Chaos Lever Podcast

 In this week’s *Chaos Lever Tech News*, we’re diving into groundbreaking—and sometimes just plain weird—developments in the tech world.

Gene Therapy + Data Storage: Remember the days of 3.5" floppy disks with 1.44MB capacity? Today’s microSDs blow that out of the water, but there’s a limit to how much data we can fit on silicon. Enter DNA as a storage medium, where a single gram theoretically holds 215,000TB. Scientists are inching closer with "epi-bits," though the read/write speeds are still...less than ideal. (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-08040-5)

Government vs. C/C++: The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency is officially not a fan of “memory unsafe” languages like C and C++. They've issued a stern warning for any organization handling critical infrastructure: modernize your code or be prepared for the consequences. Even C++ creator Bjarne Stroustrup seems to be (quietly) on board with making his language safer. (https://www.cisa.gov/resources-tools/resources/product-security-bad-practices)

The McFlurry Machine Crisis Might End Soon: Yes, you read that right. Thanks to a copyright exemption, McDonald’s will finally be allowed to fix its own infamously finicky ice cream machines without waiting on a Taylor-certified tech. iFixIt and Public Knowledge made it happen, so you may soon get that elusive McFlurry on demand. (https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2024/10/us-copyright-office-frees-the-mcflurry-allowing-repair-of-ice-cream-machines/)

Microsoft’s ‘Recall’ Feature…Delayed Again: Microsoft’s questionable “Recall” feature, which quietly screenshots your desktop, is delayed *again.* Promises of full encryption and an opt-in option are on the table, but whether anyone *wants* this feature remains debatable. (https://www.theverge.com/2024/10/31/24284572/microsoft-recall-delay-december-windows-insider-testing) 

Get ready for a *spooktacular* look at one of the least spooky (but incredibly powerful) tools ever made: Microsoft Excel. It's Excel’s 40th anniversary, so we're diving into its history, quirks, and how this humble spreadsheet app has managed to shape business, science, finance, and... espionage? Yes, you read that right.

Excel may not sound thrilling, but trust us, it's one of the most impactful tech tools of the last 40 years. From financial firms to scientific research, sports leagues, and even British intelligence, Excel’s endless versatility has led to some, let’s say... *interesting* mishaps along the way. We’ll explore:
- The origins of the spreadsheet concept dating back to ancient Mesopotamian clay tablets (yes, seriously)
- Landmark moments like the creation of VisiCalc, Lotus 1-2-3, and Excel’s first big splash
- Iconic Excel fails, from the JP Morgan $6.2B blunder to national policy mistakes—Excel giveth, and Excel taketh away!
- The rise of VBA, Excel World Cup, and how Excel thrives today in the cloud era

So grab a pumpkin spice latte, sit back, and open a workbook with a mini-golf game embedded. You’ll never look at spreadsheets the same way again. 💀

 Links: 
- https://www.qashqade.com/insights/the-worst-financial-services-excel-errors-of-all-time 
- https://www.teampay.co/blog/biggest-excel-mistakes-of-all-time 
- https://sheetcast.com/articles/ten-memorable-excel-disasters 
- https://www.bbc.com/news/business-39870485 
- https://infotech.commons.gc.cuny.edu/2016/01/25/new/ 
- https://www.historyofinformation.com/detail.php?id=5478 
- https://spinpasta.fandom.com/wiki/Hall_of_Tortured_Souls 
- https://fmworldcup.com/excel-esports/microsoft-excel-world-championship/ 

 This week, we dive into the Internet Archive's recovery after cyberattacks compromised user data and targeted public knowledge institutions. IBM faces a tough quarter, with mainframe sales lagging but Red Hat growth keeping optimism alive. Broadcom issues another critical patch for vCenter, addressing a persistent flaw that remains a major security concern. Plus, Bluesky secures $15M in funding, positioning itself as a safer alternative for those leaving Twitter.

