A 15-year-old programmer discovered a significant security vulnerability in Zendesk, affecting over half of the Fortune 500 companies, by exploiting email spoofing to access support tickets.- Despite reporting the issue, Zendesk initially dismissed it as "out of scope," but later fixed the vulnerability after the researcher demonstrated its potential to access private Slack workspaces.- The researcher earned over $50,000 in bounties from individual companies, although Zendesk did not award a bounty due to disclosure guideline breaches, highlighting the complexities of bug hunting and responsible disclosure.
A security researcher found a vulnerability in Zendesk's system that permitted unauthorized access to support tickets, but Zendesk, via HackerOne, considered it out of scope and did not reward a bounty.- This decision has led to criticism, indicating that Zendesk's bug bounty program might not adequately encourage responsible disclosure of security issues.- The incident underscores the difficulties and potential drawbacks in managing bug bounty programs, particularly when security concerns are overlooked due to technicalities.
Remote work has increased significantly since the pandemic, enhancing economic growth and productivity by saving commuting time and increasing labor supply, particularly for individuals with disabilities or childcare responsibilities.
The shift to remote work has spurred technological innovation, creating a positive feedback loop for growth, while also reducing the need for office space and commuting infrastructure, thus freeing up resources.
Although city centers face challenges, converting office spaces to residential use could make urban living more affordable, and the overall benefits of remote work present an optimistic outlook for economists.
Working from home (WFH) can enhance productivity for tasks that require minimal collaboration by reducing interruptions and allowing for greater focus.- For roles that require detailed collaboration and regular interaction, WFH may be less efficient, highlighting the complexity of the WFH versus return to office (RTO) debate.- The effectiveness of WFH versus RTO is influenced by factors such as company culture, employee preferences, and external pressures, and ultimately depends on the nature of the work and the individual.
A YouTube video discussing 3Blue1Brown's animation techniques has sparked conversations about content creators revealing their faces, with mixed reactions from viewers.
The thread highlights the educational impact of creators like 3Blue1Brown, Veritasium, and Khan Academy, noting their impressive work, such as real-time bug spotting.
There is interest in animation tools like Manim, with suggestions for JavaScript alternatives such as Motion Canvas.
AMD has introduced its 5th Gen EPYC "Turin" server CPUs, including the EPYC 9575F, which showcases significant improvements in memory bandwidth and latency compared to previous models.- The EPYC 9575F supports DDR5-6400MT/s memory speeds and enhanced GMI links, achieving nearly 99% of its theoretical memory bandwidth and consistent latency performance.- With a high core count and frequency, reaching up to 5GHz in single-threaded tests, Turin is a generational update that provides substantial value for hyperscalers and traditional enterprises in a competitive market.
AMD has introduced its 5th Gen EPYC processors, codenamed Turin, with the EPYC 9175F model featuring 16 cores and 512MB of L3 cache, potentially reducing software costs associated with per-core licensing.- The new processors are designed to enhance performance for applications like high-frequency trading and discrete event simulations, with some models offering up to 196 cores.- This launch signifies a competitive shift in the server CPU market, providing alternatives to Intel's Xeon and showcasing advancements in core count and performance.
A long-term study presented at the ECNP Congress and published in The Lancet eClinicalMedicine found psilocybin to be more effective than the SSRI escitalopram in treating moderate to severe major depressive disorder (MDD).
Psilocybin showed greater improvements in overall well-being, life meaning, and social functioning, despite both treatments reducing depressive symptoms similarly.
The study highlights psilocybin's potential for a holistic approach to depression treatment, though it notes limitations such as diverse follow-up treatments and potential biases.
Psilocybin, a psychedelic compound, has demonstrated potential in treating major depression, possibly surpassing the effectiveness of SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) in certain instances.
There is an ongoing debate regarding the responsible use of psychedelics, with some individuals favoring personal use over institutional administration due to potential risks in uncontrolled environments.
