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Kodane code was either machine-generated or done by a teenager

An NPM package packed with cryptocurrency-stealing malware appears to have been largely AI-generated, as evidenced by its liberal use of emojis and other telltale signs.…

An anonymous reader shares a report: Yesterday, when Epic won its Google antitrust lawsuit for a second time, it wasn't quite clear how soon Google would need to start dismantling its affirmed illegal monopoly. Today, Google admits the answer is: 14 days. Google has just 14 days to enact major changes to its Google Play app store, and the way it does business with phonemakers, cellular carriers, and app developers, unless it wins an emergency stay (pause) from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals as it continues to appeal. It must stop forcing apps to use Google Play Billing, allow app developers to freely steer their users to other platforms, and limit the perks it can offer in exchange for preinstalled apps, among other changes.

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Checkbox to make chatbot conversations appear in search engines deemed a footgun

OpenAI has removed the option to make ChatGPT interactions indexable by search engines to prevent users from unwittingly exposing sensitive information.…

Crashes the multibillion-dollar DoD party alongside Boeing, Lockheed, and Raytheon

There are no official criteria for what constitutes membership in the upper echelon of the US military industrial complex, but a $10 billion deal that consolidates dozens of contracts under a single blanket purchase agreement sure makes it seem like Palantir has earned entry.…

An anonymous reader shares a report: Apple CEO Tim Cook appears unfazed by concerns that advancements in AI could topple the iPhone's dominance. During Thursday's earnings call, Wamsi Moen, an analyst with Bank of America, asked Cook directly how Apple is preparing for a world where dependence on screen-based devices "significantly diminishes," thanks to advances in AI. Cook didn't seem to see an imminent threat to Apple's hero product. "When you when you think about all the things an iPhone can do, from connecting people to bringing app and game experiences to life, to taking photos and videos, to helping users explore the world and conduct their financial lives and pay for things and so much more, you know, it's difficult to see a world where iPhone's not living in it," Cook said. "And that doesn't mean that we are not thinking about other things as well," Cook added, "but I think that the devices are likely to be complementary devices, not substitution." Apple said yesterday it had sold 3 billion iPhones since the product's launch in 2007

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Paramount Penguin Linus Torvalds still uses a 2017 graphics card

As work picks up on the forthcoming Linux 6.17, many joystick-wigglers are shocked by its millionaire dev's positively ancient AMD graphics card.…

A Brussels court has issued an unusually broad site-blocking order targeting Internet Archive's Open Library alongside shadow libraries including Anna's Archive, Libgen, and Z-Library. The order, requested by publishing and author organizations, directs an unprecedented range of intermediaries to take action beyond traditional ISP blocks. Search engines, DNS resolvers, advertisers, domain name services, CDNs, hosting companies, and payment processors -- including Google, Microsoft, Cloudflare, Amazon Web Services, PayPal, and Starlink -- must restrict access to the targeted sites. The court found "clear and significant infringement" in the ex parte proceeding.

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Our tests have shown there are ways to get around the promised security improvements

exclusive Microsoft Recall, the AI app that takes screenshots of what you do on your PC so you can search for it later, has a filter that's supposed to prevent it from screenshotting sensitive info like credit card numbers. But a The Register test shows that it still fails in many cases, creating a potential treasure trove for thieves.…

Spy vs. spy

China has accused US intelligence agencies of exploiting a Microsoft Exchange zero-day exploit to steal defense-related data and take over more than 50 devices belonging to a "major Chinese military enterprise" for nearly a year.…

BrianFagioli writes: Google is changing its mind about killing off all goo.gl short links. The company had originally planned to shut them down entirely by August 25, 2025. That decision sparked concern among developers, educators, journalists, and everyday users who rely on these links across the web. Now, just weeks before the deadline, Google is taking a softer approach. It turns out the company is only going to disable goo.gl links that haven't seen any activity since late 2024. If your link is still being used or clicked, it should keep working. This adjustment comes after what Google describes as community feedback.

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Appeals panel says Chocolate Factory abused its dominance in Android app distribution

A panel of judges has dismissed Google's appeal against an antitrust verdict over its Play Store business practices.…

Verizon has confirmed it will raise customer fees despite announcing a three-year price lock in April. The carrier said the "vast majority" of customers will see increases of "less than 30 cents." A Reddit thread cited by The Verge suggests the Administrative and Telco Recovery Charge will rise 28 cents to $3.78 per voice line, while data-only plan charges could increase $2.37 to $3.97 per line. The changes may take effect September 1.

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Major video game publishers have abandoned plans to sell new releases at $80 after initially signaling support for the elevated price point earlier this year, according to Bloomberg. Microsoft reversed course in late July, announcing The Outer Worlds 2 and other holiday titles including Call of Duty will sell for $70 instead of the previously planned $80. Take-Two Interactive's Borderlands 4 and Sony's Ghost of Yotei were also priced at $70 after initial $80 expectations. Electronic Arts said it will not adjust prices for the near future, with the upcoming Battlefield 6 selling for $70. Production costs have grown tenfold over the past decade while sales have not increased proportionally.

