### Issue 2096 - Monday 27th May, 2024

## In Today's Issue

- Apple & Google explain recent software bugs, MediSecure's data appears on hacker forum
- The Department of Home Affairs is full of outdated ICT systems and is incapable of upgrading
- Canva did a cringe rap song at their conference
- Australian Cyber Security Centre's tips for bosses that can't computer
- Cheap refurb Lenovo micro PC, Samsung S24 Ultra, Anker USB charger, 12TB Seagate HDD, Dune LEGO, iPhones, Samsung Tab S8 Ultra, Lenovo Tab M11, Logitech mech keebs, ALDI portable monitor, MSI 24" monitor

## The News

### Apple & Google explain recent software bugs, MediSecure's data appears on hacker forum

A few follow ups on last week's news:

- In a statement to 9to5Mac, Apple said that bug in iOS 17.5 resulting in deleted photos to re-appear was due to a "corrupt database entry that existed on the device's file system itself" that persisted across device backups/restores and iOS 17.5 happened to expose. That guy on Reddit that said someone else's photos appeared was bullshit and the bug has nothing to do with iCloud. Still a pretty stupid bug. What else on iOS isn't deleted when I expect it to, hmm?
- Unlike Apple's vague nonsense, Google has explained what caused UniSuper's Google Cloud setup to be deleted. It sounds like there was a blank config parameter when setting up the Google Cloud VMware Engine (GCVE) Private Cloud and that blank config was then set to a "fixed term, with automatic deletion at the end of that period". When that period came around, the instance was nuked, no fault at all of UniSuper. Oops.
- 6.5TB of data from MediSecure has shown up on a "Russian hacking forum". It contains "information on citizens, insurance numbers, phone numbers, addresses, full names, supplier information, contractor information, emails, user+passwords for MedSecure website, prescription information (who was prescribed what), IP addresses of visitors to the site and etc". It can all be yours for US$50,000.

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### The Department of Home Affairs is full of outdated ICT systems and is incapable of upgrading

A review of the Department of Home Affairs ICT capability found "over 40% of 480 distinct business systems have already reached end-of-life" and that "resources required to sustain, and in future replace, these assets are yet to be fully funded". It's also bad that the few modernisation attempts they tried "had not progressed due to funding, staffing levels and executive sponsorship". The report reckons resources given to Home Affairs for ICT make it "currently not positioned to deliver beyond maintenance, let alone improve its ability to radically transform its technology and use of data". I'm sure this isn't a problem for the arm of government tasked with "cyber and critical infrastructure resilience and security" and "the protection of our sovereignty".

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### Canva did a cringe rap song at their conference

There's a few of you who work for Canva that read this, so I'm sorry for shitting on your employer like this, but goddamn the "two minute rap video" from Canva Create last week is one of the most cringeworthy and out of touch things I've ever seen in tech - and I've sat through keynotes from Samsung back in the early 2010s. Apparently it was on purpose according to Canva co-founder Cliff Obrecht, posting on Linkedin, who said "we decided to be ourselves, do something different and not take ourselves too seriously. Haters gonna hate (insert laugh crying emoji here)", trying to explain how they wanted to do something different than copying "Steve Jobs launching the iPhone". Yes, sure you are Cliffy, if that's what makes you sleep at night in your giant bed filled with money, keep at it bro.

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## Something I Saw On The Internet

### Australian Cyber Security Centre's tips for bosses that can't computer

Perhaps not news for most of you reading this, but the Australian Cyber Security Centre has a handy blog post about practical cyber security tips for business leaders - aka your dumb as fuck boss who hates IT and will absolutely throw you under the bus should anything bad happen despite your repeated warnings. It explains that enabling multi-factor authentication, updating and patching your apps & OS, plus having a backup of your important data will save your businesses arse should it get haX0red. It also explains why you need to secure social media, why you should separate personal and business email/comms, and why encryption is good. Hope you find it useful!

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## Bargains

- Refurb Lenovo ThinkCentre M70q micro PC (i5-10500T, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) - $399 from UN Tech
- Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra 5G - $1887 from Officeworks
- Anker 323 33W dual port USB-C/USB-A charger - $19.99 from Amazon
- Seagate EXOS X16 12TB HDD - $244 from Metrocom's eBay store
- LEGO 10327 Icons Dune Atreides Royal Ornithopter - $199 at Big W (can stack with multiple discounts/cashback)
- iPhone 15 128GB, iPhone Plus 128GB, iPhone Pro 128GB, iPhone Pro Max 256GB - $1287/$1437/$1587/$1937 from Officeworks
- Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra 14.6" Wi-Fi 128GB - $999 at JB Hi-Fi
- Lenovo Tab M11 with case & stylus - $199 at ALDI
- Logitech G915 Wireless RGB Mechanical Keyboard Tactile Full-Size/TKL - $249/$225 from Amazon
- 15.6" Bauhn USB-C 1080p IPS Portable Monitor - $149 at ALDI
- MSI PRO MP2412 24" 100Hz 1080p VA monitor - $93 from Amazon

## Image Of The Day

Computers crashing, Judy Horacek, 2002 (National Library of Australia)

## The End

📻 Lost Meaning - Cloakroom

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