1. Kevin Mitnick has died
Total comment counts : 198
Summary
The article discusses a website that is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. It mentions that certain actions, such as submitting a specific word or phrase, a SQL command, or malformed data, can trigger a security block. The reader is advised to contact the site owner, providing details of what they were doing when the block occurred and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of the page. The website’s security is powered by Cloudflare.
Top 1 Comment Summary
I’m sorry, but I am unable to access or open the link provided. Could you please provide a brief description or the main points of the article for me to summarize?
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article reflects on the author’s admiration for hacker Kevin Mitnick and the charm he displayed in his actions. A specific anecdote is shared about Mitnick manipulating a bank’s voice verification system to transfer money from the CEO’s account to his own. The story ends with the author acknowledging that the extent of the embellishment is unknown, but it highlights Mitnick’s whimsical nature.
2. No-more-secrets: recreate the decryption effect seen in the 1992 movie Sneakers
Total comment counts : 51
Summary
The article discusses a command line tool called “nms” that recreates the data decryption effect seen in the 1992 movie Sneakers. The tool allows users to pipe ASCII or UTF-8 text into it, and it will apply the Hollywood effect, initially showing encrypted data and then starting a decryption sequence to reveal the original plain-text characters. The article also mentions a program called “sneakers” that recreates the effect seen in the movie clip. The tool relies on ANSI/VT100 terminal escape sequences but also provides a ncurses implementation for non-ANSI terminals. The project is available on GitHub and can be installed from source or through package managers on some Unix/Linux platforms. Users can customize the tool by using flags such as enabling auto-decryption, masking space characters, setting foreground color, clearing the screen before printing output, and more. The article also mentions a C library called “LibNMS” that provides a simple interface for using the decryption effect in other projects. The tool is free software under the GNU General Public License.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article highlights the ease and efficiency of building and compiling code in the C programming language. It emphasizes that by downloading a few source files and typing the make command, the code can quickly be built without the need for complex setup or a large number of dependencies. The article also mentions the speed at which the compilation process occurs, highlighting the impressive capabilities of the C language.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses the author’s recommendation of using cool-retro-term on their machines during hacker hours. It also provides a link to the cool-retro-term GitHub page.
3. Apple says it’ll remove iMessage and FaceTime in UK rather than break encryption
Total comment counts : 66
Summary
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Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses the loss of privacy in conversations and the lack of opposition to anti-encryption laws. It suggests that people have already accepted the loss of privacy and do not associate it with freedom. The author also highlights the shortsightedness of lawmakers in implementing solutions without considering the potential consequences. There is concern that if the government has access to all correspondence, it could be misused if it falls into the wrong hands. The article emphasizes the erosion of rights and the need to protect collective freedom.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article questions why UK legislators are not preparing a new regulation that would require all keys to doors and safes to have a bypass mechanism for government officials. It argues that there could be child pornography and illicit materials hidden behind every door and locked place, making every house and hotel safe a suspect. The article criticizes this reasoning, stating that if the government believes backdoors into online chat and conversation are necessary for this purpose, then it should also apply the same reasoning to all entrance doors and locked spaces.
4. FedNow Is Live
Total comment counts : 68
Summary
The Federal Reserve has announced the launch of its new system for instant payments, called the FedNow Service. Banks and credit unions can now sign up to use this tool to instantly transfer money for their customers, at any time of the day. The service aims to make everyday payments faster and more convenient, allowing individuals to receive paychecks instantly and businesses to access funds immediately when an invoice is paid. Currently, 35 banks and credit unions, as well as the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Bureau of the Fiscal Service, have early access to the instant payments capabilities of the FedNow Service. In the future, customers of participating banks and credit unions should be able to use their financial institution’s mobile app or website to send instant payments securely. The FedNow Service operates alongside other Federal Reserve payment services such as Fedwire and FedACH. The Federal Reserve is dedicated to working with banks and credit unions to ensure widespread availability of the service for their customers in the future.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article explains that the FedNow Service, which is powered by IBM MQ and a customized version of the ISO 20022 specification, is just the beginning of a larger process. The author mentions that they have been working to become a Certified Service Provider and is open to answering questions as long as they do not breach any non-disclosure agreements (NDAs). The article also provides a link to the IBM MQ product page for further information.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses the potential impact on “toxic,” deplatformed, and debanked entities like KiwiFarms due to their restricted access to platforms such as PayPal and credit card processors. It raises questions about the private/public status of the Federal Reserve and argues that federally chartered corporations, such as the USPS and Amtrak, are bound by the first amendment, suggesting that the Fed might be as well. The article suggests that the usual defense of corporate censorship being justified as the actions of a private corporation may not apply in this case.
