Seagate released employee tax data in phishing attack

Tax season is upon us (sorry for the reminder), and apparently if you want the W2-form information of thousands of Seagate employees, past and present, all you have to do is email and ask for it. A company spokesperson confirmed the phishing attempt to Krebs on Security, saying that on March 1st a Seagate employee released 2015 W2 info to someone believed to be acting in official capacity for the storage-minded outfit. Yep, it’s pretty similar to what happened with Snapchat recently.

For Seagate’s part, the company is apologizing and offering two years of identity theft monitoring and protection to those affected. It’s also “aggressively analyzing where process changes” are required and will put them in place as soon as possible. Exactly how many people are affected? Seagate won’t release that data to anyone but the feds, but says it’s “less than 10,000 by a good amount.” Maybe if you ask nicely enough and email the right person you’ll have an answer. After all, phishing has about a 45 percent success rate.

Krebs notes that identity theft protection is one thing, but it won’t cover any types of loss stemming from fraudulently-filed tax returns. Last year, the Internal Revenue Service predicted tax-return fraud would hit $21 billion by 2016 — looks like this will fall under that forecast.

Via: Tech Insider

Source: Krebs on Security

AI made quantum experimentation easier for our feeble brains

Is the cat in the box alive, dead or… alive-dead? Questions like the one posed by the Schroedinger’s Cat thought experiment have vexed mere mortals for far too long, and the scientific community knows that quantum mechanics is pretty tough to wrap our human brains around. So, a group of researchers at the University of Vienna developed an algorithm to help speed the quantum experimentation process along and make it altogether easier, according to APS Physics. It’s dubbed Melvin and it was used in a quantum optics experiment to arrange mirrors and beam splitters to make quantum-entangled photons. Photons in Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger states, specifically.

To hit solutions that the team couldn’t by using brain power alone, doctoral student Mario Krenn says he defined the goal, made an algorithm and left his computer running overnight. Krenn says that he was just guessing when it came to different arrangements and surmised that a computer could do it faster.

Much to his surprise, returning to the lab the next morning he found 51 different experiments that could hit the specified criteria for quantum optics. The results were simplified as much as possible to make them easier to read and understand, and Melvin can apparently even remember which arrangements deliver on which goals and can build on them for further experimentation.

Quantum theory says that these results should work, but that doesn’t mean the researchers involved aren’t testing them out in the real world. And guess what? They perform as Melvin predicted. “I still find it quite difficult to understand intuitively what is going on,” Krenn says, but admits that’s par for the course for quantum physics.

The scientific community seems to be embracing Melvin so far, too. However, once more complex experimentation occurs because of this new advancement, the simplicity of output might not last long.

Via: CNET

Source: APS Physics (1), (2)

Google hires 4chan founder for his expertise in online communities

The creator of 4chan just became a Googler.

4chan is a message board where users can post anonymously, with the most recent posts appearing above the rest. Chris Poole founded the site in 2003, basing it off 2channel, another board just for anime and other parts of Japanese culture. Ironically, he sold 4chan to Hiroyuki Nishimura, 2channel’s founder, in 2015. Poole had no plan to retire however, as he just announced he’s already back at work.

Google has hired Poole in order to leverage his 12 years of experience in “building online communities”. In a blog post, Poole said he is drawn to former and current Googlers for their “intelligence, passion, and enthusiasm – as well as a universal desire to share it with others”, and so he is eager to contribute his own experience as well as “begin the next chapter” of his career at “such an incredible company”.

Bradley Horowitz, the Vice President of Streams, Photos, and Sharing at Google, confirmed via Twitter that he is thrilled Poole is joining “the team”, which presumably means the Streams, Photos, and Sharing team. Although neither elaborated on what Poole will do at the company, don’t be surprised to see him improving aspects of the Google+ online community in the future.

You may have seen the news (https://t.co/jwjOBocqJk) from @moot. Thrilled he’s joining the team! Welcome Chris!

— Bradley Horowitz (@elatable) March 7, 2016

Maybe he can help breathe new life into the fledging social network, which, apart from its successful Google Photos spin-off, hasn’t really developed a strong and active following outside of hardcore Google fans.

