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Jetstream Routers Get Firmware Update to Fix Backdoor

Andrew Orr ·

In November, security researchers found a Walmart-branded router called Jetstream contained a way for a third party to remotely control the router and devices connected to it. Walmart responded and said it stopped selling these routers. The manufacturer, Wavlink, also responded. A firmware update includes the following:

Removed unnecessary diagnostic pages; Deleted tcpdump tool; Added codes to block CSRF attack; Improved Web authentication routine.

The researchers haven’t yet tested the update to see if it has been effective.

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Siri on iOS 14.3 Can Mimic Sounds Like Animals

Andrew Orr ·

When you download iOS 14.3 released on Monday, ask Siri if she can quack like a duck. CNBC says she will play a short audio clip of a quacking duck. However, when I asked her she played me an album from Apple Music called “Quack Like a Duck.” But I don’t think I worded it correctly. Ask “What does <blank> sound like?”

If you ask “what does the fox say?”, Siri may simply quote the song that became a YouTube hit in 2013. But asking “what does a fox sound like” brings up an actual call from an arctic fox, which sounds like someone whooping.

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FTC Launches Major Investigation into Tech Privacy

Charlotte Henry ·

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) launched a huge investigation into privacy and data collection practices at major tech firms on Monday. Axios had the scoop.

The big picture: The move comes amid broader scrutiny for the industry and appears to be a wide-reaching inquiry into everything major tech companies know about their users and what they do with that data, as well as their broader business plans. Details: The FTC is asking for a large trove of information and documents from the above platforms, plus Discord, Reddit and Snap. The agency wants much of the usage and engagement data the platforms collect on their users, the metrics they use for measuring such things and short- and long-term business strategies, among many other areas of inquiry.

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100 Entries to Win the Complete Home Gym Giveaway Featuring Peloton

Bryan Chaffin ·

We have a giveaway called the Complete Home Gym Giveaway, where you could win a bunch of home fitness gear including the Peloton Bike+ Basics, the Mirror, Bowflex SelectTech 552 Dumbbells, and more. You get entries to the giveaway by donating money to the Playing For Change Foundation through our deals site. A $10 donation gets you 100 entries into the giveaway, with larger donation options available in the listing.