Step into the Wild World of Telephones! 🛠️📞 In this episode of Chaos Lever, we’re dialing up a fascinating exploration of telephony with special guest Sarah Autumn! Sarah, a volunteer engineer at the Connections Museum in Seattle, takes us on a journey through the evolution of telephone systems, from the quirky mechanical marvels of the early 20th …

From AI's stumbling progress to groundbreaking tools and cyber threats, here’s what you need to know for this week: All The Major AI Models Continue To Lose Money AND Stop Advancing: Is the golden age of AI innovation already behind us? Reports from OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic suggest that we may have hit a plateau. With increasing costs and dimi…

Ah, passwords—the not-so-secret keys to our digital world. In this episode, we dig into the fascinating (and flawed) history of passwords, from their Roman origins to their debut in 1960s computing, and the constant struggle between ease and security ever since. Why are we still relying on passwords that can be hacked in seconds? And what are the l…

In this episode of Chaos Lever, we dig into the latest tech updates and industry moves, from Amazon's ambitious push to rival OpenAI to Qualcomm’s plans for ARM-powered Windows laptops. We’ll also explore MacOS’s tricky approach to app sandboxing and debate whether Notepad really needs AI. *Amazon to Invest in Anthropic AI to Compete with OpenAI—Bu…

In today’s episode, we’re diving into one of IT’s murkiest topics: Attack Surface Management, or ASM. Can ASM be fun? Maybe. Is it critical for modern security? Absolutely. If you’ve ever wondered what ASM actually does, or why it’s more than just the latest buzzword, we’ve got answers (and helping handfuls of snark). We explore how ASM helps busin…

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 stor…

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 thril…

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…

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 …

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 unti…

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 plat…

🎙️ 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 2…

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…

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 th…

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 system…

In this episode, we discuss how Google is improving Android security with Rust, significantly reducing memory-related vulnerabilities and enhancing developer productivity. We also dive into NIST's latest revision of its Digital Identity Guidelines, a crucial standard for protecting digital identities. Next, we explore the ongoing feud between WP En…

Remember the movie **Hackers** and its fictional supercomputer, The Gibson? While The Gibson might be fantasy, mainframes are still very much a reality in our modern computing world! In this episode, we'll journey through some legendary Hollywood computers, like the WOPR from *War Games*, before zooming into the real-world star of the show: IBM's *…

This week, the FTC confirmed what many suspected: social media giants like Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok have been willfully collecting user data for profit, with minimal regard for privacy. Meanwhile, former Oracle CEO Larry Ellison proposed a controversial AI-driven surveillance system to monitor citizens and police, a plan that many find dystopi…

In this episode, we explore the 1995 cult classic Hackers in honor of National Civic Hacking Day. Despite not being a movie podcast, the episode revisits the film’s depiction of hacker culture with fleeting nostalgia and an analysis of its technical inaccuracies. From Angelina Jolie’s memorable performance to the infamous “hacker war” scene, Chris …

In this episode, we discuss the European Court of Justice's decision forcing Apple to pay €13 billion in back taxes to Ireland, marking a major moment in corporate taxation within the EU. We also dive into Microsoft's breakthrough in quantum computing, as they announce the creation of 12 error-corrected qubits, a step forward in the notoriously dif…

In this episode, Ned and Chris examine classical computing fundamentals, breaking down complex topics like Turing machines, the von Neumann architecture, and the role of logic gates in computing. They explain how binary operations, logic gates, and transistors come together to form the foundation of modern computers. They also get into a discussion…

AT&T has filed a lawsuit against Broadcom, accusing the company of forcing it to purchase unwanted subscription software to maintain support for existing VMware licenses. Windows on ARM has arrived as a competitive platform, security vulnerabilities in Zyxel networking gear, and Intel's struggles to regain market dominance amid significant financia…

Football season is back, and with it comes a reminder of how the NFL has driven significant technological advancements in broadcasting. From the introduction of multi-camera setups and color TV in the 1950s to the creation of instant replay and the telestrator, the demand for better football viewing experiences has led to innovations that have resh…

Microsoft will require all Azure customers to enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) starting in October 2024, aiming to enhance security by reducing the risk of account compromise by over 99%. VMWare Explore 2024 was marked by dissatisfaction among attendees due to higher costs, a smaller expo, and lackluster swag, with many feeling alienated by…

