💥 Worst telecom hack in US history

PLUS: Google Docs introduces AI image creation

Welcome to the twentieth edition of Snack The Tech!

Here’s what’s on the menu today:

  • 💥 Worst telecom hack in US history

  • 🤖 Microsoft's controversial Recall is back

  • 📱 LinkedIn is killing its Clubhouse clone

  • 🙃 Billionaire food app CEO wants you to pay for the privilege of working with him

Snack. The. Tech! 🤖

  • The Chinese government hackers, identified as Salt Typhoon, deeply infiltrated U.S. telecommunications infrastructure, allowing them to wiretap and access phone calls and texts, as per reports from major news outlets.

  • This breach, described as the "worst telecom hack in our nation’s history" by Senator Mark Warner, has affected all major U.S. carriers and may require drastic measures like replacing old equipment to fully eliminate the threat.

  • Despite ongoing infiltration, encrypted communications through apps such as Signal and iMessage remained protected, but vulnerabilities were found in mixed-device communications, particularly those between Apple and Android devices.

  • Microsoft has released a rearchitected version of its Recall feature, which is now available for public preview after the initial version faced security and privacy concerns.

  • The preview is limited to certain Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite and Plus Copilot+ PCs enlisted in the Windows Insider program, whereas Intel and AMD Copilot+ and regular Windows 11 PCs are not yet supported.

  • Recall is an AI-powered Windows feature exclusive to Copilot+ PCs that captures and stores user activity data for retracing steps, but the initial version presented serious security risks due to inadequate protection measures.

  • LinkedIn is discontinuing its Clubhouse-inspired Audio Events feature on December 2, 2024, merging it with LinkedIn Live for a more integrated streaming experience using third-party tools.

  • The shift indicates LinkedIn's goal to enhance other creator tools and navigate challenges in the competitive live audio sector, which hasn't consistently maintained user interest over time.

  • This change reflects a broader industry trend where audio-only platforms, popular during the pandemic, are phased out, with X’s Spaces being one of the few remaining standalone services.

  • The CEO of a major food app, who is a billionaire, suggests that there should be fees associated with the privilege of working alongside him.

  • Gartner highlights the enthusiasm for AI agents in the enterprise sector, noting potential benefits and challenges in their implementation.

  • A significant risk identified by Gartner is the potential for companies to create many AI bots without recalling their specific purposes or functionalities over time.

Keep snacking on the tech.

Robin

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