GoKawiil
Tech News
A tech newsletter writer used an uncensored AI model from startup Abliteration AI to autonomously probe his home network, devices, and personal coding projects for security flaws. Over several days the agent uncovered vulnerabilities in household gadgets, broke into a PC, and flagged bugs in vibe-coded software, all while operating with guardrails stripped away.
Roku streaming devices contain several hidden diagnostic and configuration menus accessible through specific sequences of remote button presses, starting with repeated Home button taps. These include a developer menu for sideloading apps, network and wireless diagnostic screens, an ad-preference menu, a platform screen showing memory and temperature data, and an HDMI settings panel.
A hacker exploited a bug in Blockstream's Liquid Network settlement system to withdraw roughly 4,000 bitcoins worth about $340 million. The attacker, described as a 'white hat,' returned around 3,400 bitcoins after Blockstream patched the flaw, but retained about 600 bitcoins worth roughly $47 million. Liquid Network has suspended operations while it implements further security fixes before resuming.
A technical blog post offers a hands-on, browser-based walkthrough of the spanning tree protocol (STP), the networking standard that keeps Ethernet switches from forming loops that cause broadcast storms. Using a playful office scenario with redundant cables and an accident-prone coworker, it demonstrates how STP blocks extra links to form a loop-free tree and automatically rebuilds it when a connection fails.
Blockstream's Liquid Bitcoin sidechain confirmed that hackers withdrew about 4,000 BTC—roughly 95% of its federation wallet, worth roughly $320 million—on September 6. The attackers embedded an on-chain message calling themselves 'whitehats,' asking Liquid to patch the vulnerability before they return the funds, and Liquid has since suspended transactions while shifting communication to an encrypted channel.
Liquid Network, a Bitcoin-based payments and settlement platform, disclosed on Sunday that roughly 4,000 of the 4,200 bitcoin held in its Federation wallet were withdrawn without authorization, totaling about $320 million. The network described the perpetrators as "purported white-hat hackers" and warned that user wallets on the platform would be affected by the breach.
A hobby project called GET Together implements an entire social network—posting, replying, hearting and deleting—using only HTTP GET requests instead of POST. Posts are created by hitting URLs like /post?name=alice&text=hello, with an optional session cookie enabling later deletion, and a /feed endpoint returning JSON. The system includes basic profanity and crypto-content moderation, plus a reporting mechanism for abuse review.
Apple's Find My network is a separate, crowdsourced Bluetooth feature from the standard Find My app, and it must be manually enabled to locate an iPhone that is offline, in Power Reserve mode, or powered down. Users can verify and adjust these settings under Settings > [Name] > Find My, and should also enable Send Last Location, Location Services, and Bluetooth to ensure tracking works. Disabling Control Center access from the lock screen can also stop thieves from quickly enabling airplane mode to cut a stolen phone off from the network.
A technical guide walks through configuring a Tor exit node on an Ubuntu 14.04 system, the type of relay that connects anonymous Tor traffic to the regular internet. It outlines the legal and reputational risks operators face, including potential harassment from ISPs and authorities, plus practical hurdles like sites blocking exit node traffic or forcing CAPTCHAs.
A federal judge in Delaware ruled that startup Operation Bluebird cannot use the name 'Twitter' for its new social network, siding with Elon Musk's X on that trademark. But the judge also found X likely abandoned rights to the word 'tweet' and the bluebird logo, letting the startup relaunch its site as Tweet.app and open to users, drawing over 172,000 handle requests before launch.
Amazon has discounted the TP-Link Litewave LS1005G, a 5-port unmanaged gigabit Ethernet switch, to $9.98 for a limited time. The compact, fanless device adds four extra wired ports to an existing router setup without any configuration required.
Southwest Airlines is building its first-ever airport lounges, with four locations already under construction and at least seven more planned. The move marks a major shift for a carrier historically known for its no-frills, open-seating approach to air travel.