Technology
23andMe agrees to pay $30 million to settle lawsuit over massive data breach
23andMe disclosed the data breach last October, but it didn’t confirm the overall impact until December. Customers using the DNA Relatives feature may have had information like names, birth years, and ancestry information exposed through the breach. At the time, 23andMe attributed the hack to credential stuffing, a tactic that involves logging in to accounts using recycled logins exposed in previous security breaches.
The breach dealt a big blow to the already struggling company. As 23andMe’s stock price continued to crater, 23andMe CEO Anne Wojcicki attempted to take the company private earlier this year, but the special committee rejected the offer last month. The settlement mentions concerns surrounding the company’s finances, saying, “Any litigated judgment significantly more than the Settlement is likely to be uncollectable.” In a statement to The Verge, 23andMe spokesperson Katie Watson said the company expects cyber insurance to cover $25 million of the settlement:
We have executed a settlement agreement for an aggregate cash payment of $30 million to settle all U.S. claims regarding the 2023 credential stuffing security incident. Counsel for the plaintiffs have filed a motion for preliminary approval of this settlement agreement with the court. Roughly $25 million of the settlement and related legal expenses are expected to be covered by cyber insurance coverage. We continue to believe this settlement is in the best interest of 23andMe customers, and we look forward to finalizing the agreement.
The proposed settlement still needs approval from the judge.
Technology
Turn yourself into a Google Workspace and Microsoft Office pro
Google Workspace and Microsoft Office are built for productivity, and they work even better when you really know what you’re doing.
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Below are a handful of the best tricks I’ve picked up from years of using this software. Maybe they can unlock some extra time in your day.
5-MINUTE PHONE PRIVACY AUDIT TO STOP THE SNOOPS
Copy and paste formatting: You picked the perfect font, size and spacing. Now copy that all over your document (or spreadsheet or presentation). Select the text and click the paint roller icon in the toolbar. Click and drag over the text you want to transform. Voila!
Roll it back: Three people and 12 versions later, you’re totally lost editing a Google Doc. Retrace your steps by opening File > Version history > See version history. Choose a time on the right, and you’ll see who did what (and when!). On the flip side, unless you save the doc as a new one with a different filename, everyone gets to see your edits.
Tell it like it is: Dictate text instead of typing to save time or give your wrists a break. You don’t need to buy anything new; it’s all built in. In a Google Docs document, open Tools > choose Voice typing. In Word, go to Home > Dictate. FYI, you can use commands like “period” and “comma” for punctuation and “new paragraph” and “new line” for formatting.
Cut out the distractions: Here’s a Word trick to focus on your text and nothing else. Open the View tab on the menu, then click Focus. Presto, everything except the document vanishes and you’re in a full-screen view. Move the cursor to the top of the screen or hit Esc when you’re ready to be distracted again.
HOW TO SCORE CHEAP STUFF (TO KEEP OR RESELL)
Freeze frame: In Excel, it helps to keep your column and row headings stuck in place while you scroll around big spreadsheets. Select the cell where the actual data starts, and then click the View menu > Freeze Panes.
Sharing is caring: This one’s perfect for when you want to share a Google Doc as a template but you don’t want other people messing around in your file. Click Share, then change the link settings to Anyone with the link and choose Editor. Before you hit “Send,” replace the text in the URL that says “edit” with “template/preview.” It’ll force recipients to make their own copies and edits, leaving your original under your full control. So smart!
What’s that word again? In Word and Docs, right-click on a word and choose Define to find out what it means. You can even get guidance on pronunciation. Just do this before your big presentation, OK?
A shortcut you’ll use all the time
TIME-SAVING TRICKS USING YOUR KEYBOARD
This one is so good it deserves a little more space. There’s an easy way to open a new Google Doc file, Google’s version of a Word document. The same goes for opening a new Google Sheet (Google’s version of Excel).
You can even use it to open Google Calendar with a new blank calendar entry for you to fill in, which is faster than going through your calendar itself or Google Drive.
