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More than six years after the Spectre security flaw impacting modern CPU processors came to light, new research has found that the latest AMD and Intel processors are still susceptible to speculative execution attacks. The attack, disclosed by ETH Zürich researchers Johannes Wikner and Kaveh Razavi, aims to undermine the Indirect Branch Predictor Barrier (IBPB) on x86 chips, a crucial mitigation

More than six years after the Spectre security flaw impacting modern CPU processors came to light, new research has found that the latest AMD and Intel processors are still susceptible to speculative execution attacks. The attack, disclosed by ETH Zürich researchers Johannes Wikner and Kaveh Razavi, aims to undermine the Indirect Branch Predictor Barrier (IBPB) on x86 chips, a crucial mitigationRavie Lakshmananhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/[email protected]

Minulý týden proběhla čtyřdenní hackerská soutěž Pwn2Own Ireland 2024. Hacknuta byla zařízení Lorex 2K WiFi, QNAP QHora-322, TrueNAS Mini X, Sonos Era 300, HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP 3301fdw, Canon imageCLASS MF656Cdw, QNAP TS-464 NAS, Synology TC500, Ubiquity AI Bullet, Synology DiskStation DS1823xs+, Samsung Galaxy S24, Synology BeeStation BST150-4T, AeoTec Smart Home Hub, Synology BeeStation a Lexmark CX331adwe. Celkově bylo soutěžním týmům vyplaceno přes milion dolarů za více než 70 zranitelností nultého dne (0-day). Videoshrnutí na YouTube. Po jednotlivých dnech na blogu.

Sway (Wikipedie), dlaždicový (tiling) správce oken pro Wayland kompatibilní s i3, byl vydán ve verzi 1.10. Do vývoje se zapojilo 44 vývojářů. Přehled novinek na GitHubu. Sway 1.10 závisí na wlroots 0.18.0.

Připojte se ve středu 30. 10. 2024 od 10:00 do 12:00 na náš webinář "Řízení přístupu do PostgreSQL prostřednictvím externího autentizačního providera" (registrace zdarma), kde vám ukážeme, jak nastavit ověřování pomocí GSSAPI. Ideální pro bezpečný přístup k databázím, ať už využíváte Microsoft Active Directory nebo FreeIPA. Záznam předchozího webináře "Co je nového v PostgreSQL 17" můžete shlédnout zde. Zveme vás na technicky zaměřený webinář "Představení Zabbix Cloud: praktická ukázka externího monitoringu" (registrace zdarma), kde vám v pátek 1. 11. 2024 od 10:00 do 12:00 představíme Zabbix Cloud. Během demo části si společně vyzkoušíme napojení a praktické použití Zabbix Cloudu pro externí monitoring standalone Zabbix instance. Ve čtvrtek 7. 11. 2024 od 10:00 do 12:00 vás zveme na webinář "Jak používat SNMP a SNMP traps v Zabbixu 7.0" (registrace zdarma), kde se naučíte správně používat SNMP a SNMP traps v Zabbixu 7.0. Projdeme instalaci komponent, konfiguraci SNMP trap na OS a nastavení Zabbix serveru pro SNMPv2 i SNMPv3. Záznam předchozího webináře "Vysoká dostupnost Zabbix serveru a Zabbix proxy ve verzi 7.0" najdete zde.

Seeing is believing. Our perception of the world heavily relies on vision.

What we see depends on cells in the retina, which sit behind the eyes. These delicate cells transform light into electrical pulses that go to the brain for further processing.

But because of age, disease, or genetics, retinal cells often break down. For people with geographic atrophy—a disease which gradually destroys retinal cells—their eyes struggle to focus on text, recognize faces, and decipher color or textures in the dark. The disease especially attacks central vision, which lets our eyes focus on specific things.

The result is seeing the world through a blurry lens. Walking down the street in dim light becomes a nightmare, each surface looking like a distorted version of itself. Reading a book or watching a movie is more frustrating than relaxing.

But the retina is hard to regenerate, and the number of transplant donors can’t meet demand. A small clinical trial may have a solution. Led by Science Corporation, a brain-machine interface company headquartered in Alameda, California, the study implanted a tiny chip that acts like a replacement retina in 38 participants who were legally blind.

Dubbed the PRIMAvera trial, the volunteers wore custom-designed eyewear with a camera acting as a “digital eye.” Captured images were then transmitted to the implanted artificial retina, which translated the information into electrical signals for the brain to decipher.

Preliminary results found a boost in the participants’ ability to read the eye exam scale—a common test of random letters, with each line smaller than the last. Some could even read longer texts in a dim environment at home with the camera’s “zoom-and-enhance” function.

The trial is ongoing, with final results expected in 2026—three years after the implant. But according to Frank Holz at the University of Bonn Ernst-Abbe-Strasse in Germany, the study’s scientific coordinator, the results are a “milestone” for geographic atrophy resulting from age.

“Prior to this, there have been no real treatment options for these patients,” he said in a press release.