Amazon job posting reveals virtual reality team for producing VR content

Amazon wants to produce virtual reality content, according to a new job posting for its Amazon Video arm.

The posting is live on the website Glassdoor and was first spotted by Upload VR. In the posting, Amazon seeks to hire someone “responsible for building the Virtual Reality experience within Amazon Video.”

Amazon’s posting elaborated: “Entertainment is evolving rapidly. The future will not be limited to passive 2D experiences. The Virtual Reality team will explore and create the platform and interface for immersive storytelling.”

The company said its VR team will also build an ingestion and playback platform for VR experiences. The posting further indicated Amazon is looking for someone with a degree in computer science, 15 or more years of relevant engineering work, and 7 or more years as a software developer. There is no mention of applicants needing previous experience with virtual reality.

Still, it seems like Amazon wants to go beyond creating VR experiences by building an entire platform for people to watch VR. Keep in mind this is not the first hint from Amazon that it is interested in this space. A patent filing surfaced last autumn, revealing Amazon imagined a VR headset.

That patent filing also suggested Amazon would create both VR hardware and content to compete with YouTube.

Lyft now lets you hail a car from within FB Messenger, Slack, and more

Not to be outdone by Uber, Lyft has announced that Facebook Messenger users can now hail a car from them instead of Uber.

Since December, anyone has been able to hail an Uber car from within the Messenger app. We explained here how exactly that works, and we assume this new Lyft integration will work very much the same, though the update hasn’t rolled out for us to test yet.

Lyft also announced it is expanding its API program, meaning developers can use Lyft’s application program interface to include ride-hailing buttons in their apps. In addition to Facebook Messenger, Lyft has integrated with Slack, Starbucks, Shell, and Google’s Waze.

While at first you might think “whatever”, it’s actually neat stuff. For instance, say you’re using Messenger or Slack to chat with a friend who is about to get a coffee at Starbucks, and then that friend asks you to join. Assuming of course you don’t have a car, you’ll need to hail a cab in order to meet up with your friend. Well, now you can use Messenger, Slack, or Starbucks to summon a ride – all without leaving either app. Amazeballs.

Also, because Lyft’s API powers this integrated feature, there’s no need to download the Lyft app to hail a Lyft from another app.

Win Pocket-lint’s $1000 Apple Store Giveaway

Apple’s remarkable advancements have revolutionized the 21st century, commanding our cultural attention with innovative tech accessible to all walks of life.

Moving beyond desktop computers, it all started with the iPod revolution, bringing portable music access into the digital age. Then the iPhone completely changed the way we interact with our phones. Soon after, the iPad pushed the boundaries of personal computing, even beyond the brilliantly advanced Macbook.

In the process, Apple has become the single most dominant tech force in the world, a cultural mega-phenomenon that has brought us closer than ever to the hi-tech future we grew up dreaming of. But those advanced gadgets have some serious price-tags attached, which is why Pocket-lint Deals is offering a $1000 Apple Store Giveaway to one lucky winner!

Pick up a brand-new iPhone 6s, an Apple TV, whatever you like. The choice is yours, and winning is simple – Pocket-lint readers can just head to the contest page and fill out the online entry form with a valid email address, and you’re automatically entered.

Share the giveaway on Twitter, and once you get some friends to enter, you’ll receive additional entries to win. One registration per person please!

DOJ seeks to overturn ruling in New York iPhone case

The Justice Department hasn’t given up on its quest to get a court order that will force Apple to unlock a meth dealer’s iPhone in New York. On February 29th, magistrate Judge James Orenstein ruled that the FBI and the prosecution didn’t have the legal authority under the All Writs Act (AWA) to force the company to bypass the device’s passcode. Obviously, the DOJ disagrees. It has asked a higher judge (specifically, US District Judge Margo Brodie) to take a look at the case again in hopes of reversing Judge Orenstein’s ruling.

In a statement sent to Engadget, Apple said it shares Judge Orenstein’s concerns that the misuse of the AWA could threaten ordinary people’s privacy:

Judge Orenstein ruled the FBI’s request would ‘thoroughly undermine fundamental principles of the Constitution’ and we agree. We share the Judge’s concern that misuse of the All Writs Act would start us down a slippery slope that threatens everyone’s safety and privacy.

