT, why it happened, and why, despite all efforts, it’s never really going away. We dive into the days when IP was just one of many competing protocols, when grabbing an IP block was as easy as sending an email, and when the first NAT implementations were only meant to be a temporary fix. Spoiler alert: that temporary fix became the foundation of modern networking. Ivan shares his firsthand experience from decades in the field, discussing why IPv6 adoption has been slow, how carrier-grade NAT is making things even messier, and why the dream of a fully end-to-end connected internet never really stood a chance. Plus, we touch on some truly wild networking trivia—like how stock exchanges measure fiber cable lengths to the nanosecond. If you’ve ever wondered why your home Wi-Fi setup still relies on NAT, why cloud providers and ISPs are desperate to push IPv6, or what networking challenges we’ll still be complaining about in another 20 years, this episode is for you. Stick around for some networking history, a bit of good-natured industry snark, and of course, a little chaos. And if you make it all the way to the end? Congrats, you’ve earned the right to set up your own double-NAT configuration at home—for "fun". --- LINKS 🔗 Chaos Lever Website: https://chaoslever.com 🔗 Chaos Lever LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/chaoslever 🔗 Ivan Pepelnjak’s Blog & Networking Resources: https://blog.ipspace.net 🔗 NetLab Open Source Project: https://netlab.tools…

Chaos Lever Podcast

1
From Cray-1 to El Capitan: The Evolution of Supercomputers | Chaos Lever 41:21

il y a 18 weeks41:21

41:21

Get ready for an electrifying ride through the history and evolution of supercomputers! From the groundbreaking Cray-1 to today’s mind-blowing El Capitan, we cover it all—with tangents about Interstellar, floating-point math, and why your iPhone is basically a mini-supercomputer. Join Ned and Chris as they unleash chaos on computing history! 🤖💻✨ What’s Inside: 📚 Seymour Cray: The genius who made supercomputers... and left his own companies 🔥 From mega-flops to exa-flops: Explaining performance in layman’s terms 🌍 Supercomputers solving global warming (well, trying...) Take Our Survey! 💬 We want to hear from you! Visit https://chaoslever.com/survey and share your thoughts before the month ends. Links: - TOP 500 Linear Graph: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TOP500#/media/File:Supercomputers-history.svg - FLOPS: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floating_point_operations_per_second - TOP 500 64th edition: https://top500.org/lists/top500/2024/11/highs/ - Cray History Timeline: https://cray-history.net/2021/07/19/cray-timeline-documents/ - Cray Background: https://www.invent.org/inductees/seymour-cray - Cray-1: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cray-1 - Sneakers scene: https://youtu.be/coDtzN6bXAM?si=JvAwJb416pxRuANq&t=43 Chapters: 00:00 Welcome, Alleged Humans 01:28 Interstellar: Did We Learn Anything? 04:15 What Makes a Supercomputer "Super"? 10:12 Seymour Cray: A Singular Visionary 23:08 The Cray-1: Breaking Barriers in 1975 36:40 From Supercomputers to HPC Clusters 48:55 Modern Era: GPUs, Exa-Flops, and El Capitan 01:20:00 Fun Facts: Your iPhone = A Supercomputer in 2010?! 01:40:00 Wrapping It Up: Sneakers and PlayStation Supercomputers Let us know your favorite fact from the episode in the comments! 👇…

