Hans-Christoph Steiner @eighthave@librem.one

So many #software projects get caught in this trap of adding ever more #complexity as users request more features. When starting out, new software needs to directly solve a problem better than others, then people adopt it. As more people adopt it, they demand more features. Incrementally adding more features works for the existing user base, but makes it harder and harder for newcomers to jump in. Then new software does a key thing better, and the complex old one collapses under its own weight.

@debian @Bubu @nopressure @grote as #GitLab #SelfHosters, I think they'd appreciate your feedback.

#ArsTechnica's article on exploiting #Zimbra is a nice example to work through to understand how an advanced #cyber #targeted #attack works
https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2023/03/pro-russian-hackers-target-elected-us-officials-supporting-ukraine/2/

Does anyone have any examples of advanced #cybersecurity #attacks that were not targeted? I guess the #GreatCannon and maybe #QUANTUMINSERT #FOXACID are examples. I'd love to see a story about a recent exploit like this (those two examples don't really work when HTTPS is used).

@5thsun totally, keeping old hardware working is a great example of #UserFreedom, for so many reasons. If it works, don't fix it. And lots of people want to reduce the impact of their devices by keeping them alive as long as possible, even when the manufacturer isn't interested. #Debian and @postmarketOS are great examples of systems that keep current software running on old hardware.

@5thsun That's a good practice. I'm interested in #UserFreedom, which means that users should be able to choose to stay with whichever version they want to use, and even organize separately to get that version maintained as needed. This is what #FreeSoftware provides. That accounting software is one of the last pieces of proprietary software I use, time to check out the free software options again. Another way is possible!

@zacchiro I agree that smartphones are a major contributor, but as a parent of two kids, I can also see other factors, including ever more #TV, #minecraft and video games in general, social media, #addictive software, and more. All the technology designed to take our #attention does just that, and it is ever present. Smartphones magnify that by putting all those things in out pockets, to be by our side all the time. Then cars isolate us in many ways, and dominate cities, suburbs and countryside.

#Varian provides yet another cautionary tale from the #SiliconValley: the founders created a worker owned #coop to make radar systems to prevent mass bombing of cities from the air. They ended up being pushed by #military and #investor money into a typical corporation that made key parts for #nuclear missiles. And the founders were distracted by their new found #wealth. Reminds me of how the #Google founders started out being opposed to advertising.

In reading #PaloAlto by Malcolm Harris, provides good examples of #Keynesian style investment in #military triggering economic growth. In the #EU, this "magic money" goes to propping up big banks that made bad loans. In a democracy, we should be able to decide where those huge piles of "magic money" go. This money could go to #RenewableEnergy and #renaturalizing or so money other things.

Has anyone seen any legal action related to #AI #image generation like #StableDiffusion about the #EU #GDPR Right to be Forgotten? It seems these models can easily reproduce images they have been trained on.

Looks like once #CreditSuisse was forced out of the business of tax evasion and money laundering, they cratered. I'll bet they are not alone in that the main value they deliver to customers is dodging the law.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/apr/02/switzerlands-attorney-general-to-investigate-credit-suisse-takeover

@webmink @EU_Commission can you translate that a bit for laymen like me?

handy German word: Fachkräftemängel