Max Hodak, CEO of Science Corp and former president of Elon Musk’s Neuralink, said, “To my knowledge, this is the first time that restoration of the ability to fluently read has ever been definitively shown in blind patients.”

Eyes Wide Open

The eye is a biological wonder. The eyeball’s layers act as a lens focusing light onto the retina—the eye’s visual “sensor.” The retina contains two types of light-sensitive cells: Rods and cones.

The rods mostly line the outer edges of the retina, letting us see shapes and shadows in the dark or at the periphery. But these cells can’t detect color or sharpen their focus, which is why night vision feels blurrier. However, rods readily pick up action at the edges of sight—such as seeing rapidly moving things out of the corner of your eye.

Cones pick up the slack. These cells are mostly in the center of the retina and can detect vibrant colors and sharply focus on specific things, like the words you’re currently reading.

Both cell types rely on other cells to flourish. These cells coat the retina, and like soil in a garden, provide a solid foundation in which the rods and cones can grow.

With age, all these cells gradually deteriorate, sometimes resulting in age-related macular degeneration and the gradual loss of central vision. It’s a common condition that affects nearly 20 million Americans aged 40 or older. Details become hard to see; straight lines may seem crooked; colors look dim, especially in low-light conditions. Later stages, called geographic atrophy, result in legal blindness.

Scientists have long searched for a treatment. One idea is to use a 3D-printed stem cell patch made out of the base “garden soil” cells that support light-sensitive rods and cones. Here, doctors transform a patient’s own blood cells into healthy retinal support cells, attach them to a biodegradable scaffold, and transplant them into the eye.

Initial results showed the patch integrated into the retina and slowed and even reversed the disease. But this can take six months and is tailored for each patient, making it difficult to scale.

A New Vision

The Prima system eschews regeneration for a wireless microchip that replaces parts of the retina. The two-millimeter square implant—roughly the size of a grain of salt—is surgically inserted under the retina. The procedure may sound daunting, but according to Wired, it takes only 80 minutes, less time than your average movie. Each chip contains nearly 400 light-sensitive pixels, which convert light patterns into electrical pulses the brain can interpret. The system also includes a pair of glasses with a camera to capture visual information and beam it to the chip using infrared light.

Together, the components work like our eyes do: Images from the camera are sent to the artificial retina “chip,” which transform them into electrical signals for the brain.

Initial results were promising. According to the company, the patients had improved visual acuity a year after the implant. At the beginning of the study, most were considered legally blind with an average vision of 20/450, compared to the normal 20/20. When challenged with an eye exam test, the patients could read, on average, roughly 23 more letters—or five more lines down the chart—compared to tests taken before they received the implant. One patient especially excelled, improving their performance by 59 letters—over 11 lines.

The Prima implant also impacted their daily lives. Participants were able to read, play cards, and tackle crossword puzzles—all activities that require central vision.

While impressive, the system didn’t work for everyone. The implant caused serious side effects in some participants—such as a small tear in the retina—which were mostly resolved according to the company. Some people also experienced blood leaks under the retina that were promptly treated. However, few details regarding the injuries or treatments were released.

The trial is ongoing, with the goal of following participants for three years to track improvements and monitor side effects. The team is also looking to measure their quality of life—how the system affects daily activities that require vision and mental health.

The trial “represents an enormous turning point for the field, and we’re incredibly excited to bring this important technology to market over the next few years,” said Hodak.

Image Credit: Arteum.ro on Unsplash

Sněmovna bude jednat o návrhu, který by mohl zavést časový a hodnotový test, který platí například u akcií, také pro kryptoměny. Diskuse kolem předlohy dokazuje, že kolem kryptoaktiv stále panují mýty.

Za někoho jste něco dobrovolně zaplatili, nic o daru jste však neřekli, ale ani o půjčce. Musí vám peníze vrátit, nebo ne?

Ukážeme si ovládání dvojice čipů OPL2 (DualOPL2), jak lze na OPL2 i OPL3 využít polyfonii a taktéž ovládání levého a pravého reproduktoru čipem OPL3, čímž se realizuje triviální stereo.

Ryzen 7 9800X3D, chystaný na příští týden, se objevil včetně kompletních specifikací na německém vyhledávači zboží Geizhals. Ten krom taktů, cache nebo kompatibility potvrzuje i odemčený násobič…

A researcher has released a tool to bypass Google's new App-Bound encryption cookie-theft defenses and extract saved credentials from the Chrome web browser. [...]

ATMs paid customers thousands ... and now the bank wants its money back

JPMorgan Chase has begun suing fraudsters who allegedly stole thousands of dollars from the bank's ATMs after a check fraud glitch went viral on social media.…

'They're taunting us,' investigator says and it looks like it's working

The feds are investigating Chinese government-linked cyberspies breaking into the infrastructure of US telecom companies, as reports suggest Salt Typhoon - the same crew believed to be behind those hacks - has also been targeting phones belonging to people affiliated with US Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris, along with Republican candidate Donald Trump and his running mate, JD Vance.…

Microsoft announced today that inbound SMTP DANE with DNSSEC for Exchange Online, a new capability to boost email security and integrity, is now generally available. [...]

