SECURITY: Don’t just take your power from any source?

Wednesday, April 30, 2025

https://arstechnica.com/security/2025/04/ios-and-android-juice-jacking-defenses-have-been-trivial-to-bypass-for-years/

SON OF JUICE JACKING ARISES

  • iOS and Android juice jacking defenses have been trivial to bypass for years
  • New ChoiceJacking attack allows malicious chargers to steal data from phones.

Dan Goodin – Apr 28, 2025 7:00 AM 

*** begin quote ***

Word that juice-jacking-style attacks are once again possible on some Android devices and out-of-date iPhones is likely to breathe new life into the constant warnings from federal authorities, tech pundits, news outlets, and local and state government agencies that phone users should steer clear of public charging stations.

As I reported in 2023, these warnings are mostly scaremongering, and the advent of ChoiceJacking does little to change that, given that there are no documented cases of such attacks in the wild. That said, people using Android devices that don’t support Google’s new authentication requirement may want to refrain from public charging.

*** end quote ***

This reinforces my personal preference for having an external battery for recharge.  All my cars and my EDC pack have an ANKER power block, my own power plug, and 3 short USB-A cables.  My SOP is to not use “public ports” unless I have no other choice.  Suggest that anyone who values their security should do the same.

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MONEY: A surveillance masquerading as currency?

Tuesday, April 29, 2025

https://www.theadvocates.org/beware-the-ecb-digital-currency-is-coming/https://www.theadvocates.org/beware-the-ecb-digital-currency-is-coming/

Beware: The ECB Digital Currency Is Coming
By Daniel Lacalle
Published in Economics – 5 mins – Apr 25

*** begin quote ***

The digital euro, which Lagarde described in 2022 as “a digital banknote with a little less anonymity than the paper banknote because it is issued and guaranteed by the central bank,” is an unnecessary and dangerous tool.

Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) have been gaining attention as the technology of the future for monetary systems, but beneath their promise of efficiency and innovation lies a more pessimistic reality: they can serve as tools for surveillance, eroding personal privacy and financial freedom.

In the European Union, where limits to freedom of expression and the cancellation of elections are already a concern, a CBDC can be seen as surveillance masquerading as currency.

*** end quote ***

From the people who made the stereotype Nazi “Vere Is UR Pa-pers!”, they want to know and control the every actions of the people under their thumb.

Even the movies made a issue of it.

https://www.artofmanliness.com/odds-ends/odds-ends-april-25-2025/

*** begin quote ***

… … movies from our teenage years: Swing Kids. Set in pre-WWII Hamburg, it follows a group of German youth who rebel against Nazi conformity through their passion for forbidden American swing music.

*** end quote ***

Coming soon to a country near you?

Argh!

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GOVEROTRAGEOUS: Fraud is baked into voting/

Monday, April 28, 2025

Florida election lawsuit exposes loophole in federal voter registration law | Just The News

https://justthenews.com/politics-policy/elections/florida-election-lawsuit-exposes-loophole-federal-voter-registration-law

Argh. It’s like they deliberately write in loop holes?

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HARDWARE: Remembering a hardware failure; not so fondly

Sunday, April 27, 2025

https://www.makeuseof.com/thread/what-was-your-worst-data-loss-disaster/?utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=MUO-202504240800&utm_source=MUO-NL&user=cmVpbmtlZmpAZ21haWwuY29t&lctg=7e6c3cd411d6a815afa18582d54bd455914c43c5f69df1448b8ec20ee4959f71

What Was Your Worst Data Loss Disaster?

Ben Stegner

1 day ago

<< EDITOR ADDED DATE 2025-04-24>>

# – # – # – # – # 

MY REPSONSE

Back in the Wild West days of corporate computing, II used to have my own back up solution. Brought and paid for myself. It was a zip drive. Remeber good old Iomega devices. It was 10 megs that I controlled. Had my own program that I wrote in COBOL (shows you how long ago that was). Worked fine thru several IBM Thinkpad hard disk failures. Sigh!

Anyway some genious decided that there should be no foreign devices on the corporate network, All USB ports would be locked, All computers in the Window NT domain would be backed up by the domain admin team. Even floppy disks were prohibited and locked.  

Having no choice, I did a lot of printing of stuff fo take home and emailing copies of working documents to a coworker and visa verse.

For about six months everything was fine. Then predictably my “workstation” that Thinkpad disk drive failed. Support dutifully replaced it and reinstalled the Operating System and started a restore from “Headquarters”.

Guess they never met Murphy.

Of course, I was idled for the better part of two days with about 50 meg of data “sped” down the undersized corporate network. Due dates be dammed. My status reports were on sentence. “Computer failed; Restore in progress; ETTR unknown.”

