Carjackings are up—and gig workers are getting victimized by WIRED on 2021-02-13 13:00 (#5E4Q0) Opportunistic thieves lie in wait when drivers leave their cars running.
A Windows Defender vulnerability lurked undetected for 12 years by WIRED on 2021-02-13 12:10 (#5E4NQ) Microsoft patched the bug in its A/V program after researchers spotted it last fall.
Nvidia wants to buy CPU designer Arm—Qualcomm is not happy about it by Jim Salter on 2021-02-12 22:26 (#5E493) The proposed deal creates a nest of potential conflicts of interest.
State lawmakers override veto, become first in nation to tax online ads by Kate Cox on 2021-02-12 21:58 (#5E494) First-of-its-kind bill in the US is likely to face legal challenges.
Report: NASA’s only realistic path for humans on Mars is nuclear propulsion by Eric Berger on 2021-02-12 20:56 (#5E47N) "It's the kind of technology challenge that NASA was built for."
Frontier raises sneaky “Internet Infrastructure Surcharge” from $4 to $7 by Jon Brodkin on 2021-02-12 20:38 (#5E47P) Fee covers Frontier's basic network costs but isn't included in advertised rates.
Kombucha tea is trendy, but it has also inspired new “living materials” by Jennifer Ouellette on 2021-02-12 19:33 (#5E460) "Syn-SCOBY" with genetically tailored yeasts can sense pollutants, purify water
Open source video player VLC will get a new UI this year with 4.0 launch by Samuel Axon on 2021-02-12 18:44 (#5E43X) A Web version is also in the works.
Facebook has been helping law enforcement identify Capitol rioters by Timothy B. Lee on 2021-02-12 18:00 (#5E41W) Facebook says it is "continuing to share more information with law enforcement."
Adding arthritis drug to current COVID treatment cuts deaths even more by Beth Mole on 2021-02-12 17:37 (#5E41X) It's not a smash hit, but the benefits and the clear results are welcome.
New Xiaomi smartphone has an extra screen in… uh, the camera bump? by Ron Amadeo on 2021-02-12 17:28 (#5E3ZR) Leaked hands-on video shows off Xiaomi's curious new display location.
CD Projekt Red source code reportedly sells for millions in dark Web auction [Updated] by Kyle Orland on 2021-02-12 17:04 (#5E3ZS) Cyberpunk developer refused to pay up after exposure to ransomware attack.
Listen to haunting notes from an 18,000-year-old conch shell trumpet by Kiona N. Smith on 2021-02-12 15:57 (#5E3X0) Archaeologists in 1931 assumed the shell was only a broken drinking cup.
White House hastens to address global chip shortage by Eric Bangeman on 2021-02-12 15:12 (#5E3TK) Dearth of semiconductors has forced several US car plants to halt production.
AT&T scrambles to install fiber for 90-year-old after his viral WSJ ad by Jon Brodkin on 2021-02-12 15:01 (#5E3TM) From 3Mbps DSL to 300Mbps fiber: Aaron Epstein's newspaper ad gets amazing result.
Microsoft is seeing a big spike in Web shell use by Dan Goodin on 2021-02-12 13:19 (#5E3NP) Spike shows just how useful and hard to detect these simple programs can be.
The games of love: our favorite couch co-op games to play with a partner by Jeff Dunn on 2021-02-12 13:00 (#4Z1MN) We pick a few games to enjoy with another, whether they're a newbie or hardcore.
Rocket Report: Iran debuts new booster, SpaceX to launch Lunar Gateway by Eric Berger on 2021-02-12 12:00 (#5E3KA) "Customer demand has been extremely strong."
What happens when you replace a human gene with its Neanderthal version? by John Timmer on 2021-02-11 23:50 (#5E326) Neural stem cells with the Neanderthal version of a key gene behave differently.
Apple TV+ acquires a “sci-fi courtroom drama” about a murderous robot doll by Samuel Axon on 2021-02-11 22:09 (#5E2XW) Sci-fi is looking like a cornerstone of Apple TV+'s slowly growing library.
Caged heat: Mesquite bugs battle in a plastic cup—for science! by Jennifer Ouellette on 2021-02-11 21:50 (#5E2XX) Two mesquite bugs enter, one mesquite bug leaves.
Cox cuts some users’ uploads from 30Mbps to 10Mbps—here’s how to avoid it by Jon Brodkin on 2021-02-11 21:21 (#5E2SJ) Cox notifies users of speed cut, fails to mention they can keep current plan.
Virginia is about to get a major California-style data privacy law by Kate Cox on 2021-02-11 21:03 (#5E2SK) Virginia's the first on deck since California's CCPA in 2018, but more are coming.
Mastercard will support cryptocurrencies—but not the ones you think by Timothy B. Lee on 2021-02-11 20:46 (#5E2SM) Supporting major cryptocurrencies like bitcoin could be a regulatory nightmare.
Apple’s new MagSafe wireless charger is down to a new low price today by Ars Staff on 2021-02-11 19:39 (#5E2MG) Dealmaster also has big discounts on the AirPods Pro, Fire tablets, and more.
