Today’s Tech Sightings:
Poverty, More Than Geography, Determines Who Gets Online in America
A new map of the digital divide in the United States, released by the White House Council of Economic Advisers, reveals that 80 percent to 90 percent of households in the most affluent sectors are connected to the Internet, while the percentage drops to about 50 percent in areas with the lowest median income.
Researchers Create Quad-Core Computer Using Four Rat Brains
Scientists at Duke University are looking at ways to connect the brains of animals together. To do that, they connected rat brains to one another via microwire arrays to create what researchers call a ‘Brainet.’ In their most recent experiment, scientists stimulated the rats’ brains using temperature and barometric pressure data on precipitation. The rats were able to correctly forecast the weather in 41 percent of the cases.
Flash. Must. Die.
The voices are getting louder, calling for an end to Adobe’s Flash Player – a resource whose numerous vulnerabilities have extended many an invitation to hackers over the past few years. Now, writer Brian Barrett has some tips to help users ditch Flash altogether.
Hacking Team Stealthy Spyware Gets Entrenched Through Hard Disk Removal
A 400GB cache that recently was dumped on the Web after Italian firm Hacking Team was breached is shedding more light on the company that sells surveillance tools and claims to be “the good guys.” Researchers at Trend Micro revealed that in addition to developing exploits and vulnerabilities, the Hacking Team used a BIOS toolkit that keeps their Remote Control System on their targets’ computers. The dump also revealed a new vulnerability in Microsoft’s Internet Explorer browser.
Epic Games Forums Hacked, User Data Stolen
In an email to forum members, Epic Games said a hacker had compromised its gaming communications and stolen data, including usernames, emails and passwords. The company has taken the forums offline while it determines how the hacker breached the system.
Seagull Steals Tourist’s GoPro, Captures Amazing Spanish Coast Footage
Yes, a seagull did, in fact, steal a tourist’s GoPro camera. And on the bright side, it took some serious footage of the Cies Islands in Spanish Galicia.
