Bankocracy

Hackers who targeted media last year now targeting think tanks

"The hackers who penetrated the computer network of The New York Times last year have resurfaced with an attack on 'an organization involved in shaping economic policy,' experts warned Monday. The security firm FireEye said the original perpetrators 'appear to be mounting fresh assaults that leverage new and improved versions of malware.' Chinese officials repeatedly denied responsibility for the attacks, and since then the United States has in turn been accused of penetrating foreign networks through the spy programs revealed by leaker Edward Snowden. FireEye said it had detected 'a retooling of what security researchers believe is a massive spying operation based in China.'" Continue reading →

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A View Down The Road

"The latest versions of these GPS systems have 'real time' functionality. They can adjust route guidance to take account of accidents along your planned route, for instance. This is handy. But the same functionality can be put to other uses, too. For instance, there is no technological reason why the new Lincoln MKZ’s ability to keep abreast of the speed limit wherever you happen to be driving could not also be used to limit the speed you drive – or at least, record your failure to abide by the speed limit and perhaps report your noncompliance to the authorities. Or more likely, your insurance company. Perhaps both." Continue reading →

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Facebook won’t reward hacker who exposed security flaw in Zuckerberg’s profile

"Palestinian researcher Khalil Shreateh said on his blog he found a way for Facebook users to circumvent security and modify a user’s timeline. He said he took the unusual step of hacking into Zuckerberg’s profile after being ignored by the Facebook security team. His reward for exposing the flaw was having his Facebook account disabled. Facebook security engineer Matt Jones posted a comment Sunday on a security forum saying 'we fixed this bug on Thursday,' and admitted that 'we should have asked for additional… instructions after his initial report.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFacebook won’t reward hacker who exposed security flaw in Zuckerberg’s profile

Developer warns: Take Twitter “write access” at your own risk

"When the right individual or organization Tweets, it can have the power to move global financial markets and major economies, as well as incite mass chaos – all with a single, well-placed, 140 character missive. We’ve seen as much recently when a single Carl Icahn tweet raised Apple’s market cap by $17 billion and another by a hacked Associated Press Twitter account that caused an estimated $135 billion to evaporate from the S&P 500 Index. In an era when everyone from disgruntled teens to war-minded nations are looking for ways to inflict pain, Twitter is an increasingly attractive target." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingDeveloper warns: Take Twitter “write access” at your own risk

World’s costliest auctioned car ‘in Swiss hands’

"The most valuable road car ever sold at auction, a candy red Ferrari convertible that fetched $27.5 million at a sale in the US last weekend, was acquired by a Swiss buyer, a report says. The unidentified successful bidder acquired the 300-horsepower NART Spider sports car, built in 1967, at an auction in Monterey, California. The car was previously owned by Eddie Smith Jr., the son of Eddie Smith Sr., an American multi-millionaire from North Carolina who bought the car new in 1968 after travelling to the Ferrari plant in Modena in northern Italy. With a 3,866cc V-12 engine and five-speed transmission, the two-seater was only one of 10 such models made." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWorld’s costliest auctioned car ‘in Swiss hands’

Over 50% Of Electric Cars Sold In US Are In 5 Cities

"Here’s the list: Los Angeles, California; San Francisco, California; New York City; Seattle, Washington; Atlanta, Georgia. Georgia offers a tax credit for electric vehicles that is equal to 20% of the vehicle’s cost, up to a maximum amount of $5,000. California has many charging stations, which might have contributed to its presence in the list above, but it also offers a $2,500 incentive for electric vehicles. New York City has its own EV policies that surely helped stimulate EV adoption a bit, but the fact that it is the largest city in the US (by far) is also surely a factor." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingOver 50% Of Electric Cars Sold In US Are In 5 Cities

Tesla Outsold Buick, Fiat, Land Rover, Lincoln, and Mitsubishi in Q1 and Q2

"The state of California has just released its new vehicle sales numbers for the first half of 2013, and the big winner so far is the Tesla Model S, with 0.6% of the overall market share. That may not sound like much, but – in California – it’s more than Buick (0.5%), FIAT (0.5%), Land Rover (0.5%), Lincoln (0.3%), and Mitsubishi (0.3%) did in the same time, with stronger dealer networks, more existing customers, and a lower initial pricetag! Also of note in the California New Car Dealers Association (CNCDA) report, hybrids accounted for just over 7% of overall sales for the first time, up from 6.2% in 2012 and 4.8% in 2011." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingTesla Outsold Buick, Fiat, Land Rover, Lincoln, and Mitsubishi in Q1 and Q2

British Politicians Aim To Ban Non-Hybrid Cars By 2040

"While some American politicians may take issue with the government’s investment in green automobiles, it pales in comparison to the debates taking place in England. There, the Liberal Democrats have proposed a bill that would outlaw all non-hybrid cars from English roads by 2040. It sounds insane, but stranger things have happened. Ambitious but left with a lot of blanks to fill, one of the key components of the Liberal Dems Britain of the future is eliminating all but ultra-low emissions non-freight vehicles from British roads. That would mean only hybrids, electric cars, or super-efficient diesels would be allowed to drive British streets." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingBritish Politicians Aim To Ban Non-Hybrid Cars By 2040

Tesla Motor’s Model S is the safest car ever tested

"Tesla Motor’s fully electric luxury sedan, the Model S, isn’t just the best car ever tested by Consumer Reports. It is also the safest car ever tested by U.S. regulators. The Tesla Model S has earned a 5-star safety rating, both overall and in each individual category, from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The car has a Vehicle Safety Score (VSS) of 5.4 stars, a better than perfect score. The car has received glowing reviews, but with a base price of about $70,000 it is too expensive to be enjoyed by most Americans. Tesla hopes to begin selling a cheaper fully electric SUV, the Model X, in 2014." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingTesla Motor’s Model S is the safest car ever tested

Elon Musk condemns the ‘perversion of democracy’ in Texas

"Tesla sells its cars directly to consumers, but state law currently prohibits Tesla from operating its own a dealership. Car makers are not allowed to sell vehicles directly to the public in Texas, they must sell through independently-owned franchises. 'This happens all the time,' said Bill Wolters, the president of the Texas Automobile Dealers Association, which lobbied against the bill. 'Someone wants an exception to the franchise laws. If we made an exception for everybody that showed up in the legislature, before long the integrity of the entire franchise system is in peril.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingElon Musk condemns the ‘perversion of democracy’ in Texas