Putin on a show

🛰️ Putin on a show: Russian troops in Ukraine are using Starlink terminals from black market networks for comms and drone ops. Despite SpaceX’s no-sale policy to Russia and efforts to block access, these devices were smuggled in and the geofencing controls were bypassed. Ahem, why can’t SpaceX just shut the internet terminal down?

Tags: devices, internet


Your data is worth big money — and you can take it back

“Call me for a good time.” That simple message prompted more creepy calls and texts than you can believe. A woman contacted me after someone posted that message — alongside her cellphone number — on a porn site.

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Trivia

Remember pagers? Be-e-e-e-p. They’ve mostly faded into the tech graveyard, but thousands are still alive-ish and kickin’ in the U.S. Can you guess how many pagers are active today? Is it … A.) 8,000, B.) 80,000, C.) 800,000 or D.) 8 million?

Find the answer here

15% annual increases in cybercrime 

That will lead to $13.8 trillion in losses by 2028. The U.S. GDP — the largest economy in the world — is $25.5 trillion. (It’s followed by China at $17.9 trillion and Japan at $4.2 trillion.) Cybercrime is now a world economic leader. That’s just a bad phish-cal policy.

Let me tell you, modern technology has never matched the simplicity and grace of the traditional pen. In fact, you could say that there is still no e-quill. (Bet you didn’t see that coming!)

33% of rideshare drivers have had a crash on the job

Phone use, unruly passengers and long hours are all crash culprits. Definitely buckle up.

53% of young women have been digitally harassed

Those aged 18 to 29 have been sent unwanted sexual pictures online. And it’s not just young women: 32% of all women and 30% of men have been cyberflashed. A new bill in Congress will make these pics illegal. Call it the anti-junk bill.

3.3 million recalled Kia and Hyundai models

And they must stay parked until fixed. The companies each recalled over a million cars last year due to faulty parts that led to fires. They’ve finally started contacting owners to schedule repairs.

500,000 Starlink users added since December

SpaceX’s satellite internet system now has 2.7 million users. Elon Musk says Starlink’s profits will largely pay for his efforts to colonize Mars — and, of course, provide stellar internet service to people there.

$2,300,000 for a 10,781-square-foot medieval-style castle

It’s in Rochester, Michigan and was built using 60 tons of steel. The castle features a moat, drawbridge, portcullis, secret rooms, hidden passageways and more, all fit for royalty, in a manor of speaking.

102,000 live salmon 

Spilled out of an overturned truck in Oregon. The accident took place just feet from a river, and wow — 77,000 fish made it into the water and survived. The cause of the accident is unclear, but it was probably just a fluke.