Would a BDSM Robot Violate Asimov's Laws of Robotics?

Would a BDSM robot violate Isaac Asimov’s first law of robotics? Gizmodo asked lawyers, ethicists, computer scientists, and philosophers.

Before you can get yourself sexually trussed, whipped or choked by a large piece of machinery, we as a culture will need to reckon with—among many, many other things—Isaac Asimov’s Three Laws of Robotics. These laws state explicitly, right at the top, that “a robot may not injure a human being.”

It’s a hilarious and interesting view on sex robots and how a robot would perceive harm.

About Russia's Mobile Hackers: Hotel Wi-Fi Spying from a Rental Car

Wired has a detailed report about Russia’s mobile hackers, a team that traveled the world hacking and spying as part of Vladimir Putin’s state-sponsored payback. The mobile team often packed a rental car with various bits of equipment, operated around the world, and worked with a support team back in Russia. It’s a very interesting piece, and as John Kheit quipped, it demonstrates how one should “seriously never use public Wi-Fi.” Here’s a snippet:

The US Department of Justice charged seven hackers working for the Russian military agency GRU with carrying out a vast intrusion campaign against a wide range of organizations. The targets include anti-doping agencies in Colorado, Brazil, Canada, Monaco and Switzerland, part of a retaliatory leaking campaign after Russia was accused of doping ahead of the 2016 and 2018 Olympics; the Westinghouse Electric Company’s nuclear power operations, which supplies nuclear fuel to Ukraine; and the Spiez chemical testing laboratory in Switzerland and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in the Netherlands, likely due to their investigations into the Novichok gas attack on a Russian intelligence defector in the UK earlier this year.

iOS 12 Protects You Against Fake Keyboards

Redditor u/p_giguere1 found out that iOS 12 can protect you against fake keyboards.

To trigger the warning: open a webpage in full-screen mode, for example a full-screen video on YouTube’s mobile website. Then tap several times at the bottom of the screen, as if you were typing on an invisible keyboard.

A warning message will appear telling you the website may be showing you a fake keyboard to trick you into disclosing personal or financial information.

I haven’t been able to trigger this, but the OP and a commenter shared screenshots that appear legitimate.

Clip Studio Paint Pro for Mac and Windows: $29.99

We have a deal on Clip Studio Paint Pro for Mac and Windows, the successor program to Manga Studio. It’s aimed at illustrators, comic artists, manga artists, and other creators. You can get it through us for $29.99, 50% off retail. You can see it in action in the video below.

Don't Panic, Kernel. It's Just a Kill Switch and a Nuke-and-Pave – Mac Geek Gab Podcast 730

Sometimes things go wrong with your devices, and sometimes the path you think will solve it winds up running you in circles. The same things can happen to your two favorite geeks, and this week’s show talks about some of that while also answering your questions and solving your problems. Press play and enjoy!