Exidio is a new decentralized VPN application that uses the Sentinel blockchain, which itself is part of the Cosmos ecosystem. “Exidio dVPN is rewriting the true definition of what it means to be a VPN. This is made possible by the Sentinel blockchain where all the global, distributed nodes are sharing their available and unused bandwidth. So as long as the Sentinel blockchain stays active, the network of nodes that offer bandwidth to the network remain active.” Exidio claims that traffic is end-to-end encrypted with proven no data logging.
Andrew Orr
Since 2015 Andrew has been writing about Apple, privacy, security, and at one point even Android. You can find him most places online under the username @andrewornot.
Articles by Andrew Orr
DHS Announces 'Hack DHS' Bug Bounty Program to Improve Security
On Tuesday, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced a bug bounty program called Hack DNS to improve security.
Lobbying Group 'Internet Association' Shuts Down by End of 2021
The Internet Association is a trade group composed of members such as Google, Facebook, and Amazon. It will shut down by the end of 2021.
This Roboticist Says a Major Robotics Revolution is Around the Corner
ZDNet interviewed Pieter Abbeel, a professor of electrical engineering and computer science at the University of California, Berkeley. He says a major revolution is coming thanks to machine vision.
Giving robots the gift of sight completely changes what’s possible. Computer Vision, the area of AI concerned with making computers and robots see, has undergone a night-and-day transformation over the past 5-10 years — thanks to Deep Learning. Deep Learning trains large neural networks (based on examples) to do pattern recognition, in this case pattern recognition enabling understanding of what’s where in images. And then Deep Learning, of course, is providing capabilities beyond seeing.
Apple Removes Mention of CSAM Detection on Child Safety Page, Code Remains in iOS
Apple has removed any mention of its controversial CSAM detection plans in iCloud Photos, although the code remains in iOS.
Update to Cash App Lets People Gift Stocks and Bitcoin
Block updated Cash App recently to let people gift each other Bitcoin and traditional stocks. It works with a USD balance or debit card.
To make this feature work, users will actually be sending the fiat value of the stock or the bitcoin from either their Cash App balance or a linked debit card, the company explains. While the earlier feature of sending bitcoin was accessed from the investing tab, the new feature is available both from the app’s payment tab or from a new “gift box” button on the investing tab.
Update to 'Phone Buddy' Adds Play Sound on Apple Watch Feature
Phone Buddy is an app that monitors the Bluetooth connection between your iPhone and Apple Watch and alerts you when needed. Alerts can be configured to display when your iPhone connection is lost, when you leave your Apple Watch behind, or when devices move apart with Distance Going Away Alerts. With Phone Buddy, if you step away from your iPhone, you get a notification on your Apple Watch. With Phone Buddy 7.2 you can now trigger a sound to play on your Apple Watch from your iPhone with the Play Sound on Apple Watch feature. This update also includes a new error detection heuristic that aims to reduce errors and failures. As always, core stability updates are also included with this update.
Sonnet Releases Compact Thunderbolt 4 Hub, Supports up to 8K Displays
Sonnet announced its Echo 5 Thunderbolt 4 hub on Tuesday. It features 4 Thunderbolt 4 ports and 1 USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps) Type A charging port.
Update to Package Manager 'Pacifist' Supports M1 Chip, Rewritten in Swift
The Pacifist 4.0 update was released in November and it includes full support for M1 Macs. The app was also rewritten in Swift 5.
Photoshop for iPad Gets New Tools: Smudge and Sponge
Adobe announced the addition of two new tools coming to its iPad app: Smudge and Sponge. These assist artists in more creative ventures.
iOS 15.2 Update Finally Introduces the App Privacy Report
Apple released iOS 15.2 on Monday, and one of the changes you’ll see is App Privacy Report. You can install the update through Settings.
Biden Expected to Sign Order for More Online Government Services
President Biden is expected to sign into law a bill that would direct certain government agencies to offer their services online.
Poland Probes Apple's App Tracking Transparency Privacy Feature
Poland’s Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) is investigating Apple over its private feature App Tracking Transparency (ATT).