Chaos Lever Podcast

1
Google's AI Surge and GM's Robo-Taxi Retreat | Tech News of the Week 9:18

il y a 18 weeks9:18

9:18

Welcome to another episode of Tech News of the Week, where we break down the hottest stories in technology with a dose of snark and insight. This week, we’re diving into Google’s AI extravaganza, GM’s retreat from robo-taxis, quantum computing milestones, and Microsoft’s push for eco-friendly data centers. Grab your coffee and let’s get into it! Google’s AI Blitzkrieg 🚀 Google is doubling down on artificial intelligence, unveiling a slew of announcements including Gemini 2.0, a next-gen model with audio and video capabilities, and ASTRA, which can summarize videos and answer questions. They also revealed Trilium, an AI training chip, and Jules, an AI coding assistant capable of fixing bugs. But don’t get too excited—most of these features are still in development, with limited demos and no hands-on access yet. For now, it’s a lot of promises, but we’ll see how it shakes out in January. Read more: https://techcrunch.com/2024/12/11/gemini-2-0-googles-newest-flagship-ai-can-generate-text-images-and-speech/ GM Pulls the Plug on Robo-Taxis 🚗 GM is merging its Cruise division into its Super Cruise engineering team and stepping back from the robo-taxi race. This comes after a string of incidents, including a high-profile crash that led to California revoking Cruise’s operating license. With plans to integrate the tech into personal vehicles instead, GM hopes to salvage their investment. But for now, fully autonomous taxis are hitting a red light. Read more: https://techcrunch.com/2024/12/11/gm-is-giving-up-on-cruise-robotaxis-pivots-to-personal-autonomous-vehicles Google’s Quantum Leap 🧮 Google made headlines with Willow, a quantum chip boasting over 100 quality qubits. They claim it can complete specific computations that would take conventional supercomputers septillions of years. While this sounds groundbreaking, the practical use of this technology is still unclear, and some remain skeptical of Google’s claims. However, advancements in error rates and quantum stability are undeniably impressive. Read more: https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/quantum-computing/google-claims-its-new-willow-quantum-chip-can-swiftly-solve-a-problem-that-would-take-a-standard-supercomputer-10-septillion-years Microsoft’s Water-Cooled AI Data Centers 🌊 Microsoft announced a shift to water-saving, closed-loop cooling systems for their AI-heavy data centers. These new systems reduce water usage in drought-prone areas like Phoenix, Arizona, and are part of a larger push to retrofit existing facilities. It’s a smart move to address the environmental toll of AI, though some wonder why this wasn’t done sooner. Read more: https://siliconangle.com/2024/12/10/microsoft-previews-new-water-efficient-data-center-design/ Thanks for tuning in! Be sure to subscribe, share your thoughts in the comments, and take our listener survey at https://chaoslever.com/survey. See you next week!…

Chaos Lever Podcast

1
Breaking Unbreakable Codes: The Evolution of Cryptography | Chaos Lever 30:12

il y a 18 weeks30:12

30:12

Welcome to another episode of Chaos Lever, where Ned and Chris explore the history, intrigue, and occasional absurdity of cryptography! 🤖🧠 This week, it’s Part Two of our deep dive into codes and ciphers, from ancient Rome’s Caesar cipher to Napoleon’s overly optimistic battlefield encryption. Discover how cryptography evolved to outwit spies, soldiers, and codebreakers, setting the stage for the digital cryptography we know today. Plus: existential robots, live skeeting, and crunchy peanut butter. 🥜 📚 In This Episode: ✨ Why polyalphabetic ciphers were unbreakable… until they weren’t. ✨ How the Vigenère cipher held strong for 250 years. ✨ The curious tale of Napoleon’s cracked code. ✨ Charles Babbage: Mathematician, cryptographer, and all-around genius. 🌐 Links Mentioned: - Vignere Cipher - History of Coding and Decoding: https://medium.com/@jamesjinghuang/the-vigen%C3%A8re-cipher-from-unbreakable-enigma-to-cryptographic-relic-215761d30af8 - The Vignere Cipher In Action: https://www.dcode.fr/vigenere-cipher - IBM’s History of Cryptography: https://www.ibm.com/think/topics/cryptography-history - Cypher Disk: By Hubert Berberich (HubiB) - Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=25964875 - Union Army Disk: By Ryan Somma from Occoquan, USA - The Union Cipher Disk, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=109642380 - Listener survey: https://chaoslever.com/survey ⏰ Timestamps: 00:46 - Intro and Existential Robots 04:10 - Recap of Part One 10:52 - Polyalphabetic Ciphers Explained 15:49 - Napoleon’s Code: A Lesson in Optimism 18:50 - The Civil War Cipher Disk 24:15 - Babbage Breaks the Vigenère Cipher 29:59 - Outro and Survey Reminder 👍 Support Chaos Lever: Your feedback matters! Take our quick listener survey share your thoughts. https://chaoslever.com/survey…

