1. Reverse engineering Call of Duty anti-cheat
Total comment counts : 21
Summary
The article details a reverse engineer’s analysis of the anti-cheat system in “Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War,” referred to as TAC (Treyarch Anti-Cheat). Here are the key points:
Anti-Cheat Overview: Unlike newer Call of Duty titles, Black Ops Cold War uses a user-mode anti-cheat system (TAC) without kernel-mode components. TAC is integrated directly into the game’s executable and does not utilize kernel drivers.
Protection Methods: The game employs Arxan, an obfuscation tool, which complicates reverse engineering by protecting the game’s code. TAC also terminates the process if debug artifacts are detected, and it uses basic hook detection for specific API calls it uses.
Detection Techniques: TAC checks for hooking in APIs it uses, not all APIs, focusing on those critical for its operation. It also has methods to detect external cheating tools like overlays, which might draw on the screen or alter the game window.
Bypassing Detection: The author explains how one might bypass TAC’s detection, like using debug registers for hooking since Arxan’s protection does not cover these. He also mentions alternative hooking methods that do not involve code patching, which Arxan would detect.
Advanced Detections: TAC has advanced techniques to terminate the game process if tampering is suspected, including setting specific register values and jumping to null addresses, making recovery difficult.
Technical Details: The article includes pseudocode and explanations of how TAC resolves API calls through runtime hashing, providing insights into how one might cache and resolve these calls for analysis or cheating purposes.
Overall, the article serves as both an educational piece on anti-cheat systems in gaming and a cautionary tale about the arms race between game developers and cheaters. The author clarifies that the intent is not to promote cheating but to share knowledge about security in game development.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses issues faced by Linux users of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) in 2021, particularly those with Radeon GPUs having 16GB or more VRAM. The author experienced trust factor issues, leading to being matched with cheaters and difficulty in finding teammates due to their account status dropping to yellow and then red. This problem was not isolated; many Linux users reported similar experiences. They tracked the issue on GitHub, where it was discovered that Valve was inadvertently penalizing users with this specific hardware configuration. After a user contacted Gabe Newell (Gaben), the problem was resolved. The author speculates that this quick fix might have been motivated by Valve’s upcoming release of the Steam Deck, aiming to improve the gaming experience for Linux users.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses the issue of cheating in online multiplayer games and emphasizes the necessity for effective anti-cheat systems:
Anti-Cheat Systems: While useful for catching obvious cheaters, anti-cheat systems should lean towards caution, leaving the final judgment to human intervention.
Role of Human Admins: The author argues that online games must have servers run by human administrators who are frequently present. These admins should be recognizable by the player community, enhancing trust and accountability.
Player Involvement: Players should also have some moderation powers like votekick or voteban when admins are not available, ensuring that issues are addressed even in the absence of official oversight.
Immediate Action: The process for dealing with cheaters or abusive behavior should be immediate, not relying on asynchronous reporting systems. Admins need to act swiftly to maintain game integrity.
Community and Private Servers: The author advocates for community-run or private servers as the best environments for online gaming, where community standards and immediate moderation can be upheld.
Consumer Advice: The article advises gamers to avoid games that do not support these features, suggesting that players should choose games where community policing is effective and prompt.
In summary, the piece stresses the importance of human oversight in managing cheating and abusive behavior in online games, promoting community involvement and immediate administrative action.
2. 0-click deanonymization attack targeting Signal, Discord, other platforms
Total comment counts : 66
Summary
The article discusses a 0-click deanonymization attack discovered by Daniel, a 15-year-old high school junior. Here’s a summary:
Discovery: Daniel found a method to determine a user’s location within a 250-mile radius by exploiting the caching system of Cloudflare, a widely used Content Delivery Network (CDN).
Mechanism: The attack leverages Cloudflare’s caching feature where data is stored in datacenters close to users to speed up content delivery. If an attacker can make a user’s device load a resource from a Cloudflare-backed site, they can identify which datacenter cached the resource, thus revealing the user’s approximate location.
