Idle/Random/whatever Thoughts of a Demented/Idle/Whatever Mind

1. How Major Indian Apps Are Bypassing Google’s Policy to Spy on Your App Drawer? - Report reveals that many major Android apps on the Google Play Store are allegedly bypassing Google's privacy policies to access a list of other apps installed on users' devices. Apps like Swiggy, Zepto, and HDFC are among those seemingly "peeping" into users' app drawers. While some argue this access might be needed for core functionality (like fraud detection in banking apps), the report suggests it's being used for fingerprinting and user profiling. Analysis of AndroidManifest.xml files shows apps use methods like querying by package name or intent signature to extract this data. Concerns are raised about apps like KreditBee, which appear to be profiling users based on the presence of specific apps, including those related to religion and astrology. The report questions Google's enforcement of its policies and the lack of user consent or awareness regarding this data co...

 1. Google says it’s made a quantum computing breakthrough that reduces errors - Google researchers have made a breakthrough in quantum error correction, which could pave the way for useful quantum computers. The main challenge in quantum computing has been the high error rate of the hardware, which prevents them from executing long and useful algorithms. The new research demonstrates that it is possible to add components to reduce these errors, which was previously thought to be impossible due to engineering limitations. This bolsters the idea that error correction is a viable strategy for building a useful quantum computer. My Take : While these advancements may seem incremental, they are crucial for the development of quantum computers. However, it’s important to avoid overhyping their implications, as was the case with the early hype surrounding GenAI being AGI. Despite this, the progress made with GPTs represents a significant leap forward in the field of AI. Similarly, these...

1. The Genius Behind the Quantum Navigation Breakthrough - This is the World's First Unhackable Quantum GPS. Using the coldest atoms in the Universe, it may revolutionise the way we navigate. This Youtuber to got to go behind the scenes and see their device up close to try and understand just how important this breakthrough is. My Take : This video goes into more details about how quantum navigation works as well hits the home run in explaining why its really needed. I had also mentioned about Quantum Navigation in a previous post where IEEE had covered it. This video goes to explain more details of it and if you are a physics nerd, you would enjoy it.   2. Forget ChatGPT: why researchers now run small AIs on their laptops -  This article talks about the different small and locally runnable LLMs which various scientists are using for not just poetry but also for medicine. The locally runnable LLMs have the distinct advantage of preserving privacy, fine tuning using the open...

 I've watched enough scam bait videos on YouTube to know that this is a common tactic used by scammers. They try to create a sense of urgency and fear to get you to give them money. It's important to remember that real government agencies or service providers will never ask for personal information or payments over the phone. If you're unsure, verify the information through official channels. Recently, I was the target of a particularly egregious robo-scam. A robotic voice, claiming to be from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), informed me that my phone numbers were about to be blocked due to a violation. I was supposed to press a number to proceed. When I did I was connected to the scammer, who seemed completely unaware of my name, proceeded to mention another phone number that was allegedly registered against me. The audacity of this person was astounding. They not only accused me of wrongdoing but also demanded a payment to prevent my numbers fr...

I recently experienced this scam first hand. I received a VPP parcel (India posts version of Cash on Delivery) for Rs 2340 at my newly registered company's address. Luckily, the postman was alert and warned me about the possibility of a scam. I refused the parcel and I guess that was the end of it. But this seems like a successful scam as my Google search revealed. Here's how it works :  1. You receive a VPP parcel through India Post, often labeled as containing "important documents" or "registration materials."  2. The Cash on Delivery (COD) fee is high – Rs. 2340 – designed to pressure you into paying without checking the contents. They make enough from the ones that accept vs those who reject What's inside? From what I have heard they can contain the following  1. Worthless items: Think low-value books or generic reading material.  2. Copies of easily accessible documents: They might even include a copy of your company's registration certificate...

  1. Nerves Project: The Nerves Project is a toolkit for building software for small devices (embedded systems) like routers or sensors. It combines Elixir, a powerful programming language, with a reliable runtime environment to make development easier. Imagine building with Legos instead of tinkering with wires. Nerves takes care of complex tasks like networking and device control, so you can focus on the unique features of your project. My Take: This is a very interesting project. Someone like Sun(now Oracle) tried doing something like this for Java and were not very successful IIUC. Would love these folks to succeed. Maybe this will be the turning point where Elixir finds its perfect use and widespread adoption. 2. Bank scam with genuine notifications : A scammer used a badly implemented bank notification to trick users into authenticating and drained user of USD 18,000. Details in the blog post and on reddit . My Take: I had talked about Monzo implementing a very nice mech...