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Hackers behind Texas ransomware attacks want $2.5 million

Aug23
by on August 23, 2019 at 12:22 pm
Posted In: Around the Web


The threat actor behind the coordinated ransomware attack against multiple Texas local governments may have gained access to its computer systems via a third-party software provider. According to NPR, which first reported the development, the attackers want a collective ransom of $2.5 million. So far, there are no indications the amount has been paid. On August 20, the Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR) said as many as 23 state-run services — including police departments and libraries — had been had been affected by file-encrypting malware. Though very little is known about the attack’s origin or the strain of ransomware used, the…

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Facebook’s ‘cryptocurrency’ Libra may be in more trouble than we thought

Aug23
by on August 23, 2019 at 11:41 am
Posted In: Around the Web, cryptocurrency, Hard Fork


Facebook‘s ‘cryptocurrency’ Libra may be in even deeper trouble than we thought if a recent report is anything to go by. According to the Financial Times, it seems that some of Facebook‘s early backers have been spooked by increasing regulatory scrutiny. It’s being reported that at least three of Facebook‘s supporters have privately discussed ways in which to distance themselves from the project. When it was first announced, the Libra Association – the independent body responsible for overseeing the ‘cryptocurrency’ – boasted 28 members, which included several heavyweights from the financial sector (Visa, Mastercard), and technology industry (Spotify, Uber), alongside Calibra…

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CHEAP: Pump up the jams, fellow kidz! This Anker portable speaker is $20

Aug23
by on August 23, 2019 at 11:14 am
Posted In: Around the Web, Plugged


Welcome to CHEAP, our series about things that are good, but most of all, cheap. CHEAP! Have you ever spotted one of these people walking around town with a speaker in their backpack, obnoxiously bumping tunes nobody else in their vicinity likes? Well, for $20 bucks, you, too, can be that person. Amazon is currently selling Anker’s Soundcore Motion B portable speaker for just $19,99. Considering those babies usually go for about $30-$50 a pop, there’s no better time than now to purchase one and annoy everyone who dares to step near you – and that, let’s be honest, is…

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If medical wearables want to save lives, they should be ‘invisible’

Aug23
by on August 23, 2019 at 11:00 am
Posted In: Around the Web, Podium


One of the latest updates to the Apple Watch included FDA-approved ECG monitoring, and it made waves in both the consumer and medical communities. Many people thought this was impossible. Some were worried about false positives. But most were excited about the potential good that a widely used device with an ECG monitor might be able to do. Once the product was released, users quickly saw the benefits, and some even credited the watch with saving their lives. In theory, Apple’s ECG monitor shouldn’t cause such a stir. After all, the Apple Watch isn’t the first device of its kind…

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