### Issue 1622 - Monday 6th June, 2022

## In Today's Issue

- Victorians ask what the hell is "Heartland Exposure Notifications" and why is it on my iPhone
- New York legislates right to repair laws for smartphones, computers and other electronics
- Former deputy NSW premier wins defamation case against Google for not removing Friendlyjordies videos
- Two altruistic uses for an idle computer, Tor Bridges & Archive Team Warrior
- Cheap Nintendo gift cards, PS VR starter pack, Dell monitor & monitor arm, Amazon Echo Auto, Xiaomi POCO X3 GT, Corsair PSU, Romoss battery, AOC 34" monitor, Doom Eternal, Google Pixel Stand, Amaysim & Catch Connect pre-paid, Huawei Watch GT3 Elite, Red Dead Redempion 2, Seagate SSD

## The News

### Victorians ask what the hell is "Heartland Exposure Notifications" and why is it on my iPhone

If you own an iPhone and live in Victoria, you very likely got a notification from something called "Heartland Exposure Notifications" asking you to enable the "official state COVID-19 exposure notification system". You're also very likely wondering what the fuck is going on. A Google for "Heartland Exposure Notifications" yields nothing. The government even said they're no longer doing contact tracing. So what is this? A devloper error? A security vulnerability? Nobody seems to know at the moment. Maybe once Apple/Victorian Government figure out what happened, they'll tell us.

### New York legislates right to repair laws for smartphones, computers and other electronics

New York has passed a law that'll force electronics manufacturers to "distribute information, software, tools, and parts so that individuals and independent repair shops can repair personal devices on their own". There's some exclusions, like "medical devices, home appliances, agricultural and off-road equipment, or public safety communications equipment" - but laptops and smartphones are not. The law also "includes provisions for resetting the software locks that some manufacturers use to tie parts to the device's motherboard or serial number", which will make refurbishing devices much more viable and reduce e-waste.

### Former deputy NSW premier wins defamation case against Google for not removing Friendlyjordies videos

Google has to pay former NSW deputy premier John Barilaro $715,000 because of videos made by YouTuber Friendlyjordies. He sued Google for defamation, along with Friendlyjordies, because of a series of videos heaping shit on him and calling him names like "wog, greasy and slimeball". Friendlyjordies and Barilaro settled, with Friendlyjordies editing the videos were and apologising. Google however, refused to delete the videos and defended its inaction, but later changed its mind. Another example where in Australia at least, the platform is liable for what its users do and say.

## Something I Saw On The Internet

### Two altruistic uses for an idle computer, Tor Bridges & Archive Team Warrior

Feel like doing a good deed? Set up a Tor Bridge on a computer you own - maybe it's a VPS you're renting or a Raspberry Pi you purchased with the best of intentions, that are doing sweet fuck all - and allow users in "China, Belarus, Iran, and Kazakhstan can connect to the Tor network and access the free and open Internet". I don't know what sort of legal liability this introduces, but I installed it on an idle VPS anyways! Here's some guides for various operating systems. If Tor doesn't float your boat, fire up a Docker container to run the Archive Team's Warrior software that automatically copies stuff for the Wayback Machine and Internet Archive.

## Bargains

- 10% off Nintendo eShop Gift Cards at Big W
- PlayStation VR Starter Pack V2 - $269 at Big W
- Dell 27" S2722DZ QHD monitor with built-in webcam, speakers & noise cancelling mics - $399 from Dell
- Dell Single Monitor Arm MSA20 - $157.92 from Dell
- Amazon Echo Auto - $39 from Amazon
- Corsair RM850 (2021), 850W 80 Plus Gold (White) PSU - $165
- Xiaomi POCO X3 GT 5G 8GB/256GB - $366.05 from xiaomi_global_direct eBay
- ROMOSS SW20 Pro 20000mAh power bank - $26.99 from Amazon
- AOC U34P2C 34" 3440 × 1440 USB-C IPS Monitor - $499 from PC Byte
- DOOM Eternal - $18.13 on Steam
- Google Pixel Stand (2nd Gen) Wireless Charger - $89 from Telstra
- Amaysim 365-day SIM, 60GB data - $99 from Amaysim (exstra $17.50 off via Cashrewards)
- Catch Connect 365-day SIM, 120GB data - $110 from Catch
- Huawei Watch GT 3 Elite - $256.87 from Allphones eBay store
- Red Dead Redemption 2 for PC - $33.72 via Epic Games
- Seagate Firecuda 520 1TB M.2 NVMe SSD - $163.20 from Amazon

## The End

📻 Feel Good Summer - SCABZ

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