Hacker News
1I was banned from Claude for scaffolding a Claude.md file?
- A user's Claude AI account was permanently banned without warning while using two Claude instances to iteratively improve project scaffolding tools. One Claude would update context files while another worked on projects, creating a feedback loop. The user believes the AI-generated instructions triggered prompt injection detection systems. Despite appeals, they received only a refund with no communication from Anthropic, highlighting issues with automated AI moderation systems.
Anthropic support issues and banning practices
Users report sudden account bans without explanation or recourse, poor customer service with AI bots instead of humans, and degraded service quality despite paying premium prices. Many describe Anthropic as having "no real support channel."Claude reliability and technical problems
Discussion of Claude's increasing instability, including chats stopping mid-response, quota issues, message failure rates, and various bugs. Users note the service becoming "flaky" and "almost unusable" with frequent technical issues.Concerns about AI dependency and corporate control
Users express worry about becoming dependent on a few AI providers who can arbitrarily ban users, potentially blocking access to essential tools for programming and knowledge work, creating a concerning power dynamic.
2Why does SSH send 100 packets per keystroke?
- A developer building a high-performance SSH-based game discovered that mysterious 36-byte packets were consuming 50% of CPU resources. Through network analysis, they found these were "chaff" packets from SSH's keystroke timing obfuscation feature, added in 2023 to prevent timing attacks. By forking Go's crypto library to remove the server-side ping extension that enables this feature, they achieved a 60% CPU reduction and halved bandwidth usage, dramatically improving game performance for thousands of concurrent players.
SSH keystroke timing obfuscation performance issues
Discussion about SSH's 2023 security feature that sends "chaff" packets to obscure typing patterns, causing bandwidth/latency problems for games. Users debate whether this should be configurable and share experiences with resource-constrained environments.LLM usage in debugging and technical problem-solving
Mixed reactions to the author's use of Claude AI for debugging network issues. Some praise its utility as a "rubber duck" tool, while others argue traditional methods like Wireshark would be more effective and reliable.Network performance vs security trade-offs
Debate over the evolution from 1980s efficiency concerns (bundling packets) to modern security measures that increase overhead. Discussion includes alternatives like TCP_CORK, UDP, and whether SSH is appropriate for high-performance games.
3European Alternatives
- This platform helps users find European alternatives to digital services and products like cloud services and SaaS. It promotes supporting local European businesses for benefits like data protection compliance with GDPR, VAT advantages, and similar legal frameworks. The site offers alternatives across 15+ categories including web analytics, cloud computing, email providers, VPS hosting, search engines, and more, with hundreds of European options available.
European alternatives submission challenges
Multiple developers report submitting their European projects to the European Alternatives site but receiving no response. Discussion covers whether projects need to be commercial vs open-source, with some suggesting the site focuses on alternatives to "large players" rather than niche tools.Moving away from US tech services
Users share experiences migrating from US services (AWS, SendGrid) to European alternatives (Hetzner, Sweego). Discussion includes recommendations for EU domain registrars, payment systems like Wero, and concerns about US tech dependency as a security risk.Regional tech sovereignty and competition
Debate over whether regional tech alternatives represent healthy competition or concerning fragmentation. Some argue for global open-source solutions while others see European alternatives as necessary for sovereignty and economic benefits within the region.
4Microsoft gave FBI set of BitLocker encryption keys to unlock suspects' laptops
- Microsoft provided FBI with BitLocker recovery keys to decrypt three encrypted laptops in a fraud investigation related to Pandemic Unemployment Assistance in Guam. BitLocker automatically uploads recovery keys to Microsoft's cloud by default, allowing the company and law enforcement to access encrypted data. Security experts warn this creates privacy risks and vulnerabilities if Microsoft's infrastructure is compromised.
Microsoft's BitLocker key escrow practices
Discussion centers on Windows 11's default BitLocker encryption uploading recovery keys to Microsoft accounts, making them accessible to law enforcement via warrants. Users debate whether this is reasonable for average consumers vs power users who want local key control.Technical solutions and alternatives
Users advocate switching to Linux with LUKS encryption or other open-source solutions that don't involve third-party key escrow. Discussion includes technical methods to disable Microsoft key backup and use local-only encryption.Privacy vs convenience trade-offs
Debate over whether cloud key backup is reasonable default since most users face theft/data loss risks more than government surveillance, versus privacy advocates who view any key escrow as unacceptable security compromise.
5Douglas Adams on the English–American cultural divide over "heroes"
- Douglas Adams explained the cultural divide between British and American attitudes toward heroism when asked about Hitchhiker's Guide's tone. He noted that British heroes typically lack control over their lives, like Arthur Dent, and audiences celebrate failures and defeats. Americans prefer goal-oriented heroes with agency, making Arthur's passive, tea-drinking response to chaos less appealing to US audiences than British ones who find such characters endearing.
