Hacker News
1I hacked a dating app (and how not to treat a security researcher)
- A cybersecurity researcher discovered critical vulnerabilities in the dating app Cerca that exposed users' personal data, including phone numbers, messages, and ID documents. Despite initial acknowledgment from Cerca, the company failed to notify users or respond to follow-up communications, though the vulnerabilities were eventually patched.
Junior developers' responsibility
Debate over whether student developers should be held accountable for security flaws, with some arguing inexperience isn't an excuse while others note even large companies make similar mistakesLicensing software engineers
Discussion about whether software engineers should require licensing/certification before handling sensitive data, similar to other professions, with arguments for regulation versus maintaining development freedomSecurity disclosure ethics
Debate around proper protocol for disclosing security vulnerabilities, including notification timeframes, legal risks to researchers, and balance between public awareness and user protection
2Car companies are in a billion-dollar software war
- Legacy automakers are struggling to develop software-defined vehicles (SDVs) that can rival Tesla's capabilities. While companies like Ford, GM, Volvo, and VW invest billions in creating upgradeable, software-first architectures, they face significant challenges in transforming their traditional development approaches to meet modern consumer expectations for seamless automotive technology.
Software vs hardware integration challenges
Legacy automakers struggle with software due to fragmented hardware from multiple suppliers and poor integration. Tesla/Chinese EVs succeed by controlling both hardware/software. Communication between components is complex and inefficient.Physical vs touch controls
Strong preference for physical buttons/knobs over touchscreens, especially for essential functions like climate control. Many want minimal software, basic CarPlay/Android Auto integration, and reject unnecessary connectivity features.Security and reliability concerns
Software-defined vehicles raise safety/security risks due to poor code quality, over-the-air updates shipping untested features, and unnecessary internet connectivity creating attack vectors. Many prefer simpler, mechanical systems.
3Embeddings are underrated (2024)
- <p>Embeddings in machine learning offer significant potential for technical writing by enabling the discovery of text connections at unprecedented scales. By converting text into multi-dimensional numerical arrays, embeddings allow for mathematical comparison of any two pieces of text, regardless of size, making them valuable for finding semantic relationships in documentation and content management.</p>
Technical writing applications
Discussion of how embeddings can help technical writers with semantic search, document classification, and addressing core challenges like content discovery, though some felt concrete examples were lackingUnderstanding dimensions
Debate about how embeddings use directions vs dimensions in high-dimensional space, with explanations of why nearly orthogonal vectors allow encoding many concepts effectivelyClient-side implementation
Exploration of running embeddings client-side using tools like transformers.js and ONNX models, with discussion of open source models performing well compared to commercial APIs
4US Copyright Office found AI companies breach copyright. Its boss was fired
- <p>The US Copyright Office head was fired shortly after releasing a report stating AI companies' use of copyrighted material exceeds fair use doctrine. The timing sparked speculation about connections to the office's stance on AI training data and possible political motivations, including the Trump administration's recent actions against diversity initiatives.</p>
Geopolitical implications
Discussion of how US copyright restrictions on AI training could give advantage to countries like China that won't follow suit, leading to concerns about global AI competitiveness and national securityCopyright law adaptation
Debate over whether copyright laws need updating for AI era, comparing human vs machine learning from copyrighted works, and whether AI's utility justifies changing existing lawsTechnical understanding
Discussion highlighting disconnect between technical experts who understand AI training and those arguing about copyright, with calls for more informed legal analysis
5The Barbican
- The article explores the Barbican Estate in London, a remarkable architectural complex built between 1965-1976. The author details their journey from discovering it online to taking a guided tour, highlighting unique features like its maze-like design, hidden resident areas, historic ruins beneath, and unique heating system. The complex serves as a self-contained community with all necessary amenities for lifelong living.
Living experience
Residents share mixed experiences about living in the Barbican - praised for its unique atmosphere but noted challenges like outdated amenities, maze-like layout, and high service charges. Some flats sit empty as investments.Cultural facilities
The complex features notable cultural attractions including a tropical greenhouse, concert hall for London Symphony Orchestra, and theatre. Many visitors appreciate these spaces but often get lost navigating to them.Architectural significance
Discussed as an important example of brutalist architecture and urban planning, comparable to other utopian projects like Habitat 67. Praised for integrating living, culture and public space, though now criticized for becoming exclusive.