Vulnerability: This method can affect users of apps like Signal, Discord, and Twitter if those apps are compromised or if the attack is executed via a background application. The attack does not require user interaction, making it particularly insidious.
Execution: Daniel utilized a loophole in Cloudflare’s system to send requests to specific datacenters, bypassing their usual anycast routing which directs traffic to the nearest datacenter. He developed a tool named Cloudflare Teleport to facilitate this.
Outcome: The vulnerability allowed for precise location tracking without the user’s knowledge. Cloudflare eventually patched this vulnerability, rendering the tool obsolete.
Purpose of Publication: Daniel published his findings as a warning to journalists, activists, and others who might be targets for such attacks, highlighting the potential for undetectable surveillance.
This article serves as an alert to the security community about the potential misuse of widely trusted infrastructure like Cloudflare for deanonymization purposes.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses how Signal, a messaging app known for its privacy features, uses Cloudflare to manage image distribution. When a user sends a picture, it is fetched through Cloudflare and stored in a cache at a data center close to the recipient. This allows one to check the cache status and identify which data center was used. The author notes that while this isn’t significant “deanonymization” unless the user is geographically isolated, it’s still an interesting aspect of how Signal’s infrastructure operates.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses misconceptions about the anonymity of messaging apps like Signal and Discord:
Anonymity vs. Privacy: The author points out that neither Signal nor Discord are anonymous platforms. Signal claims it cannot read your messages due to encryption, but this does not equate to anonymity. Discord might not even make such claims.
Pseudonymity: At best, these platforms offer weak pseudonymity, where users can operate under usernames not directly linked to their real identities, but this is far from true anonymity.
Security Features: Features like auto-loading media are criticized for prioritizing user convenience over security, making them susceptible to deanonymization attacks.
Tracking Techniques: The article mentions that even basic techniques like tracking pixels are still effective in compromising user anonymity.
Advice for Anonymity: The author suggests that for real anonymity, one should avoid platforms like Discord, Signal, and even Hacker News (HN). They recommend more extreme measures like using automated systems through privacy-focused operating systems like Whonix, avoiding JavaScript, and using local language models to rephrase messages.
Conclusion: The overarching message is that true anonymity is practically non-existent in today’s digital landscape, emphasizing that users should not rely on mainstream messaging apps for anonymity.
3. 417-megapixel Andromeda galaxy panorama took over a decade to make
Total comment counts : 24
Summary
The article discusses the creation of a 417-megapixel panorama of the Andromeda galaxy using the Hubble Space Telescope, which took over a decade to compile from more than 600 photos. This photomosaic, the largest ever from Hubble, covers over 200 million stars and provides detailed insights into Andromeda’s structure and history. Key points include:
Scale and Detail: The panorama spans 2.5 billion pixels and offers unprecedented detail, helping scientists understand Andromeda’s past mergers with other galaxies.
Historical Significance: Andromeda was pivotal in expanding human understanding of the universe when Edwin Hubble discovered it was a separate galaxy outside the Milky Way, fundamentally altering the perception of our universe’s size.
Scientific Importance: Andromeda serves as a model for studying spiral galaxies like our Milky Way, providing insights into galaxy structure and evolution from an external perspective.
Hubble’s Contribution: Despite newer telescopes like the James Webb Space Telescope, Hubble’s ability to capture sharp, detailed images remains invaluable, especially for large targets like Andromeda.
Future Prospects: The upcoming Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will further enhance our understanding by capturing vast areas in single exposures, complementing the work done by Hubble and Webb.
This comprehensive survey not only showcases technological advancements in astronomy but also deepens our knowledge of galaxy formation and interaction.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses viewing options for videos of the Andromeda galaxy, focusing on two YouTube videos. The first video is in 4K resolution with a specific song that enhances the viewing experience by giving viewers “chills.” However, the 8K version of the video, which has a different song, does not evoke the same emotional response. The author suggests combining the song from the 4K version with the superior image quality of the 8K video, which also benefits from a 60fps frame rate. The source image for these videos is a 1.5 gigapixel picture. There’s also a mention of a technical issue where some TVs might flicker when playing the video due to the high amount of pixel motion, whereas monitors handle it well. Links to both videos are provided for reference.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article mentions that the person has never seen the Andromeda Galaxy despite being in a location with minimal light pollution. They reference a NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day which shows an enhanced image of Andromeda, highlighting its vast size in the night sky.