To note, the All Writs Act is an old law authorities are relying on to seek help in cracking open password-protected phones.

According to Reuters, the department cited Apple’s case in California as evidence — standing in contrast to other statements by law enforcement saying that case applies to just one particular iPhone. That’s the same case wherein authorities succeeded in getting the court to order the company to open up the San Bernardino shooter’s iPhone 5c under the All Writs Act. The tech corporation is currently fighting that ruling and is willing to escalate the battle until it reaches the Supreme Court.

Besides the California case, the DOJ also argued that cracking Jun Feng’s (the meth dealer’s) phone to find his collaborators isn’t anything new for the company. Feng hasn’t been updating its software, and it’s still running iOS 7, which is nowhere as secure as the newest version. The department said Apple agreed to crack devices running the older software for several cases in the past, and this shouldn’t be any different. Whether the DOJ can sway Judge Brodie to hear the case and ultimately side with the feds remains to be seen — we’ll keep you updated as always.

Source: Reuters, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times

Google’s DeepMind AI will take on a Go champ tomorrow night

Google’s DeepMind AI is already the first computerized system to best a champion Go player, and you can watch its next big game in less than 24 hours. The AlphaGo program will take on Lee Se-dol in the first match (of a planned five game series) at the Four Seasons hotel in Seoul, Korea tomorrow, at 1PM local time (10:30PM ET). The match will be broadcast live on YouTube, and you can find the stream right here.

Mega press conference, apparently the biggest one in Google history! Great that @ericschmidt could join us. #AlphaGo pic.twitter.com/WN90ORmnF6

— Demis Hassabis (@demishassabis) March 8, 2016

If you prefer a 24/7-style run up to the bout, there’s video online describing the development of AlphaGo and also of its victory over 3-time European champ Fan Hui. Lee is one of the top ranked players in the world, and has said he expects to win 5 – 0, or perhaps 4 – 1. At stake is a $1 million prize, which AlphaGo will donate to charity if it wins. The game is expected to take 4 – 5 hours, so you should still be able to tune in even if you’re not on at exactly 10:30.

Source: DeepMind (YouTube)

The Edge Desk transforms so you can get work done anywhere

Who still uses a desk? Better question: Who still needs a desk, given that so much of our work today takes place on laptops, phones and tablets? Those devices don’t need to be put on a flat surface, so a lot of people don’t bother. Instead, they work from the comfort of a couch, bed or maybe even the floor. And yet, many still insist on keeping a desk around “just in case.” We’ve come to accept that a desk is something you should have, even if you don’t actually use it.

This struck Edge Desk founder Marc Rosenberg as ridiculous when he visited his daughter’s college dorm room. The small amount of space afforded the two women was taken up by their beds, dressers and two desks, which were being used for storage — not for work. When questioned about their habits, the women said they usually work from their beds or the floor. They didn’t need the desks, and in that area they needed … pretty much anything else. So Rosenberg started thinking of a way to give them back that space but still allow them to have a surface to work on when needed. Thus, the Edge Desk was born, making its debut on Kickstarter today for $349.

You might remember how kneeling desk chairs were all the rage some years back — you know, the ones that didn’t have a back and forced you to sit in such a way that was supposedly great for your posture while still being pretty comfortable. At least, that’s what I was constantly told by a college friend who had one. I’d sat in his and found it to be pleasant but was never fully sold on getting one for myself.

So at first glance the Edge Desk was familiar: It’s basically a kneeling chair with a desk attached. That sort of makes sense in a way, as a kneeling chair is smaller than a typical office chair, so why not a smaller desk for it? A smaller foldable desk. There’s still plenty of room for other things on its surface besides a laptop: a notebook for writing or maybe a textbook. Technically you could fit a cup of coffee or other beverage, but that’s a bit of a risky proposition. However, the Edge Desk has a solution for that, revealed right there in its name.