Ned and Chris cover quirky keyboard history, from missing keys and ThinkPad debacles to vintage typewriters and relic keys like Sys Rq and Scroll Lock. Mo Keys Mo Problems Ned and Chris explore the quirks of keyboards, starting with the irritation of missing home and end keys and the infamous ThinkPad function/control key switch. They journey back …

This week on Tech News of The Week, Ned and Chris cross their fingers that the latest version of Teams will actually work, “celebrate” the career (and retirement) of Azure Service Manager, sneak past the security flaws of Microsoft MacOS apps, and banter about the now-banned FTC non-compete ban. Links: Microsoft Releases New Version of Teams App Th…

The guys explore SMTP fixes, quantum mechanics, and how quantum computing might disrupt encryption, plus IBM’s free quantum resources. Bits, Quits, and Quantum Fits: The Mysteries of SMTP and Superposition Ned and Chris dive back into the nightmare disaster hellscape that is SMTP and explore the band-aid solutions of SPF, DKIM, and DMARC. Then, the…

This week on Tech News of The Week, Ned and Chris sit in the audience for Crowdstrike’s award acceptance speech, empathize with FAT32 as it packs on the pounds, take a front-row seat to the newest, largest data breach ever, and use quantum technology to tease ahead to this week’s episode of Chaos Lever. Links: Quantum Encryption Standards Emerge Fr…

Ned and Chris explore a newly discovered flaw in UEFI Secure Boot that’s led to a critical OEM blunder that allows rootkit attacks, and the only fix is a potentially daunting firmware update. Secure Boot’s Achilles’ Heel Ned and Chris dive into a freshly uncovered flaw in the Secure Boot process of PCs using UEFI firmware. They trace the evolution …

This week on Tech News of The Week, Ned and Chris release their frustrations on OpenAI’s decision to withhold a ChatGPT cheat-detecting tool, lay into Intel for laying off thousands of employees amid financial chaos, time travel with hackers who are reverting Windows updates, and grab their gardening tools for the latest North Korean laptop farm ar…

The guys discuss Google Chrome’s decision to stop trusting new Entrust certificates. Entrust Distrusted by Google Chrome Ned and Chris take a deep dive into the juicy tidbit about Google Chrome throwing Entrust under the bus. They dissect Chrome's decision to cut off new Entrust certificates starting October 31, 2024, all thanks to Entrust’s persis…

This week on Tech News of The Week, Ned and Chris watch Microsoft Azure continue to miss the mark amid a DDoS attack, turn up the heat on Intels’ CPU meltdown, pour water onto the AI bonfire, and look at how easy it is to prompt a hack of ChatGPT. Links: Microsoft Fiddles While Azure Burns Two Generations of Intel CPUs Affected by Chip-Destroying V…

Ned and Chris explore the chaotic fallout from a CrowdStrike Falcon sensor update that crashed Windows systems across various sectors. Where Were You the Day the Screens Turned Blue? The tech industry is a house of cards propped up by a mishmash of redundant systems and safety nets. In this episode, Ned and Chris dive into CrowdStrike’s Falcon sens…

This week on Tech News of The Week, Ned and Chris scold Google for getting their hand caught in the cookie jar, give their two cents on another CentOS getting off the ground, and list 1,800 reasons why Intuit’s new AI direction is a horrible decision. Links: Advertising Company Google Chooses Not To Harm Their Ad Business Intuit Drinks The AI KoolA…

Ned and Chris discuss Amazon’s claim that their energy use is 100% renewable. Wind Turbines Don’t Kill Birds and Amazon Doesn’t Use 100% Renewable Energy Amazon claimed to be 100% renewable, but Amazon Employees for Climate Justice argues that the company hasn't met its climate pledges, and even threatened a walkout. In this episode, Ned and Chris …

This week on Tech News of The Week, Ned and Chris mourn the privacy of millions of AT&T customers after the company quietly announced a massive data breach, lament the failings of SAP security, celebrate the arrival of Markdown in Google Docs, and discuss NVIDIA opening up to open-source kernel modules. Links: AT&T Believes That Sharing Is Caring S…

Ned and Chris talk to Doug Madory about changes in BGP since the mid-1990s. The More Things Change, the More BGP Changes a Little Bit Ned and Chris dive into the evolving landscape of BGP with Doug Madory, the Director of Internet Analysis at Kentik. Despite the rapid transformation of the internet since the mid-1990s, BGP remains largely unchanged…