5. Docuseal: Open-source DocuSign alternative
Total comment counts : 25
Summary
This article discusses DocuSeal, an open-source platform that allows for secure and efficient digital document signing and processing. It provides the ability to create PDF forms and have them filled and signed online on any device using a mobile-optimized web tool. The platform can use an SQLite database by default, but it also supports PostgreSQL or MySQL databases by specifying the appropriate environment variable. The article mentions downloading a docker-compose.yml file to run the app on a private server, as well as setting up a custom domain over HTTPS using docker compose. DocuSeal is released under the GNU Affero General Public License v3.0 and is positioned as an alternative to DocuSign for creating, filling, and signing digital documents.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The creator of DocuSeal, Alex, was dissatisfied with existing document signing solutions, so he developed an open-source alternative. The tool, which has been in development since May, offers features such as PDF form field building, multiple field types (e.g., Signature, Date, File, Checkbox), support for multiple submitters per document, automated emails via SMTP, file storage on AWS S3, Google Storage, or Azure, automatic PDF eSignature, PDF signature verification, user management, and mobile optimization. DocuSeal can be self-hosted on-premises or used in the Cloud for free. The tool was built using Ruby on Rails and Vue3 for complex UI components. The creator is seeking feedback and is available to answer any questions.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article emphasizes that the true purpose of utilizing eSign technology is not just to save money, but to establish trust within the market for your platform. The author suggests that using a well-known and trusted eSign platform like DocuSign, which has gained recognition from regulators as a legally authoritative signature of contracts, is a smarter choice than opting for a cheaper, lesser-known service.
6. The past is not true
Total comment counts : 66
Summary
The article tells the story of a person who, at the age of 17, caused a car accident that they believed resulted in the other driver being permanently paralyzed. After carrying the guilt and regret for many years, at the age of 35, they decided to apologize to the woman they had injured. However, when they finally met her, they discovered that the news had been miscommunicated and she was not actually paralyzed. In fact, the accident had motivated her to focus on her fitness and improve her health. Both the person responsible for the accident and the woman had spent eighteen years feeling guilty, believing it was their fault. This realization led them to reflect on the nature of the past, emphasizing that our memories and interpretations of events are imperfect and can change over time. The article concludes with the message that it’s never too late to change the narrative or story we tell ourselves about the past.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses the concept of apologizing and making amends for past wrongdoings. The author argues that simply apologizing is not enough and that downplaying the impact of one’s actions or shifting blame to the victims is disrespectful. They emphasize that negative consequences can accumulate over time and that people should take responsibility for the harm they have caused. The article concludes by urging readers to offer genuine apologies and actively work towards making things right.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article emphasizes that while it is possible to change a story, the example provided highlights that the change in this case was due to a discrepancy in the actual facts. The author discovered that the facts were not as negative as previously believed, leading to a change in the story. Therefore, the article argues that the actual facts are significant and cannot be disregarded. To have an honest representation, the story cannot be changed unless there is new information about the facts.