Links: 
- https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/internet-archive-hack-19851974.php 
- https://newsroom.ibm.com/2024-10-23-ibm-releases-third-quarter-results 
- https://support.broadcom.com/web/ecx/support-content-notification/-/external/content/SecurityAdvisories/0/24968 
- https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/24/bluesky-raises-15m-series-a-plans-to-launch-subscriptions/ 

In this episode, we dive deep into the wild world of cyber insurance and the massive changes that have unfolded between 2020 and 2023. Remember when we said cyber risks would increase and insurance applications would get tougher? Well, they sure did! And that’s just the start. Join us as we break down how cyber insurance policies have evolved—from simple yes/no questions to intense multi-page interrogations.

But wait, there’s more! Like the Joker sequel no one asked for, this episode takes an unexpected turn, and we’ll spend some quality time discussing Incident Response Plans—the unsung hero of cybersecurity that can make or break your insurance prospects. Not sure what a real IR plan looks like? Spoiler: "Call Dave to fix it" won’t cut it.

Get ready for a deep, sometimes sarcastic, but always insightful exploration of the policies and plans that protect your business—and your sanity—in the face of rising cyber threats.

🎙️ Topics Covered:

• The evolution of cyber insurance policies (2020 vs. 2023)
• What insurers are looking for now (and what’s expected from you)
• Why Incident Response Plans matter more than ever
• NIST’s framework for a solid IR plan and how to actually use it

Links:

•  https://csrc.nist.gov/projects/incident-response 

This week, we're diving into the surprising moves by some tech giants in the world of nuclear energy! Amazon has invested in small modular reactors (SMRs) to help power their datacenters, joining the likes of Google and Microsoft in the nuclear energy race. SMRs promise safer, more scalable energy, but don’t expect to see these reactors online until the 2030s. Can nuclear energy meet the growing power needs of AI and cloud computing?

Plus, we honor the legacy of BBS co-creator Ward Christensen, who sadly passed away at 78. Learn about his contributions to tech history, including his pioneering work with XMODEM and BBS systems.

Also, major changes are coming for Microsoft Exchange Server users as the end of support looms with no clear replacement in sight. Find out what this means for on-prem email servers and Microsoft’s push for Exchange Online.

Lastly, Anguilla’s domain extension, .ai, is making waves in the tech world! The tiny island is cashing in on the AI boom, making millions from domain registrations. How long will this windfall last?

Links:
 - https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/16/amazon-jumps-on-nuclear-power-bandwagon-by-investing-in-x-energy-and-promising-small-reactors
 - https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2024/10/ward-christensen-bbs-inventor-and-architect-of-our-online-age-dies-at-age-78/
 - https://www.theregister.com/2024/10/16/microsoft_end_of_support_wave_widens/
 - https://apnews.com/article/anguilla-artificial-intelligence-ai-internet-29d4ca2bb740d0425ffb8355811a6976 

In this episode of Chaos Lever, we take a trip down memory lane to explore the history of blogging—starting with the humble beginnings of bulletin board systems (BBS) and online forums, and moving through the rise of blogs in the early 2000s. We’ll reminisce about Justin Hall’s early “personal homepage,” the birth of the term “weblog,” and how platforms like WordPress revolutionized online content creation.

From the golden days of Tumblr to the shift towards social media giants like Twitter and Facebook, we dive into how blogging has evolved and what it means for online self-expression today. Plus, we’ll touch on the current kerfuffle between WordPress and WP Engine—and why open-source projects like WordPress still matter.

Stay tuned for a discussion filled with nostalgia, tech trivia, and more!

 Links: 
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Community_Memory 
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usenet 
- https://links.net/vita/web/start/original.html 
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blogosphere 
- https://firstsiteguide.com/robot-wisdom-and-jorn-barger/ 
- https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Extremely-Online/Taylor-Lorenz/9781982146863 
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twitter 

🎙️ Tech News of the Week – October 2024 | Hard Drive Failures, Tesla's Robotaxi, and Wimbledon Goes Automated!

