Month: December 2017

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Comcast to Customer Who Noticed It Secretly Injecting Code: Maybe It’s Your Fault?

Comcast is once again under fire for injecting JavaScript code into websites its customers visit.

Last week, user bham3dman took to the Xfinity forum to complain about Comcast inserting hundreds of lines of code into their browsing session. The code surfaced a pop-up telling them to upgrade to a new modem.

This is far from the first time Comcast has taken heat for secretly injecting code into devices on its network. In 2014, the company got called out for pounding wi-fi hotspot users with pop-ups, and the modem-upgrade pop-ups first surfaced early last year. But the company’s response this time around only added fuel to the simmering flames.

“I just learned of this dispicable [sic] Comcast practice today and I am livid,” bham3dman wrote.

Comcast’s solution? The user should have checked their email spam folder.

A Comcast representative—who, it turns out, is Comcast’s vice president of policy and standards, Jason Livingood—confirmed the code injection, pointing bham3dman to a 2011 white paper outlining the practice. Titled “Comcast’s Web Notification System Design,” the document interestingly has a clause specifically saying injecting code is permissible but not for advertisements.

   R3.1.12.  Advertising Replacement or Insertion Must Not Be Performed              Under ANY Circumstances              Additional Background: The system must not be used to              replace any advertising provided by a website, or to insert              advertising into websites.  This therefore includes cases              where a web page already has space for advertising, as well              as cases where a web page does not have any advertising.              This is a critical area of concern for end users, privacy              advocates, and other members of the Internet community.              Therefore, it must be made abundantly clear that this              system will not be used for such purposes.

Livingood, who confirmed to Gizmodo that he responded to bham3dman, insisted to the user that the pop-ups aren’t ads at all. He instead said they were notifications alerting users that their modems were “either end of life (EOL) or that you are about to get a speed upgrade that the model will be unable to deliver.” The specifics of the language is important: Simply notifying users they have a faulty modem isn’t the same as enticing them to upgrade to a new one for no reason. One could be considered a mere notification, while the other would be a forbidden ad.

Motherboard surfaced one of the modem pop-ups when similar complaints came up last year. The message links to Comcast’s My Device page. Clicking through links to a list of modems you can purchase via Amazon. A Comcast spokesperson told Gizmodo that the company also offers customers the option to rent a modem from the company.

On the question of whether this qualifies as an ad or not, bham3dman called bullshit. Livinsgood said the messages only show up if your modem is dead or dying, but bham3dman said they’d been assured by Comcast’s own support team that their modem was perfectly fine, neither end-of-life nor incapable of handling increased speeds. Further, when bham3dman reached out to customer service supervisors to complain, the user said, most had never heard of the practice of injecting code or, if they were aware, didn’t know how to turn it off.

Incredibly, Livingood suggested it was all bham3dman’s own fault: “The notice is typically sent after a customer ignores several emails. Perhaps some of those ended up in your spam folder?”

Creepily invasive code-injections aside, for a telecommunications giant to say, in 2017, that pop-up notifications are unavoidable is absurd. No one can stop the notices? If they’re triggered by ignoring emails, can’t the trigger be disabled? And why send emails in the first place, when the user has been assured they have a fully functioning modem?

Livingood, who declined our request to further comment on the pop-ups, was careful in his replies not to debate whether it’s actually fair to users to send them messages this way, but that’s the real issue here. If this is meant to help customers, it’s as self-serving a way to do it as possible—and it could be dangerous. As Motherboard noted, using these types of pop-ups can train users to be less vigilant about pop-ups, which hackers can use for malicious purposes.

[The Next Web]

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Star Wars, Meet Company Of Heroes

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As we’ve established here on Kotaku.com, Company of Heroes was the perfect RTS. Making it even more perfect, then, is this upcoming Star Wars mod for the game.

It’s a mod cliche—take a game, add Star Wars!—but you can’t argue it’s not a successful one, with everything from Call of Duty to Homeworld benefiting from people’s innate desire to bring Star Wars everywhere that Lucasarts did not.

Enter Star Wars: Frontlines, a mod that’s been in the making for a little while now, but which is about to release its first playable build to the public. There won’t be much to it—just a Mos Eisley map and some infantry units—but considering the quality of the game they’re being plastered over the top of, that’s still worth a look.

