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Two men arrested for allegedly hacking JFK taxi system

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Two men arrested for allegedly hacking JFK taxi system

Two US residents have been arrested and accused of conspiring with Russian nationals to hack the taxi dispatch system at John F. Kennedy Worldwide Airport (JFK), charging cab drivers a $10 price to entry the entrance of the queue between September 2019 and September 2021.

Daniel Abayev and Peter Leyman (each 48 and from Queens, New York) first efficiently hacked the dispatch system in 2019 with the assistance of unnamed Russian nationals, in accordance with a DOJ indictment filed within the Southern District of New York. Leyman and Abayev accessed the system to maneuver particular taxis to the entrance of the road, says the DOJ, charging drivers a $10 price for the privilege. Members of the hacking scheme additionally provided to waive the $10 price in trade for recruiting extra taxi drivers.

The JFK taxi dispatch system ensures cab drivers have a good working setting, however can lead to prolonged wait occasions between journeys

The pc-controlled JFK taxi dispatch system manages how cabs are dispatched between the airport’s holding lot and terminal. The system was launched to create a good working setting, however wait occasions of a number of hours can influence a taxi driver’s every day earnings.

The hackers utilized group chats to speak with taxi drivers and advise them the right way to keep away from detection by legislation enforcement. In accordance with the indictment, Leyman and Abayev authorised as many as 1,000 journeys a day and transferred not less than $100,000 to the hackers in Russia as “fee for software program growth.”

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Prosecutors allege that the pair explored a number of methods to hack the system, together with bribing somebody to contaminate its computer systems with malware through a flash drive, stealing related laptop tablets, and accessing the dispatch system with out authorization through Wi-Fi. The indictment claims that members of the hacking scheme additionally despatched messages to one another through which they explicitly mentioned their intention to hack the dispatch system. “I do know that the Pentagon is being hacked[.]. So, can’t we hack the taxi trade[?]” Abayev messaged a Russian conspirator in November 2019.

Each males face a most 10-year sentence in jail if discovered responsible for his or her alleged cybercrimes

“For years, the defendants’ hacking stored trustworthy cab drivers from having the ability to decide up fares at JFK within the order through which they arrived,” stated U.S. Legal professional Damian Williams in a press release. “Now, due to this Workplace’s teamwork with the Port Authority, these defendants are going through critical legal prices for his or her alleged cybercrimes.”

Each males have been charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit laptop intrusion, which carries a most 10-year sentence in jail if confirmed responsible.

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New Teslas might lose Steam

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New Teslas might lose Steam

Tesla might be dropping Steam support on some new deliveries of Model X, according to a message from the company shared by a Reddit user who is expecting to take delivery of the long-range version of the electric SUV.

Tesla’s message alerts the customer that the company is “updating the gaming computer” in the Model X and says it’s “no longer capable of playing Steam games.” The message ends with a button for the customer to confirm they will proceed with the delivery.

There’s no indication that other Tesla models will be affected. And we’re not seeing any signs that the automaker plans to remove Steam from current owners’ vehicles through a software update. However, Tesla’s already seems to be leaning toward dropping Steam support for some other models.

Steam isn’t available in the Cybertruck, for example, and Tesla hasn’t said whether it plans on bringing the gaming platform to its bestselling Model Y and Model 3 vehicles, despite newer models sporting improved AMD Ryzen processors. The company has already removed some games over the years, including Sonic the Hedgehog.

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Is this autonomous security guard robot the protection you need?

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Is this autonomous security guard robot the protection you need?

They’re not your typical office workers. Standing at 5 feet tall and cruising through the corridors at a leisurely 3 mph, these robotic guards are the latest addition to workplace security. 

Gone are the days of the traditional security guard. Now, robots are taking over the night shift and beyond.

How do these security robots work?

Cobalt’s robots are custom-built to navigate the unique challenges of each building, from ramps to elevators. They patrol the hallways, vigilant for signs of trouble – be it an unusual motion after hours or a door left ajar – and report their findings to a human-staffed call center.

CLICK TO GET KURT’S FREE CYBERGUY NEWSLETTER WITH SECURITY ALERTS, QUICK VIDEO TIPS, TECH REVIEWS AND EASY HOW-TO’S TO MAKE YOU SMARTER

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These robots can even spot things that might escape the watchful eye of a security camera. They can do this because they are equipped with a depth camera, heat-detecting thermal sensors, 4K cameras that can see 360 degrees, Lidar, as well as a Microphone array for listening and PA system for announcing.

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Interactivity and assistance of the security robot

With a simple tap on the screen, employees can summon a 24/7 specialist to address concerns ranging from spills, unwelcome visitors or suspicious activity. This seamless integration of technology and human oversight lets real-life guards spend more time responding and less time observing now that Cobalt is carefully watching on patrol and reporting back what it detects.

WHAT IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)?

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MORE: ELECTRIC HUMANOID ROBOT TO SHAKE UP THE JOB MARKET

Case study: DoorDash

DoorDash has embraced Cobalt’s robotic guards across its corporate sites. The result? Enhanced security operations with fewer sick days, no HR complaints, and a boost in both accuracy and response times for security and safety-related incidents.

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MORE: THE SHAPE-SHIFTING UNDERWATER ROBOT PIONEERING THE DEPTHS OF THE SEA

Robots vs. humans: The numbers

The driving force behind this robotic revolution is money. It’s far more economical for companies to deploy robots for round-the-clock security than to rely solely on human guards. According to Forrester Research, opting for a robotic guard over a human can lead to substantial savings – around $79,000 annually. That’s a figure that’s hard to ignore for any business looking to optimize its operations.

MORE: APOLLO THE ROBOT JOINS MERCEDES-BENZ ASSEMBLY LINE PRODUCTION

The competitive landscape of the security robot

The security robot market is heating up, with competition between indoor and outdoor models. While Cobalt’s robots are indoor specialists, others like Knightscope and SMP Robots are venturing into both terrains, including malls, hotels and industrial sites. And let’s not forget drones, which are starting to make their mark in the security domain.

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Challenges and considerations of security robots

Of course, it’s not all smooth sailing. Security robots have had their share of mishaps, from minor accidents to malfunctioning in critical situations. And there’s the human factor to consider. Sometimes, nothing can replace the reassurance of a human presence in times of distress.

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Kurt’s key takeaways

Despite the occasional glitch, the consensus is clear: Security robots are here to stay, and their presence is set to grow as the technology continues to advance. They may not replace human guards entirely, but they’re redefining the role and allowing humans to focus on more strategic tasks.

What’s your take on these new robot guards? Do you think they’re as trustworthy as human security or are we moving too fast into a tech-driven safety zone? 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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Twitter is officially X.com now

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Twitter is officially X.com now

The social network formerly known as Twitter has officially adopted X.com for all its core systems. That means typing twitter.com in your browser will now redirect to Elon Musk’s favored domain, or should. At the time of publication, we’re seeing a mix of results depending upon browser choice and whether you’re logged in or not.

A message also now appears at the bottom of the X login page that reads, “We are letting you know that we are changing our URL, but your privacy and data protection settings remain the same.”

Musk has a long history with the x.com URL, launching a business under the name in 1999 that eventually merged with what would become PayPal. For this modern-day version of the company, Musk envisions that it will become a WeChat-like “everything app.”

Maybe, but one thing’s for sure: it’s not Twitter anymore.

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