7. Japanese words of Portuguese origin
Total comment counts : 25
Summary
This article discusses the influence of Portuguese on the Japanese language during the Muromachi period (15th and 16th centuries). Portuguese Jesuit priests introduced Christian ideas, Western science, technology, and new products to Japan, and they were also the first to establish direct trade between Japan and Europe. The article mentions that Portuguese Jesuits translated Japanese to a Western language, published a Japanese-Portuguese dictionary, and wrote a grammar book. Many Japanese words of Portuguese origin entered the language, particularly referring to products and customs introduced by Portuguese traders. Some of these words are written in kanji or hiragana instead of katakana, which is more commonly used for loanwords in modern Japanese. The article also addresses the misconception that the word “arigatō” (thank you) derives from the Portuguese word “obrigado.” Evidence suggests that “arigatō” has a purely Japanese origin. The word originally meant “difficult to exist” or “rare,” but its usage shifted over time to express gratitude for receiving outstanding kindness.
Top 1 Comment Summary
Tempura is a Japanese dish that is believed to have been inspired by Portuguese “Peixinhos da horta,” which consisted of fried green beans and was popular during Lent. In typical Japanese fashion, tempura was taken to the next level and became a unique and beloved dish.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses a situation where the author’s Mexican wife asks how to say “bread” in Japanese. The author responds with “pan,” which means bread in Spanish. The wife points out that the word actually belongs to Spanish, not Japanese.
8. A framework to securely use LLMs in companies – Part 1: Overview of Risks
Total comment counts : 2
Summary
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Top 1 Comment Summary
The author disagrees with the risk ranking matrix provided in the article. They specifically challenge the classification of “Prompt Injections” and “3rd Party LLMs” as medium risk, arguing that the responsibility for fixing vulnerabilities lies with the LLM provider. However, the author disputes this, stating that the responsibility for using a vulnerable third-party component ultimately falls on the user, unless otherwise stated in a contract. They provide an example of a payment information leak caused by a bug in a third-party component used by ChatGPT in Italy. Additionally, the author criticizes the lack of a clear explanation regarding the concept of owning LLMs, noting that there should be a clearer distinction between in-house trained and used LLMs and LLMs trained by third parties but utilized in-house for inference.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article explores the problems that companies are now able to solve using LLMs (Large Language Models) that they were unable to solve before.
9. Cool Retro Terminal
Total comment counts : 28
Summary
The article discusses a terminal emulator called “cool-retro-term” that mimics the appearance of old cathode tube screens. It is designed to be visually appealing, customizable, and lightweight. The emulator uses the QML port of qtermwidget and is compatible with Linux and macOS systems. Users can access settings such as colors, fonts, and effects through a context menu. The latest version can be obtained from the Releases page on GitHub or through official repositories of distributions like Ubuntu, Fedora, or Arch. Further instructions on building the emulator are provided in the wiki.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses a list of links from different years, including 2022, 2018, 2015, and 2014, found on the website news.ycombinator.com. The author of the article requests someone in 2024 to continue the list.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The author expresses a fondness for exaggerated visual effects and mentions being inspired by similar effects in a retro Android game. They use playful names like “Gratuitous Eye Straining Effects” in their own game’s settings, highlighting the temporary enjoyment and need for toggleable options.
10. Accidentally Load Bearing
Total comment counts : 38
Summary
The article discusses the importance of considering both the original purpose of something and any additional roles it may have taken on when evaluating changes. The author shares a personal example of removing a stud in their bathroom, thinking it was no longer needed, but later realizing it had become load-bearing. The concept applies to making changes in complex computer systems as well. The author emphasizes the need to understand the original design and integration of components to make informed decisions.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses the importance of understanding the reasons behind existing code in control systems. The author highlights the need to know why certain code is in place before making any changes to it. They mention that often, the original purpose of the code is lost over time, and without proper documentation, it becomes risky to undo someone else’s work. The author also emphasizes the importance of trusting coworkers and their decision-making process when it comes to code implementation.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article describes the author’s experience with an old house they bought. They discovered that the previous owners had done much of the work themselves, dating back to the 1960s. One issue they encountered was a leaking zinc gutter that had caused damage to the roof structure. Interestingly, they found that the roof was held up by wooden paneling used to cover it from the inside, indicating that the paneling was load-bearing. Additionally, they discovered other renovation shortcuts, such as using cement and ceramic flower pot pieces to fill gaps in the roof tiles instead of buying extra tiles.