Hopefully the AT-ATs, Speeder Bikes and X-Wings can come later.

You can keep tabs on Frontlines here.

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10 Shamelessly Neckbeard-y Gift Ideas For Under $50

This year, it’s time to reveal your power levels and showcase your true form. No longer shall we nerds be satisfied with "warm sweaters" or "tasteful gifts". If you’re about practicality, nuance, or a curated aesthetic of adult maturity, then kindly GTFO. This list is for people that love CARBON FIBER and RGB LED LIGHTING. These are gift ideas for TRUE Masters of the Blade.

We’ve gathered 10 gift ideas that are not only semi-affordable, but speak to something primal and pure in our nature. We’re going beyond the "fake geeks" and the Funko Pop pretenders. Only the most glorious and smartest Rick and Morty fans can appreciate gifts of this caliber.

If someone you love asks what you want this holiday season, don’t lie and mumble something about a Barnes and Noble gift card… look them right in the eye and say LASER GLASSES.

1. 5MW 650nm Stage Red Laser Glasses ($36.99)

laser glasses red lazer

QUICK, NAME YOUR FAVORITE MEMBER OF THE X-MEN. NOW CHANGE YOUR ANSWER FROM "WOLVERINE" TO THE CORRECT CHOICE, "CYCLOPS". Eye lasers are one of the primordial superpowers in escapist fiction. The fantasy of destroying something with a mere GAZE is a powerful idea, and while these specs don’t have the wattage to do serious damage, you WILL look like a futuristic badass while you dazzle and disorient whoever is on the wrong side of these photon-emitting goggles. Created as high-tech DJ / Raver gear, you will get 10 beam-emitting diodes fanning out from your face with a simple push of the button on the right temple, just like Scott Summers himself.

2. Radioactive Glowing Titanium / Tungsten Carbide Self Defense Ring ($45.95)

cringey gifts titanium tritium ring punch punch

Sun Tzu once said "the supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting" and if he were alive today I’m sure he’d add "but if you DO have to fight make sure you got a gnalry chunk of metal attached to your fist". This portable self-defense tool can be worn easily across your neck along with the included pendant, but when push comes to "break some fool’s nose" this ring made from milled titanium can be a game changer. Adorned with a hardened tungsten carbide bit for extra damage, the ring gives off a colorful blue and green glow thanks to the two embedded tritium vials. Now you may have to check your local laws if you purchase this bad boy, because tritium TECHNICALLY gives off radiation, but the vials will continue to emit light for a decade with no electricity or blacklight needed. NEAT.

3. Deadpool / Leonardo Twin Swords and Back Scabbard Set ($44.98)

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Pop culture has taught us time and time again that the only one thing cooler than a katana… is TWO KATANAS. Inspired by pop culture heroes like Rob Liefeld’s Deadpool and Leonardo from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, this affordable piece of kit will help you practice such essential moves as "slowly drawing both swords from behind your back while staring down your opponent" and "sheathing two swords at once without fumbling or having it look kind of awkward". Once you master the basics you can upgrade to a REAL forged Japanese katanas which, last time I checked, only cost like $7,000 bucks apiece.

 

4. Wood Trick Laser-Cut Robotic Hand Kit ($44.99)

wooden hand assembly

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If you’re a little too old for LEGO and want to experience what life would be like as an eco-friendly cyborg, this fun kit might be up your alley. Made from thin sheets of laser cut wood, the pieces can be assembled into series of joints and levers that result in a gnarly facsimile of the human forearm. Whether you use the final piece for grabbing stuff on the high-shelves or just enjoy an afternoon putting little bits together in the right order. You may find yourself inspired enough to continue building until you have yourself a completely organic exo-suit.

 

5. Japanese KUJIRA Utility Knife ($39.99)

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There’s nothing worse than when you need to open a letter or package but then everybody freaks out when you unsheath your 5-inch spyderco spring-loaded tanto edge folding knife. Like come on, guys, this is just my EDC! Anyway, these ergonomic and adorably-designed knives would fit right in any standard office desk and can tackle even the toughest of boxes. Available in several different whale-based styles, these guys get the job done despite not having any tactical advantages.

6. BITTBOY Bootleg Mini NES/Famicom Emulator Console ($39.99)

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We know, you’ve got an N64 emulator on your phone and a hacked NES mini in the living room, but for a convenient and satisfying retro gaming experience on the go, the BITTBOY is one handy little knockoff. Packed with 300 ROMS (including some truly WTF-worthy pokemon bootlegs), the device has a bright backlit LCD screen and solid construction that will definitely turn some heads the next time you bust it out on a packed commuter train. Keep one in your jacket pocket in case of a gamer emergency or give one to your old buddy who quit being your Player Two as soon as he got a girlfriend in 7th grade.

 

7. Ferrocerium Firestarter and Striker Tool ($37.99)

firestarter campfire ferrocerium rod

Don’t believe what the lying media says, we all know the truth is that society is definitely going to fall apart after roaming gangs of unemployed millenials team up with the zombies to destroy the modern world. When the end comes it’s important that you and your (potential) family can live OFF THE GRID. With this firestarting kit you can provide heat and energy without having to use such unreliable methods like "matches" or "a lighter". This is definitely a serious thing I’m talking about and not just the fact that STRIKING STEEL AGAINST FLINT and CREATING A SHOWER OF BRILLIANT WHITE-HOT SPARKS isn’t ONE OF THE COOLEST FEELINGS IN THE WORLD. Yes indeed this is an important SURVIVAL tool and not just A SUPER RAD WAY TO BURN STUFF. The included paracord lanyard is made with jute fiber that can serve as emergency kindling as well.

 

8. A Whole Lotta N52-Grade Super Strong Neodymium Magnets ($16.90)

neodymium magnets fun crafts super strong gift ideas

I’m not gonna tell you how you’ll end up using 250 high-strength rare earth magnets. I’m just gonna let you know that if you’ve ever WANTED 250 high-strength rare earth magnets, this is a pretty good deal and you can use them for fidgeting, crafts, maker projects, or just fucking with that old CRT television in your parents’ basement. Perhaps you can use them to create a perpetual motion machine, nobody’s thought of trying THAT yet, right?

 

9. Japanese "Double Chin" Toning Belt ($24.00)

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The bane of many otherwise very high-T alphas such as myself, the double chin has been a shameful expanse of flesh that can only be covered by the most wily and unkempt beards. But after years of  lackluster results with dietary supplementation, a soy free diet, and very occaisional exercise I’ve stumbled across a product that will finally give you a jawline that women desire, and weaker men FEAR. According to the site, this belt focuses heat on the problematic underflab and works like a sauna on your neck, practically melting the pounds away. And since it’s from Japan (a country that is not totally known for falling for easily debunked health fads) you know it’s going to work this time. I mean, it HAS TO. Oh god… I’m so lonely.

 

10. Adventur 2.0 Multitool Survival Credit Card ($23.99)

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Ah, the multi-tool credit card, one of the most alluring siren songs for any geek obsessed with gadgets. While 99% of these tchotchkes are never used, merely toted around in a wallet until it’s removed to make room for a Casual Male XL Rewards Club card, the appeal is about increasing one’s CAPABILITY. By carrying an additional 1.5 oz hardened steel YOU are just that much more in CONTROL of your reality, just ever-so less helpless by the forces we cannot change. And while the Adventur 2.0 card pulls many of the same tricks as the dime-a-dozen mass produced tools (bottle opener, hex wrench, rulers, wire stripper, etc) its clever two-piece design lets you pull off this neat trick:

arrowhead axe multitool

IS YOUR NAME GARY PAULSEN? BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE YOU GOT YOURSELF A HATCHET!

Along with the arrowhead piece, you’re ready for some pretty gnarly situations. So even though you will statistically never EVER need to survive by hunting wild game with a makeshift spear at any point in your entire life, it IS one less thing to worry about.

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Uber charges rider over $14,000 for ride across Toronto

When the bars close or a game or concert ends,

Uber

‘s surge pricing can be astonishing. You might have your own horror stories, but they probably don’t compare to that of a Toronto rider who claimed he was charged over $18,500 Canadian (about $14,400 USD) for a 20-minute ride, as reported by

The Comeback

.

Twitter user Emily Kennard posted a screenshot of the digital receipt, which was originally posted to the rider’s private Instagram account:

According to Kennard, her friend disputed the charge, but

Uber

remained firm on the price. Eventually, though, Uber relented, admitting a mistake and refunding the ride. In a statement to

The Comeback

, an Uber spokesperson said, “There was an error and we have provided a full refund. We sincerely apologize to this rider for his experience. We have safeguards in place to help prevent something like this from happening and we are working to understand how this occurred.”

Uber has created enough trouble for itself recently, including

a lawsuit from Waymo

, a

sexual harassment scandal

, an

FBI investigation

, a

power struggle

with its

former CEO

, and, most recently, news of a hack that

breached the data of millions of users

.

Related Video:

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Apple has acquired Shazam

Samuel Axon

Apple confirmed today in statements to several media outlets that it will buy Shazam, pending approval. This news had previously been reported by TechCrunch, which had one source claiming the sale price was around $400 million—far less than Shazam’s $1 billion valuation at its last round of funding.

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Alarmed by Recent Events, Scientists Speak Out Against DIY Gene Therapy

Biohacker Josiah Zayner in the midst of an experiment on himself. Image: Kristen V. Brown/Gizmodo

It seems hard to fathom that scientific progress has advanced to a point where it’s suddenly possible for people to undertake something as complicated as gene therapy outside the safety and confines of a well-funded lab, but it has. In just the past few months we’ve seen not one, but two examples of people pursuing unregulated gene therapy. That’s right, people are genetically modifying their bodies in DIY labs and friend’s apartments.

Now, the largest organization of scientists who work in gene and cell therapy have come out against DIY gene therapies. A statement from the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy comes on the heels of a stern warning against DIY gene therapy from the US Food and Drug Administration. For years, when it came to biohacking, regulators and establishment science have mainly looked the other way. That seems to be changing.

“As the largest professional society representing gene and cell therapy in the world, ASGCT does not support the practice of unregulated gene therapies because such procedures are potentially dangerous and highly unlikely to provide therapeutic benefit,” the organization said in its statement.

The statement, the organization said in an email, was in response to several stories reported by Gizmodo, among them the story of a well-known biohacker injecting himself with the gene-editing tool CRISPR at a conference and a 27-year-old software engineer administering an untested HIV therapy while livestreaming on Facebook.

Seemingly in response to those two public performances, the FDA issued a statement noting that selling supplies intended for DIY gene therapy is illegal and actually performing it is unsafe.

The ASGCT followed suit, arguing that DIY attempts at gene therapy are simply unsafe.

“ASGCT understands and profoundly sympathizes with the desperation that patients can feel when confronted with dire clinical prognoses,” the statement read. “However, ASGCT strongly discourages individuals from administering or seeking out unregulated or ‘do-it-yourself’ gene therapies. The field of gene therapy has been developing for more than 30 years with the goal of improving the quality of life of patients with serious diseases through proven, safe, and effective treatments derived from rigorous scientific and clinical research.”

Neither the FDA nor a consortium of scientists seem likely to dissuade those on the frontline of do-it-yourself science.

When asked about the statement, Josiah Zayner, the guy who injected himself with CRISPR at a conference, said the ASGCT’s statement didn’t even seem like that stern of a warning.

“It didn’t outright condemn the stuff people were doing,” he told Gizmodo.  

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Netflix leads the streaming pack with nine Golden Globe nominations

Nominations for next month’s Golden Globes ceremony were announced this morning and streaming services had a pretty decent showing. Netflix led the pack with nine TV nominations while Amazon and Hulu each received three.

Netflix’s The Crown took two nominations — one for Best Drama Series and another for Best Performance by an Actress, which went to Claire Foy. Stranger Things also received two nominations — another Best Drama Series nod and one for David Harbour, nominated for Best Actor in a Supporting Role. Master of None received two as well with the first going to the show itself for Best Comedy Series and the other going to Aziz Ansari for Best Performance by an Actor. Ozark, 13 Reasons Why and Glow each received one nomination each. All were for Best Performance by an Actor or Actress and they went to Jason Bateman, Katherine Langford and Alison Brie.

Two of Amazon’s went to the brand new show The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. One nomination was given to the show for Best Comedy Series and the other to the show’s lead, Rachel Brosnahan. The third nomination was for Kevin Bacon’s role in I Love Dick.

All three of Hulu’s nominations were for The Handmaid’s Tale. It received a Best Drama Series nomination and Elizabeth Moss and Ann Dowd received nominations for Best Performance by an Actress and Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role.

The Golden Globes ceremony will air on January 7th on NBC.

Via: Variety

Source: Golden Globes

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