A hybrid espionage/influence campaign conducted by the Russian threat group 'UNC5812' has been uncovered, targeting Ukrainian military recruits with Windows and Android malware. [...]

Free, a major internet service provider (ISP) in France, confirmed over the weekend that hackers breached its systems and stole customer personal information. [...]

Generativní AI proniká do našich životů a někdy se může stát náhražkou za mezilidské vztahy. Bohužel to v některých případech může skončit špatně, jak ukazuje příběh čtrnáctiletého Sewella Setzera, který si vzal život poté, co navázal blízký vztah s chatbotem na platformě Character.AI . Chatbot se ...

Generativní AI proniká do našich životů a někdy se může stát náhražkou za mezilidské vztahy. Bohužel to v některých případech může skončit špatně, jak ukazuje příběh čtrnáctiletého Sewella Setzera, který si vzal život poté, co navázal blízký vztah s chatbotem na platformě Character.AI . Chatbot se ...

The Phoenix fabrication facility of the world’s largest semiconductor chip maker is yielding more usable chips than similar plants in Taiwan, according to the Taipei Times.

Rick Cassidy, president of TSMC’s US division, said during a webinar last week that the share of usable chips from the company’s Phoenix plant exceeds that of similar Taiwanese plants by 4%. If true, the superior performance at the Phoenix fab is notable because the US government has been working to spur a return of the semiconductor manufacturing industry to US shores, where manufacturing tends to be more costly.

Better yields would help offset those higher costs.

“Four percent higher yield is certainly good news,” said Harry Moser, president of the Reshoring Initiative, a non-profit that offers companies assessments on offshoring costs. “To be competitive, we need a higher yield. It is agreed that US factory capital cost and operating cost will be 10% to 20% higher than in most other countries. The 4% will offset some of that difference.”

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted critical gaps in the semiconductor supply chain as imports to the US and other nations ground to a halt, affecting the production of everything with electronics, from smart phones to cars. The CHIPS and Science Act, passed in 2022, earmarked more than $52 billion in funding and tax incentives for use by the US semiconductor industry to create new or expand existing manufacturing and R&D facilities.

The CHIPS Act was created to address both future possible supply chain catastrophes and to re-establish the US as a major chips manufacturer.

To date, the CHIPS Act has allocated more than $32 billion in proposed funding across 18 companies, 16 states, and 26 projects. However, no CHIPS funding has yet been disbursed to any companies, according to the US Department of Commerce.

TSMC is the main supplier of chips for both Nvidia and Apple. The CHIPS Act allocated $6.6 billion in grants and $5 billion in loans, along with a 25% tax credit, to incentivize the company to build three fabs in Arizona. TSMC’s first facility was scheduled to open this year, but the company pushed that back to next year after labor shortages surfaced.

The US reshoring efforts come at a time when the industry doesn’t have anywhere near the workforce — including technicians, computer scientists, and engineers — required to support future needs. By some estimates, the US semiconductor industry will face a worker shortfall of between 59,000 and 146,000 workers by 2029. A minimum of 50,000 trained semiconductor engineers will be needed over the next several years in the US to meet the overwhelming and rapidly growing demand, according to a study by Purdue University.

The broader US economy is set to have a gap of 1.4 million such workers, according to a 2023 study from the Semiconductor Industry Association. So the competition will be fierce over those skilled workers. Compounding the problem is an ongoing exodus of existing talent as older workers retire. A study from Deloitte found that nearly 90% of tech leaders interviewed cited recruiting as their biggest challenge.

A TSMC spokesperson shared statements regarding the Phoenix fab with Computerworld from a third quarter earnings call by CEO C.C. Wei, but declined to comment on Cassidy’s claim directly.

“Our first fab entered engineering wafer production in April with 4-nanometer process technology, and the result is a highly satisfactory, with a very good yield,” Wei said. “This is an important operational milestone for TSMC and our customers, demonstrating TSMC’s strong manufacturing capability and execution.”

Wei said he expects volume production of the company’s first Arizona fab to start in early 2025, and he is “confident” it will deliver “the same level of manufacturing quality and reliability” from our fabs in Taiwan.

TSMC is also building two other fabs in the Phoenix area that will use more advanced technologies based on its customer needs, Wei said. The second fab is scheduled to begin volume production in 2028 and the third fab will begin production by the end of the decade.

“Thus, TSMC will continue to play a critical and integral role in enabling our customers’ success, while remaining a key partner and enabler of the US semiconductor industry,” Wei said.

Reshore Now’s Moser said it would be good to know whether the Phoenix fab uses identical equipment as in Taiwan, speculating that the US plant could have been more modern. “Was it accomplished solely by US workers or significantly by Taiwanese brought over to aid the start-up?” he said.

A government entity and a religious organization in Taiwan were the target of a China-linked threat actor known as Evasive Panda that infected them with a previously undocumented post-compromise toolset codenamed CloudScout. "The CloudScout toolset is capable of retrieving data from various cloud services by leveraging stolen web session cookies," ESET security researcher Anh Ho said. "Through