The News

Eleventy trillion passwords have been released online but it’s just a number

By now you’ve probably seen the eye-popping headlines about 16 billion log-in credentials from pretty much every major service exposed online (Guardian). The source of this claim is a Cybernews report adding up 30 different exposed datasets. Bad, right? Except, as Bleeping Computer reports, there’s no proof that any of this is new data and not just previous leaks mashed together. Obviously, everyone should be using password managers, MFA, washing their hands after they pee etc., but forgive me for not being worried about eleventy trillion old passwords being leaked online.

Discuss in the Sizzle Slack or forum.

Finding out about WW3 through Truth Social

The most reliable place to find out if the United States bombed another nation is Truth Social, the social media network used and part-owned by President Donald J Trump. On Sunday, Trump Truthed — that’s the verb —  that the US had launched a “very successful attack on three Nuclear sites in Iran” several minutes before posting to X. But for much of today, Truth Social was offline (WIRED, $) with a group of Iranian-aligned hackers claiming to have DDoSed it (Mediaite). It’s back but — and I know how crazy it is to say this — Truth Social’s outage meant that there was some time when we were a little more unsure whether we were closer to World War 3.

Discuss in the Sizzle Slack or forum.

End of an era for Australia’s best tech inquiry

Australia’s competition watchdog has released the conclusion of its legitimately world leading investigation into online platforms (ACCC). The ACCC’s half-a-decade-long Digital Platform Services inquiry looked into how companies like Google, Amazon and Meta use their dominance in search engines, social media platforms, app stores, voice assistants IoT, AI, and more, to lock users in and stop competition. It’s led to everything from Australia’s news media bargaining code and our new incoming competition regulation, to other flow-on effects like revealing that the US military buys data from Muslim prayer apps (Vice) when the ACCC published data that prompted an investigation.

Discuss in the Sizzle Slack or forum.

Leftovers

Discuss these links in the Sizzle Slack or forum.

Oh, Also

Tech showing footy to low vision fans

Footy fans with limited vision are getting a hand with this cool new tech that allows them to watch the game using touch (EFTM). I’d seen this rolled out in the NBA, and now the AFL has launched its “touch and track” device which uses a metal ring that is dragged around a board using magnets. The ring’s movement follows the game, based on a real-time capture using cameras, and vibrates differently for things like goals, tackles, etc. Love that tech like make things like this possible.

Discuss in the Sizzle Slack or forum.

Bargains

Electrical & electronics

Computing

Mobile

The End

😎 The Sizzle is written by Cam Wilson and emailed every weekday. It was created by Anthony “decryption” Agius.

🤖 We love robots at the Sizzle but this newsletter has always been and will always be written by humans for humans.

🗣️ Have any feedback, a tip or just want to chat? Send me an email or Signal message. I promise to reply!

💬 Want to hang out with other Sizzlers? There’s a subscriber-only Slack server and forum if you want to procrastinate and chat about tech-related news.

🌐 The Sizzle is on Bluesky, Mastodon and LinkedIn if you’re feeling social.

💳 Paid subscriber looking to manage your billing info, change email address or cancel your subscription? Visit the Beehiiv customer portal.

🎁 Make someone's day and gift them a 12 month gift subscription to The Sizzle.

💔 Don’t want this any more? I won’t take it personally. There’s a unsubscribe button at the bottom of this email or here’s a guide.

🦺 The Sizzle has been tested to meet and exceed ISO 3533 standards.

Always Was, Always Will Be Aboriginal Land

The Sizzle is created on Gadigal land and acknowledges the traditional owners of country throughout Australia, recognising their continuing connection to land, water and community. I pay my respect to them and their cultures and to elders both past and present.