Month: January 2018

Enlarge (credit: portal gda)

Last year, researchers found what at the time was quite possibly the world's most sophisticated espionage app ever written for the Android mobile operating system. Now, in a discovery that underscores the growing arms race among competing malware developers, researchers have uncovered a new Android spying platform that includes location-based audio recording and other features that have never been seen in the wild before.

According to a report published Tuesday by antivirus provider Kaspersky Lab, "Skygofree" is most likely an offensive security product sold by an Italy-based IT company that markets various surveillance wares. With 48 different commands in its latest version, the malware has undergone continuous development since its creation in late 2014. It relies on five separate exploits to gain privileged root access that allows it to bypass key Android security measures. Skygofree is capable of taking pictures, capturing video, and seizing call records, text messages, gelocation data, calendar events, and business-related information stored in device memory.

Skygofree also includes the ability to automatically record conversations and noise when an infected device enters a location specified by the person operating the malware. Another never-before-seen feature is the ability to steal WhatsApp messages by abusing the Android Accessibility Service that's designed to help users who have disabilities or who may temporarily be unable to fully interact with a device. A third new feature: the ability to connect infected devices to Wi-Fi networks controlled by attackers.

Enlarge / The UC3 Nautilus in early sea trials in 2008. (credit: Frumperino)

Today, Peter Madsen—the inventor, engineer, and owner of the world's largest amateur-built submarine and head of the eponymous "Rocket Madsen Space Lab"—was formally charged with murdering Kim Wall, a Swedish freelance journalist who had been writing an article about Madsen. Copenhagen Prosecutor Jakob Buch-Jepsen says that Wall's killing was premeditated and called the case “very unusual and extremely disturbing.”

Madsen is also charged with dismemberment, indecent handling of a corpse, and with "sexual relations other than intercourse of a particularly dangerous nature." Madsen's trial is set to begin March 8. If convicted, Madsen would face a life sentence. There is also a petition before the court to have him committed to a secure psychiatric facility indefinitely if he is determined to be mentally ill and to pose a danger to others.

Rocket man, U-boat commander

Madsen, who was once one of the founding members of Copenhagen Suborbitals—which describes itself as "the world's only manned amateur space program"—had what could generously be described as a falling out with the group in 2014. "He had disagreement with the other members of the group for years, including the board," a Copenhagen Suborbitals spokesperson wrote in a statement published in September. "This culminated in June 2014, and created a deep rift between Peter Madsen and the rest of us."

Enlarge / Democrats vs. Republicans. (credit: Getty Images | Linda Braucht)

A Senate bill to restore the recently repealed net neutrality rules now has support from 50 of 100 senators and would pass if one more Republican backs the effort.

The measure has backing from all 49 members of the Senate Democratic caucus, including 47 Democrats and two independents who caucus with Democrats. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) is the only Republican to support the bill so far, but Democrats are trying to secure one more Republican vote.

Democrats announced the milestone in a press release today.

Enlarge / Brain made of cables of different colors and plug (credit: Miguel Navarro / Getty Images)

"I am sorry, but your brain suffers from avalanches" is a diagnosis that should be a thing. The cure should involve a St. Bernard digging neurons out from under piles of neurotransmitter. Unfortunately, everyone's brain suffers from avalanches. Indeed I can safely diagnose anyone who does not suffer from avalanches as dead. (And you thought the barriers to graduate school were intellectual?).

An avalanche in the brain is basically a small, generally inconspicuous event that triggers a massive cascade of neuronal activity. These are observed to occur without any external triggers.

So  why do they occur? It has been thought that these avalanches should confer some sort of benefit, but new research suggests that it might just be a noisy accident.