So it finally finished up after three DAYS, And NIGHTS! I sit down an logon. Guess what happens next? “File not found”, “File corrupt”. Another two days of “techincal magic” and everything now appears to work.

Go to open my latest — now behind schedule — “urgent” report. “File not found”.

I do a quick look and the back up data is SIX MONTHS old.

Apparent after great “STURM UND DRANG” we find out that the corporate backup system had never worked.  

I do a not so quick inventory of my paper files that I had at home. And there is SOME stuff but not everything. (I was a very inefficient clerk. Especially when I am very annoyed.)

Leadership told me to “Stop Bitching” and “deal with it”. 

Apparently, the various executives were going thru

# – # – # – # – # 

Webform has — I guess  —  a size limit 

# – # – # – # – # 

Apparently, the various executives were going thru a similar “experience”.  

I presume that they were not diligent about the corporate diktat that there was to be no “personal” data kept on “corporate computers”.

Never found out the full impact of the disaster.

But soon after IT leadership left for “other opportunities” and who bunch of “IT diktats” changed.

Laugh!

I too left soon after for a better opportunity and more money. Laugh!

About a year later the company was acquired and their IT was “absorbed” with a huge layoff.

I don’t know if the two are related.

Never looked back.

# – # – # – # – # 

Thought this was a interesting memory.

Argh! Argh! Sigh!

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SECURITY: may verify “authentic” accounts

Friday, April 25, 2025

https://bsky.social/about/blog/04-21-2025-verification

A New Form of Verification on Bluesky
April 21, 2025 by The Bluesky Team

*** begin quote ***

In 2023, we launched our first layer of verification: letting individuals and organizations set their domain as their username. Since then, over 270,000 accounts have linked their Bluesky username to their website. Domain handles continue to be an important part of verification on Bluesky. At the same time, we’ve heard from users that a larger visual signal would be useful in knowing which accounts are authentic.

*** and ***

During this initial phase, Bluesky is not accepting direct applications for verification. As this feature stabilizes, we’ll launch a request form for notable and authentic accounts interested in becoming verified or becoming trusted verifiers.

*** end quote ***

Interesting that they MAY verify real people. 

With or without a “subscription”?

Often thought that ISPs if they wanted could tie a User’s identity to the credit card they pay with.  Also, they COULD, but don’t allow such an identity to create sub accounts for children and young adults.  

Wouldn’t this cut down on the number and kind of bots that spam the inet with trash?

Seems so simple to me.

Argh!

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GOVEROTRAGEOUS: Politics trumps justice?

Thursday, April 24, 2025

https://nypost.com/2025/04/22/us-news/tim-walz-employee-who-allegedly-caused-over-20k-in-damages-to-teslas-let-off-by-woke-minnesota-da/?utm_source=sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=news_alert&utm_content=20250422?&utm_source=sailthru&lctg=6080ba40747925275a09dcd3&utm_term=NYP%20-%20News%20Alerts

Minnesota state employee who allegedly caused over $20K in damages to Teslas is let off by woke DA — as cops slam deal
By Patrick Reilly

*** begin quote ***

A progressive district attorney has declined to charge a Tim Walz state employee allegedly caught causing $20,000 damage by vandalizing half a dozen Teslas — a decision ripped by the “frustrated” local police chief.

The suspected vandal, 33-year-old Minnesota government employee Dylan Bryan Adams, was allegedly spotted keying the vehicles and stripping their paint off while out walking his dog around the city.

Despite what police believe to be evidence of Adams committing felonies, Hennepin County District Attorney Mary Moriarty will seek diversion rather than criminal charges.

*** begin quote ***

Sorry, but this is an example of selective justice.

Hopefully, a civil suit will find for punitive damages.

Maybe “We, The Sheeple” in Minnesota may have something to say about this travesty.

The DA should be fired and possibly disbarred for this miscarriage.  And, as a State employee, the citizens have a right to expect better conduct from their “employee”. 

Argh!

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HEROIC: Philly cop saves child from a potentially deadly fall while he’s acrophobic

Wednesday, April 23, 2025

https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/philadelphia-police-officer-sets-aside-fear-of-heights-to-rescue-child-from-a-roof/?utm_campaign=newsletters&utm_medium=weekly_mailout&utm_source=20-04-2025

Philadelphia Police Officer Sets Aside Fear of Heights to Rescue Child from a Roof
By Andy Corbley – Apr 16, 2025

*** begin quote ***

It takes bravery to be a police officer, but for someone with a fear of heights, it’s probably safe to assume most of the work will be done with feet on solid ground.

For one acrophobic Philadelphia officer however, preventing disaster meant going above and beyond the call of duty, literally.

