funny – Page 287 – Tech Today w/ Ken May

“Bill Shocker” Malware Controls 620,000 Android Phones In China

Orome1 writes “A new discovered malware is potentially one of the most costly viruses yet discovered. Uncovered by NQ Mobile, the ‘Bill Shocker’ (a.expense.Extension.a) virus has already impacted 620,000 users in China and poses a threat to unprotected Android devices worldwide. Bill Shocker downloads in the background, without arousing the mobile device owner’s suspicion. The infection can then take remote control of the device, including the contact list, Internet connections and dialing and texting functions. Once the malware has turned the phone into a “zombie,” the infection uses the device to send text message to the profit of advertisers. In many cases, the threat will overrun the user’s bundling quota, which subjects the user to additional charges.” Read more of this story at Slashdot.

More here:
“Bill Shocker” Malware Controls 620,000 Android Phones In China

Does US Owe the World an Education At Its Expense?

An anonymous reader writes “‘Right now, there are brilliant students from all over the world sitting in classrooms at our top universities,’ President Obama explained to the nation Tuesday in his pitch for immigration reform. ‘They are earning degrees in the fields of the future, like engineering and computer science…We are giving them the skills to figure that out, but then we are going to turn around and tell them to start the business and create those jobs in China, or India, or Mexico, or someplace else. That is not how you grow new industries in America. That is how you give new industries to our competitors. That is why we need comprehensive immigration reform.” If the President truly fears that international students will use skills learned at U.S. colleges and universities to the detriment of the United States if they return home (isn’t a rising tide supposed to lift all boats?) — an argument NYC Mayor Bloomberg advanced in 2011 (‘we are investing millions of dollars [actually billions] to educate these students at our leading universities, and then giving the economic dividends back to our competitors – for free’) — then wouldn’t another option be not providing them with the skills in the first place?” Read more of this story at Slashdot.

WTO Approves Suspension of US Copyright in Antigua

hydrofix writes “On Thursday TorrentFreak broke the story (verified by BBC) that the government of Antigua and Barbuda, a tiny island nation on the Caribbean, was planning to launch a legal ‘pirate’ website selling movies, music and software without paying a penny to U.S. copyright holders. Now, the World Trade Organization has given its final approval for the Antigua government to launch the website. The decision follows from long-running trade dispute between the countries, related to online gambling, which was ruled in Antigua’s favor in 2005. After the United States refused to compensate, the WTO granted Antigua the right to ‘suspend’ U.S. copyrights for up to $21 million annually.” From the article: “The Antiguan government further reiterated today that the term ‘piracy’ doesn’t apply in this situation, as they are fully authorized to suspend U.S. copyrights. It is a legal remedy that was approved by all WTO members, including the United States.” Read more of this story at Slashdot.

More:
WTO Approves Suspension of US Copyright in Antigua

Pod2g Confirms IOS 6, IOS 6.1 Beta 4 Untethered Jailbreak

hypnosec writes “Well known iOS security researcher Pod2g has confirmed that a working untethered iOS 6 jailbreak is ready and would be released as soon as iOS 6.1 GM is released. In an interview with iDigitalTimes, the security researcher has revealed that they are already in possession of a functional untethered iOS 6 and iOS 6.1 beta 4 jailbreak and majority of the work has been done by @planetbeing and @pimskeks. “6.0 is jailbroken, 6.1 beta 4 also. Now we are waiting 6.1 to confirm and release,” said the researcher. He said that the jailbreak would have been possible without him as he came into the iOS 6 jailbreak scene at a later stage and provided pointers that pushed the other researchers to the maximum.” Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Continue Reading:
Pod2g Confirms IOS 6, IOS 6.1 Beta 4 Untethered Jailbreak

BitTorrent Launches Dropbox Alternative

redletterdave writes “On Friday morning, BitTorrent launched the alpha test of a new, free public service called BitTorrent Sync, which allows users to securely back up and sync files over the Web using BitTorrent’s platform. Unlike competing services such as Box or Dropbox, BitTorrent Sync doesn’t store files on remote servers (which means that no third party has access to one’s files), and also has no storage limits other than what your devices can hold.” Read more of this story at Slashdot.

See more here:
BitTorrent Launches Dropbox Alternative

German Federal Court Rules That Internet Connection Is Crucial To Everyday Life

Qedward writes “Internet access is as crucial to everyday life as having a phone connection and the loss of connectivity is deserving of financial compensation, the German Federal Court of Justice has ruled. Because having an internet connection is so significant for a large part of the German population, a customer whose service provider failed to provide connectivity between December 2008 and February 2009 is entitled to compensation, the court ruled today. ‘It is the first time the court ruled that an internet connection is as important a commodity as having a phone,’ said court spokeswoman Dietlind Weinland. The court, however, denied the plaintiff’s request of €50 a day for his fax machine not working.” Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Swiss Federal Lab Claims New World Record For Solar Cell Efficiency

Zothecula writes “Scientists based at Empa, the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, have set a new efficiency record for thin-film copper indium gallium (di)selenid (or CIGS) based solar cells on flexible polymer foils, reaching an efficiency of 20.4 percent. This is an increase from a previous record of 18.7 percent set by the team back in 2011.” Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Visit site:
Swiss Federal Lab Claims New World Record For Solar Cell Efficiency

Genius Bank Robbers Dug a 100 Foot Long Tunnel to Rob a Bank

This is so incredible that I think I’ve seen this in a movie before.* And if I didn’t, it should be put in a movie immediately. Genius bank robbers dug a 100 foot tunnel from a parking garage across the street to the bank’s safe deposit room and walked away with over $15,000,000 in goods. More »

View article:
Genius Bank Robbers Dug a 100 Foot Long Tunnel to Rob a Bank

Replicating Hardest Known Biomaterial Could Improve Solar Cells and Batteries

cylonlover writes “Inspired by the tough teeth of a marine snail and the remarkable process by which they form, assistant professor David Kisailus at the University of California, Riverside is working toward building cheaper, more efficient nanomaterials. By achieving greater control over the low-temperature growth of nanocrystals (abstract), his research could improve the performance of solar cells and lithium-ion batteries, lead to higher-performance materials for car and airplane frames, and help develop abrasion-resistant materials that could be used for anything from specialized clothing to dental drills.” Read more of this story at Slashdot.

See the original post:
Replicating Hardest Known Biomaterial Could Improve Solar Cells and Batteries

New York Passes Landmark Gun Law

New submitter mallyn points out that the state of New York has become the first state to pass a new gun control law since the school shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary last month. “Called the New York Safe Act, the law includes a tougher assault weapons ban that broadens the definition of what constitutes an assault weapon, and limits the capacity of magazines to seven bullets, down from 10. The law also requires background checks of ammunition and gun buyers, even in private sales, imposes tougher penalties for illegal gun use, a one-state check on all firearms purchases, and programs to cut gun violence in high-crime neighborhoods. … New York’s law also aims to keep guns out of the hands of those will mental illness. The law gives judges the power to require those who pose a threat to themselves or others get outpatient care. The law also requires that when a mental health professional determines a gun owner is likely to do harm, the risk must be reported and the gun removed by law enforcement.” Meanwhile, the Obama Administration is expected to propose a new federal assault weapons ban later today. Read more of this story at Slashdot.

View the original here:
New York Passes Landmark Gun Law