Geekly Update - 12 May 2021

The AskBobRankin Geekly Update

Krebs on Security reports that Microsoft has released fixes to plug at least 55 security holes in Windows and other software. Four of these could allow complete, remote control over vulnerable systems without any user action. Update now, and by all means, abandon the use of the Internet Explorer (IE) web browser.

Are you irritated by the constant humming of a family member or co-worker? Then imagine how NASA's Voyager 1 must feel. Its probe has detected a persistent, monotonous humming sound coming from space. The good news for earthlings is that Voyager 1 is 14 billion miles away, having spent 44 years in space so far. Hmmm.

Your shiny new flagship iPhone might be shinier than your friend’s three-year-old “budget” iPhone XR, but new benchmark tests have shown that the XR outperforms both the iPhone 11 and iPhone 12. Sorry, no refunds.

Sometimes you just need the comforting care that only a robot can give. “RoboWig” is a robotic arm equipped with a hairbrush and a camera that could be a boon to nurses and aides in assistive-care settings. The robot can “see” how curly or straight the hair is, and perform a “delicate and time-efficient brush-out.”

Windows 10X was supposed to be a competitive alternative to Google’s Chrome OS, but it seems Microsoft has scuttled plans to release Windows 10X. A ZDNet writer claims that Microsoft is instead focusing on a “new Windows” with a new user interface. Oh goodie, something new to learn.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s cyber chief says the Colonial Pipeline attack might just be the tip of the infrastructure risk iceberg. The attack, presumed to be the work of Russian ransomware group Darkside, shut down the flow of refined oil for a large portion of the United States, and government officials say cyberattacks against U.S. businesses and infrastructure will become more frequent. Grab your popcorn, kids.

Tech companies have been telling us for a few years that reducing blue light from computers and mobile gadgets before bed will improve our sleep. But that’s “nonsense,” according to a Brigham Young University study. They say their tests prove that Apple's Night Shift and Android's Night Mode features (and presumably other blue light limiting doodads) do nothing to improve sleep. Maybe it's fear that's keeping folks awake.

Facebook has a sneaking suspicion that you’re forwarding articles from the Babylon Bee without understanding that they’re satire. So they’ve found a way to “promote more informed sharing of news articles.” If you try to share a story that Facebook thinks you haven’t read, they’ll hit you up with a prompt encouraging you to read it before sharing. (Comprehension is another matter we’ll deal with later.)

The global chip shortage resulting from the Texas freeze and a fire at a Japanese semiconductor factory has left car makers scrambling for chips required for auto safety systems and infotainment consoles. Car makers are rationing chips for their best-selling models, and jacking up prices on others.

Nasty Ryuk ransomware found entry into a bio research institute, requiring a complete rebuild of the server software, and ruining a weeks' worth of vital research. The “attack vector” was a student who downloaded a “cracked” (free/unlicensed/pirated) version of a data visualization software tool, which turned out to contain malware. Oopsie.