Technology

Net neutrality is on ice

Published

1 hour ago

August 1, 2024

Net neutrality is officially on hold after the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals blocked the rule from taking effect.

The court granted a stay, extending an earlier temporary pause. This time, net neutrality will be blocked until the court says otherwise after reviewing the petitions from broadband providers who opposed the rule. Those internet service providers (ISPs) successfully showed they would likely succeed on the merits of their challenge, the panel of judges wrote.

“The American public wants an internet that is fast, open, and fair,” Federal Communications Commission Chair Jessica Rosenworcel said in a statement on the stay. “Today’s decision by the Sixth Circuit is a setback but we will not give up the fight for net neutrality.”

The FCC voted to restore net neutrality rules earlier this year, after years of back and forth on the rule. Net neutrality is the concept that ISPs shouldn’t discriminate against different websites by blocking or throttling speeds or access. The controversial part of the policy is the mechanism by which the FCC has tried to enforce these rules: by reclassifying ISPs as common carriers under Title II of the Communications Act. ISPs have resisted this reclassifying in large part because they say it could lead to even greater government control over their businesses that they say would stifle innovation. For example, they say the classification could be used to impose price regulations, though the FCC has said it’s not planning on it.

In a concurring opinion, Chief Judge Jeffrey Sutton writes that the FCC’s flip-flopping on net neutrality between administrations makes it difficult to even apply the lower standard of Skidmore deference, thought to potentially be a fallback now that agencies can no longer rely on Chevron deference. Citing Skidmore, Sutton writes, “An agency’s power to persuade turns on the thoroughness of its reasoning, its technical expertise, and its ‘consistency with earlier and later pronouncements,’” especially those contemporaneous with the statute’s enactment,” he writes. “The problem is, we do not know which group of experts to respect.”

He adds, “The consistency query makes matters worse. The Commission’s ‘intention to reverse course for yet a fourth time’ suggests that its reasoning has more to do with changing presidential administrations than with arriving at the true and durable ‘meaning of the law.’”

Technology

Robotic drones are revealing secrets about nature's deadliest hurricanes

Published

2 hours ago

August 1, 2024

Press Room

Robotic drones are revealing secrets about nature's deadliest hurricanes

Have you ever wondered why some hurricanes transform from relatively mild storms into monsters in just a day? This process, called rapid intensification, is one of the biggest challenges in hurricane forecasting.

Imagine you’re living in a coastal town, preparing for what you think will be a moderate tropical storm. Suddenly, within 24 hours, it becomes a Category 5 hurricane. That’s exactly what happened with Hurricane Otis in October 2023, catching many by surprise and causing widespread destruction in Acapulco, Mexico.

This rapid transformation isn’t just scary. It’s becoming more common. So, how can we better predict these sudden intensifications? That is where Saildrone comes in.

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Robotic drone (Saildrone)

The robot explorers sailing into hurricanes

Picture a sailboat but without any people on board and packed full of high-tech sensors to collect data about the oceanic and atmospheric conditions. That’s essentially what a Saildrone Explorer is. The drones come in a variety of sizes, either 23, 33 or 65 feet ong.

These wind-propelled, solar-powered vehicles are designed to sail directly into hurricanes, collecting crucial data where it matters most. They allow scientists to measure the track, or path, that a hurricane is taking along with changes in its intensity over time.

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A robotic drone being lowered into the water (Saildrone)

What makes a saildrone so special?

Unlike traditional research ships, a saildrone can stay at sea for months at a time; the longest mission lasted more than a year. They’re also much safer and more cost-effective than sending crewed vessels into dangerous storms.

A robotic drone being deployed (Saildrone)

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What data does a saildrone collect?

So, what kind of information do these brave little drones gather? Everything from wind speed and direction to air and water temperatures, wave heights and even underwater currents. It’s like having a weather station, oceanographic buoy and underwater probe all in one package.

This data fills critical gaps in our understanding of hurricanes. Satellites can show us where storms are, but they can’t tell us everything that’s happening at the ocean surface and below. A saildrone gives us that missing piece of the puzzle, helping scientists create a more complete picture of how hurricanes form and intensify. This year’s Saildrone mission officially starts on August 7th and runs through the end of October.

Robotic drone being deployed (Saildrone)

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Can saildrone data help improve hurricane predictions?

All this information isn’t just interesting, it’s potentially life-saving. Scientists at NOAA (that’s the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) are using Saildrone data to improve their hurricane forecast models.

The goal? To better predict not just where a hurricane will go but how strong it will become. This is crucial for coastal communities deciding whether to evacuate. As one NOAA scientist put it, “It’s very costly to evacuate, to pick up millions of people and move them somewhere.” Better forecasts mean better decisions and potentially saved lives.

Robotic drone being deployed (Saildrone)

Beyond saildrones: A multipronged approach

Saildrones are just one part of a larger strategy to improve hurricane forecasting. Underwater gliders dive deep beneath the waves, collecting data on ocean temperatures and currents. The famous “Hurricane Hunter” aircraft still fly directly into storms, providing invaluable data from inside the cyclone.

Together, these tools are helping scientists create a complete picture of hurricanes, from 30,000 feet in the air to several thousand feet below the ocean surface.

Speaking of tools, stay informed and prepared to survive Mother Nature’s fury with the five best weather apps for 2024.

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Kurt’s key takeaways

As climate change continues to influence hurricane patterns, the race is on to improve our forecasting capabilities. Saildrones and other innovative technologies are giving us unprecedented insight into these powerful storms. While we can’t prevent hurricanes, better understanding and prediction can help communities prepare, potentially saving lives and reducing damage. As we face an uncertain climate future, these ocean-going robots might just be our new best allies in the ongoing battle against nature’s most powerful storms.