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Microsoft researchers have identified 40 occupations [PDF] with the highest exposure to AI, ranking jobs by how closely their tasks align with AI's current capabilities. The study analyzed 200,000 real-world conversations from Copilot users and compared AI performance against occupational data. Interpreters and translators top the list, followed by historians and passenger attendants. Customer service and sales representatives, comprising about 5 million U.S. jobs, also face significant AI competition. Knowledge workers performing computer, math, or administrative tasks showed high vulnerability, as did sales positions involving information sharing and explanation. The research found occupations requiring Bachelor's degrees demonstrate higher AI applicability than those with lower educational requirements. First, the top 10 least affected occupations by generative AI: 1. Dredge Operators 2. Bridge and Lock Tenders 3. Water Treatment Plant and System Operators 4. Foundry Mold and Coremakers 5. Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators 6. Pile Driver Operators 7. Floor Sanders and Finishers 8. Orderlies 9. Motorboat Operators 10. Logging Equipment Operators Now, the top 40 most affected occupations by generative AI:1. Interpreters and Translators 2. Historians 3. Passenger Attendants 4. Sales Representatives of Services 5. Writers and Authors 6. Customer Service Representatives 7. CNC Tool Programmers 8. Telephone Operators 9. Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks 10. Broadcast Announcers and Radio DJs 11. Brokerage Clerks 12. Farm and Home Management Educators 13. Telemarketers 14. Concierges 15. Political Scientists 16. News Analysts, Reporters, Journalists 17. Mathematicians 18. Technical Writers 19. Proofreaders and Copy Markers 20. Hosts and Hostesses 21. Editors 22. Business Teachers, Postsecondary 23. Public Relations Specialists 24. Demonstrators and Product Promoters 25. Advertising Sales Agents 26. New Accounts Clerks 27. Statistical Assistants 28. Counter and Rental Clerks 29. Data Scientists 30. Personal Financial Advisors 31. Archivists 32. Economics Teachers, Postsecondary 33. Web Developers 34. Management Analysts 35. Geographers 36. Models 37. Market Research Analysts 38. Public Safety Telecommunicators 39. Switchboard Operators 40. Library Science Teachers, Postsecondary.

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Budget educational computing is now Google's game to lose

Microsoft is discontinuing support for its Windows 11 SE variant meant to compete with ChromeOS in the education space, leaving schools that chose Microsoft over Google in the lurch just four years after the cloud-based Windows variant was released. …

Financial Times: The UK's highest court has partially overturned a landmark motor finance judgment that threatened to leave banks on the hook for tens of billions of pounds in compensation for allegedly deceiving consumers with hidden commissions on car loans. The Supreme Court's decision has been keenly awaited by investors as well as millions of consumers who were poised to claim redress from the banks. The government has been considering legislation to limit the fallout. The controversy over car finance shot to prominence after a bombshell Court of Appeal judgment in October that awarded compensation to three people who claimed they were misled by banks concealing the payment of commissions to dealerships. The $58.3 billion car finance scandal centers on hidden commissions paid by lenders to car dealers who arranged loans without disclosing the payment amounts and terms to borrowers. Under discretionary commission arrangements, dealers received larger payments when they persuaded car buyers to accept higher interest rates on loans. The practice affected roughly 90% of new car purchases and many secondhand vehicles, potentially exposing millions of motorists to mis-selling.

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Internal Revenue Service Commissioner Bill Long said the agency will end its Direct File program after a limited pilot and one full filing season. From a report: President Donald Trump's massive spending and policy bill includes funding to research and "replace any direct e-file programs run by the Internal Revenue Service." Already, the program is "gone," Long said at a tax professional summit on July 28, Bloomberg Law reports. "You've heard of Direct File, that's gone," Long said. "Big beautiful Billy wiped that out. I don't care about Direct File. I care about direct audit."

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Microsoft has discontinued Windows 11 SE, its education-focused operating system designed for low-cost school PCs. The company confirmed that Windows 11 SE will not receive the upcoming version 25H2 update and support will end in October 2026, including security updates and technical assistance. Launched in 2021 as a Chrome OS competitor, Windows 11 SE featured artificial limitations like reduced multitasking capabilities and restricted app installation to create a simplified experience for students. The discontinuation leaves Microsoft without a dedicated lightweight Windows edition for the education market, where Chromebooks have gained significant popularity over the past decade.

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Company blames license violations and infrastructure changes for abrupt move

KubeSphere has become the latest service to abruptly yank an open source edition of a product, triggering outcry from users.…

Australia's spy chief has warned that defense workers are exposing themselves to foreign intelligence services through LinkedIn profiles that detail classified projects and security clearances. Director-General Mike Burgess said over 35,000 Australians on the platform indicate access to sensitive information, with 7,000 mentioning defense work and 400 listing involvement in the AUKUS nuclear submarine program. Foreign spies routinely scour professional networking sites posing as consultants and recruiters, Burgess said.

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