Chaos Lever Podcast

1
Chinese Hackers, Data Brokers, and AI Power Grabs | Tech News of the Week 10:06

il y a 19 weeks10:06

10:06

Welcome back to Chaos Lever, where we sift through the latest in tech news so you don’t have to. Please take our listener survey! https://chaoslever.com/survey This week’s episode covers everything from Meta's nuclear ambitions to Broadcom's sudden change of heart. Let’s break it down: --- 🧠 Meta Joins the Nuke AI Club Meta is doubling down on AI by exploring nuclear power to meet its growing data center demands. They’ve issued an RFP for 1-4 gigawatts of nuclear power, focusing on Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) for faster deployment. With ambitious plans to go live by 2030, this move might reshape energy partnerships in tech. Will SMRs light the path forward, or will Meta hit regulatory roadblocks? 👉 https://sustainability.atmeta.com/blog/2024/12/03/accelerating-the-next-wave-of-nuclear-to-power-ai-innovation/ --- 💻 Fear of Losing Customers Has Broadcom Relaxing VMware Policies After a year of painful price hikes and policy overhauls, Broadcom is walking back some of its harshest changes to VMware licensing. Enterprises like Beeks Group are migrating away, citing costs that have ballooned tenfold. In response, Broadcom is introducing SMB-friendly subscription tiers and improving partner relationships. But is it too little, too late? 👉 https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2024/12/new-broadcom-sales-plan-may-be-insignificant-in-deterring-vmware-migrations/ --- 📡 Salt Typhoon Isn’t Just a Dish At Applebee’s A Chinese hacking group, Salt Typhoon, has infiltrated U.S. telecom networks, targeting companies like Verizon and T-Mobile. Telecoms blame vulnerabilities stemming from legally required surveillance backdoors. To stay secure, consider using encrypted services like iMessage, Android RCS, or Signal. Is this the wake-up call we need to rethink backdoor policies? 👉 https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2024/12/us-recommends-encrypted-messaging-as-chinese-hackers-linger-in-telecom-networks/ --- 🛡 Data Brokers Finally Facing Possible Restrictions on Selling User Data The CFPB is cracking down on data brokers, proposing rules that treat them like credit bureaus under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. This follows a massive breach that exposed 200 million social security numbers. If passed, this regulation could drastically reshape how companies buy and sell personal data. Is the era of unrestricted data brokering finally coming to an end? 👉 https://www.theverge.com/2024/12/3/24311498/cfpb-rule-data-brokers-social-security-number-fico-score…

Chaos Lever Podcast

1
The Beer Keg Cipher: A Cryptographic Journey | Chaos Lever 34:55

il y a 20 weeks34:55

34:55

Get ready for another delightful descent into tech chaos, historical intrigue, and the occasional bout of existential questioning! This week, we mark (almost) three years since we started this podcast, and Ned is still totally not a robot. We also take a fascinating trip through the history of cryptography, from ancient Egyptian secrets to Julius Caesar's favorite ciphers and the tragic tale of Mary, Queen of Scots. Along the way, there’s talk of quantum computers, beer kegs with secret compartments, and, of course, why vests are utterly pointless. 🦺 💡 Episode Highlights: - Quantum Computing Advances: Why breaking a 50-bit RSA key is a big deal. - Cryptography Through the Ages: How humans have always loved secrets (and dick jokes). - Audience Survey Alert: We need your feedback! Visit https://chaoslever.com/survey If you enjoy tech, history, and wildly tangential humor, hit that like button, subscribe, and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts—even though two stars is good enough for us. 😏 Links: - Researchers Break 50-Bit RSA Encryption For The First Time (https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/for-the-first-time-ever-researchers-crack-rsa-and-aes-data-encryption/ar-AA1ssA1P) - Thawte Presents a Brief History of Cryptography (https://www.thawte.com/assets/documents/guides/history-cryptography.pdf) - The Many Codes Of Mary Queen of Scots (https://www.npr.org/2023/02/10/1155701113/mary-queen-of-scots-ciphers-prison-letters) 🌐 Visit https://chaoslever.com for show notes, blog posts, and general tomfoolery.…