4. Kimi K1.5: Scaling Reinforcement Learning with LLMs
Total comment counts : 7
Summary
The article introduces Kimi k1.5, a new multi-modal language model developed by the Kimi Team, which leverages reinforcement learning (RL) for training. Unlike traditional models that rely on next token prediction, Kimi k1.5 uses RL to scale beyond the limitations of available training data. Key aspects of Kimi k1.5 include:
RL Training Techniques: The model employs simple yet effective RL methods without complex approaches like Monte Carlo tree search or value functions, focusing instead on policy optimization and long context scaling.
Performance: Kimi k1.5 demonstrates state-of-the-art reasoning capabilities across various benchmarks in different modalities, matching or surpassing competitors like OpenAI’s o1 in areas such as mathematics, coding, and reasoning tasks.
Short-CoT Enhancements: The model introduces long2short methods that enhance short context models, significantly outperforming existing models like GPT-4o and Claude Sonnet 3.5 in reasoning tasks.
Availability: Kimi k1.5 will soon be available for testing via the Kimi OpenPlatform, with an application process for interested users.
The article emphasizes the team’s approach to feedback, the promise of RL in AI development, and provides specific performance metrics to illustrate the model’s capabilities.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses the unfortunate timing of the release of Deepseek-R1 and some related distillations, noting that they coincide, which makes it challenging for each to gain attention. It also mentions a preference for open-source solutions over API-based ones, even if the performance might be slightly inferior.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses the set of math and logic problems for the AIME (American Invitational Mathematics Examination) in 2024. It references a specific set of 15 problems available on the Art of Problem Solving wiki. However, there is uncertainty whether these 15 problems constitute the entire set or if there is a larger collection of problems available for the competition.
5. People are bad at reporting what they eat. That’s a problem for dietary research
Total comment counts : 44
Summary
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Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses the inaccuracies in visually estimating food portion sizes. The author, with experience from Google AI and currently at SnapCalorie, highlights that research published at the CVPR conference shows that:
General Public Accuracy: On average, people misjudge portion sizes by about 53%.
Trained Professionals: Even experts in the field are off by approximately 40%.
The author emphasizes that for accurate dietary tracking, tools like food scales or volume measurement devices are necessary because visual estimation is inherently flawed. The article also mentions that while people worry about oils, fats, and hidden ingredients, these actually contribute less to tracking errors than the misestimation of portion sizes. The study in question, titled “Nutrition5k,” provides a detailed analysis of these errors.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses the challenges faced by individuals who meticulously track and weigh their food intake, particularly when dealing with:
Homemade Sauces: The author mentions making complex sauces with various ingredients like oils, mustard, seeds, miso, lemon juice, and spices. Tracking and logging each component’s weight can be time-consuming.
Variable Cooking Times: Cooking involves adding ingredients at different stages, like onions first, then tomato sauce, and parsley at the end, which complicates accurate measurement of each component’s weight and nutritional value.
Nutrient Degradation in Leftovers: There’s a concern about the nutritional value of leftovers decreasing over time.
Shared Meals: It’s difficult to accurately measure food intake when meals are shared, especially when serving oneself multiple times.
Variability in Produce: Differences in food quality due to species or cultivation methods, such as comparing a dense, home-grown cucumber to a less dense, store-bought one in winter.
The author reflects on how tracking was simpler when they lived alone, consumed mostly packaged foods, and used uniform, unprocessed vegetables. However, now with more varied cooking, shared meals, and confidence in eyeballing measurements, precise tracking has become more cumbersome.
