Mauve 👁💜 @mauve@mastodon.mauve.moe

“GlassWorm isn't just another supply chain attack. It's using stealth techniques we've never seen before - invisible Unicode characters that make malicious code literally disappear from code editors. Combine that with blockchain-based C2 infra that can't be taken down, Google Calendar as a backup command server, and a full remote access trojan that turns every infected dev into a criminal proxy node.”

#technology #attack #security #cybersecurity #malware #vscode

https://www.koi.ai/blog/glassworm-first-self-propagating-worm-using-invisible-code-hits-openvsx-marketplace

The recent AWS outage exposed just how many devices need always-on internet access keep track of scheduled events and it really weirds me out because nearly all of these devices have an on-board clock and scheduling events offline on-device has been a solved problem since like the 70's.

Automatic cat feeders that fail to trigger at the appointed time, smart mattresses with scheduled warm/cold functions that failed to change state, and many other 'smart home' related devices.

What's the point of requiring a remote server to ping a device over the internet at the appointed time when your product already comes with a built-in calendar function as part of its basic hardware and software design?

every app update now feels like getting mugged in a slightly different alley

The Linux Mint installation was refreshing, everything that Win11 wasn't. It asked my language and keyboard type then asked to connect to WiFi and it ACTUALLY TOOK "NO" FOR AN ANSWER. It asked for timezone and local account name and info and spent 10-20 minutes installing the base system.

It found my printer without asking.

I cannot express how happy amd relieved I am that I successfully installed the operating system and features I wanted AND THE COMPUTER DID EXACTLY WHAT I TOLD IT TO.

That is such a rare experience anymore. The OS does the one thing it needs to do - act as a layer between application software and my hardware. Machine setup asked for the absolute minimum information to configure a usable system. One reboot and I have what I want - a fresh working system.

It's like going through the McDonald's drive-thru, ordering a cheeseburger, fries, and Diet Coke, paying, driving away, opening the bag and finding a cheeseburger, fries, and a Diet Coke plus a straw, napkins, and a few ketchup packets. Nothing in that bag is unexpected or unwanted or out of place or actively disruptive to the enjoyment of a cheeseburger, fries, and Diet Coke. So simple a well-trained and attentive teenager could do it.

It's so weird and so comforting to use software not steeped in dark patterns and twee designer excess.

This is probably your best reminder that Amazon Web Services is too big. So is Microsoft, and Google, and all of these companies that are gobbling up money, energy, and resources, only for things to go suddenly arse-up, like today, without being held accountable. There's no space for competition.

Them: Wow, that’s a lot of books. Do any of them open a secret door?

Me: Yeah. They all do.

New release: We now have a built in theme editor so you can customize the style to match your vibes.

https://github.com/AgregoreWeb/agregore-browser/releases/tag/v2.20.0