Chaos Lever Podcast

1
Replay: The Not-So-Hostile Takeover of iMessage Technology 32:51

il y a 20 weeks32:51

32:51

The Not-So-Hostile Takeover of iMessage Technology Originally Published on 12/21/2023 The Dreaded Green Bubble It's the shake-up of the century, or at least… it's pretty big news. It seems that pretty soon, non-Apple devices will be able to support iMessage technology. So how is this even possible? In order to answer that question, Ned walks us through the history of text messaging technology, from SMS to BBM to MMS and beyond. If you've ever wondered if phone carriers have been ripping you off, or providing sub-standard security, spoiler alert: you're right . The signaling channel behind SMS technology Wait, we send an average of how many texts per day? The infamous text fee hike of the mid-aughts BlackBerry Messenger's origins What actually is RCS technology? How Beeper Mini accesses iMessage technology on non-Apple devices Intro and outro music by James Bellavance copyright 2022…

Chaos Lever Podcast

1
DOJ Takes Aim at Google’s Monopoly | Tech News of the Week 10:33

il y a 21 weeks10:33

10:33

Welcome to another episode of Tech News of the Week where we dissect the latest tech news with equal parts wit and snark. This week’s topics are as juicy as ever, from the DOJ taking a swing at Google to Apple’s embarrassing security scramble. Dive in below for more details and links to the full stories! !!!Take the audience survey here!!! https://pod.chaoslever.com/survey/2024-listener-survey/ DOJ Calls for Google Breakup The Department of Justice is not mincing words about Google’s dominance, calling for drastic actions like splitting off Chrome, opening their search index, and banning exclusionary agreements. With parallels to the famous Microsoft antitrust case, this could signal major shifts in Big Tech. Will this be a game-changer or just another slap on the wrist? Only time—and the next administration—will tell. Read more about the DOJ’s proposals here: https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2024/11/welcome-to-googles-nightmare-us-reveals-plan-to-destroy-search-monopoly/ OSX and iOS Have Active Exploits – Update ASAP Apple’s latest updates aren’t just nice-to-haves; they’re critical. Active exploits affecting everything from Safari’s JavaScript engine to Vision Pro’s OS mean you need to patch now. Ironically, these vulnerabilities were flagged by none other than Google’s Threat Analysis Group. Embarrassing for Apple, but great motivation for the rest of us to stay safe. Get the details and update links here: https://osxdaily.com/2024/11/19/ios-18-1-1-ipados-18-1-1-security-updates-released/ Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Welcomes Compute Big and Small El Capitan, the world’s fastest supercomputer, is now operational, boasting a mind-boggling 1.742 exaFlops of power. Meanwhile, LLNL is also embracing Oxide’s innovative, open-source approach to server hardware for smaller-scale computing. Could Oxide be the future of enterprise clusters? Time will tell, but it’s a story worth following. Learn more about El Capitan: https://www.llnl.gov/article/52061/lawrence-livermore-national-laboratorys-el-capitan-verified-worlds-fastest-supercomputer And Oxide: https://www.theregister.com/2024/11/18/llnl_oxide_compute/ Microsoft Reinvents the Thin Client (Kind Of) Introducing the Windows 365 Link: Microsoft’s take on the thin client, designed to connect users directly to their Windows 365 environments. While it might seem like an already-solved problem, its seamless integration and competitive pricing could win over enterprises. Love it or hate it, this is a product that’s likely here to stay. Explore the details about Windows 365 Link here: https://www.computerworld.com/article/3608683/microsofts-windows-365-link-is-a-thin-client-device-for-shared-workspaces.html…