Along the, uh, edges of the Edge Desk is a groove where users can snap in accessories, and they go way beyond a simple cup holder. There are shelves for your phone and tablet, a paper tray and even a lamp. Rosenberg told us one girl his team surveyed asked for a makeup mirror. While I didn’t see most of these accessories in action, the process for getting them in and out of the groove is easy, and they appear to be secure enough to endure the occasional jostle.

Part of the folding-up process is turning the desk surface into portrait mode, which led to the Edge Desk team discovering that it also makes a great easel. I’d agree this could be great for artists: I have comic-creator friends who do a lot of work on the road, and something like this could be easily set up behind their artist-alley booth at conventions and then folded up and stored in a car trunk at the end of the show.

However, with the Edge Desk weighing over 20 pounds, it’s not something you’d want to carry around a convention, on campus or to the office. You could, and maybe some will. I personally found it cumbersome to pick up and carry under my arm. My artist friends weren’t enamored with the idea of lugging it everywhere either. But merely sliding it out from under a bed, unfolding it and getting work done in a couple of minutes? I can deal with that.

The accessories are all specifically designed to collapse flat, which is important, given that the point of the Edge Desk is to save space. It’s not just smaller than a traditional chair-and-desk setup. It folds up and can completely disappear under a bed or into a closet, which should work great for dorm rooms, studio apartments or creating a temporary office workspace.

But will I use it? While the Edge Desk team surveyed over 1,000 college students and found them highly receptive to the desk, my college days are long behind me. I found sitting in it comfortable, but I had trouble getting in and out of it due to my bad knees. And ultimately, while I’ve worked from my couch and even on floors, when I need to get down to business I use a desk — both at Engadget headquarters and at home.

It’s not just about having a comfortable seat and a flat surface to work on: My desk needs to be substantial enough to support a 24-inch monitor. And that barely scrapes the surface for a lot of people who rely on their desk to support an assortment of monitors, external hard drives or speakers. The workplace might be going mobile, but many people aren’t completely free of the need for a home base of sorts. There’s a lot I can do on my laptop, but I admit I also have a soft spot for having a place to call my own.

Call me old if you want. That’s fine. There are plenty of people who like having a large mahogany desk to show off and impress visitors. A fancy desk can be a conversation starter. Sure, the Edge Desk can inspire plenty of conversations on its own, but ultimately it wants you to sit down and get to work.

If that’s the sort of aesthetic that appeals to you, the Edge Desk’s Kickstarter starts today, running through April 22. Early birds can get it pretty cheap at $249, while late backers will have to pay $349. The Edge Desk is set to arrive in October of this year — just in time for midterms.

How to quickly steam fresh vegetables in the microwave – CNET

Taylor Martin/CNET

It should come as no surprise that you can steam vegetables in the microwave.

Virtually every grocery store has an entire frozen vegetables section, many of which can be steamed right in the bag. Toss the bag in the microwave, set the cook time to match your microwave’s wattage and wait.

However, if you only have fresh vegetables in your kitchen, you can steam them just as quickly and easily with a microwave and a little cling wrap.

Start by preparing the vegetables. Give them a good rinse and cut away any trimmings. Next, chop the vegetables into bite-size pieces and add them to a microwave safe bowl. Stretch a piece of cling wrap over the top of the bowl very tightly.

The time needed to fully steam the vegetables depends on two things: the power of your microwave and the type of vegetable.

At home, in my 1,000-watt microwave, steaming one large, chopped broccoli crown took around 1 minute and 30 seconds to fully steam. Grant Crilly of ChefSteps tells Tested that vegetables like carrots won’t take as long as broccoli. But you will have to play with times to figure out which work best in your microwave for different vegetables.

Taylor Martin/CNET

Set your microwave to full power and pop the bowl of vegetables in or one minute. If they aren’t fully steamed, continue microwaving them in 30 second increments.

Remove the bowl from the microwave, season to taste and enjoy!

This method of steaming vegetables is efficient for essentially all types of vegetables. The microwave exploits the existing water content of the vegetables to quickly steam them. It also makes cleanup a breeze. If you and your significant other can’t agree on which steamed vegetable to cook for dinner, you can each have the one you want with minimal effort and cleanup.