This week on Tech News of The Week, Ned and Chris unpack Microsoft’s decision to suddenly add new features to Notepad, why the Japanese government is flip-flopping on floppy disks, try to understand OpenAI’s lack of understanding of their own products, and explain how Cloudflare is using AI to fight... AI. Links: Microsoft Adding Spellcheck Feature…

In this reissued episode (AKA the over-overhyped edition), Ned is pedantic about the term Supercloud, Chris is pedantic about everything, and we both think Halo Rise is a terrible, horrible, no good idea. Supercloud is as Supercloud Does Ned is no longer a stickler for language, but he still can't stand the term “supercloud.” In this reissued episo…

Ned shares his AI-focused experience at the DC AWS Summit, discussing AWS's AI portfolio and GenAI tools, but remains skeptical. Mainlining AI in Washington DC Ned shares his experience attending the DC AWS Summit, which was heavily focused on AI. This gave him the opportunity to put cognitive behavioral therapy into practice and confront his avers…

This week on Tech News of The Week, Ned and Chris announce that NBC has gone creatively bankrupt with an AL Michaels AI, speculate on the speculative bubble of AI, have a far-out conversation about Datacenters in Space, and discuss how the power of kindness can lead to nefarious ends. Links: AL Al Will Enable NBC To Continue To Have No Idea How To …

The UN named 2025 the Year of Quantum Science, so Ned and Chris attempt to cram 2,450 years of quantum history into one episode. A Gambol Through Space and Time The United Nations has designated 2025 as the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology. To add to the confusion, Ned and Chris are trying to cover the history of quantum mechani…

This week on Tech News of The Week, Ned and Chris rejoice that Voyager 1 is fully operational, remind you to update vCenter Security, ignore Dell’s demand for in-person attendance, and discuss Claude 3.5 Sonnet. Links: Interstellar Voyager 1 Fully Operational Again Critical vCenter Security Patches Released - You Know What To Do Dell’s Demand For I…

Ned and Chris give a very brief overview of BGP, its place in the history of the internet, and how it works today. It’s a Confusing Day in the Neighborship Sure, Kim Kardashian broke the internet that one time, but she’s not the only one capable of such a feat. In this episode, Ned and Chris recount the tale of how Verizon and a BGP optimizer took …

This week on Tech News of The Week, Ned and Chris discuss how Apple is paying OpenAI in “Exposure,” ten years of Kubernetes, Sherlocking, and Raspberry Pi’s IPO. Links: Apple Is Paying OpenAI In… Exposure Kubernetes Turns Ten Stop Trying To Make Sherlocking Happen. It’s Not Going To Happen! Raspberry Pi Pops in IPO…

A review of a core keynote presentation at the 2024 Gartner Security and Risk Management Summit and what it means for the IT industry. One of the Good Ones: The 2024 Gartner Security and Risk Management Summit Sometimes it's worth putting pants on. In this case, it's for the 2024 Gartner Security and Risk Management Summit. Despite previous critici…

This week on Tech News of The Week, Ned and Chris discuss the Snowflake Hack, some BREAKING NEWS regarding the Microsoft Spyware Enablement Tool "Recall", Luna AI’s results (evaluated using AI), and Intel’s Lunar Lake. Links: Snowflake Hack Hits TicketMaster and Santander Microsoft Spyware Enablement Tool Recall Compromised By Many People Immediate…

Learn how Chris Williams used ChatGPT to create a custom AI agent that answers questions, completes certain tasks, and Rickrolls its users. There Can Be Only One (Rickrolling AI Mentor) Chris Williams joins Ned and Chris this week to discuss the AI agent he recently created using ChatGPT. Ned kicks things off by filling us in on the history of AI f…

This week on Tech News of The Week, Ned and Chris get some feedback from a listener, cover NIST’s new release, dispel some rumors about the death of tape, opine on the massive botnet takedown, and talk about an Apache project exploit. Links: NIST Releases new version of SP 800-171 The News Of Tape’s Death Is Much Exaggerated Massive Botnet Taken Do…

A review of the core keynote speeches at the 2024 RSA Conference and what they mean for IT defenders. I Didn’t Go To The RSA Conference So You Don’t Have To Didn’t make it to the 2024 RSA Conference? Well neither did Ned and Chris, but that’s not going to stop them from talking about it. This year’s theme was “The Art Of The Possible,” highlighting…