Week 20: May 14, 2018 - May 20, 2018
Cisco software found to have backdoor again
Cisco disclosed 16 security vulnerabilities found in their software. Three of them ranked 10/10 on the CVSSv3 severity score. Those three provide a easy way to bypass the login on the system by using a hardcoded backdoor account. The account grants root privileges to the system it is used.
The fact that the vulnerabilities are disclosed and patched is a good thing, but the backdoor account "mistake" for such a big company is a silly security flaw.
Since the company first started internal audits in 2015 many hardcoded backdoor accounts were found in routers and software.
Microsoft’s Surface Hub 2 look like a thing from the future
The Surface Hub 2 is still a PC based on Windows 10. But it is lightweight and optimized for Microsoft Teams. It is easy to move around the office and do your work or your presentation there.
On the pure hardware side it has a 50.5-inch display with a 4K and above camera resolution and very thin bezels. The display can seemingly switch from portrait to landscape. The price is not available yet but it will be released in 2019. Microsoft has sold Surface devices to more than 5,000 business and hope to continue to do so when they release their second model.
Apple started to pay EU taxes
Apple has finally started paying taxes that were part of an illegal tax benefits to the Irish governmant. The company allocated $1.77 billion into an escrow account that is design to hold the fine to Apple. This is a small part of the total of $15 billion Apple has to pay.
The fine was first set in August 2016 for illegal tax benefits from 2003 to 2014. Apple and the Irish government appealed the decision claiming that nothing was illegal but nothing has changed. The fine will be payed over time. Apple of course is not the only company that does this kind of tricks but it is a start.
HTC to release a blockchain capable phone
Credit: _Consensus 2018
HTC, a company currently struggling in the mobile phone division announced their plans to make a blockchain-powered Android phone. The name of the phone will be Exodus and it is have support for cryptocurrencies and decentralized apps. It will also have a universal wallet. The initial plan is to support bitcoin, ethereum and other major coins will future plans to support more via partnerships. Rumors say that you may be able to buy the phone with cryptocurrency.
Ripple building an ecosystem
Ripple is making moves and investing in startups that want to build around XRP, the third-largest cryptocoin after Bitcoin and Ethereum.
XRP may have a big valuation but it isn't used as much. Ripple wants to change this by announcing "Spring". It aims to bring business and entrepreneurs to build with XRP and its smart ledger in mind.
There is controversy over the matter that the company behind XRP, Ripple is owning 60% or the tokens, essentially making it centralized. Despite that fact it seems like Ripple is making the right moves to increase the use of the use of the coin by trying to build a useful ecosystem around it.
Steve Wozniak thinks Ethereum is the future
Apple's co-founder Steve Wozniak thinks Ethereum could be the new Apple.
Woz recently renounced Facebook due to cultural intentions. He also said that he doesn't trust Gmail but more importantly was his thoughts on crypto. He said that he currently hold a small ammount (1 Bitcoin and 2 Ethers) of crypto just to experiment with payments but he thinks that the Ethereum platform can become as influential as Apple was. He is mainly interested in Ethereum cause it is a platform and it can do things.
That is all for this week's Bits in Technology. Feel free to comment any of the news in the comments. See you all next week.
Have a great week! - Chris Myll
