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Reposted by Michael A. Specter 👻

Signal @signal.org · 5d

We are alarmed by reports that Germany is on the verge of a catastrophic about-face, reversing its longstanding and principled opposition to the EU’s Chat Control proposal which, if passed, could spell the end of the right to privacy in Europe. signal.org/blog/pdfs/ge...

signal.org

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Michael A. Specter 👻 @mikespecter.com · 5d

“We use the UK form “factorise” here in place of the US variants “factorize” or “factor” in order to avoid the 40%
tariff on the US term.”

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Michael A. Specter 👻 @mikespecter.com · 5d

“...We refer to an abacus as “an abacus” rather than a digital computer, despite the fact that it relies on digital manipulation to effect its computations. Finally, we refer to a dog as “a dog” because even the most strenuous mental gymnastics can’t really make it sound like it’s a computer.”

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Michael A. Specter 👻 @mikespecter.com · 5d

Probably the best troll paper of the year:
“Replication of Quantum Factorisation Records with an 8-bit Home Computer, an Abacus, and a Dog”

eprint.iacr.org/2025/1237.pdf

eprint.iacr.org

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Michael A. Specter 👻 @mikespecter.com · 7d

I will never forgive these AI companies for making em-dashes impossible to use without being accused of using AI.

I miss the em-dash.

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Michael A. Specter 👻 @mikespecter.com · 8d

Hey all!

This research is from my group at Georgia Tech, our paper with technical details is here: mikespecter.com/assets/pdf/t...

mikespecter.com

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Michael A. Specter 👻 @mikespecter.com · 8d

Oh, and subsequent reporting in the verge, with comments from @evacide.bsky.social

www.theverge.com/news/787836/...

Tile’s lack of encryption could make tracker owners vulnerable to stalking

Its anti-stalking features are reportedly too easy to circumvent.

www.theverge.com

Michael A. Specter 👻 @mikespecter.com · 9d

Thanks Sarah!

Michael A. Specter 👻 @mikespecter.com · 9d

Here’s a link to the full paper!
mikespecter.com/assets/pdf/t...

mikespecter.com

Reposted by Michael A. Specter 👻

WIRED @wired.com · 9d

A team of researchers found that, by not encrypting the data broadcast by Tile tags, users could be vulnerable to having their location information exposed to malicious actors. www.wired.com/story/tile-t...

Tile Tracking Tags Can Be Exploited by Tech-Savvy Stalkers, Researchers Say

A team of researchers found that, by not encrypting the data broadcast by Tile tags, users could be vulnerable to having their location information exposed to malicious actors.

www.wired.com

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Michael A. Specter 👻 @mikespecter.com · 9d

Thanks!

Michael A. Specter 👻 @mikespecter.com · 9d

BTW, the lead author is Akshaya Kumar, a fantastic PhD student at GT: akumar805.github.io

Akshaya Kumar

akumar805.github.io

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Michael A. Specter 👻 @mikespecter.com · 9d

Excellent article! Also, for those interested in the nerdy details, check out the paper here:

bsky.app/profile/did:...

Michael A. Specter 👻 @mikespecter.com · 9d

Today, my research group @ Georgia Tech released a paper on vulnerabilities in Tile --- the second largest device finding network after Apple's AirTags.

You can read about it in Wired, reporting by @kimzetter.bsky.social!
www.wired.com/story/tile-t...

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Michael A. Specter 👻 @mikespecter.com · 9d

- Tile's servers can track all users at all times, acting as a mass surveillance network
- Tile's anti-theft mode turns off stalking alerts, which is itself easily circumvented
- Tile's design makes it possible for RF adversaries to stalk users

Full paper: mikespecter.com/assets/pdf/t...

mikespecter.com

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Michael A. Specter 👻 @mikespecter.com · 9d

Today, my research group @ Georgia Tech released a paper on vulnerabilities in Tile --- the second largest device finding network after Apple's AirTags.

You can read about it in Wired, reporting by @kimzetter.bsky.social!
www.wired.com/story/tile-t...

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Michael A. Specter 👻 @mikespecter.com · Aug 6

<<<<<<< HEAD:
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall
=======:
not
>>>>>>>
be violated…

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Michael A. Specter 👻 @mikespecter.com · Aug 6

“Sorry, we temporarily lost part of the constitution via an erroneous merge conflict. Habeas Corpus will be restored shortly”

Alejandra Caraballo @esqueer.net · Aug 6

The official version of the constitution on Congress.gov has removed Article I, Section 9 and 10 from the website which includes the writ of habeus corpus.

web.archive.org/web/diff/202...

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Michael A. Specter 👻 @mikespecter.com · Jul 16

“Sorry, we can’t let you in, your application wasn’t novel enough. No, we won’t define what ‘novel’ means.”

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Michael A. Specter 👻 @mikespecter.com · Jul 15

Nah, Ivy League rejection letters don’t include angry notes about how you didn’t cite the admissions officer’s work.

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Reposted by Michael A. Specter 👻

Tech Policy Press @techpolicypress.bsky.social · Jun 22

On Saturday, the United States Senate Parliamentarian determined that the proposed 10-year federal moratorium on enforcing state AI legislation contained in the budget bill has survived procedural scrutiny — known as the Byrd Rule — and will remain in the bill.

Proposed Federal Moratorium on State AI Laws Clears Hurdle in US Senate | TechPolicy.Press

The path forward for the moratorium is now procedurally clear, pending broader negotiations over the budget bill’s contents.

www.techpolicy.press

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Reposted by Michael A. Specter 👻

Dan Garisto @dangaristo.bsky.social · Jun 20

BREAKING: Judge denies NSF's 15% indirect rate plan. Like the DOE and NIH attempts, it too has now been rejected by courts. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

storage.courtlistener.com

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Reposted by Michael A. Specter 👻

William Shakespeare @shakespeare.lol · Jun 14

[Exit King.]

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Reposted by Michael A. Specter 👻

Martin Kleppmann @martin.kleppmann.com · Jun 9

Congratulations @lambda.bsky.social! Today @theguardian.com is launching a new way for whistleblowers to anonymously contact journalists, based on years-long research by Daniel and other colleagues. www.theguardian.com/gnm-press-of...

The Guardian launches Secure Messaging, a world-first from a media organisation, in collaboration with the University of Cambridge

Secure Messaging is a new innovation for confidential story-sharing and source protection, underpinning the Guardian’s commitment to investigative journalism. The Guardian has published the open sourc...

www.theguardian.com

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Michael A. Specter 👻 @mikespecter.com · Jun 7

Red = Secret Key
Blue = Public Key
Green = Shared

I have no idea why.

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