| Issue 2325 - Tuesday 6 May 2025 | The News | Trump’s Cabinet using hacked ‘encrypted’ app. Oops! | Gather, children, for this cautionary tale about cybersecurity: SignalGate patient zero and now ex-US national security advisor Michael Waltz was photographed in a Cabinet meeting still seeming to use Signal (NBCNews). In fact, it was a cloned version of Signal that archives the messages (404 Media, $). Analysis of this app, which was created by a bunch of former Israeli intelligence types, suggested the app’s messaging archive would be an easy target for hackers (Micah Lee). And then, what do you know: someone hacked it and accessed some of the messages (404 Media, $) and the company deleted all references to the app off its website. Who ever could’ve seen this coming???????????????????? |  | I have serious questions about the capabilities of a national security advisor who is checking his messages in a room full of CAMERAS |
| Aussies going to space unless there’s a sniper around | For those of you on Space Watch: Australian private space company Gilmour Space Technologies says it is targeting a launch date of mid-month (LinkedIn)! After having its previous launched delayed by the Queensland floods, it has received the penultimate approval to launch on May 15th. After their previous problems, let’s hope they don’t face a sniper — like Elon Musk believed after a 2016 SpaceX rocket explosion (Ars Technica). Apparently, the world’s richest man was convinced that someone had shot the rocket, had the company test what would happen if someone shot a rocket, and directed employees to pressure the FBI to investigate the theory. Unfortunately for Musk, the feds found no evidence that it happened. | RIP OpenAI the for-profit. Welcome OpenAI the ‘public benefit corporation.’ | OpenAI’s dream of fully cashing in has been abandoned, as competitors and regulators nip at its heels (OpenAI). Instead of becoming a full for-profit company as hoped, OpenAI will keep its weird babushka doll structure with a not-for-profit overseeing a subsidiary. This entity, which was a capped for-profit, will become a “public benefit corporation” which essentially now means it can make as much money as it wants as long as it adheres to some vague mission to do good (The Verge). It looks like the meddling of people like Elon Musk and some state attorneys-general was enough to thwart their plans to really turn on the Money Machine, but, even still, it seems like even this second preference will still let OpenAI be officially Open For Business. | Leftovers | Re-elected Labor govt will 'do more to embrace technology' (Information Age) Labor urged to back science, boost spending on research (AFR, $) Election fallout: Tech and science movers, Husic’s thumping win (AFR, $) Optus AI boss warns Australia against following Europe-style regulation (Capital Brief, $) ABC prepares to reveal next phase of AI strategy to staff (Capital Brief, $) Councils trial AI to speed up planning process for new homes and renovations (9NEWS) Aussie shipbuilder Incat just launched the world’s largest electric ferry (TechAU) Trump promises protection for TikTok, for which he has a ‘warm spot in my heart’ (The Register) A look back at the internet traffic during the European power outage of April 28 (Akamai developers blog) Luna Moth extortion hackers pose as IT help desks to breach US firms (Beeping Computer) Apple files appeal against court ruling that mandated App Store changes (Apple Insider) Apple Shortcuts is falling into “the automation gap” (Six Colours) Skype shuts down on May 5: Ever wondered why it was called Skype? (Al Jazeera) Google just leaked Android’s new design language (The Verge) Zuckerberg’s new Meta AI app gets personal in a very creepy way (Washington Post) The Dream of the Metaverse Is Dying. Manufacturing Is Keeping It Alive (WIRED, $) AWS Built a Security Tool. It Introduced a Security Risk (Token Security)
| | Oh, Also | Read this very compelling case for why the future of web development is AI | I know many of you will be skeptical, but I implore you: take off the critic hat and give this very compelling article a chance: The future of web development is AI. Get on or get left behind (Alex.Party) | | 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. | 🗣️ 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. |
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