6I ruined my vacation by reverse engineering WSC
- The author shares their experience implementing a tool called defendnot, detailing their journey of developing it while traveling in Seoul with limited resources. They describe the challenges of working on ARM64 MacBook, debugging Windows services remotely with high latency, and navigating through various technical hurdles related to Windows Security Center functionality.
Windows Defender disabling
Discussion of various methods to disable Windows Defender, including boot tricks, group policies, and file renaming. Debate about effectiveness and implications of bypassing security, with some noting Windows 11 restrictions.Code implementation concerns
Detailed technical discussion about C++ defer implementation, with developers debating syntax choices, macro usage, and alternative approaches. Some consider the implementation "cursed" while others defend it as practical.Project legal issues
Discussion of DMCA takedown due to author using third-party antivirus code in their project, leading to copyright concerns and debate about transformative use.
7Why Bell Labs Worked
- The text explores the legacy and success of Bell Labs, focusing on its unique management philosophy under leaders like Mervin Kelly. It emphasizes how giving talented researchers freedom, autonomy, and minimal oversight led to groundbreaking innovations. The piece contrasts this approach with modern research institutions' focus on metrics and accountability, suggesting why similar innovation hubs are rare today.
Bell Labs' funding model
Debate over whether Bell Labs' success came from AT&T's monopoly-mandated research spending or other factors, with disagreement about whether there was a legal requirement to fund research vs strategic investment.Freedom and autonomy in research
Discussion of whether modern scientists want/need organizational freedom like Bell Labs offered, with some arguing talented researchers now prefer independence while others say proper autonomy still attracts great minds.Research culture and efficiency
Exchange about how "inefficient" freedom and resources enable breakthroughs, comparing historical examples of well-funded research to modern metrics-driven approaches that may stifle innovation.
8The FTC puts off enforcing its 'click-to-cancel' rule
- The FTC has delayed enforcement of its "click-to-cancel" subscription rule from May 14th to July 14th. The rule requires companies to make cancellation processes as simple as sign-up procedures, meaning if customers can subscribe online, they must be able to cancel online too.
Cancellation hassles
Users share frustrating experiences with canceling services, especially ISPs and subscriptions, involving long hold times, multiple transfers, and confusing processes. Many suggest solutions like certified letters or credit card disputes.Government enforcement
Discussion of FTC's delayed enforcement of the "click-to-cancel" rule, with debate about government's role in consumer protection and criticism of the administration's stance on business regulation.Consumer rights
Debate about potential solutions to forced subscription retention, including payment processor intervention, business incentives, and comparison of US vs EU consumer protections.
9Continuous Thought Machines
- The article discusses a novel neural network architecture called the Continuous Thought Machine (CTM) that incorporates timing and synchronization similar to biological brains. Unlike modern AI systems that simplify neural processes, CTM aims to bridge the gap between artificial and biological intelligence by maintaining temporal dynamics while preserving efficiency and scalability.
Comparison to prior research
Concerns about paper not acknowledging existing work on biological spiking neural networks and using potentially confusing terminology. Multiple researchers share references to established research in this area.Technical implementation
Discussion of how the model actually works - using attention mechanisms and dot products rather than true biological spiking networks, with debate about whether it's truly novel vs similar to existing transformer approaches.Practical challenges
Debate about difficulties in implementing temporal/spike-based approaches in real hardware, with concerns about computational efficiency and hyperparameter complexity making it impractical.
10A community-led fork of Organic Maps
- A community fork of Organic Maps called CoMaps is being developed with principles of transparency, community decision-making, and privacy. The project is seeking community involvement through Codeberg, while negotiations with Organic Maps shareholders remain stalled due to control disagreements.
Project governance concerns
Debate over BDFL vs democratic governance models, with examples of BDFL drawbacks (WordPress) and benefits of democratic processes. Community suggests democratic structure better prevents tyrants and enables recourse if leadership goes astray.App functionality issues
Users discuss limitations of OSM-based apps like search functionality, offline routing, and rendering performance. Many want Google Maps-like features while maintaining open source principles.Fork legitimacy questions
Discussion about verifying credibility of new forks, importance of transparency in fork leadership, and whether forking should be last resort after attempted resolution with original project.