### Issue 1401 - Tuesday 6th July, 2021

## In Today's Issue

- REvil want $70m in BTC to release a universal decryptor for their ransomware
- TPG introduce first standalone 5G service on 700MHz & join Telstra to restack 4G bands
- 33% of iOS users are opting in to allow apps to track them
- Apps! Apps! Apps!
- Cheap AirPods Pro, Xiaomi 25Ah 200W USB powerbank, Xiaomi wi-fi 6 router

## The News

### REvil want $70m in BTC to release a universal decryptor for their ransomware

REvil, the mob responsible for the latest supply-chain ransomware attack that used Kaseya's software to install cryptolockers in over 1,000 businesses, is demanding US$70m in Bitcoin in exchange for a universal decryptor. This tool would decrypt the files of all their victims, with REvil claiming they've infected over 1 million systems. So if the victims are desperate, they could contact each other, get the $70m together and get their data back. REvil are only offering this because they probably have a newer version of the ransomware they can use and would likely just keep on doing what they're doing even if they got a fat payday.

### TPG introduce first standalone 5G service on 700MHz & join Telstra to restack 4G bands

TPG has enabled standalone 5G services on the 700MHz spectrum in parts of Sydney recently. They reckon it's a world first. I didn't know this until now, but there's two types of 5G networks - NSA (non-standalone) and SA (standalone). Every 5G service so far is NSA and is really more like 4G+. SA networks use a different standard (5G New Radio) that's more like the 5G we expect with high bandwidth and low latency. TPG and Telstra also re-stacked their 4G spectrum across some capital cities to give the 1800MHz & 2100MHz an extra 10MHz of bandwidth, for a total of 20MHz. This change eases congestion and has been a 10-20% increase in 4G speeds.

### 33% of iOS users are opting in to allow apps to track them

In April, Apple rolled out the now infamous feature in iOS that asks users to give permission to apps wanting to track activity across other apps and websites. According to ad-measurement firm Branch Metrics, less than 33% of users opt-in to tracking. A figure wayyyy higher than I expected. A third of people see that prompt and go "yes, I do want this app to track me"?? Why?! The same article also says that advertisers are spending less on iOS due to a "lack of granular data that made mobile ads on iOS devices effective and justified their prices" and have shifted their budgets towards Android users instead.

## Something I Saw On The Internet

### Apps! Apps! Apps!

- Are you the kinda person that needs some sort of noise to help you sleep? (I am!) Then you might like an app called Dark Noise for iOS & Mac. It has 50 built in sounds to help you sleep or calm down.
- Stop bothering people calls with your noisy keyboard when you aren't talking! Unclack is a macOS app that automatically detects when you're typing and mutes your mic, then unmutes it when you stop typing.
- Aerial is a very nice screensaver for macOS that lets you play videos from Apple's tvOS screensaver, plus a few fancy 3rd party ones, or even your own. There's a weather API built-in too that overlays weather info over the vids.
- Still using MacOS 9? Newsstand is a Google News & RSS reader created in 2021 for you! I miss how simple those old user interfaces were to use. Kinda want to dig out an old Mac and see how far I'd get using it for an issue of The Sizzle.
- If someone from 2000 asked me to show them what computers can do in 2021, I would whip out my iPhone, load up Brickit and point it at a pile of Lego. The app would tell me what I can construct out of the Lego pile, exploding the brain of my time travelling friend.

## Bargains

- AirPods Pro - $299.90 on Amazon (or get Officeworks to price match down to $284.90)
- Xiaomi ZMI 25Ah QB826 powerbank with 200W USB output - $119.59 from Mostly Melbourne
- Xiaomi Mi AIoT AX1800 Wi-Fi 6 router - $49.95 from Xiaomi's eBay store

## The End

📻 Same Same - WAAX

😎 The Sizzle is curated by Anthony "@decryption" Agius and emailed every weekday afternoon.

💬 Did you know that The Sizzle has a Slack group? Join in and chat with other subscribers like you.

💳 Paid subscriber looking to manage your billing info? Visit the customer portal.

The Sizzle is created on Wathaurong 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.​