The newly formed Open Source Alliance (OSA) has released its take on an open-source AI definition (OSAID): the Open Weight Definition (OWD).

https://www.zdnet.com/article/the-open-weight-definition-offers-another-take-on-the-osaid-debate/

Sekoia is warning Chrome users of a supply chain attack targeting browser extension developers that has potentially impacted hundreds of thousands of individuals already.

https://www.theregister.com/2025/01/22/supply_chain_attack_chrome_extension/

The largest DDoS attack on record targeted an internet service provider in East Asia on Oct 29. Cloudflare detected and automatically thwarted the attack, which generated 5.6Tbps in traffic, requiring no "human intervention."

https://www.pcmag.com/news/botnet-unleashes-record-breaking-56tbps-ddos-attack

A new survey suggests evidence of a movement away from public cloud provision as nearly 69% of companies have moved at least some apps off the cloud and back to on-premise systems or private clouds.

https://www.zdnet.com/article/why-some-companies-are-backing-away-from-the-public-cloud/

Microsoft brainiacs who probed the security of more than 100 of the software giant's own generative AI products came away with a sobering message: The models amplify existing security risks and create new ones.

https://www.theregister.com/2025/01/17/microsoft_ai_redteam_infosec_warning/

The DuckDuckGo Android browser has a handy tool for seeing what sorts of tracking activity is happening behind the scenes with apps on your device — and, if you wish, for blocking any or all of that activity.

https://www.computerworld.com/article/3801607/android-privacy-blacklight.html

Apple finds itself in a privacy quandary. When it gets privacy wrong, it’s front-page news; when it gets privacy right, hardly anyone cares. You can see why other companies leave the subject well alone.

https://www.macworld.com/article/2568739/apple-has-a-privacy-problem.html

A new report claims that popular iPhone apps, including Candy Crush, Tinder, and MyFitnessPal, are being used by advertisers to get your location details despite Apple's App Tracking Transparency.

https://appleinsider.com/articles/25/01/10/advertisers-are-hijacking-apps-to-beat-apple-and-developers-privacy-efforts

This RAM consumption test between Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Opera browsers demonstrates which one consumes the least memory. Spoiler alert: Firefox won by a mile.

https://www.slashgear.com/1753454/what-web-browser-uses-least-ram-explained/

There's a Linux-powered PC that many people will want: Nvidia's Project Digits, a desktop with AI supercomputer power that runs DGX OS, a customized Ubuntu Linux 22.04 distro.

https://www.zdnet.com/article/thanks-to-nvidia-theres-a-new-generation-of-pcs-coming-and-theyll-be-running-linux/

We’ve only just started 2025, but Microsoft is busy improving Windows 11, this time by killing off the “Suggested actions” feature. Intended to make your life as a Windows 11 user easier, it didn't.

https://www.techradar.com/computing/windows/microsoft-nixes-windows-11s-suggested-actions-feature-a-smart-idea-that-didnt-quite-work

Dell is rebranding its XPS, Inspiron, and Latitude lines as Dell, Dell Pro, and Dell Pro Max, along with Plus and/or Premium tiers within some of those lines.

https://www.androidauthority.com/dell-pro-max-family-3513316/

Regardless of whether you're using an iPhone or Android phone, your carrier is likely gathering all sorts of data about how, where and when you use your cellphone. Here's what they gather and how you can turn it off.

https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/data-privacy-your-carrier-knows-a-lot-about-you-heres-how-to-take-back-control/

Useful increase in display size from 1.14" to 1.9" over the Classic

🫂 ...but don't cry for me, Argentina

Microsoft has included Notepad with Windows for over 40 years. If you are a coder or want to jot down notes, it’s a perfect utility. But as coding technologies become more complex, you’ll want a more advanced text editor.

https://www.xda-developers.com/replace-notepad-more-advanced-text-editor/

With Apple Intelligence enabled, it was impossible to make it through a day without needing to recharge. However, with it disabled, the iPhone's battery life returned to its former levels.

https://www.zdnet.com/article/ios-18-2-was-killing-my-iphones-battery-until-i-turned-off-this-feature/

Over Christmas, a small group of researchers worked overtime tracking at least 33 browser extensions hosted in Google’s Chrome Web Store that were surreptitiously siphoning sensitive data from some 2.6 million devices.

https://arstechnica.com/security/2025/01/dozens-of-backdoored-chrome-extensions-discovered-on-2-6-million-devices/

Improving your privacy is a straightforward process involving just a handful of measures. Here's what they are, and why you should include them in your online privacy checklist.

https://www.tomsguide.com/phones/why-improving-your-online-privacy-is-the-perfect-new-years-resolution

It looks like Struffoli to me