First, make sure you’re signed in to your Google account. Then open the Chrome browser and type in the name of a Google application followed by “.new” in the browser’s URL bar.
Here’s a handy list for reference. You can use any of the following shortcuts for each application:
- Google Docs: document.new, docs.new, doc.new
- Google Sheets: spreadsheet.new, sheets.new, sheet.new
- Google Slides: presentation.new, slides.new, slide.new
- Google Forms: forms.new, form.new
- Google Keep: keep.new, notes.new, note.new
- Google Calendar: meeting.new, cal.new
- Google Meeting: meet.new
Get tech-smarter on your schedule
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Technology
TIFF 2024: all the latest movie reviews from Toronto
The End.
An oil tycoon (Michael Shannon), art curator (Tilda Swinton), and their son (George MacKay) are separated from the apocalyptic horrors outside, spending their time in a bunker writing books, arranging flowers, and eating lots of cake. But the facade steadily slips away after a young survivor (Moses Ingram) enters their home.
Filled with dark humor and even darker revelations, the film also happens to be an uplifting musical, but those two sides never gel in a satisfying way. Instead, it ends up feeling bloated and, even worse, doesn’t have memorable songs.
Technology
Robots replace human window washers on skyscrapers
Look up, New Yorkers.
The city’s skyscrapers are getting a high-tech window washing, one gleaming window at a time.
The 45-story office tower at 1133 Avenue of the Americas has just made history as the world’s first high-rise to welcome Ozmo, an automated window-cleaning system that’s turning heads and changing the game.
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The window-washing robot with a view
Ozmo isn’t your average window washer. This sophisticated system consists of a pair of Kuka robotic arms mounted on a cleaning platform suspended from the building’s roof. Each arm is equipped with a brush head and water supply, ready to tackle even the toughest grime.
But Ozmo’s real magic lies in its brains. The robot uses force sensors to gauge the fragility of each window pane, applying just the right amount of pressure for a perfect clean. Lidar sensors and AI algorithms help Ozmo navigate its vertical world, maintaining stability even when the wind picks up.
YOUR NEXT TAKEOUT BURGER COULD ARRIVE AT YOUR DOORSTEP VIA ROBOT DELIVERY
Humans and robots working together
While Ozmo represents a leap forward in automation, it’s not quite ready to go solo. For now, a human operator controls the system from the building’s roof. This collaboration between human expertise and robotic precision points to a future where dangerous jobs become safer and more efficient. In fact, Skyline Robotics, the company behind Ozmo, says the robot cleans windows three times faster than traditional human window cleaners.
HOW TO REMOVE YOUR PRIVATE DATA FROM THE INTERNET
WOULD YOU TRUST A ROBOT WITH YOUR SMILE?
Cleaning up the industry
The window cleaning industry, valued at $40 billion annually, has been facing challenges. With 75% of window cleaners in the U.S. over 40 and only 9% between 20 and 30, there’s a growing labor shortage. Ozmo offers a solution that not only fills this gap but also creates new, tech-focused job opportunities.
WHAT IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)?
REMEMBER THAT ROBOT DOG? IT’S BACK WITH A ‘WHEELY’ COOL UPGRADE
The window-washing robot is about to go global
Skyline Robotics isn’t stopping at the Big Apple. Plans are already in motion for deployments in London, with patents secured in Japan and Singapore. This global expansion could transform skylines and job markets worldwide.
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Kurt’s key takeaways
The arrival of Ozmo in New York City marks more than just cleaner windows. It represents a shift in how we approach urban maintenance and workforce safety. As our cities grow taller and more complex, innovations like Ozmo will play a crucial role in keeping them gleaming and functional. While some may worry about job displacement, the reality is more nuanced. Ozmo is creating new roles for tech-savvy operators and maintenance specialists. It’s not about replacing humans but about elevating them to safer, more skilled positions.
Are you in favor of using automated technology like Ozmo for window cleaning in urban environments or do you believe traditional methods should remain the standard? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.
For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter.
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