Chaos Lever Podcast

1
Dialing Into History: Telephony’s Hidden Evolution | Chaos Lever 43:39

il y a 22 weeks43:39

43:39

Step into the Wild World of Telephones! 🛠️📞 In this episode of Chaos Lever, we’re dialing up a fascinating exploration of telephony with special guest Sarah Autumn! Sarah, a volunteer engineer at the Connections Museum in Seattle, takes us on a journey through the evolution of telephone systems, from the quirky mechanical marvels of the early 20th century to the legacy technology that still shapes our communication today. Spoiler: it’s as much magic as it is science. 📌 Highlights from this week’s episode include: - A behind-the-scenes look at the Connections Museum and its rare treasures. - The history of telephone exchanges, old-school "operators," and why area codes exist. - The surprising origins of familiar sounds like dial tones and busy signals. - Stories of mechanical ingenuity, including a phone system powered by steel balls (!). Whether you're a tech enthusiast or someone just curious about how we got from crank phones to iPhones, this episode is packed with history, humor, and a touch of chaos. 🎧 Links Mentioned in the Show: - Connections Museum: Learn more or plan your visit. (http://www.telcomhistory.org/connections-museum-seattle/) - Connections Museum YouTube Channel: Dive deeper into the inner workings of telephony. (http://www.telcomhistory.org/connections-museum-seattle/) - Want to suggest a guest or topic? Head to https://chaoslever.com. Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe to keep the chaos going every week! 🎙️…

Chaos Lever Podcast

1
The Future of AI, Cloud Emulation, and Cybersecurity | Tech News of the Week 8:36

il y a 22 weeks8:36

8:36

From AI's stumbling progress to groundbreaking tools and cyber threats, here’s what you need to know for this week: All The Major AI Models Continue To Lose Money AND Stop Advancing: Is the golden age of AI innovation already behind us? Reports from OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic suggest that we may have hit a plateau. With increasing costs and diminishing returns, the financial and technical outlook for large AI models is looking bleak. Can ChatGPT 5—or any model—break through the ceiling? Or are we seeing the limits of what these technologies can achieve? (https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-11-13/openai-google-and-anthropic-are-struggling-to-build-more-advanced-ai). LocalStack Snags $25M for Public Cloud Emulation: Say goodbye to accidental cloud overspending! LocalStack, an innovative tool that emulates public cloud environments locally, has just secured $25M in funding. From speeding up development cycles to saving on costs, LocalStack is making cloud development smarter and more efficient. Is this the future of cloud testing? (https://blog.localstack.cloud/series-a-announcement/). FBI Investigates China-Based Cyberhacking of US Telecom Networks: The FBI and CISA have revealed chilling details about China-linked cyberattacks targeting US telecom networks. Dubbed "Flax Typhoon," these attacks weaponize over 200,000 consumer devices to infiltrate critical infrastructure. What does this mean for national security—and your home devices? (https://www.newsweek.com/fbi-chinese-cyber-espionage-multiple-telecom-networks-1985617). Dapr Graduates the CNCF: Dapr, Microsoft’s open-source distributed application runtime, has officially graduated from the CNCF, signaling its maturity and widespread adoption. With its modular approach to cloud-native app development, Dapr is redefining how microservices communicate securely and flexibly. What’s next for this trailblazing project? (https://techcrunch.com/2024/11/12/dapr-graduates-to-become-a-cncf-top-level-project/).…

Chaos Lever Podcast

1
A Brief History of Passwords and NIST’s New Rules | Chaos Lever 39:20

il y a 22 weeks39:20

39:20

Ah, passwords—the not-so-secret keys to our digital world. In this episode, we dig into the fascinating (and flawed) history of passwords, from their Roman origins to their debut in 1960s computing, and the constant struggle between ease and security ever since. Why are we still relying on passwords that can be hacked in seconds? And what are the latest recommendations from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to make our digital identities safer? Join us as we cover: 🔒 How passwords began, and why they’re so easily abused 🔒 The hilarious and painful ways users circumvent complex password rules 🔒 NIST's latest guidelines for making passwords simpler yet safer 🔒 The growing importance of passkeys, MFA, and password managers 🔒 Alternatives to passwords that may finally lead to better security for all If you’re tired of juggling endless passwords or getting locked out because you can’t remember your “favorite childhood pet,” this is the episode for you. Links: https://www.wired.com/2012/01/computer-password/ https://www.troyhunt.com/passwords-evolved-authentication-guidance-for-the-modern-era/ https://www.nytimes.com/1981/07/26/business/case-of-the-purloined-password.html https://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/Legacy/FIPS/fipspub112.pdf https://neal.fun/password-game/ https://pages.nist.gov/800-63-4/sp800-63b.html#password…