Adobe's Latest Subscription App Offers Easy Drag-And-Drop Creativity
On Monday Adobe announced its latest subscription app called Creative Cloud Express. It takes aim at competitors such as Canva.
Instagram's Takedown of Metaverse Account Proves You Own Nothing on Web
The New York Times reports how Meta-owned Instagram blocked an @metaverse account, claiming it was impersonating someone else. The account has since been restored to its original owner, but the saga shows how you don’t truly own anything on Web 2.0.
“This account is a decade of my life and work. I didn’t want my contribution to the metaverse to be wiped from the internet,” she said. “That happens to women in tech, to women of color in tech, all the time,” added Ms. Baumann, who has Vietnamese heritage.
I disagree with that quote, however. I think Instagram would’ve taken the handle from anyone, regardless of gender or race.
Apple Arcade: Mini Motorways Free Challenge City Update Arrives
Mini Motorways, the minimalist strategy simulation about designing growing cities’ road maps from developer Dinosaur Polo Club, cuts the ribbon on the Challenge City Update, expanding each metropolis with new maps, missions, leaderboards, accessibility options, and more, available now for free download on Steam via Windows PC and macOS as well as Apple Arcade. The Nintendo Switch version planned for next year will include this new content at launch.
'Total War: ROME REMASTERED' Releases Patch 2.0.4 for Gamers
Feral Interactive announced that patch 2.0.4 for Total War: ROME REMASTERED is now available on Steam for Windows, macOS and Linux. Patch 2.0.4 brings greatly expanded modding abilities to ROME REMASTERED, including the removal of limits to the number of possible cultures, building types and factions. In addition to these modding changes there are a number of interface improvements, tweaks to AI, sound and more. The full patch notes are available at the link below.
Ledger Wallet Adds Support for Internet Computer (ICP), Staking Included
Ledger on Friday announced that its crypto hardware wallet now supports Internet Computer Protocol token (ICP) to hold and stake.
iCloud, Twitter, MineCraft, Cloudflare, All Vulnerable to a Powerful Bug
According to a report on Friday, major apps and services such as iCloud, Cloudflare, Steam, Twitter, and others are vulnerable to a bug.
On Thursday, researchers noticed that a popular Java logging library (log4j) had a bug that allows for Remote Code Execution or RCE, hacker lingo for one of the most dangerous types of vulnerabilities, one that essentially allows hackers to take control of the target. GitHub labeled the vulnerability as “critical severity,” and many researchers, as well as the Director of Cybersecurity at the NSA, are sounding the alarm.
If the NSA is publicly worried, you know it’s bad. Update: Cloudflare says they are not vulnerable, “We responded quickly to evaluate all potential areas of risk and updated our software to prevent attacks, and have not been able to replicate any external claims that we might be at risk.” The company published a blog post on the matter.
Totallee's Hybrid MagSafe Clear Case Now Available for iPhone 13 Models
Totallee’s newest case, the Hybrid MagSafe, is now available for purchase. These iPhone 13 cases can be yours for US$39.
VSCO Adds New Dodge and Burn Tool for Members
VSCO recently added a Dodge & Burn tool for members of its VSCO X subscription. It gives photographers precise control over image tones.
Netflix's New Website 'Tudum' Hosts Interviews, Release Dates, More
Netflix has created a new website called Tudum. It aims to be the one-stop-shop to feature news about renewals, release dates, interviews, and more.
Tudum will feature extra content and information about Netflix’s TV shows and movies. For example, Netflix notes that users will be able to dig deeper into its content and use the website to find out things like where else they’ve seen the cast of “The Witcher” and whether “Maid” is based on a true story. The website includes exclusive interviews, cast breakdowns, information about content that’s popular on the platform, a trending news section, details about upcoming shows, an explore section and more.
Ledger Announces Plan to Launch Crypto Debit Card to Work With Hardware Wallet
At the Ledger Op3n conference, the company announced its intention to release a crypto debit card called Crypto Life.
Washington DC Council Approves Plan to Issue Digital IDs
The Washington D.C. council approved a bill from Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) that brings the city “a step closer to the reality of digital credentials.”