Mastodawn

Dear #KLM, why in the universe do you want me to scan my passport using my computer webcam a week before my flight? What kind of info do you need that is not already provided by my full name, date of birth, and passport number?

#BadTech

Some Bits: Nelson's Linkblog Dec 17

Botnets for AI: Residential PCs used to be used for DDOS attacks, now they're being hijacked and leased to AI companies to scrape websites
https://krebsonsecurity.com/2025/10/aisuru-botnet-shifts-from-ddos-to-residential-proxies/
#venturecapital #investment #badtech #botnet #aisuru #llm #ai #vc #-

Aisuru Botnet Shifts from DDoS to Residential Proxies – Krebs on Security

Some Bits: Nelson's Linkblog Dec 7

NanoKVM microphone: Small computer management system comes with bugs and a microphone hidden on the circuitboard
https://telefoncek.si/2025/02/2025-02-10-hidden-microphone-on-nanokvm/
#espionage #security #badtech #nanokvm #china #kvm #-

Telefoncek.si • How I discovered a hidden microphone on a Chinese NanoKVM

NanoKVM is a hardware KVM switch developed by the Chinese company Sipeed. Released last year, it enables remote control of a computer or server using a virtu...

Tushar Chauhan Oct 23

AI is not safe, especially for the emotionally and psychologically vulnerable. We need to not bury these news articles like we bury all news that harms Si valley bottom lines.

https://www.wired.com/story/ftc-complaints-chatgpt-ai-psychosis/

#SiValleyGrift #UsersAreFodder #ai #BadTech

People Who Say They’re Experiencing AI Psychosis Beg the FTC for Help

The Federal Trade Commission received 200 complaints mentioning ChatGPT between November 2022 and August 2025. Several attributed delusions, paranoia, and spiritual crises to the chatbot.

WIRED

Some Bits: Nelson's Linkblog Oct 22

Cursed Knowledge: A set of hard-won tech lessons building an open source image hosting product
https://immich.app/cursed-knowledge
#programming #javascript #software #badtech #tech #+

Cursed Knowledge | Immich

Cursed knowledge we have learned as a result of building Immich that we wish we never knew.

Immich — Self-hosted photo and video management solution. Easily back up, organize, and manage your photos on your own server. Immich helps you browse, search and organize your photos and videos with ease, without sacrificing your privacy.

David Leszcynski (he/him)Sep 30

This is why we need #tech literacy. This recipe site wants you to pay $2.99 USD to “print” the recipe.

To print. The recipe. That’s literally on the web page. For free.

Super+P and “Save as PDF.” You’re welcome.

Wut? Am I missing something?

#BadTech #LateStageCapitalism #StupidTech

Some Bits: Nelson's Linkblog Sep 14, 2025

Account disasters: Problems logging in to various sites. The author is an expert in the involved technologies, having spent many years helping write the Chrome browser
https://neugierig.org/software/blog/2025/09/accounts.html
#passwords #badtech #chrome #login #+

Tech Notes: Account disasters

N-gated Hacker News Jun 12, 2025

🔍🤦‍♂️ Ah, yes, the shocker of the decade: bad folks using bad tech to do bad things. Next up, water discovered to be wet. Meanwhile, the real fake CAPTCHA here is pretending this revelation is newsworthy. 🚫📰
https://krebsonsecurity.com/2025/06/inside-a-dark-adtech-empire-fed-by-fake-captchas/ #badtech #badnews #cybersecurity #satire #technews #HackerNews #ngated