How do you think advancements in hurricane forecasting technology might influence policy decisions regarding coastal development and infrastructure? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.

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Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on “FOX & Friends.” Got a tech question? Get Kurt’s free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.

Technology

Saudi Arabia proposes World Cup stadium straight out of a cyberpunk dystopia

Published

9 hours ago

August 1, 2024

Press Room

Saudi Arabia proposes World Cup stadium straight out of a cyberpunk dystopia

You’ll instantly notice the polygonal shapes making up the roof of the stadium, with the fractured pieces creating a mirror above those seated within the beehive-like setup. The Neom Stadium will be able to hold 46,000 people and “run entirely on renewable energy, generated primarily from wind and solar sources.” Construction is expected to be completed in 2032.

How can you focus on the game with reflections on the ceiling?

Image: Saudi 2034

It looks like the stadium’s aesthetic will fit right in with The Line, the 106-mile-long linear city surrounded by reflective walls with a vertical housing system, a high-speed rail, and “100% renewable energy.” Saudi Arabia has been criticized for reportedly using lethal force to clear villages in the path of The Line, as well as concern over the amount of resources that it will need for construction.

I don’t really know what’s going on here.

Image: Saudi 2034

Aside from the Neom stadium, Saudi Arabia is planning to build the three-tiered Prince Mohammed bin Salman stadium (pictured above) on the side of a cliff surrounded by colored glass and LED screens. Of course, these are still just renders for now, and the real things could end up looking entirely different.

Technology

4 ways to find your lost iPhone

Published

9 hours ago

August 1, 2024

Press Room

Our iPhones have become an extension of ourselves, holding our memories, connections and sensitive information.

The sinking feeling of realizing you’ve misplaced your iPhone can be overwhelming, not just because of its hefty price tag but also because of the potential security risks if it falls into the wrong hands.

Fortunately, there are multiple ways to track down your device. We’ll guide you through several effective methods to locate your missing iPhone, ensuring peace of mind and the safe recovery of your valuable device.

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A person trying to locate an iPhone (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Four ways to find a lost iPhone

While you can use most Apple devices to help locate your iPhone, below includes one way to use an Apple device and three ways without an Apple device to find your iPhone.

1. Use iCloud to locate your iPhone

You can log into your iCloud account to use Find My on your web browser to locate your iPhone. Please note you would’ve already had to turn on location services and add your iPhone to Find My in order to use this feature. Below are steps on how to use iCloud to locate your iPhone:

Type iCloud.com in the search bar of your web browser

Steps to use iCloud to locate your iPhone (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

BEST ACCESSORIES FOR YOUR PHONE

Input the email address used to start your iCloud account. This is usually the same email you use for your Apple ID.

=Steps to use iCloud to locate your iPhone (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Input your password (unless you use a passkey)
There may be a two-step authentication process to verify your identity. You’ll be asked to allow or disallow verification on a secondary device. If so, select Allow. Then, enter the passcode provided on this secondary device.
Once logged into your iCloud account, scroll down to the App icons at the bottom left of the screen.
Select the Find My icon.

Steps to use iCloud to locate your iPhone (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

All your Apple devices should be listed on a menu on the left side of the screen.
Locate your iPhone and click the device icon

Steps to use iCloud to locate your iPhone (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

It should show you a map of approximately where your iPhone is located.
You can click Play sound if you are close enough to listen for sounds coming from your iPhone, or you can see where it is on the map.

Steps to use iCloud to locate your iPhone (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

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2. Use Siri to locate your iPhone

If Siri has been enabled on your iPhone and you believe the iPhone is somewhere near you, you can call out ‘Hey Siri’ loudly. It will light up and respond verbally, which will help you locate it.

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Siri on iPhone (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

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3. Use Apple Watch to locate your iPhone

Even though it would be using another Apple device, using the Apple Watch is a convenient way to locate your iPhone. This is called the ping feature. To find your iPhone using an Apple Watch running watchOS 10 or later:

Press the Digital Crown to return to the watch face.
Press the side button (the oval button below the Digital Crown) once to open the Control Center.
Tap the Find iPhone button in the Control Center. It’s represented by a rectangle with curved lines around it.
Your iPhone will emit a pinging sound to help you locate it.

WHAT IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)?

A man using his Apple Watch to locate his iPhone (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

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4. Use Google Maps Timeline to locate your iPhone

You can use Google Maps Timeline to view the last known locations of your iPhone if Location Services and Location History are enabled on the device. This can help you identify where your iPhone was last seen. To access this:

Open a web browser and go to Google Maps Timeline.
Log into the same Google account used on your iPhone.
Check the location history to see where your iPhone was last located.

A person using Google Maps Timeline to find their iPhone (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

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Kurt’s key takeaways

Nothing is more irritating and worrisome than misplacing your iPhone. It is worse if you lose it outside of your home or have it stolen. Even if you don’t own other Apple devices, you can use some of the different methods to locate your iPhone. While it is tempting to recover your iPhone from whoever has taken it, if your iPhone is in the hands of an unknown person, resist the urge to confront them directly and contact local law enforcement instead.

Have you ever lost or had your iPhone stolen? How did you find out where you last had it in your possession? 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.

Ask Kurt a question or let us know what stories you’d like us to cover.

Follow Kurt on his social channels:

Answers to the most asked CyberGuy questions: