Yet again: Judge slams lawyers for ‘bogus AI-generated research’

A California judge slammed a pair of law firms for the undisclosed use of Artificial Intelligence after he received a supplemental brief with “numerous false, inaccurate, and misleading legal citations and quotations.” In a ruling submitted last week, Judge Michael Wilner imposed $31,000 in sanctions against the law firms involved, saying “no reasonably competent attorney should out-source research and writing” to AI, as pointed out by law professors Eric Goldman and Blake Reid on Bluesky.

“I read their brief, was persuaded (or at least intrigued) by the authorities that they cited, and looked up the decisions to learn more about them – only to find that they didn’t exist,” Judge Milner writes. “That’s scary. It almost led to the scarier outcome (from my perspective) of including those bogus materials in a judicial order.”

As noted in the filing, a plaintiff’s legal representative for a civil lawsuit against State Farm used AI to generate an outline for a supplemental brief. However, this outline contained “bogus AI-generated research” when it was sent to a separate law firm, K&L Gates, which added the information to a brief. “No attorney or staff member at either firm apparently cite-checked or otherwise reviewed that research before filing the brief,” Judge Milner writes.

www.theverge.com

Yet more bad decisions from Microsoft: pulling charity licenses!

The Microsoft 365 Business Premium grant will be discontinued on your next renewal on or after July 1, 2025. Your licenses will expire on August 17, 2025. We will continue to provide up to 300 granted licenses of Microsoft 365 Business Basic and discounts of up to 75 percent on many Microsoft 365 offers to nonprofits, including Microsoft 365 Business Premium.

We strongly advise transitioning your users to a different Microsoft 365 offer for nonprofits before the subscription is cancelled to avoid disruption and data loss. Learn more about what happens to your data and access when your subscription ends.

Please sign this petition: Urge Microsoft to Continue Grant Program for Nonprofits - thank you!

You've read it here before: Microsoft seems to be making all their decisions as bad decisions.

www.microsoft.com

Need to call your bank? Many can now dial 159 for safety

From MoneySavingExpert.com Consumers wanting to avoid financial fraud now have a secure and easy-to-remember phone number to contact their banks on in order to avoid painful scams. It could prove to be the safest way for many to contact their provider if they have suspicions and concerns about their accounts, or even if they're struggling to find a customer services number. 

Stop Scams UK and Global Cyber Alliance have today launched the UK-wide 159 call service, which is designed to guarantee consumers a safe route to contacting their banks.

The scheme is urging people to "stop, hang up and call 159" to check calls are for real. The idea is to help those who believe they have been contacted by scammers claiming to be their bank, or by fraudsters who encourage them to transfer money.

According to Stop Scams UK, criminal gangs stole over £470 million from individuals and small businesses last year by pretending to be a bank or other service provider, encouraging consumers to falsely make a payment or transfer money.

www.moneysavingexpert.com

Zuckerberg’s Grand Vision: Most of Your Friends Will Be AI

Mark Zuckerberg’s vision for a new digital future, artificial-intelligence friends outnumber human companions and chatbot experiences supplant therapists, ad agencies and coders. AI will play a central role in the human experience, the Facebook co-founder and CEO of Meta Platforms has said in a series of recent podcasts, interviews and public appearances.

“I think people are going to want a system that knows them well and that kind of understands them in the way that their feed algorithms do,” Zuckerberg said Tuesday during an onstage interview with Stripe co-founder and president John Collison at Stripe’s annual conference.

Zuckerberg said on a podcast last week that he thinks the average person wants to have more friends and connections with other people than they currently do—and that AI friends are a solution.

Well that's pretty sad: Zuck recons humanity & community is done - time to surrender to our AI overlords. How about NO! The likes of Meta, Microsoft, Google, Apple et al - seem to think that they should be the hub of humanity. How have we got to this place? Time to pushback and:

www.msn.com

Christian Aid Week: 11-17 May 2025. Be that change!

Meet Aurelia from Guatemala. An inspirational farmer and community leader. Aurelia and her family belong to the Indigenous Q’eqchi’ community of the Alta Verapaz region.  

The climate crisis and industrial plantations have changed Q’eqchi’ land dramatically. Gruelling heatwaves, savage storms and unpredictable seasons are ravaging farms. Industrial agriculture is taking over the last of the region’s natural resources to feed the world’s richest countries.  

Many of the vital crops that Aurelia depends on are withering and dying before her eyes.

Please donate today. Please help fund vital tools and training, so farmers like Aurelia can support their community to escape hunger. Thank you!

While we are talking Christian Aid - Have a look at this new report which shows how climate change threatens the world’s favourite fruit - Bananas.

www.christianaid.org.uk

Gigabit broadband reaches nearly 85% of UK premises

Eighty-four per cent of UK premises are able to get gigabit-capable broadband, according to new Ofcom data published today, meaning internet companies are on track to meet the UK Government’s initial target of 85% Gigabit coverage by the end of 2025.

The figures, which come from Ofcom’s Connected Nations Spring update, show that in January 27.2 million premises (84%) could access broadband with speeds of 1000 Mbit/s or more, up from 82% in July 2024.

Ofcom’s new data also shows that nearly three-quarters of premises (73% or 23.7 million) can access full-fibre broadband, which uses fibre-optic cables to deliver faster and more reliable internet connections, up from 67% last year.

Oh yeh? That's NOT what I'm seeing. I have 826 clients and a miserable number of those have FTTP. Methinks someone snout is protruding...

www.ofcom.org.uk

Throwing rubbish out of a car - and it hitting a motorcyclist!

Road safety group, IAM RoadSmart have released new data highlighting the risks posed to motorcyclists by littering car drivers.

In a survey of 600 of their biking members, the advanced motoring group found that 37% of respondents had experienced drivers throwing rubbish and cigarette butts out of their windows during rider overtakes in the last year – something the group wants to stamp out.

“Hurling litter and butts at motorcyclists is shocking and reckless,” IAM Policy and Standards Director, Nicholas Lyes said.

“Deaths and serious injuries remain a real concern for motorcyclists, but a little courtesy and additional checks go a long way to improving the safety of some of the most vulnerable on the road.”

MCN’s own research found rider interactions with littering drivers to tally with the IAM’s findings. A snap poll online found 35.7% of 129 respondents had been struck by litter thrown from a car.

I've had some close calls with cigarette butts thrown from cars, but windscreen wiper fluid overspray hitting me - oh yes! Please car drivers, show a bit of courtesy to fellow road users - & KEEP BRITIAN TIDY!

www.motorcyclenews.com

Microsoft moved the goalposts once. Will Windows 12 bring another shift?

Retired Microsoft engineer Dave Plummer has weighed in on the increasingly heated discussion regarding the impending end of Windows 10. Are Windows 11's hardware requirements all about security or just a sales ploy in disguise?

Plummer comes from the days of MS-DOS and Windows NT 4 and had a hand in Windows Activation. He also recently mused on Microsoft's move to a subscription model, regarding the latest iterations of Microsoft's operating system as more of an "adversary" than an assistant.

The controversy over Windows 11's hardware requirements is more nuanced. On one side, there is the laudable goal of securing Windows by requiring the presence of a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0 and a relatively modern CPU. On the other hand, there are many devices capable of running Windows 10 that fail Microsoft's hardware compatibility requirements, usually through a lack of TPM 2.0 and/or an older CPU.

"Microsoft," said Plummer, "has previously ended support for older operating systems. The discontinuation of support for Windows XP and later Windows 7 are prime examples. In those cases, the primary rationale was usually the increasing difficulty and cost of maintaining security and ensuring compatibility with modern software and hardware on aging platforms.

"However, the Windows 11 situation feels somewhat different. Many of the PCs excluded by the TPM and CPU requirements are not necessarily old or underpowered; they simply lack a specific relatively recent security chip or a sufficiently new processor architecture.

Although older Surface devices might not meet Microsoft's hardware requirements for Windows 11, the company announced new hardware this week in the form of a 12-inch Surface Pro and a 13-inch Surface Laptop. Both are powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon chips and, unsurprisingly, carry the Copilot+ PC label.

"This feels less like a natural progression of technology leaving older systems behind due to performance limitations, and more like a specific hardware gate being erected."

The question must also be asked – what does this mean for Windows 12? Microsoft is relentlessly promoting its Copilot+ PCs, and it's not hard to envisage a world where hardware acceleration for the company's AI becomes a prerequisite. Accessing a preview of the company's flagship Recall feature currently requires a Copilot+ PC, for example.

"If this trend continues," Plummer continued, "it's quite conceivable that future versions of Windows could impose even stricter hardware demands, potentially leaving an even larger number of currently functional PCs unable to upgrade," and so the cycle goes on...

www.theregister.com

The power of wonder

Today, almost 2000 years after Jesus lived on earth in human form, God still communicates with us in several ways—including, through the physical beauty and wonders of our planet and universe that he once spoke into existence. 

In this short video, we explore how our Creator continually demonstrates his love, faithfulness and power through everything he has made. And, as our sense of wonder grows, so will our desire to worship the King of all creation.

www.thejohn1010project.com

Reading for today: turn to Jesus - be healed

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

Read all of 2 Chronicles 7 at Bible Gateway

HMRC's Making Tax Digital scheme also made tax more expensive – by £300M

The UK tax authority's push to digitize services has backfired, saddling taxpayers with hundreds of millions in extra costs, according to a report by Parliament's public spending watchdog.

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) found that Making Tax Digital (MTD), launched ten years ago, was imposed with little consultation and left businesses unaware of the administrative financial burden they'd face.

For example, after the rollout of MTD for VAT in 2022, His Majesty's Revenue & Customs (HMRC) estimated net additional costs to traders of around £300 million ($401 million) between fiscal 2020 to fiscal 2024.

Similarly, in February 2024, HMRC calculated that moving income tax self-assessment to MTD would impose more than £500 million ($668 million) in costs on taxpayers – exceeding annual savings by around £200 million ($267 million).

"There is no strong evidence to date to suggest productivity improvements or other benefits for most VAT traders following the introduction of MTD," the PAC report said.

www.theregister.com

Well that explains a lot! Microsoft states 20% - 30% of their code was written by AI

Microsoft's CEO Satya Nadella on Tuesday said that as much as 30% of the company’s code is now written by artificial intelligence.

“I’d say maybe 20%, 30% of the code that is inside of our repos today and some of our projects are probably all written by software,” Nadella said during a conversation before a live audience with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

The pair of CEOs were speaking at Meta’s inaugural LlamaCon AI developer event in Menlo Park, California. Nadella added that the amount of code being written by AI at Microsoft is going up steadily. 

Nadella asked Zuckerberg how much of Meta’s code was coming from AI. Zuckerberg said he didn’t know the exact figure off the top of his head, but he said Meta is building an AI model that can in turn build future versions of the company’s Llama family of AI models.

“Our bet is sort of that in the next year probably … maybe half the development is going to be done by AI, as opposed to people, and then that will just kind of increase from there,” Zuckerberg said.

You've read it here before: Microsoft seems to be making all their decisions as bad decisions. This might just explain it...

www.cnbc.com

LG will shut down update servers for its Android smartphones on June 30

LG announced just over four years ago that it would depart the smartphone business, and now the clock is running out on any remaining updates for the company’s Android phones.

When LG called it quits for Android smartphones, the company also committed to a few more updates. That included an Android 12 update for select devices, the last major update the company would put out, as well as security updates for at least three years after each device had been released. That three-year cutoff has long since passed for all LG devices, but any devices still floating around out there will soon no longer be able to pull updates. That’s because, on June 30, LG will shut down the servers for its Android updates.

After that date, LG smartphones still in use will no longer be able to get over-the-air updates from LG or through the LG Bridge application. Android Authority highlighted the shutdown, with LG having announced the shutdown on April 10.

www.9to5google.com

Microsoft Windows - the future is grim...

Windows is at that awkward stage any global empire has to go through. Around one in five of the world population is a Windows user – 1.5 billion humans. Aside from the relatively small slice that Mac takes, everyone else is happy with smartphones, so until we make contact with credulous aliens, there are no new worlds for Microsoft to conquer. In an industry obsessed with growth, this is untenable.

It gets worse. For almost all of the existing user base, Windows 10 is perfectly fine, so Windows 11 has to be forced down their gullets at gunpoint. You cannot have a fifth of humanity pinned like a moth collection to your desktop and not monetize them. This has led, as Dave Plummer notes, to an OS that's both tool and adversary, one that gives you AI whether you like it or not, and one that advertises and prods and pulls you toward paid services whether you like it or not. There is change for change's sake, and not for small change either.

This will not get better. Microsoft is unsure of or unable to communicate what's coming. Project Hudson Valley, initially talked of as Window 12 with a 2025 launch, faded away as Hudson Valley became the AI-laden Uncanny Valley of Win 11 24H2. The marketing power of a new major version doesn't work if it's an amplification of a previous failure, but all that can mean is more bad AI you can't turn off, more monetization tweaks, more attempts to kill the older version. There may even be a push to a subscription licensing model.

All of this is reprehensible from an engineering viewpoint. Windows used to be terrible, then it got good, now it's getting terrible again because it is exempt from competitive forces.

Nobody talks much about Windows 12 because it doesn't matter, it's going to be even worse, it's going to hurt more. You may have more freedom to escape than you think, especially if you plan ahead. Cold turkey isn't the only way to skip free of an addiction. Think ahead to how things will be on recent evidence, then think on. READ MORE...

www.theregister.com

Honda DreamTech Roadshow - Brockenhurst 26 April 2025

 

Get ready to take Honda’s latest technology for a spin! The Honda DreamTech Roadshow is hitting the road for four weekends, starting at the end of April, bringing you the chance to test ride some of Honda’s most advanced motorcycles. Whether you're curious about the seamless E-Clutch system or the smooth performance of DCT (Dual Clutch Transmission), this is your opportunity to experience the next generation of riding firsthand.

I was really pleased to attend the Honda DreamTech Roadshow session at the stunning Rhinefield House Hotel, Brockenhurst on 26th April. Honestly - what a setting, in the heart of the beautiful New Forest! Honda had provided a number of demonstration bikes, including: NC750X, Africa Twin, NT1100, CB650R, CBR650R - the day was provided to experience their revolutionary gear shift technologies.

After a warm welcome, I spent the morning session riding a NT1100 DCT with Electronic Suspension. I've ridden a similar bike a year or two ago - and didn't gel with it, can't remember why though. This time - I loved it! Physically, quite a large motorbike (it has been referred to as a "baby Gold Wing"). However, as always, the weight disappears as soon as you start moving. Honda's latest generation of DCT makes for silky smooth gearshifts. I kept the bike in sport mode - which holds lower gears, and allows the bike to rev out somewhat. There's "paddles" to manually select gears too - on the admittedly fairly complex switch cluster. A really comfy ride, with a relaxed riding position. The parallel twin engine made a great sound, and had plenty of torque - picked up really well! I really liked this bike & believe it would make a fantastic sports tourer for Kim & me.

After a very tasty lunch (thanks Honda 👍) I took out the CB650R with E-Clutch. This bike is the little brother of my CB1000R - so I was looking forward to going for a spin! The E-Clutch allows you to ride this sporty naked motorcycle (sort of) like a twist'n'go moped - but with a manual gearbox! The E-Clutch handles up & down shifts sweetly - on or off the gas. I really liked the bike, but found the E-Clutch a bit confusing - my fault as I kept going for the clutch lever - which seemed to put the system back in manual gear shift mode. If I left the clutch lever alone, the E-Clutch worked really well. It's sort of like the quick shifter on my bike - but at a cracking price of £100 over the manual gearbox - honestly, why wouldn't you?

Thanks Honda - what a great day. The CB650R was fun, but the NT1100 was viable... Might have to make some room in the garage!

Click here to see some photos from this great day

Happy Easter! Jesus Christ is Risen - Alleluia!

But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.

Alleluia, He Is Risen! He is Risen Indeed, Alleluia!
Easter Blessings to you & all who you hold dear.

www.biblegateway.com

The Outlook isn't great for Microsoft - even more issues!

Far be it from us to suggest Microsoft is trying to force people onto its New Outlook application, but it has admitted Classic Outlook occasionally and mysteriously turns into a system resource hog.

It's a SNAFU that may just push folks over the edge to the new app – or to a full alternative.

The Windows behemoth earlier this week confirmed its software goes awry, and said users may experience CPU usage spikes of up to 30 to 50 percent and increased power consumption.

Users flagged the issue as far back as November 2024, and Microsoft has finally acknowledged that something odd is going on. Affected customers say it happens on Windows 10 and 11.

The issue can be observed by opening Task Manager and watching the CPU usage rise. Microsoft offered little in the way of a fix, saying only that "the Outlook Team is investigating this issue."

www.theregister.com

The Chosen - what could be better to watch during Holy Week?

 

The Chosen is a ground-breaking historical drama based on the life of Jesus, seen through the eyes of those who knew him. Set against the backdrop of Jewish oppression in first-century Israel, the seven-season show shares an authentic and intimate look at Jesus’ revolutionary life and teachings.

The Chosen is, and always will be, free to watch! All episodes and content are available via the official app and online. We want to reach as many people as possible though, so currently in the UK, The Chosen is also available on Apple TV, Amazon Prime and YouTube.

www.thechosen.tv

Holy week and Easter - how to follow in Jesus' footsteps

 

Easter is the most significant event in the Christian church calendar. Without the events of Holy Week, there wouldn’t be a Christian faith. Easter is the reason the Christian church exists!

Easter commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ three days after his execution on a Roman cross. That moment of resurrection is the core of Easter — but the days leading up to Easter are key parts of the story, too. The interplay of prophecy, friendship, betrayal, and grace during the final days before Jesus’ crucifixion is full of insight into human nature — and God’s love.

Have you read the Easter story recently? You’ve probably heard or read many of the most famous episodes in the Easter account, but it’s truly a story meant to be read as a coherent whole. In this post, we’ll tell you everything you need to know to explore the Easter story. READ MORE...

www.biblegateway.com

Wintershall is BACK - The Passion of Jesus in Trafalgar Square

Wintershall, a renowned Christian theatre company, is set to bring the powerful and moving story of the Passion of Jesus to life in Trafalgar Square, London, on April 18, 2025. The annual open-air performance, which has captivated thousands of people since 2010, will take place on the iconic square in the heart of London, offering a profound and immersive experience for audiences from all walks of life.

Event Details
● Date: Friday, April 18, 2025
● Time: Performances at 12 noon and at 3:15 PM (BST)
● Location: Trafalgar Square, London
● Admission: Free

The event will include a series of live scenes, including the Last Supper, Jesus’ trial before Pilate, His journey through the streets of Jerusalem, the crucifixion, and the resurrection. The cast will be complemented by a moving musical score, bringing an added layer of emotional depth to the presentation.

www.premier.org.uk

Microsoft Outlook - a bit like Coke!

Baffled by the plethora of Outlook options out there? You aren't alone. Microsoft veteran Scott Hanselman posted a list of some more variants that could be used to do the same thing.

It's a problem common to several Microsoft products. A file needs to be opened, but which app should be used? Should it be Outlook New, or Outlook (New)? With tongue firmly in cheek, Hanselman listed some more options: Outlook (Zero Sugar), Outlook (Caffeine Free), and so on.

Hanselman, Developer Community veep at Microsoft, also included Outlook '95, although to our mind the peak came with the version of Outlook in Office 97. A happier, more trusting time when security was less important.

While users can create multiple Outlook profiles to store email account details and data locations, Hanselman's post on Bluesky highlights an issue facing many users of Microsoft's software: which incarnation of the application to use.

Teams users often find themselves presented with a variety of applications – Microsoft Teams and Microsoft Teams (Personal), for example, can often appear side by side in the system tray.

As for Outlook, users are likely to have multiple versions installed. Microsoft forced the new version onto devices as part of a Windows update and renamed the previous version to Outlook (Classic) so the pair could run side by side. While support for the Classic version of Outlook will persist until at least 2029, Microsoft would like users to move to the new version despite it lacking many of its predecessor's functions.

According to Microsoft: "The new Outlook for Windows, built upon modern service architecture, is inspired by the Outlook web experience." It also does not support the COM add-ins used by many enterprises to glue corporate workflows together. READ MORE...

www.theregister.com

Go back to the Grid in TRON: Ares trailer

It's difficult to underestimate the massive influence that Disney's 1982 cult science fiction film, TRON, had on both the film industry—thanks to combining live action with what were then ground-breaking visual effects, rife with computer-generated imagery—and on nerd culture at large. Over the ensuing decades there has been one sequel, an animated TV series, a comic book miniseries, video games, and theme park attractions, all modelled on director Steve Lisberg's original fictional world.

Now we're getting a third instalment in the film franchise: TRON: Ares, directed by Joachim Rønning (Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, Maleficent: Mistress of Evil), that serves as a standalone sequel to 2010's TRON: Legacy. Disney just released the first trailer and poster art, and while the footage is short on plot, it's got the show-stopping visuals we've come to expect from all things TRON.

www.arstechnica.com

Five VPN apps in the App Store had links to Chinese military

 

At least five VPN apps in the App Store were found to have links to the Chinese military, according to a new report today. Three of them have racked up more than a million downloads.

A subsidiary of one of the Chinese companies behind the apps is currently hiring for a role in “monitoring and analysing platform data,” with a familiarity with American culture listed as a job requirement …

Virtual Private Network (VPN) apps are designed to protect the privacy of internet usage, protecting against man-in-the-middle attacks using fake public Wi-Fi hotspots, as well as ensuring your ISP or mobile carrier can’t track the websites you visit.

Additionally, VPNs can be used to circumvent geoblocks on anything from streaming video services to content banned by a country’s government.

However, VPNs are only as trustworthy as the companies behind them. A fake VPN can expose all your browsing data to its developer.

www.9to5mac.com

You learn something new every day: Kristen DiMercurio - the voice of a thousand products!

“OK, so you have to say it with a smile, no matter what you’re saying, because the shape of your mouth makes a difference.” Kristen DiMercurio is teaching me how to sound like my Bluetooth speaker.

“The resonance is in your chest and throat, it’s very deep, very low. You have to enunciate every consonant. I do a slight amount of airiness. I’m practically singing it, it’s very melodic. And there’s a certain rhythm: It usually goes up and then down at the end. You get that unnatural, clipped sound. I’ve never really broken it down like this … Bluetooth connected.”

And there it is. Something you’ve probably heard hundreds or thousands of times, and maybe never thought about once. DiMercurio, a voice-over actor, onscreen actor, singer, and podcaster, first went viral on TikTok last September when she revealed that she is the voice of many, many, many Bluetooth speakers, gadgets, and smart-home devices. Suddenly, she had 17 million views on one post, more than 700,000 followers, and her mentions were full of comments like “OMG did you do the Duolingo Premium voice?” and “Low battery, please recharge.” READ MORE...

www.wired.com

31st March = World Backup Day! If you don't already backup your data - now is the time to start!

 

WHAT IS BACKUP? 

A backup is a second copy of all your important files — for example, your family photos, home videos, documents and emails. Instead of storing it all in one place (like your computer), you keep another copy of everything somewhere safe.

ALRIGHT, I GET IT, BUT WHY SHOULD I BACKUP?

Losing your files is way more common than you’d think. Ever lost your phone, camera or tablet? That counts. Your stuff could have been saved with a backup. One small accident or failure could destroy all the important stuff you care about.

30% of people have never backed up

113 phones lost or stolen every minute

29% of disasters are caused by accident

1 in 10 computers infected with viruses each month

SO HOW DO I BACKUP?

Most people backup their files in one of two ways: to an external drive, or somewhere on the Internet (Backblaze).

Do you need a hand with getting backup sorted for your important data? Contact Donline. Do not wait till it's too late to backup!

www.worldbackupday.com

Bible sales surge by 87% as Generation Z rediscovers faith

Bible sales in the UK have risen sharply, increasing by 87 per cent from £2.69 million in 2019 to £5.02 million in 2024, according to new data from SPCK Group and Nielsen Book Data.

Publishers and researchers attribute this growth to Generation Z’s renewed interest in spirituality, marking a striking cultural shift.

While overall non-fiction book sales declined by 6% between 2023 and 2024, religious books have defied the trend. The broader category of "Bibles and liturgy" grew from £7 million in 2019 to £8.1 million in 2024, continuing a longer-term rise from £5 million in 2008. Spending on religious books as a whole reached £25.2 million last year, reflecting a 3% year-on-year increase.

This is literally GOOD NEWS! Want some more good news? If you'd like a Bible at no cost - contact me. I'm a member of Good News For Everyone, and we distribute God's holy word to anyone who would like a copy. God Bless you x

www.christiantoday.com

Scam Alert: FBI ‘Increasingly Seeing’ Malware Distributed In Document Converters

Threat actors may attempt to distribute malware, including ransomware, by offering free document converters, according to a March 7 report from the FBI’s Denver office. “Agents are increasingly seeing” this type of scam. The scheme has been deployed globally, the FBI warned.

Threat actors behind the document converter scam disguise malicious software as a legitimate tool for file conversion. The software may claim to convert .doc files to .pdf files, merge multiple .jpg files into a single .pdf file, or download MP3 or MP4 audio files. In most cases, the downloaded software performs the advertised conversion. However, it also grants the attacker access to the victim’s computer.

Once installed, the malware allows threat actors to download additional malicious software or access files submitted for conversion. If these files contain identifying information —  such as dates of birth, social security numbers, or phone numbers — the threat actor may exploit them for identity theft. The attacker could scrape the submitted files for banking information, seed phrases and other information associated with cryptocurrency wallets, email addresses, and passwords.

www.techrepublic.com

More power for Police to recover stolen bikes

Police Officers will be given greater powers to access a property if a tracking device shows that a stolen motorcycle or scooter is inside, thanks to the Government’s Crime and Policing Bill.

The Home Office has announced that the flagship Bill, which is said to be at the heart of what the Labour government is calling its ‘Safer Streets Mission’ and is hoped to become law by the end of 2025, will target the most serious crimes including knife crime, stalking, criminal and sexual exploitation of children and terrorist threats.

But it’s also aiming to cut through red tape and speed up investigations into crimes that – while relatively minor in comparison – take up a significant amount of Police time and cause distress to a large proportion of the British public.

The BBC reported yesterday that the Bill promises more powers to search homes for stolen phones by eliminating the need for a court warrant, but Bennetts BikeSocial has confirmed with the Home Office that this will also apply to motorcycles and scooters, or in fact any vehicle that’s electronically tracked to a location, meaning Police will be able to far more easily gain access to recover it, and potentially secure an arrest.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper acknowledged the frustration that victims of theft suffer when they can see exactly where their stolen property is but nothing is done, saying “That is why we are determined to give the police the powers they need to move fast to crack down on these crimes that are blighting our communities.”

www.bennetts.co.uk

Survey shows that government must move further and faster on potholes and road repairs

 

The National Motorcyclists Council (NMC) is today renewing calls on the Government to move much further and faster on its commitment to improve roads maintenance. The call comes as the Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA) publishes its latest annual report. The 2025 Annual Local Authority Road Maintenance Survey Report reveals that the backlog of carriageway repairs in England and Wales has reached new heights at almost £17 billion, while roads are only surfaced, on average, once every 93 years. More than half (52%) – equivalent to around 106,000 miles– of the local road network is reported to have less than 15 years’ structural life remaining. Almost a third of these – 34,600 miles or one in six of the total – may only have up to five years life left.

Almost all local authorities told the AIA that in their opinion, there has been no improvement to their network over the last year, with 65% stating that conditions have declined. Over £20 billion has been spent on carriageway maintenance in England and Wales over the last decade but, due to the short-term allocation of this funding, there have been no significant improvements in structural road conditions.

Poor roads maintenance and potholes are a clear and present road safety risk to motorcyclists and other vulnerable road users. The Pothole Partnership comprising The AA, British Cycling, JCB, the National Motorcyclists Council, with other supporting organisations, previously welcomed the Government’s commitment to £1.6bn funding for local road maintenance in England, but the ALARM report confirms that this is only a small part of the investment needed if we are to see real change and safer roads for motorcyclists and other roads users.

www.uknmc.org

Everything you say to your Echo will be sent to Amazon starting on March 28

Since Amazon announced plans for a generative AI version of Alexa, we were concerned about user privacy. With Alexa+ rolling out to Amazon Echo devices in the coming weeks, we’re getting a clearer view of the privacy concessions people will have to make to maximize usage of the AI voice assistant and avoid bricking functionality of already-purchased devices.

In an email sent to customers today, Amazon said that Echo users will no longer be able to set their devices to process Alexa requests locally and, therefore, avoid sending voice recordings to Amazon’s cloud. Amazon apparently sent the email to users with “Do Not Send Voice Recordings," which is supported by the Echo Dot (4th Gen), Echo Show 15, and Echo Show 10, enabled. Starting on March 28, recordings of every command spoken to the Alexa living in Echo speakers and smart displays will automatically be sent to Amazon and processed in the cloud.

Decades ago, we were concerned about "reds under the bed". Nowadays (unbelievably) we actually pay for the spying devices & install them ourselves in our homes & businesses!

www.arstechnica.com

End of Windows 10 Leaves PC Charities with Tough Choice

Unless Microsoft changes its mind at the last minute, Windows 10 will stop receiving free security updates this coming October. For those who can upgrade to Windows 11, the solution is obvious: Run the new OS even if you don’t like it. But there are hundreds of millions – by one estimate 240 million – PCs that don’t meet Microsoft’s stringent Windows 11 hardware requirements.

If you’re a consumer or a business, Microsoft and the PC industry would very much like you to toss these systems in the trash and buy new computers to take their place. But forgotten in this capitalist crush are all the charities (like TWAM) that refurbish older computers and give them to people who can’t afford to purchase one.

These non-profits are sitting on a plethora of still-working computers that can’t run Microsoft’s latest OS. Do they give clients a soon-to-be-insecure Windows 10 computer, send older computers to an ewaste recycler, toss them in the trash or try to install some form of Linux?

It is worth noting that Microsoft will also continue to provide Security Intelligence Updates for Microsoft Defender Antivirus through at least October 2028.

www.tomshardware.com

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Today's Reading: the Fall from Grace

Traditional doctrine points to a sin against God, an act of disobedience, not a sin against the neighbour. And certainly, if we are to hold the doctrine of the Fall in any real sense, we must look for the great sin on a deeper and more timeless level than that of social morality.

This sin has been described by Saint Augustine as the result of Pride, of the movement whereby a creature (that is, an essentially dependent being whose principle of existence lies not in itself but in another) tries to set up on its own, to exist for itself. Such a sin requires no complex social conditions, no extended experience, no great intellectual development. From the moment a creature becomes aware of God as God and of itself as self, the terrible alternative of choosing God or self for the centre is opened to it. This sin is committed daily by young children and ignorant peasants as well as by sophisticated persons, by solitaries no less than by those who live in society: it is the fall in every individual life, and in each day of each individual life, the basic sin behind all particular sins: at this very moment you and I are either committing it, or about to commit it, or repenting it.

By C.S. Lewis - taken from The Problem of Pain

There is one vice of which no man in the world is free; which every one in the world loathes when he sees it in someone else; and of which hardly any people, except Christians, ever imagine that they are guilty themselves. I have heard people admit that they are bad-tempered, or that they cannot keep their heads about girls or drink, or even that they are cowards. I do not think I have ever heard anyone who was not a Christian accuse himself of this vice. And at the same time I have very seldom met anyone, who was not a Christian, who showed the slightest mercy to it in others. There is no fault which makes a man more unpopular, and no fault which we are more unconscious of in ourselves. And the more we have it ourselves, the more we dislike it in others.

The vice I am talking of is Pride or Self-Conceit: and the virtue opposite to it, in Christian morals, is called Humility. You may remember, when I was talking about sexual morality, I warned you that the centre of Christian morals did not lie there. Well, now, we have come to the centre. According to Christian teachers, the essential vice, the utmost evil, is Pride. Unchastity, anger, greed, drunkenness, and all that, are mere fleabites in comparison: it was through Pride that the devil became the devil: Pride leads to every other vice: it is the complete anti-God state of mind.

By C.S. Lewis - taken from Mere Christianity