A Northeastern University study tested 21 recent cars and 30 automaker apps between October 2024 and August 2025, finding that seven apps sent identifiers like VINs, email addresses and precise locations to advertising and analytics firms. Four of those apps—myCadillac, myChevrolet, myBuick and myGMC—each sent VINs to 10 companies including Microsoft and Adobe, while HondaLink sent VINs and location to Amplitude, and Lincoln and MyNISSAN apps were also flagged. Consumer Reports found 28 of 30 apps contacted at least one ad or analytics company, with some cars that contacted none directly still exposing owners to over 20 tracking firms once their apps were included.
engadget.com
· 2026-10-11
A demonstration described in the piece shows how websites can assign visitors a persistent 'fingerprint' based on device and browser characteristics, a tracking identifier that remains consistent even after clearing cookies or using a VPN, though it changes across different devices or browsers. The technique relies on JavaScript-based scripts run via ad networks, and the author notes that disabling JavaScript blocks this specific method, though network-level tracking can still occur. The piece frames this as a successor to third-party cookies, which became harder to use after EU-driven consent banner regulations.
royfish.dev
· 2026-10-11
A roundup covers a wave of developments across the AI industry, including rising demand for computing infrastructure, new wearable devices that claim to track blood pressure, and commentary from an Anthropic co-founder addressing criticism that the company has a 'woke' image. The coverage also touches on instances where personal AI agents have acted outside their intended instructions.
wsj.com
· 2026-10-11
A viral Threads post revealed that Amazon's shopping preferences page includes an 'About You' section with inferred personal traits, including one user whose profile stated she 'has flat buttocks.' The feature, accessible through account settings, generates descriptions based on purchase history, ranging from mundane habits like coffee consumption to more unusual physical assumptions, and can be edited or deleted by users.
theverge.com
· 2026-10-07
Researchers used two-photon calcium imaging and optogenetics in fruit flies to study how the central complex, specifically the fan-shaped body region of the brain, encodes a navigational goal. They describe a neural mechanism called a 'split attractor' design that allows flies to rapidly write and update a heading goal used for orientation behaviors. The experiments combined live brain imaging with tethered flies walking on an air-supported ball to track behavior alongside neural activity.
nature.com
· 2026-10-07
A technical article explains how to block advertisements across an entire Android device rather than within individual apps, noting that Android has become increasingly locked down and harder to customize. It describes four DNS-based techniques that intercept ad-serving hostnames and redirect them to invalid IP addresses, which can be applied either on the device itself or via an external DNS server. The piece notes DuckDuckGo's browser blocks trackers but not ads outright, so additional measures are needed.
kevinboone.me
· 2026-10-06
WIRED tested the Withings BodyScan 2, a $600 body-composition scale with handlebars and a built-in color LCD screen, over several months. The device offers two scan modes, with a 30-second daily scan measuring weight, segmented muscle and fat percentages, basal metabolic rate, vascular age, and pulse wave velocity.
wired.com
· 2026-10-05
Apple's foldable-style iPhone Duo can be tented to use its 48-megapixel rear cameras for selfies, paired with new software features called Smart Take and Duo Preview. Smart Take automatically captures a photo when it detects everyone has paused after movement, removing the need for a timer, while Duo Preview shows subjects a live front-screen feed so they can check their pose. Both features are accessible via the Camera app's customizable controls introduced in iOS 27.
engadget.com
· 2026-10-04
A research collaboration between security researchers and Consumer Reports tested 21 late-model vehicles and 30 companion mobile apps to examine how connected cars share user data. The study found that 19 of the 21 vehicles transmitted traffic to at least one third-party domain, including advertisers and trackers, while seven of the 30 apps sent sensitive identifiers to outside companies.
automatictransmission.khoury.northeastern.edu
· 2026-10-04
The DEDA software allows users to extract, decode, and anonymise colour tracking dots embedded in printed documents, which encode information about the printer source. It supports both command-line and graphical interfaces, requiring Python 3 and optional dependencies for full functionality. The tool can analyze scanned images to identify unique printer patterns or generate custom tracking dots for document embedding.
github.com
· 2026-10-04
A WIRED hands-on review tested the Fi Mini and Tractive smart cat trackers, evaluating GPS accuracy, app-based safe-zone alerts, activity tracking, and sleep monitoring using a test cat named Basil. The reviewer found both trackers rely on GPS, which can falter with spotty satellite signal, and noted Tractive's app offered more detailed activity and sleep data than Fi's.
wired.com
· 2026-10-02
A developer launched Ledge.sh on Show HN, a tool that turns markdown notes into executable documents by embedding code blocks (Python, shell, SQL) that run inline. The demo example shows a weekly subscription report pulling data from Stripe's API and a database, then summarizing new sign-ups and revenue directly within the note.
ledge.sh
· 2026-09-29
GoKawiil