π DEF CON Security, China's Robotaxis, U.S.-China Chip Race
Good morning. Itβs Monday, August 12. Today we are covering:
Here are the Hacker Tools a DEF CON Hotel is Hunting For
Robotaxis are worrying China's ride-hailing drivers as permits pick up the pace
Thousands of Corporate Secrets Were Left Exposed. This Guy Found Them All
Apple's iPhone 16 Will Keep Sales Stable Until Bigger Changes Arrive
Letβs dive in
Here are the Hacker Tools a DEF CON Hotel is Hunting For
By Joseph Cox via 404 Media
Resorts World in Las Vegas is conducting daily room searches for hacker tools like Flipper Zeroes, WiFi Pineapples, and soldering kits, linked to defending against increased ransomware threats.
The security measures include a detailed list of items to watch for, such as handheld gadgets for hacking and devices for setting up rogue WiFi networks, based on a security document accessed by 404 Media.
Enhanced security protocols also recommend staff and guests to enable airplane mode on personal devices to mitigate risks during DEF CON, reflecting heightened security due to recent ransomware attacks on Las Vegas casinos.
π: New from 404 Media: here is the list of βhacker toolsβ security at a #DEFCON hotel are searching rooms for - flipper zero - WiFi pineapple - soldering kits - lockpicks - Joseph Cox (@josephfcox)
Robotaxis are worrying China's ride-hailing drivers as permits pick up the pace
Fast Company
Robotaxis in China are rapidly proliferating, with approvals for driverless trials accelerating, directly impacting the livelihoods of the countryβs 7 million ride-hailing drivers, as exemplified by Liu Yi from Wuhan.
Regulatory differences highlight a more cautious approach in the U.S., where firms like Waymo and Cruise face stringent scrutiny, in contrast to Chinaβs aggressive roll-out supporting economic ambitions through innovation in autonomous transport.
Economic analyses suggest that while robotaxis promise long-term benefits due to automation amidst a shrinking population, they also pose immediate challenges in job displacement, necessitating careful balance in job creation and destruction.
π: People have long argued the endgame for riding hailing services is autonomous cars. What used to seem like an expensive pipe dream is now reality if you ride Waymo in San Francisco. Uber has smartly partnered with them. It seems inevitable that human drivers will be disrupted. - Dare Obasanjo (@Carnage4Life)
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By Joseph Politano via Apricitas Economics
The CHIPS Act and subsequent U.S. policies aim to revitalize domestic semiconductor production and curb China's access to high-end chipmaking equipment, intensifying the global chip race.
Despite U.S. restrictions, China has ramped up its semiconductor manufacturing by importing record amounts of equipment from countries like Japan and the Netherlands, while also increasing its own production to new highs.
The geopolitical rivalry over semiconductors has led to a stark increase in global demand for chipmaking equipment, influencing both U.S. and Chinese strategies in securing their semiconductor supply chains amidst ongoing trade tensions.
π: The US and China are locked in an escalating trade war and industrial policy competition to build out their respective semiconductor industriesβand right now, despite US sanctions, China is importing near-record amounts of chipmaking equipment. - Joey Politano (@JosephPolitano)
Thousands of Corporate Secrets Were Left Exposed. This Guy Found Them All
By Matt Burgess via WIRED
Security researcher Bill Demirkapi revealed a trove of over 15,000 active developer secrets at the Defcon conference, including sensitive access details from entities like Nebraskaβs Supreme Court and Stanford University.
Demirkapi also identified 66,000 websites with dangling subdomain issues, which could potentially lead to hijacking and misuse, highlighting widespread vulnerabilities across major online platforms.
Despite the discovery of these security lapses, remedial action is challenging; Demirkapi's efforts to get these secrets revoked were often stymied by limitations from platforms like GitHub and AWS, underscoring the difficulties in managing digital security at scale.
Apple's iPhone 16 Will Keep Sales Stable Until Bigger Changes Arrive
By Mark Gurman via Bloomberg
Apple's iPhone 16 is positioned to maintain stable sales as the company prepares more innovative models for the following year.
The launch is accompanied by other product developments including a smaller Mac mini, updates to iOS 18's Photos app, and a new plastic version of the SE watch.
These updates are part of Apple's broader strategy to keep its product lineup fresh and competitive amidst evolving market demands and technological advancements.
π: Power On: What to expect from the iPhone 16, next SE, iPhone 17 and beyond + more on the M4 Mac mini, iOS 18 Photos app and new Apple Watches - Mark Gurman (@markgurman)
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That's a wrap on this year's Paris Olympicsβhope you found our summaries insightful.
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