6. SRCL: Open-source React project to build web apps with terminal aesthetics
Total comment counts : 16
Summary
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Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses issues with animation smoothness in web loaders on an aging laptop using Firefox on Windows. It notes that the animations, managed through React’s reconciliation process, experience stuttering or “jank.” The author suggests that ideally, loaders should bypass React’s render function and reconciler to achieve smoother performance.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses a user’s interest in developing or seeing developed a simple email client that can be navigated and operated using only a keyboard, particularly on mobile devices, but also with mouse support for desktop use. The user appreciates an existing framework or system that supports hotkey management, which they believe could facilitate this. They outline functionalities they desire in the email client, including:
- Logging in via IMAP.
- Viewing the inbox with navigation keys like up, down, page up, and page down.
- Composing new emails with shortcuts like “W” or “N” for new email.
- Accessing contacts or address book with “C”.
- Searching for emails using “S” or “F”.
- Logging out with “Q” or “X”.
The user expresses a desire to replicate the user experience of the BlackBerry email system and questions the feasibility, effort, and potential cost of outsourcing such a development project.
7. Metacognitive laziness: Effects of generative AI on learning motivation
Total comment counts : 34
Summary
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Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses the educational value of seeking answers through research rather than obtaining them directly. It suggests that while directly receiving an answer might be efficient and competitive in the short term, it does not foster learning as effectively as the process of researching does. The author implies that while this might not be the preferred method for most people or companies due to the desire for quick solutions, it overlooks the long-term benefits of deeper learning and understanding.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses the author’s preference for using conversational AI like ChatGPT over traditional internet research for learning. Here are the key points:
Learning Style: The author prefers engaging with AI because it allows for a natural flow of conversation where they can ask follow-up questions and explore topics out of curiosity, even if some questions might seem trivial.
Internet Research Critique: When researching online, the author often encounters opinionated articles which dictate the narrative, questions, and conclusions, leaving them with unanswered questions and feeling less satisfied with the depth of understanding.
Curiosity vs. Satisfaction: The main difference highlighted is in how curiosity drives learning. AI interactions encourage curiosity, allowing users to explore topics at their own pace and in their preferred direction. In contrast, static internet content might not cater to individual curiosity, often providing a one-size-fits-all educational experience.
Not About Laziness: The author argues that not being curious about everything isn’t a sign of laziness but a natural limitation of human interest.
In summary, the article posits that conversational AI might be superior for fostering deep, curiosity-driven learning compared to traditional internet searches, which can sometimes feel limiting and pre-directed.
8. An astronomical view of Ancient Egyptian star clocks (2021)
Total comment counts : 4
Summary
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Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses a presentation by Dr. Sarah Symons from McMaster University at the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada - Toronto Centre’s Speaker’s Night on April 10, 2019. Dr. Symons explored how Ancient Egyptians managed time through a research project. She shared her findings at the Ontario Science Centre in Toronto, detailing the methods of astronomical timekeeping used by the Ancient Egyptians.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses the historical use of astrolabes, sophisticated devices for astronomical measurement that were developed well after the time of the Egyptian Middle Kingdom’s coffin lids. It highlights a letter from the philosopher Synesius of Libya to a Byzantine general, detailing the gift of a gold and silver astrolabe. This astrolabe was not only a practical tool for measuring time at night but also an instrument for philosophical inquiry. Synesius credits Hypatia of Alexandria, his teacher, for her contributions to the astrolabe’s design, showcasing her influence in mathematics and astronomy despite not being formally recognized in other works like Euclid’s “Elements of Geometry,” which was likely co-authored with her father, Theon of Alexandria. The letter also reflects on the advancements in geometry and astronomy since Ptolemy’s time, and while Synesius does not mention Egyptian contributions directly, he nods to the foundational work by Pythagoras, who was influenced by Egyptian knowledge.
