The Actuator - May 10th

This week's links have a security slant because humans remain infallible. The Google Docs phishing email was but one of a handful of headlines reminding me that humans are far too trusting when it comes to basic security. I suppose it is human nature to want to help others, that's why people pick up hitchhikers, I guess. Data security and privacy is one area where I hope the machines rise up to save us from ourselves.

As always, here are some links from the Intertubz that I hope will hold your interest. Enjoy!

For the love of God, stop clicking on shady emails already

Seriously. This is why we can't have nice things.

235 apps attempt to secretly track users with ultrasonic audio

If an app asks for access to your microphone or camera, and you can't imagine why it needs that access, think twice about installing it on your phone.

Antivirus evolved – Microsoft Malware Protection Center Blog

Rise up machines! One of the biggest benefits for Azure Machine Learning is how Microsoft is using machine learning technology to help detect threats. This is one of the (many) reasons why I see Azure overtaking AWS because Microsoft is focused on data security for their customers.

The alarming state of secure coding neglect

Honestly, I'm not that alarmed, because I know that security is an afterthought. If security was important, then we wouldn't be clicking on weird links to random Google Docs folders.

Intel's AMT Flaw: Worse Than Feared

See what I mean? Seven years of flawed chips installed on hardware devices around the globe. At this point, we should just assume that everything we do or will do, is going to be exposed and lost.

Reckon you've seen some stupid security things? Here, hold my beer...

I could go on with more bad security examples, but Troy Hunt provides a nice summary of how security is hard for most humans.

How to prevent blood clots as airlines squeeze you into tighter spaces

Turns out United was doing that guy a favor by letting some blood flow from his face so as to avoid any blood clots while flying.

Go home, Google Voice, you're drunk. Or maybe machines are further away from helping us than I had hoped. In related news, my heat is just fine: