ReHacked #145: SpaceX shut down a Russian electromagnetic warfare attack in Ukraine, Statistical Armour, Celebrating 40 years of ZX Spectrum and more

The new set of rules as a whole does not deserve the name ‘Digital Constitution’. --Pirate Party MEP Patrick Breyer

ReHacked #145: SpaceX shut down a Russian electromagnetic warfare attack in Ukraine, Statistical Armour, Celebrating 40 years of ZX Spectrum and more
A quintessential image of statistical armour, fitted to a British Mastiff (C) The institute of Tanknology

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SpaceX shut down a Russian electromagnetic warfare attack in Ukraine last month — and the Pentagon is taking notes #security

Russia’s halting efforts to conduct electromagnetic warfare in Ukraine show how important it is to quickly respond, and immediately shut down, such attacks, Pentagon experts said Wednesday.

But the U.S. needs to get much better at its own EW rapid response, they said during the C4ISRNET Conference Wednesday — and can learn a lot from how the private sector has handled these situations.

U.S. Navy Airships U.S.S. Akron (ZRS-4) and U.S.S. Macon (ZRS-5) #history

The United States Navy airships U.S.S. Akron (ZRS-4) and U.S.S. Macon (ZRS-5) were designed for long-range scouting in support of fleet operations. Often referred to as flying aircraft carriers, each of the helium-inflated airships carried F9C-2 Curtiss Sparrowhawk biplanes which could be launched and recovered in flight, greatly extending the range over which the Akron and Macon could scout the open ocean for enemy vessels.

Primer: Statistical Armour #technology

As the name suggests, statistical armour is designed to defeat its target threats by use of statistical probability. Where conventional armour seeks to just cover a vehicle in protection from any axis, statistical armour plays a numbers game to provide good (everything is relative) levels of protection whilst keeping weight and volume down and visibility up.

Let’s get this one out the way up front and centre:

Statistical armour is exclusively for defeat of shaped charge munitions using a double-skinned nose as conductive path for a piezoelectric-based fuzing system.

That refers mainly to the RPG family, including systems in the RPG-7/PG-9/PG-15/SPG-9 families. Why have I written that in a patronisingly bold stand out manner? Because the pervasive misunderstanding of statistical armour is what it can and can’t do, and why it exists. Even professionals in the field of AFVs, weapons and armour commonly hold a flawed understanding of what this armour does.

An interstellar object crashed into Earth in 2014, US government data reveal | Live Science #nature #history

A fireball that blazed through the skies over Papua New Guinea in 2014 was actually a fast-moving object from another star system, according to a recent memo released by the U.S. Space Command (USSC).

The object, a small meteorite measuring just 1.5 feet (0.45 meter) across, slammed into Earth's atmosphere on Jan. 8, 2014, after traveling through space at more than 130,000 mph (210,000 km/h) — a speed that far exceeds the average velocity of meteors that orbit within the solar system, according to a 2019 study of the object published in the preprint database arXiv.

Celebrating 40 years of ZX Spectrum ❤️ 💛 💚 💙 | The GitHub Blog #computers #hardware #history

The Spectrum has always benefited from a massive community supporting it. Especially early on through print magazines like Sinclair User and CRASH that included game reviews, hints and tips, cheats, tutorials, programs, pokes, and more. I know that I and a lot of my colleagues got their start programming on computers like these—whether it was 10 PRINT “I AM COOL” or hacking the hex for infinite lives.

EU Digital Services Act: Industry and government interests prevail over citizens’ digital rights – Patrick Breyer #privacy #internet

“We were able to prevent removal obligations for search engines. We could also prevent the indiscriminate collection of the cell phone numbers of all uploaders to adult platforms, which would have endangered their privacy and the safety of sex workers due to foreseeable data hacks and leaks. Minors will be protected from surveillance advertising on online platforms. However, the ban on using sensitive personality traits (e.g. a person’s political opinion, diseases or sexual preferences) for targeted manipulation and targeting was heavily watered down.”

Google gives Europe a ‘reject all’ button for tracking cookies after fines from watchdogs - The Verge #privacy #internet

Earlier this year, France’s data protection agency CNIL fined Google €150 million ($170 million) for deploying confusing language in cookie banners. Previously, Google allowed users to accept all tracking cookies with a single click, but forced people to click through various menus to reject them all. This asymmetry was unlawful, said CNIL, steering users into accepting cookies to the ultimate benefit of Google’s advertising business.

To remedy this, Google’s new cookie banners give clear, balanced choices: “reject all,” “accept all,” or “more options” (to exercise more granular control). The new menu will appear on Google Search and YouTube if users are not signed in to an account. (If you are signed in, you can adjust tracking options through Google’s data and privacy menu.)

Internet spring cleaning: How to delete Instagram, Facebook and other accounts #software

Apps that delight, inform and keep you connected deserve room in your digital space. But if you haven’t used your Facebook account in years, or you’re looking to permanently take back some time from doomscrolling, you might consider getting rid of some accounts once and for all. Of course, like other services that profit off of you – in this case, off your user information — social media and other online platforms can make it hard to cut ties. Here’s a guide to that elusive delete button for when you’ve made up your mind.

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Dainius

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