TechLetters #77 - Satellite cyberwarfare attributed to Russia, hacked TV in Russia, UK National Security Bill, GDPR costs? Privacy principles, algae-powered computers

Security

European Union, UK, and USA formally attributed the cyberattacks on satellite internet provider ka-sat/viasat. To Russia. These happened on the day of a Russian land invasion on Ukraine.

Hacked TV in Russia. With anti-war messages "You have blood on your hands ... the TV and the authorities are lying. No to war".

Igor Sushko @igorsushko

#RUSSIA #May9th: TV systems have been hacked for May 9th. Message: "Your hands are covered in blood from deaths of thousands of Ukrainians and children."

UK introducing a new National Security Bill. Official Secrets Act aimed to curb spying, espionage, elections interference, protecting state secrets, and all that. It applies to cyber espionage/sabotage, too, even if the word "cyber" is never used in it!

Privacy

Privacy principles for the Web, authored by W3C TAG. Good, and helpful. Web browsers must guard user's privacy. Same about websites. Data uses should not be unexpected to users. Good practices for implementation and deployment.

Paper about "costs of GDPR". Tries conclude that GDPR is anti-competitive, meaning that less apps in Google Play Store exist, and many exited it. However, the paper fails to acknowledge that data protection laws existed even before. What’s more — EU Competition law/investigation process acknowledges importance of privacy. In the end, welfare is not merely a pure economic issue.

Other

Computer runs on green-blue algae. Like, with the generated power, by the Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 algae.

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