TechLetters #192: Exploding electronic devices. JPMorgan Chase test-deploys quantum key distribution. Tech companies collect data (yeah). Regulations against mis/dis/information.
Exploding pagers and other electronic devices.
That was not on any bingo card for 2024. Likely: supply-chain compromise, planting an explosive material, and conditions-based trigger. Pulling it off was certainly extremely complex. The devices likely arrived preloaded with stable, high-powered explosives, and somehow, they were synced up. The trigger might have been set earlier—something like a radio signal or paging system to activate it. Hacking probably wasn’t needed, because it's clear the explosives were physically inside the pagers to cause such an impact. The reports mention recent deliveries of new pagers, so maybe the whole delivery process was compromised, allowing someone to attach both the explosive material and the logic required to set it off. Since the explosions happened in waves, it's doubtful that the pager clocks were just randomly out of sync a few months after shipping. In short, the staggered detonations were probably intentional or necessary for some reason. The persons responsible were also accepting significant collateral risk, as it was impossible to control who (bystanders, etc.) could have been affected and how. How to call it - sabotage, booby traps, as you please - is quite secondary today. Lastly, it’s not like everyone’s electronic devices will suddenly be exploding now. Nope.
Security
Large-scale deployment of quantum cryptography in financial services. JPMorgan Chase used 100 Gbps IPsec tunnels via Quantum Key Distribution using four-state BB84 to secure transfer between data centers in an air-gapped environment over 46 km. The most serious use to date.
Privacy
Tech Companies collect and could indefinitely retain troves of data. From and about users and non-users, in ways consumers might not expect. Data abuses can fuel market dominance, market dominance can enable abuses that harm consumers.
Technology Policy
Australian proposal for Combatting Mis/Disinformation. A politician will be able to decide what’s “harmful”: “The Minister may, by legislative instrument, determine a matter to which regard must be had in determining whether the provision of content on a digital service is reasonably likely to cause or contribute to serious harm”. My assessment here.
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