Officer Eric Robbins was on patrol December 10th, among the two-storey houses on N. 64th Street, when he got a call from neighbors saying someone’s child was out and walking on the pitched-roof of a nearby house.

*** end quote ***

That takes courage.  Any adult can quickly realize what a fall from such a height can mean.  For someone already afraid of heights to push thru and save a baby is imho heroic.

I know how quickly babies can get into trouble even when you’re sitting watching them.  Never mind doing a chore or cooking at your phone.  The baby was probably down for a nap, woke up, and silently decide to explore out an open window with no child guard.

Well all’s well that ends well.

Thanks to a fast cop with no fear.  

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GUNS: Defend yourself and others and get evicted — just wrong

Tuesday, April 22, 2025

https://bearingarms.com/camedwards/2025/04/18/florida-woman-evicted-from-apartment-after-shooting-would-be-intruder-n1228364

Florida Woman Evicted From Apartment After Shooting Would-Be Intruder

By Cam Edwards | 4:01 PM | April 18, 2025

*** begin quote ***

Even if Diego had no ill intent when he tried to enter the apartment, the women inside had no idea what his intentions were. As far as they’re concerned, a stranger (who turned out to be armed himself) was trying to break into their home. Under Florida’s Castle Doctrine, there’s a strong case to be made that the armed citizen acted in lawful defense of herself and her roommates, and the fact that police haven’t filed any charges more than a week after the incident at least suggests that law enforcement is leading to that conclusion. 

The management of the complex, however, isn’t waiting for police to officially determine whether any charges should be filed. It sounds like as far as they’re concerned, the tenants are already guilty of violating the terms of their lease. 

*** and ***

So if you discharge a gun, even in self-defense, you’re violating the terms of your lease? What about telling a would-be intruder “leave or I’ll shoot you”? Would that be considered threatening violence by the apartment complex’s management?

I’d love to see these tenants fight the eviction notice, but Lurie says his daughter and her friends plan on leaving the Carlton Apartments in the next few days. Still, he’s speaking out about the letter they received because he’s “shocked” at the policy and the disregard for the particular circumstances involved here, telling Fox 4. “If the intruder had gotten in and harmed the occupants, including my daughter, then they’d be allowed to stay? It just doesn’t make any sense to me.

*** end quote ***

Sorry, but I think “Carlton Apartments” is guilty of making the victims defenseless against a criminal.  As such, isn’t that some type of “unreasonable restriction”?

I hope the various “Justice” organizations take this to court.

If I was a judge, (I’m not!) then I’d declare that the lease is defective and unenforceable as a against public policy!

Argh!

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MEME: Happy with are;; happy with have

Monday, April 21, 2025

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SURVIVAL: Swift rescue due to precise location id

Monday, April 21, 2025

https://www.mytexasdaily.com/upper-gulf-coast/drone-technology-aids-in-swift-rescue-of-lost-hikers-in-sugar-land/article_6be1e49b-2992-524e-9181-d94f07a57e81.html?utm_campaign=6757289-USA%20B2C%20Newsletter%202025&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz–6-0YPXZUeNVJWZmcGw3rUEhWwhuy5QKiNQmApKyaxgCwkgbTBKjPkNKeQo19VymN2krxjzFTAao8tEBeKpKhaQFn7kw&_hsmi=356333343&utm_content=356333343&utm_source=hs_automation#google_vignette

Drone technology aids in swift rescue of lost hikers in Sugar Land
Mathew Richards Feb 2, 2025 

*** begin quote ***

SUGAR LAND, Texas — Three hikers lost in Cullinan Park were swiftly located and rescued thanks to the quick response and advanced technology of the Sugar Land Police Department.

The hikers, who called 911 after becoming disoriented, were found within 15 minutes of the department deploying a drone.

The incident began just after 6:30 p.m. when a distressed female, accompanied by two others, contacted the police after they were unable to find their way back to the park entrance in the dark. Dispatchers used the What3Words application to pinpoint the hikers’ exact location, according to a press release from the Sugar Land Police Department.

*** end quote ***

I’ve cited what3words here in this blog many many times.  For all the junk that people put on their phones, this one should coexist with the rest of the bloatware that phone makers and networks provide “free”.

Now getting lost on a hike is inexcusable; some would say unavoidable.  Not being able to communicate your precise location can be fatal.

The use of the drone was very cost effective rather than rounding up a posse and searching even a small area.

So put the app on your phone and, if you never use it, you can say “told ya so”.  

Minimize confusion, promote efficiency, and possibly save a life.  

Talk to your family, friends, and enemies. 

The life you save may be your own or a loved one.

Argh!

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