9. Startup Winter: Hacker News Lost Its Faith
Total comment counts : 81
Summary
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Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses changes in the audience demographics of Hacker News (HN). The core group of startup enthusiasts and entrepreneurs remains, but the community has expanded to include a larger proportion of people generally interested in tech topics rather than specifically startups. The author doubts that the zeitgeist or general spirit of the times is the reason for this shift and expresses a desire for objective analysis on how recent events like the Twitter and Reddit controversies might have influenced these changes. Additionally, the author notes an increase in off-topic stories, which they feel detract from the original focus of HN, although they still find the site worthwhile.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses the evolving perception and strategy of starting a business. Traditionally, the goal was to create a company that produces desirable products for sustained growth over decades, focusing on long-term stability rather than a quick exit strategy like selling the company for a huge profit shortly after inception, a model popularized during the dotcom boom. The author points out that the startup culture which emphasized rapid scaling and selling at a high valuation was never sustainable and essentially served as a recruitment funnel for big tech companies looking to acquire innovative teams rather than just the technology. Today, there’s a shift back towards building companies for long-term success, with an understanding that while quick successes can still happen, the effort to create these “shooting stars” often results in wasted resources. The advice is to pursue entrepreneurial opportunities when they present themselves but also to consider the stability and benefits of a regular salary if long-term entrepreneurial efforts do not pay off.
10. Ask HN: Organize local communities without Facebook?
Total comment counts : 89
Summary
The article discusses the challenges and considerations of moving a community from using Facebook to an alternative platform, especially in a rural setting where community interaction heavily relies on social media features. Here are the key points:
Community Features: The user needs to consider which features of Facebook are essential for their community, such as event calendars, groups, private messaging, video hosting, and live feeds. These features are crucial for maintaining community engagement.
User Transition: There’s a significant emphasis on whether users would be willing to create new accounts on another platform or prefer using their existing Facebook IDs for convenience. This involves considerations about the ease of transition and user retention.
Platform Accessibility: The choice between a mobile app and a web-based platform is discussed, including the necessity for notifications via web push if opting for a web-only solution. The article also touches on the integration with smartphone address books, which isn’t straightforward for web-only sites.
Feasibility of Alternatives: Using platforms like Mastodon as a direct replacement for Facebook is seen as incomplete due to the lack of several key features that Facebook offers. The suggestion is to identify a minimum viable feature set that would still attract and retain users.
User Traction and Focus: The article warns against over-focusing on replicating all of Facebook’s features at the expense of actually drawing users to the new platform. It suggests that sometimes simpler solutions like a basic website might suffice if the primary goal is community engagement rather than feature parity with social media giants.
Case Studies: Examples are given, like “Join or Die” which focuses on getting people to join clubs, emphasizing a mission-driven approach rather than a feature-heavy one. Another example is a site for runners that primarily uses a calendar of events, highlighting the importance of having a specific, focused service.
In summary, the article advises on the importance of understanding community needs, the potential resistance to change, and the necessity to focus on essential features and user engagement rather than trying to fully replicate the comprehensive feature set of platforms like Facebook.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses how in small, interconnected towns with populations of around 50,000 people, all local interactions and events are managed through Facebook. The author points out the challenge posed by the network effect, where the widespread use of a platform like Facebook makes it difficult for residents to switch to alternative platforms, even if they might be better suited for local community engagement.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses the challenges and considerations of moving local communities from using Facebook to an alternative platform. Here are the key points:
Feature Analysis: To replace Facebook effectively, one must identify all the features that the community currently uses, such as shared event calendars, groups, private messaging, video hosting, and live feeds.
User Experience Considerations: Decisions need to be made about user login methods (new accounts vs. using existing Facebook ID), the necessity of a mobile app, and how notifications will be handled on a web-only platform.
Technical Limitations: A web-only site might not easily integrate with smartphone functionalities like address book access, which is straightforward on native apps or platforms like Facebook.
Feasibility of Alternatives: The article suggests that platforms like Mastodon might not serve as a complete substitute for Facebook due to its specific feature set.
Minimum Viable Feature Set: The new platform needs to meet a threshold of functionality to avoid user rejection, ensuring it covers the essential social networking features used by the community.