Chaos Lever Podcast

1
Amazon's Big AI Move & Qualcomm's ARM Laptop Surge | Tech News of the Week 11:13

il y a 23 weeks11:13

11:13

In this episode of Chaos Lever, we dig into the latest tech updates and industry moves, from Amazon's ambitious push to rival OpenAI to Qualcomm’s plans for ARM-powered Windows laptops. We’ll also explore MacOS’s tricky approach to app sandboxing and debate whether Notepad really needs AI. *Amazon to Invest in Anthropic AI to Compete with OpenAI—But There's a Catch* Amazon is making a big move into the AI arena by deepening its investment in Anthropic, aiming to challenge Microsoft-backed OpenAI. AWS will further integrate Anthropic’s AI tech into its offerings, expanding on a 2023 partnership that also made AWS an Anthropic services provider. Interestingly, Amazon’s deal may require Anthropic to shift from NVIDIA chips to Amazon’s own "Trainium" and "Inferentia" chips, doubling up on revenue potential. Is this strategy genius or misguided? (https://www.tomsguide.com/ai/amazon-eyeing-multibillion-dollar-investment-in-claude-maker-anthropic-heres-why-its-a-big-deal) *Qualcomm Promotes 58 Models of ARM-Based Windows Laptops* Qualcomm is shaking up the laptop market with 58 new ARM-powered Windows models launching soon, partnering with brands like Dell, HP, and Samsung. These ARM-based laptops promise better battery life, but compatibility challenges still haunt Windows ARM. Some users, however, report smoother experiences with recent Windows updates and compatibility improvements. Can these new laptops finally compete with Intel and AMD? (https://www.theregister.com/2024/11/07/qualcomm_triples_windows_on_arm/) *MacOS App Sandboxing: More Complicated Than It Seems* Apple's approach to app sandboxing in MacOS sounds good in theory—limiting apps’ access to sensitive system areas—but its execution has loopholes. Certain processes can escape these sandbox restrictions, making it less reliable for security. This issue has been linked to several CVEs, sparking discussions on how Apple could improve MacOS sandboxing to catch up with BSD. (https://jhftss.github.io/A-New-Era-of-macOS-Sandbox-Escapes/) *Notepad Gets an AI Update—But Do We Really Need It?* Notepad, a trusty go-to for Windows users, is getting an AI update in the latest Windows 11 Preview. Users can now rewrite text with AI suggestions, though many wonder why a simple tool needs AI features. The new addition, which requires a Microsoft login, raises questions about the need for AI in every corner of the OS. Sometimes, simple is better! (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2024/11/06/new-ai-experiences-for-paint-and-notepad-begin-rolling-out-to-windows-insiders/)…

Chaos Lever Podcast

1
Can We Make Attack Surface Management … Fun? | Chaos Lever 41:56

il y a 24 weeks41:56

41:56

In today’s episode, we’re diving into one of IT’s murkiest topics: Attack Surface Management, or ASM. Can ASM be fun? Maybe. Is it critical for modern security? Absolutely. If you’ve ever wondered what ASM actually does, or why it’s more than just the latest buzzword, we’ve got answers (and helping handfuls of snark). We explore how ASM helps businesses stay on top of their digital perimeters—those tricky-to-manage spaces outside the traditional data center walls. From spotting exposed IPs and misconfigured servers to reining in shadow IT, ASM aims to give organizations continuous visibility into their “attack surface.” And while ASM can’t replace yearly pen tests or manage itself like a SOAR, it’s an invaluable tool for identifying vulnerabilities before hackers do. Join us as we untangle ASM’s purpose, benefits, and its place in a security stack alongside tools like SIEM and SOAR. Could ASM be your best defense against hidden threats? Tune in to find out! And remember, in security, making the news is rarely a good thing. LINKS: - Gartner’s Insights into Attack Surface Management (https://www.gartner.com/en/documents/5341663) - BlueKeep: Still Crazy (Good at Being Used for Hacking RDP) After All These Years (https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/cybersecurity-advisories/aa19-168a)…

