Monthly update #0376 • August 2021
Monthly update 376 • August 2021 • 2021-08-01 - 2021-08-31
Monthly Updates
2021
78 posts
Privacy Roundup #0181 • August 2021
Apple's plan to scan iPhones for child abuse imagery dominated the month, while record breaches at T-Mobile and a flood of leaks, ransomware thefts and new surveillance laws kept regulators and researchers busy.
Privacy
Eurobloat #0135 • July 2021
The month Brussels unveiled its largest ever legislative bonfire, invented a brand new tax on imports, ordered private messages scanned, and capped the cash in your pocket at ten thousand euros.
Eurobloat
What is seld?
If you see seld running on your Mac, here is what this sealed system volume process does.
Mac
Time for a Turning Point by Charlie Kirk
Charlie Kirk’s The College Scam: How America's Universities Are Bankrupting and Brainwashing Away the Future of America's Youth challenges the value of traditional college education, arguing it burdens students with debt while promoting progressive ideologies.
Books
Useful macOS defaults: Messages
Handy defaults write commands for com.apple.MobileSMS, controlling how Messages behaves on macOS.
Mac
Privacy Roundup #0180 • July 2021
July 2021 was dominated by the Pegasus Project, which exposed how government clients of NSO Group spyware targeted journalists, activists and world leaders, while record fines, supply-chain ransomware and a wave of breaches underlined how exposed ordinary people remain.
Privacy
Monthly update #0375 • July 2021
Monthly update 375 • July 2021 • 2021-07-01 - 2021-07-31
Monthly Updates
Eurobloat #0134 • June 2021
The month Brussels handed every citizen a scannable health pass, drew up a digital identity wallet, started borrowing in its own name and declared abortion a European right, all while failing to keep a single migrant off the Belarusian buses.
Eurobloat
Naval Architecture
When I first heard the term naval architecture I thought it was the artistic practice of designing beautiful boats. It turns out it’s a proper scientific discipline dedicated to the engineering of ships.
Gems
What is findmybeaconingd?
If you see findmybeaconingd running on your Mac, here is what this Find My beacon process does.
Mac
What is corecaptured?
If you see corecaptured running on your Mac, here is what this camera and screen capture process does.
Mac
Monthly update #0374 • June 2021
Monthly update 374 • June 2021 • 2021-06-01 - 2021-06-30
Monthly Updates
Privacy Roundup #0179 • June 2021
June 2021 paired a string of corporate breaches and ransomware payouts with landmark court wins for privacy, as regulators and police surveillance both came under fresh scrutiny.
Privacy
Eurobloat #0133 • May 2021
The month Brussels threw itself a party about its own future, drew up plans for a single corporate tax rulebook, and demanded the right to inspect newly free Britain's homework on data.
Eurobloat
I do not have a smartphone
I sold my iPhone and bought a basic Nokia phone for 35 euros. I also sold my smarthome devices, Apple Watch, and AirPods.
Journal
What is searchpartyd?
If you see searchpartyd running on your Mac, here is what this Find My network process does.
Mac
Irreversible Damage by Abigail Shrier
Abigail Shrier's Irreversible Damage examines the rapid increase in teenage girls identifying as transgender. Shrier argues this surge is driven by social contagion, with online platforms like Tumblr and TikTok influencing girls struggling with anxiety or depression to identify as trans.
Books
Package Collections
Swift 5.5 introduces package collections to the Swift Package Manager, enabling curated lists of packages to simplify discovery and adoption for specific tasks.
Development
Monthly update #0373 • May 2021
Monthly update 373 • May 2021 • 2021-05-01 - 2021-05-31
Monthly Updates
Privacy Roundup #0178 • May 2021
May 2021 was dominated by ransomware, with the Colonial Pipeline and Irish health service attacks driving new policy, alongside fresh fights over messaging data, mass surveillance and facial recognition.
Privacy
Eurobloat #0132 • April 2021
April brought a plan to regulate every algorithm in Europe, a fresh charge sheet for Apple, a passport you need to leave your own region, and a President left on a sofa. Brussels was busy.
Eurobloat
Pentecost
Pentecost brings perspective on the passing years. The coming of the Holy Spirit remains central.
Christianity
Celebrating five years of Quiet, and a note on our exciting future
As the world has become more and more digitally driven, it has never been easier to become distracted. Today, we have a whole world of possibilities and answers at our very fingertips. However, these possibilities can lead to distractions, and it can also lead to risks.
Projects
Ascension Day
Ascension Day brings perspective on the passing years. The return of Christ to heaven remains central.
Christianity