The discussion underscores the complexity of mental health treatment, emphasizing the need for further research to evaluate the safety and efficacy of psilocybin compared to traditional antidepressants.
Valve reminds Steam users that purchasing games grants a license to use, not ownership, highlighting a key difference in digital game distribution.- GOG emphasizes its DRM-free (Digital Rights Management) model, providing offline installers to ensure game accessibility even if the storefront closes.- A new California law will mandate clearer communication about digital purchases, underscoring the importance of understanding digital ownership rights.
Valve has clarified that Steam users purchase licenses for games rather than owning them, in accordance with a new California law.- GOG, on the other hand, provides DRM-free games, which cannot be revoked, thus emphasizing user ownership.- This distinction underscores the ongoing debate about digital content ownership and its implications for consumers.
Michael Straight, a paraplegic from a horse racing accident, regained mobility using an exoskeleton, walking over half a million steps in 10 years.- Lifeward, the exoskeleton manufacturer, initially refused to repair his device due to its age, but reversed their decision after media coverage, providing a replacement part.- Straight's journey highlights the importance of exoskeletons for physical health and independence, despite challenges with manufacturer support.
A paralyzed man used an exoskeleton to walk, but the manufacturer declined to repair it after five years, citing FDA (Food and Drug Administration) regulations.
This situation has ignited a debate on right-to-repair laws, questioning whether companies should be mandated to supply parts for older models and open-source their code if they go bankrupt or discontinue products.
The discussion underscores the complexities of balancing consumer rights, company responsibilities, and regulatory demands in the medical device industry.
Snaps is a search tool that allows users to limit search results to a specific website using the "@" symbol and a short code, similar to using "site:" in search engines.
The Bangs feature, using "!", redirects users to a website's internal search, providing a different method for targeted searches.
Snaps is open source, and users can contribute by submitting pull requests to add or update short codes, enhancing the tool's functionality.
Kagi Snaps is a new feature from Kagi Search that simplifies limiting search results to specific websites using a shorthand syntax, such as "@r" for Reddit.
This feature is designed to improve user experience by making searches more intuitive and efficient compared to traditional methods like Google's "site:" function.
Kagi is expanding its presence on Android, potentially becoming a default search option due to recent EU rulings, and is reportedly profitable and growing despite some skepticism.
Google is creating a Linux terminal app for Android, enabling users to run Debian in a virtual machine, initially targeting Chromebooks but potentially extending to mobile devices.- The app is part of the Android Virtualization Framework, with plans to simplify Linux VM configuration and add features like disk resizing and port forwarding.- This development could make Android more appealing to developers by enhancing its capabilities as a desktop-class platform, possibly debuting in the Android 16 update.
Google is planning to enable Linux apps on Android, akin to its implementation on Chrome OS, sparking both excitement and skepticism among users.
Concerns arise about potential limitations on current solutions like Termux and increased control by Google over the platform, which could affect app functionality and user freedom.
While this could make Android devices more attractive to developers, the effect on existing Linux app solutions is still unclear, leaving the community divided on the potential benefits and drawbacks.
Swarm is an experimental educational framework designed for exploring ergonomic, lightweight multi-agent orchestration, not intended for production use and lacking official support.- It utilizes Python 3.10+ and is available for installation via GitHub, focusing on agent coordination using the Chat Completions API, with a stateless design between calls.- Swarm is ideal for educational scenarios involving numerous independent capabilities, supporting function calling, context variable updates, and streaming responses, with contributions from several core developers.
Swarm, a new agent framework by OpenAI, is generating debate about the efficiency and reliability of AI agents in production environments.
Critics point out that AI agents can be slow, costly, and inconsistent, with issues such as agent divergence and the need for consistency being highlighted.
Alternatives like Langroid and Microsoft's Semantic Kernel are discussed, but concerns about code quality and the feasibility of multi-agent systems remain, alongside challenges in scaling AI inference.