Join hosts Ned and Chris in this week's Tech News of the Week podcast as they explore the latest developments in technology and innovation. In this episode, we cover:

🚨 Data Loss Crisis: Hard drives are failing faster than expected, with 20% of backups potentially lost forever. What does this mean for your data and the music industry?
🚗 Tesla's Robotaxi: Tesla's "We Robot" event revealed the new Robotaxi and Robovan, but can we trust Elon Musk's ambitious timelines?
🎾 Wimbledon Goes Automated: The tennis world is embracing Hawk-Eye technology for line judging, leaving only the French Open behind.
🌐 Starlink's "Free" Service: After Hurricane Helene, Starlink offered "free" internet—but is it really free? We break down the fine print.

Tune in for these stories and more, plus some humorous takes on the latest tech news!

 Story Links: 

🔗 https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/storage/twenty-percent-of-hard-drives-used-for-long-term-music-storage-in-the-90s-have-failed 
🔗 https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/tesla-robotaxi-event-was-long-promises-investors-wanted-more-details-2024-10-11/ 
🔗 https://apnews.com/article/wimbledon-technology-judges-6d0b6bcd279148b0baa4a2fc08e52dac 
🔗 https://www.theregister.com/2024/10/08/free_starlink_hurricane_helene/ 

#TechNews #Tesla #Robotaxi #Wimbledon #DataBackup #Starlink #Podcast

AI is everywhere, and it's not just helping the good guys. In this episode, we dive deep into the world of AI and cybersecurity. From AI-enhanced phishing attacks to deepfakes and malware, we explore how bad actors are using AI to lower the bar for cybercrime and the challenges organizations face in defending against it. Discover how AI is not only making it easier for cybercriminals to target you, but also how it’s being used to fight back. We’ll also discuss emerging security tools, the rise of AI legislation, and what the future holds for AI in the ever-evolving world of IT security.

If you're curious about the latest threats, real-world examples of AI-generated attacks, or just want to know how companies are adapting their defenses, this episode is a must-listen.

🔒 Stay informed, stay secure!

• https://cybersecurity-magazine.com/the-evolving-threat-landscape-in-2024-ai-takes-centre-stage/
• https://aiindex.stanford.edu/ai-index-report-2023/
• https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/sanfrancisco/news/fbi-warns-of-increasing-threat-of-cyber-criminals-utilizing-artificial-intelligence
• https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/hackers-deploy-ai-written-malware-in-targeted-attacks/
• https://www.catonetworks.com/blog/the-path-to-sase-a-project-planning-guide/
• https://www.scworld.com/news/38-of-ai-using-employees-admit-to-sending-sensitive-work-data

 Gallium Is The New Black | Flexible Chips, AR Glasses, and More Tech News

In this episode, we explore cutting-edge tech like Indium Gallium Zinc Oxide (IGZO) semiconductors, the potential of flexible processors like Pragmatic Semiconductor’s Flex-RV, and the future of augmented reality. Plus, we discuss SoftBank's latest investment in OpenAI and the rise (and fall) of AR headsets like Microsoft's Hololens.

 - Gallium Is The New Black: https://www.theregister.com/2024/09/29/pragmatic_semiconductor_flexrv_chip/
 - SoftBank Invests in OpenAI: https://www.reuters.com/technology/softbank-invest-500-mln-openai-information-reports-2024-09-30/
 - Meta's Orion AR Glasses: https://techcrunch.com/2024/09/28/meta-rethinks-smart-glasses-with-orion/
 - Microsoft Discontinues Hololens: https://www.uploadvr.com/microsoft-discontinuing-hololens-2/ 

Join Ned and Chris in this episode of Chaos Lever, where they explore the fascinating and sometimes bizarre history of email and the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP). Special guest Dylan Beattie, software development consultant and creator of the Rockstar programming language, shares his insights on how email evolved from early telegraph systems to the global communication tool we rely on today.

**Key Topics Covered:**
- The origins of SMTP and email's predecessor, telegraph systems
- Why email became the default communication tool, despite its flaws
- The first spam email and its lasting legacy
- The quirks and limitations of SMTP, including its security flaws
- Modern efforts to secure email with protocols like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC

If you're a fan of tech history, email protocols, or just enjoy hearing about the wild west days of the internet, this episode is for you!