?? iOS 18's Face ID Lock, NYT Breach, VSCode Security Flaws

Good Morning! Dive into today's top stories and discover the cutting-edge trends in technology and AI that are shaping our future.

Today’s pick

• iOS 18 may let you lock apps with Face ID.
• New York Times code stolen and leaked on 4Chan - Wordle apparently included?
• Malicious VSCode extensions with millions of installs discovered?
• The Smart, Cheap Fix for Slow, Dumb Traffic Lights
• Digital twins are helping scientists run the world's most complex experiments?

Let’s dive in

iOS 18 may let you lock apps with Face ID.

By Wes Davis via The Verge

• iOS 18 may introduce a feature allowing users to lock apps with Face ID, enhancing security for built-in applications such as Mail, Notes, and Messages.
• The announcement for this new security feature is expected at WWDC 2024 on Monday, as reported by MacRumors.
• This functionality adds to existing security measures like Apple's Stolen Device Protection, and is similar to Android 15's "private space" in the app drawer.

??: Here are all six iOS 18 leaks that I reported before anyone: - Calculator app for iPad - Lock apps behind Face ID - Dark Mode tint for Home Screen app icons - Place app icons anywhere on Home Screen - More customizable Control Center - Add effects to individual words in Messages app I risk being wrong on the internet today if any of these don't happen! - Joe Rossignol (@rsgnl)

New York Times code stolen and leaked on 4Chan - Wordle apparently included?

By Matt Binder via Mashable?

• The New York Times suffered a data breach, resulting in the leak of 270GB of data including over 5,000 source code repositories and 3.6 million files on 4Chan.
• Included in the leak was the source code for the popular game Wordle, which the Times acquired in 2022.
• The breach occurred via an exposed GitHub token in January 2024, but the Times confirmed that their operational systems were not accessed and the breach had no impact on company operations.

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Malicious VSCode extensions with millions of installs discovered?

By Bill Toulas via BleepingComputer?

• Israeli researchers discovered thousands of malicious Visual Studio Code (VSCode) extensions, including a trojanized 'Dracula Official' theme variant, impacting over 100 organizations.
• The malicious extensions, which often mimic popular ones, were part of a security experiment revealing major flaws in the VSCode Marketplace; the marketplace's lax security allows for widespread abuse.
• Despite the researchers' responsible disclosure to Microsoft, many of these risky extensions remain available, highlighting the need for stricter marketplace security measures.

The Smart, Cheap Fix for Slow, Dumb Traffic Lights

By Christopher Mims via Wall Street Journal

• Google is addressing the frustration of lengthy red lights with a new product called Green Light, designed to orchestrate sequences of green lights in cities.
• The Green Light system aims to create "green waves," enabling smoother and faster traffic flow through interconnected traffic signals.
• Currently operational in 14 cities, this technology was developed by Google's Climate AI team to enhance urban mobility and reduce traffic congestion.

??: Americans spend 10% of their travel time at red lights. "Data from the cities where Google’s Green Light is already in operation [...] suggest the system yields a 30% reduction in stop-and-go traffic at intersections." - Matt Mullenweg (@photomatt)

Digital twins are helping scientists run the world's most complex experiments?

By Sarah Scoles via MIT Technology Review?

• Digital twins, highly detailed virtual replicas of physical systems, are revolutionizing scientific experiments and operations, such as those observed with Raytheon's replication of the JWST (James Webb Space Telescope).
• These sophisticated simulations facilitate real-time monitoring and predictive analytics, contributing to fields beyond science, including defense and space technology, by enabling safer and more efficient mission planning and operations.
• The technology's versatility and value are evident across various sectors, influencing everything from NASA missions to industry advancements, as they help manage complex systems through vast data integration and artificial intelligence.

Trending in AI

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• A researcher fired by OpenAI published a 165-page essay on what to expect from AI in the next decade. We asked GPT-4 to summarize it.
• Meta to use Instagram and Facebook posts from as far back as 2007 to train artificial intelligence tools
• AI and the IPO market: Demand is there but product is lacking?

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