Cultural differences in heroism and humor
Discussion explores how British and American cultures approach protagonists differently - British audiences prefer flawed, failing characters they can relate to (like Arthur Dent), while Americans favor competent heroes who overcome obstacles. Examples include comparing UK vs US versions of The Office and differences in comedy styles.Television adaptations and character competence
Analysis of how protagonists are portrayed across different shows, particularly focusing on Detective Inspector Alec Hardy in Broadchurch as an incompetent character whose failures drive the plot, contrasted with American police procedurals that typically give heroes redeeming qualities or clear reasons for their setbacks.Counterexamples to the British-American divide
Participants identify characters that don't fit the proposed cultural pattern, such as Charlie Brown as a beloved American "loser" character, and discuss how some British works like Harry Potter feature traditionally American-style heroes, suggesting the divide isn't absolute.
6AI Usage Policy
- GitHub is a comprehensive platform offering AI-powered code creation tools like GitHub Copilot and Spark, developer workflows including automated actions and code review, application security features, and enterprise solutions. The platform serves various company sizes from startups to enterprises across industries like healthcare and finance, providing documentation, community support, and specialized programs for developers and open source projects.
Lack of shame in low-quality contributions
Experienced developers express surprise at contributors' willingness to submit poorly tested, AI-generated code without shame. Discussion explores how AI tools enable people without real expertise to feel entitled to contribute, lacking the humility that comes with understanding one's limitations.GitHub's social nature enabling portfolio padding
The discussion identifies how GitHub's contribution tracking creates perverse incentives where people submit low-quality PRs just to add "contributed to X project" to their resumes. AI has made this gaming cheaper and easier, exacerbating an existing problem.AI policy requirements and disclosure debates
Users generally approve of Ghostty's balanced AI policy requiring disclosure and human verification, though some debate whether disclosure of AI usage should be mandatory and discuss the practical challenges of implementing such policies.
7Proton Spam and the AI Consent Problem
- A user explicitly opted out of Lumo emails from Proton but still received AI product marketing emails. After complaining to support, Proton initially claimed it was a business newsletter, not Lumo-specific. Following escalation and public attention, Proton's leadership acknowledged it was a system bug and apologized, promising to fix the issue and take communication consent more seriously.
Email consent violations
Users discuss how companies ignore email unsubscribe preferences by creating new categories and auto-enrolling users. This affects many services beyond AI - LinkedIn, Amazon, Apple all send unwanted emails despite opt-out settings. The problem stems from marketing teams lacking empathy and facing pressure from management to boost engagement metrics.AI being forced into products
Discussion centers on how AI is being aggressively pushed into every software product without user consent or ability to disable it. Users report leaving Google Workspace and other services due to mandatory AI features. Many see this as evidence of an AI bubble where companies desperately pump adoption numbers.Proton's reputation concerns
Users worry that Proton is adopting the same problematic practices as big tech companies they're supposed to replace. Some are switching to alternatives like Fastmail due to issues with Proton's email search, bridge software, and now unwanted marketing emails about AI features.
8I built a light that reacts to radio waves [video]
Creator Q&A and project details
The project creator answered questions about their background (CS with bricoleur interests), costs (~$1k total, $200 for metal frame), manufacturing choices (JLCPCB for PCBs, PCBWay for sheet metal), and potential open sourcing of poorly documented code.Technical alternatives and improvements
Discussion of cheaper SDR alternatives to HackRF ($20 vs $1k), using nrf52840 for channel scanning, converting dB to gamma for better visualization, and simpler DC+PWM approaches instead of inductors for LED driving.Video production and presentation
Users praised the video style (fast-paced, calm narration, chill music) and asked about learning video production. Creator revealed no formal training, just inspiration from YouTube consumption, filming with phone only.
9Internet voting is insecure and should not be used in public elections
- A group of 21 computer scientists signed a statement declaring that all internet voting systems, including smartphone voting, are fundamentally insecure and cannot be made safe with current or foreseeable technology. They specifically criticized Bradley Tusk's Mobile Voting Foundation and their VoteSecure system, noting that even its developers admit the system has critical security flaws including vulnerability to malware, vote buying, and lacks dispute resolution protocols.
Paper voting superiority
Participants strongly favor paper ballots over electronic/internet voting, citing Australia's successful pencil-and-paper system with human oversight. Key advantages include transparency, public verifiability, and well-understood security measures that ordinary citizens can audit.Internet voting security risks
Discussion focuses on fundamental security vulnerabilities of online voting - malware on devices/servers, vote coercion, and inability to provide anonymous yet verifiable ballots. Unlike banking fraud which is reversible, election fraud cannot be undone.Trust and transparency requirements
Trust is identified as the most crucial element of elections, with participants arguing that efficiency gains from digital systems aren't worth the loss of public confidence and understanding that comes with complex cryptographic voting methods.