Chaos Lever Podcast

1
The Government Hates C++, DNA Storage Advances, Microsoft’s Recall Fumble | Tech News of the Week 10:27

il y a 24 weeks10:27

10:27

In this week’s *Chaos Lever Tech News*, we’re diving into groundbreaking—and sometimes just plain weird—developments in the tech world. Gene Therapy + Data Storage : Remember the days of 3.5" floppy disks with 1.44MB capacity? Today’s microSDs blow that out of the water, but there’s a limit to how much data we can fit on silicon. Enter DNA as a storage medium, where a single gram theoretically holds 215,000TB. Scientists are inching closer with "epi-bits," though the read/write speeds are still...less than ideal. (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-08040-5) Government vs. C/C++ : The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency is officially not a fan of “memory unsafe” languages like C and C++. They've issued a stern warning for any organization handling critical infrastructure: modernize your code or be prepared for the consequences. Even C++ creator Bjarne Stroustrup seems to be (quietly) on board with making his language safer. (https://www.cisa.gov/resources-tools/resources/product-security-bad-practices) The McFlurry Machine Crisis Might End Soon : Yes, you read that right. Thanks to a copyright exemption, McDonald’s will finally be allowed to fix its own infamously finicky ice cream machines without waiting on a Taylor-certified tech. iFixIt and Public Knowledge made it happen, so you may soon get that elusive McFlurry on demand. (https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2024/10/us-copyright-office-frees-the-mcflurry-allowing-repair-of-ice-cream-machines/) Microsoft’s ‘Recall’ Feature…Delayed Again : Microsoft’s questionable “Recall” feature, which quietly screenshots your desktop, is delayed *again.* Promises of full encryption and an opt-in option are on the table, but whether anyone *wants* this feature remains debatable. (https://www.theverge.com/2024/10/31/24284572/microsoft-recall-delay-december-windows-insider-testing)…

Chaos Lever Podcast

1
40 Years of Excelleration 40:38

il y a 25 weeks40:38

40:38

Get ready for a *spooktacular* look at one of the least spooky (but incredibly powerful) tools ever made: Microsoft Excel. It's Excel’s 40th anniversary, so we're diving into its history, quirks, and how this humble spreadsheet app has managed to shape business, science, finance, and... espionage? Yes, you read that right. Excel may not sound thrilling, but trust us, it's one of the most impactful tech tools of the last 40 years. From financial firms to scientific research, sports leagues, and even British intelligence, Excel’s endless versatility has led to some, let’s say... *interesting* mishaps along the way. We’ll explore: - The origins of the spreadsheet concept dating back to ancient Mesopotamian clay tablets (yes, seriously) - Landmark moments like the creation of VisiCalc, Lotus 1-2-3, and Excel’s first big splash - Iconic Excel fails, from the JP Morgan $6.2B blunder to national policy mistakes—Excel giveth, and Excel taketh away! - The rise of VBA, Excel World Cup, and how Excel thrives today in the cloud era So grab a pumpkin spice latte, sit back, and open a workbook with a mini-golf game embedded. You’ll never look at spreadsheets the same way again. 💀 Links: - https://www.qashqade.com/insights/the-worst-financial-services-excel-errors-of-all-time - https://www.teampay.co/blog/biggest-excel-mistakes-of-all-time - https://sheetcast.com/articles/ten-memorable-excel-disasters - https://www.bbc.com/news/business-39870485 - https://infotech.commons.gc.cuny.edu/2016/01/25/new/ - https://www.historyofinformation.com/detail.php?id=5478 - https://spinpasta.fandom.com/wiki/Hall_of_Tortured_Souls - https://fmworldcup.com/excel-esports/microsoft-excel-world-championship/…

Chaos Lever Podcast

1
Our Long National Nightmare is Over. Internet Archive is Back | Tech News of the Week 9:03

il y a 25 weeks9:03