“Industry 4.0”? Not so fast…

  ASE Global has sponsored an interesting infographic at Visual Capitalist, explaining what the next generation of manufacturing will look like.  It calls it “Industry 4.0”.  Here’s a screenshot of part of it.  Click the image for a larger view. It looks very impressive . . . but it ignores a fundamental aspect of this… Continue reading “Industry 4.0”? Not so fast…

Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies – not so secure as presumed?

  A recent court case has revealed some interesting information about the supposed anonymity and security of Bitcoin – and, by extension, other cryptocurrencies. The United States took action in federal court Monday to protect and ultimately return more than $154 million in funds that were allegedly stolen from a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Group… Continue reading Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies – not so secure as presumed?

You’ve got to hand it to China. It’s out to exploit everything!

  It may be intensely annoying to those of us in the western world to admit it, but China’s systematically eating our lunch when it comes to exploiting data:  gathering it, analyzing it, and using it for competitive, military, strategic and geopolitical advantage.  My hat’s off to them. The Wall Street Journal reports (bold, underlined… Continue reading You’ve got to hand it to China. It’s out to exploit everything!

An Android solution to locating snoopers’ AirTags?

  Yesterday I mentioned how urban criminals were beginning to use Apple AirTags to target vehicles they wanted to steal, or people they wanted to follow.  They use the signal from the AirTag to locate the homes of the prey they’ve selected.  I noted that those using Apple smartphones could locate AirTags near them, but… Continue reading An Android solution to locating snoopers’ AirTags?

A massive police operation proves, yet again, that NO electronic communication is secure

  I’m cynically amused by those who believe that an allegedly “secure” or “private” electronic communications facility – an encrypted cellphone, an e-mail service like Protonmail, a commercial encryption program, or whatever – will preserve their electronic privacy.  That’s a pipe-dream.  Today, anyone – not just police or governments, but private citizens too – can… Continue reading A massive police operation proves, yet again, that NO electronic communication is secure

Why do Amazon’s prices change, depending on whether one’s logged in or not?

  I’m finding, more and more often, that when I look up products on Amazon.com, the price advertised will depend on whether or not I’m logged in to the site.  Just yesterday, for example, I looked up a cleaning product, a 10-pack of Chore Boy scourers.  The exact URL used in both cases was this:… Continue reading Why do Amazon’s prices change, depending on whether one’s logged in or not?

Communications security when everyone is listening

  I’ve had a number of questions from readers about a seeming contradiction in some of the advice I’ve given about personal security and preparations in our current environment.  They point out that it’s almost impossible to stop outside forces or agencies “snooping” on our communications with each other – so how is it feasible… Continue reading Communications security when everyone is listening

Substack is worth a look for truly independent news and views

  I found myself nodding in vehement agreement to an article titled “Substack: Last, Best Hope for Free Speech“. The promise of the Internet was that it would be a sort of Speaker’s Corner open to anybody and any ideas, an unlimited vista of imagination and innovation. In the 1990s it heralded a breathtaking advance… Continue reading Substack is worth a look for truly independent news and views

If the Internet goes down, how will we communicate?

  I’m by no means a conspiracy theorist.  Nevertheless, the increasing frequency of “Big Brother” forecasts or analyses, followed closely by action that uncannily resembles those forecasts or analyses, is very troubling.  The most obvious example is the Event 201 “global pandemic exercise”, held about a year before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.  The… Continue reading If the Internet goes down, how will we communicate?