The text discusses PostgreSQL streaming replication, a technique for creating a real-time replica of a primary database on standby servers, enhancing database availability and scalability.- It provides a detailed guide on configuring PostgreSQL files and setting up Docker for replication, including a Docker Compose example for a master-replica environment.- The article highlights the role of configuration files like postgresql.conf and pg_hba.conf, and explains the significance of WAL (Write-Ahead Log) records in the replication process.
The article explores PostgreSQL Streaming Replication, focusing on configuration challenges for full-stack developers, such as monitoring replica lag and preventing split-brain scenarios using a witness server.- It emphasizes the complexity of managing high availability (HA) clusters and suggests using tools like Kubernetes and PostgreSQL operators for streamlined management.- The discussion includes the pros and cons of manual versus automated failover, the necessity of reliable backups, and mentions tools like Patroni and pt-heartbeat for effective replication and failover management.
Windows 11 24H2 users are facing a problem where 8.63 GB of "Windows Update Cleanup" data remains undeletable, even with cleanup tools.
The issue may be related to the new checkpoint cumulative updates system in Windows 11 24H2, which necessitates a checkpoint for updates.
Although users can manually delete these files, doing so might lead to complications with future updates, and Microsoft has not yet addressed the issue.
The Windows 11 24H2 update reportedly leaves 8.63 GB of undeletable junk files on users' systems, raising concerns about storage management.- This issue has reignited discussions about Microsoft's history of using users' hard drives for unnecessary files and has drawn comparisons to similar problems on macOS.- The debate extends to broader topics of operating system usability and privacy, with some users advocating for Linux as a potential alternative.
Brain zaps are unsettling sensations resembling electrical shocks in the brain, associated with stopping SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors), a type of antidepressant.- These symptoms are part of Antidepressant Discontinuation Syndrome (ADS) and can lead to anxiety, vertigo, and other issues, making it challenging to stop antidepressant use.- Strategies like gradual tapering, switching to fluoxetine (another antidepressant), and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can help alleviate symptoms, but no definitive cure exists, and some individuals may experience symptoms for extended periods.
Brain zaps, described as electric shock-like sensations, are now acknowledged as a common symptom of SSRI (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor) withdrawal, despite being initially overlooked by physicians.- The phenomenon has been under-researched due to regulatory focus on minimizing the perception of antidepressant withdrawal symptoms.- To reduce withdrawal effects, a gradual tapering off of SSRIs is often advised, as users report diverse experiences with the medication's benefits and side effects.
A user was banned from the WordPress community Slack after expressing concerns about a new mandatory checkbox on the wordpress.org sign-in page, which requires users to declare no affiliation.
The checkbox has raised legal concerns, particularly for those with connections to WP Engine, leading to hesitancy among community members to log in without legal clarification.
The ban underscores broader issues within the WordPress community, with hopes for a resolution that fosters healing and continued positive contributions.
Matt Mullenweg, a key figure in WordPress, faces criticism for his management style, particularly regarding issues with WP Engine's contributions and trademark disputes.
Controversial actions, such as adding a disputed checkbox on WordPress.org, have sparked debate about the impact on WordPress's reputation and community.
The situation underscores broader concerns about large companies exploiting open-source projects without providing sufficient contributions in return.
Öldutún School's phone ban, initiated in 2019, has been well-received by both students and parents, enhancing the school's environment and reducing cyberbullying.- The ban has indirectly increased students' interest in reading, aligning with research suggesting that less screen time boosts reading interest.- The policy was developed with community input, and while phones aren't confiscated, parents are encouraged to keep them at home if rules are violated, leading to more student engagement in activities like table tennis and chess.
The debate on phone bans in schools centers around their impact on students' focus and social interactions, with some viewing phones as distractions that hinder academic engagement.- Proponents argue that banning phones could enhance school culture and student involvement, while critics suggest the core issue is a lack of interest in learning.- The discussion also highlights the influence of social media and the necessity for improved management of digital distractions, with differing views on the effectiveness and challenges of implementing phone bans.