Why cryptography? I have only a superficial understanding of it. Yes, I read Bruce Schneier's classic work, but that was a long time ago; yes, I understand the difference between symmetric and asymmetric encryption, I know what elliptic curves are, but that's about it. Moreover, the existing cryptographic libraries, with their charming practice of including the full name of the algorithm in each function name […]
A new stable release of the interface for simplifying network parameter configuration has been presented—NetworkManager 1.18. Plugins for supporting VPNs, OpenConnect, PPTP, OpenVPN, and OpenSWAN are being developed within their own development cycles. Key innovations of NetworkManager 1.18 include: added support for source address policy routing, which was needed after the last release added support for the WireGuard VPN (needed for […]
The developers of the OpenBSD project have released a portable version of the LibreSSL 2.9.1 package, which is a fork of OpenSSL aimed at providing a higher level of security. The LibreSSL project focuses on high-quality support for SSL/TLS protocols by removing unnecessary functionality, adding additional security measures, and undergoing significant codebase cleanup and refactoring. The LibreSSL 2.9.1 release is considered experimental, in which […]
A screwdriver whizzed past my ear. With a loud clang, it came to a halt against the cryostat's casing. Cursing under my breath, I decided to take a break. Unscrewing bolts in a magnetic field of 1.5 tesla with a steel tool is not the best idea. The field, like an invisible adversary, constantly tries to wrench the tool from my hands, orient it along its magnetic lines, and thrust it as far as possible.
The South Korean company LG has introduced its first device with the intelligent voice assistant "Alice" developed by Yandex: this gadget is the smart speaker XBoom AI ThinQ WK7Y. It is noted that the novelty provides high-quality sound. The speaker is certified by Meridian, a well-known manufacturer of audio components. The assistant "Alice" residing inside the speaker allows users to control music playback through voice commands, remembers user preferences, and recommends […]
The eighth season of the iconic series "Game of Thrones" has already started, and it won't be long before we find out who will sit on the Iron Throne and who will fall in the struggle for it. High-budget series and films pay particular attention to details. Observant viewers watching the series in the original have noticed that the characters speak with different English accents. Let’s explore what accents they speak with […]
The results of the annual Debian Project Leader elections have been announced. A total of 378 developers participated in the voting, which is 37% of all eligible voters (last year the turnout was 33%, the year before 30%). This year, four candidates ran for the leadership position. Sam Hartman won the election. Sam joined the project in 2000 […]
In mid-January, the cryptocurrency Grin was launched based on the MimbleWimble protocol, designed to be more profitable to mine on graphics cards rather than custom ASICs. Grin mining utilizes the Cuckoo Cycle (Cuckatoo) hashing algorithms, which are expected to be continually developed, thereby making Grin mining less profitable on ASICs. However, ASIC developers disagree […]
A new version of Ubuntu has been released — 19.04 "Disco Dingo." Ready-made images have been created for all editions, including Ubuntu Kylin (a special version for China). Among the main innovations is the coexistence of X.Org and Wayland. Additionally, fractional scaling has been introduced as an experimental feature, working in both modes. The developers have improved the performance and responsiveness of the desktop, […]
At the Shanghai International Auto Show, Infiniti unveiled the Qs Inspiration concept car featuring a fully electric powertrain. The Qs Inspiration is a sporty sedan with a dynamic appearance. There is no traditional grille at the front, as it is simply unnecessary for an electric vehicle. Unfortunately, the technical specifications of the power platform are not disclosed. However, it is known that the car is equipped with an e-AWD all-wheel drive system.
Some users report that Microsoft has started sending notifications to computers running Windows 7, reminding them of the imminent end of support for this OS. Support will end on January 14, 2020, and users are expected to upgrade to Windows 10 by then. Apparently, the notification first appeared in the morning of April 18. Posts on […]
The Epic Games Store officially does not support Linux, but now users of the open OS can install its client and run almost all games in the library. Thanks to Lutris Gaming, the Epic Games Store client now works on Linux. It is fully functional and can run nearly all games with minimal issues. However, one of the largest projects on the Epic Games Store, Fortnite, […]