Google flags its iOS apps as “out of date” after two months of neglect by Ron Amadeo on 2021-02-11 19:29 (#5E2MH) Google hasn't updated major apps since the iOS 14 privacy requirements launched.
Using whale songs to image beneath the ocean’s floor by John Timmer on 2021-02-11 19:00 (#5E2MJ) Seismic data generated by whale songs helps build a picture of the ocean's base.
Why didn’t GameStop sell some of its inflated stock during the bubble? by Kyle Orland on 2021-02-11 17:24 (#5E2FX) The retailer could still possibly arrange a stock-for-cash infusion in the future
Instagram bans top anti-vaxxer Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over COVID falsehoods by Beth Mole on 2021-02-11 16:55 (#5E2FY) Kennedy has a long history of spreading dangerous misinformation on social media.
Why are General Motors and Will Ferrell trolling Norway? by Jonathan M. Gitlin on 2021-02-11 16:18 (#5E2DG) 54 percent of new cars in Norway are EVs, but it's a hard model to replicate.
Fauci: Vaccines for first-graders could be authorized by September by Ars Contributors on 2021-02-11 15:46 (#5E2DH) Trials need to prove the vaccine is safe and effective in children.
Adventures in Vim: Lee and Jim figure out how to change comment colors by Jim Salter on 2021-02-11 11:45 (#5E23Y) Stop me if you've heard this one: Two senior sysadmins walk into a ~/.vimrc ...
Disney fires Mandalorian’s Gina Carano over “abhorrent, unacceptable” posts by Sam Machkovech on 2021-02-11 04:18 (#5E1Q5) Report claims that pressure had mounted for months: "Today was the final straw."
CDC study backs mask doubling with exposure to risky particles down 83% by Beth Mole on 2021-02-11 01:50 (#5E1NF) Data has lots of caveats, but it's not a bad idea to up your mask game.
A lithium-ion upgrade for your car, but not the one you’re expecting by Ars Contributors on 2021-02-10 23:21 (#5E1H9) We try out a 12V lithium-ion battery upgrade for your car.
Breached water plant employees used the same TeamViewer password and no firewall by Dan Goodin on 2021-02-10 22:59 (#5E1HA) Shortcomings illustrate the lack of security rigor in critical infrastructure environments.
United Airlines orders 200 vertical-takeoff electric airplanes by Timothy B. Lee on 2021-02-10 22:46 (#5E1FE) Startup Archer received investments from United Airlines and Stellantis.
A terabyte isn’t what it used to be—14% of Internet customers use more by Jon Brodkin on 2021-02-10 22:31 (#5E1FF) Terabyte-using customers doubled from 7% to 14% as pandemic wore on.
HBO Max signs “adult” cartoon series based on Scooby-Doo’s Velma by Sam Machkovech on 2021-02-10 22:16 (#5E1FG) Six other new series, including return of Lord and Miller's MTV classic Clone High.
Google, Facebook tell SCOTUS it should be harder for you to sue them by Kate Cox on 2021-02-10 22:02 (#5E1FH) The argument boils down to "if you don't know we messed up, it can't hurt you."
Authorities bust SIM-swap ring they say took millions from the rich and famous by Dan Goodin on 2021-02-10 19:09 (#5E183) SIM-swapping is a worldwide scourge. Law enforcement is trying to make a dent.
Netflix acquires the rights to all 22 Redwall books, plans film and series by Samuel Axon on 2021-02-10 18:30 (#5E14Q) The film will be written by Over the Garden Wall's Patrick McHale.
Oracle’s TikTok acquisition reportedly “shelved” indefinitely by Kate Cox on 2021-02-10 18:15 (#5E14R) Former admin. made a big deal of TikTok's alleged security risks... until it forgot.
With Trump gone, Huawei tells Biden it’s not a security threat by Ron Amadeo on 2021-02-10 18:11 (#5E14S) With a new president in town, Huawei CEO says he would welcome friendlier relations.
Past coronavirus infections don’t seem to help with SARS-CoV-2 by John Timmer on 2021-02-10 14:28 (#5E0PS) Neither T nor B cells seem to use memory of one virus to attack the other.
Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury review: Everything old is new again by Kyle Orland on 2021-02-10 14:02 (#5E0PT) Another unearthed Wii U classic paired with a new, somewhat repetitive diversion.
How Cubans make island Internet work for them by Ars Contributors on 2021-02-10 13:00 (#5E0M1) Cuba has been increasing Internet access, but the current digital divide grows, too.
SpaceX Starlink opens preorders, but slots are limited in each region by Jon Brodkin on 2021-02-10 00:00 (#5DZZN) A $99 deposit today gives you a chance at service in the second half of 2021.
WHO team rejects lab origin of coronavirus, focuses on animals, frozen food by Beth Mole on 2021-02-09 23:56 (#5DZZP) Meanwhile, China still clings to possibility the virus originated in another country.
macOS Big Sur 11.2.1 addresses MacBook Pro charging issues by Samuel Axon on 2021-02-09 23:18 (#5DZXB) There are also supplemental updates for Catalina 10.15.7 and Mojave 10.14.6.