Episode 21 – Hackers and Hulkamania running wild
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Welcome to another episode of Geek Bytes Podcast.
We bring you the week’s Geek and Tech news and then discuss anything we’re interesting in that week.
Don’t forget to subscribe to us on Itunes, Stitcher or any podcatching app.
I’m Ramon Mejia…….I’m Edgar Acosta
In Geek News this week, we’ll talk about Hackers remotely controlling Chrysler Vehicles, the Ashley Madison hack, the $100 Million Investment in the Search for Alien Life, Earth 2, an eye drop that can dissolve cataracts, Uber heading To The European Court of Justice, France's sweeping surveillance law, Hulk Hogan Wiped from the WWE, TV and movie announcements, our trailers of the week, and more..
In our Discussions section we’ll talk about what we’ve been up to this week and what’s coming up for us.
Now let’s Begin our show with Geek News
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Geek News
Hackers can remotely control Chrysler Vehicles
Wired reported on the car hacking research of security experts Charlie Miller and Chris Valasek. The result of their work was a hacking technique—what the security industry calls a zero-day exploit—that can target Jeep Cherokees and give the attacker wireless control, via the Internet, to any of thousands of vehicles. Their code is an automaker’s nightmare: software that lets hackers send commands through the Jeep’s entertainment system to its dashboard functions, steering, brakes, and transmission, all from a laptop that may be across the country.
For the story ANDY GREENBERG from Wired hopped in a Jeep Cherokee that the security experts hacked in real time while Greenberg was driving on the road.
As the two hackers remotely toyed with the air-conditioning, radio, and windshield wipers, I mentally congratulated myself on my courage under pressure. That’s when they cut the transmission.
Immediately my accelerator stopped working. As I frantically pressed the pedal and watched the RPMs climb, the Jeep lost half its speed, then slowed to a crawl. This occurred just as I reached a long overpass, with no shoulder to offer an escape. The experiment had ceased to be fun.
Charlie Miller and Chris Valasek have already reported the exploit to Chrysler and plan on discussing their work at an upcoming Black Hat conference. Chrysler has already issued a firmware patch to fix the potential hack. However owners of the Jeep Cherokee must go to their local dealership to get the firmware patch.
http://www.wired.com/2015/07/hackers-remotely-kill-jeep-highway/
Group Hacks Ashley Madison, Ransoms User Data
Security expert Brian Krebs first reported that the hacker group Impact Team have claimed to have gained full access to the user and employee data of the world’s number one extramarital affair site, Ashley Madison. The breach potentially effects up to 37 million of the companies registered users.
Krebs said that the attackers, who call themselves The Impact Team, published a range of random user data that they claim to have snatched from ALM — the parent company behind Ashley Madison, Cougar Life and Established Men. They also claim to have secured employee information.
The Impact Team is threatening to release the full data set that it claims to have unless Ashley Madison is shut down.
http://www.geekbytespodcast.com/news/2015/7/20/group-hacks-ashley-madison-ransoms-user-data
$100 Million Invested in the Search for Alien Life
Russian billionaire Yuri Milner and British astrophysicist Stephen Hawking have announced a $100 million investment in SETI, a private US based group of researchers who search for extraterrestrial intelligence.
"We believe that life arose spontaneously on Earth," Hawking said in London at a press conference. "So in an infinite Universe, there must be other occurrences of life."
Most famously known for its role in the fictional movie Contact (1197), the SETI, or Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence, program is a non-profit research institute founded by American astronomer and astrophysicist, Frank Drake. According to their website their mission is “… to explore, understand, and explain the origin and nature of life in the universe, and to apply the knowledge gained to inspire and guide present and future generations.“
http://www.geekbytespodcast.com/news/2015/7/21/100-million-invested-in-the-search-for-alien-life
Earth 2?
NASA and SETI announced the discovery of Earth's "older, bigger cousin". Called Kepler-452b, it's the first almost-Earth-sized planet that's been found in the habitable zone of a star very similar to our Sun
This is our best candidate so far for an 'Earth 2.0', and it could also be the ideal place to look for extraterrestrial life.
Here's everything we know so far:
- Kepler-452b is orbiting a star called Kepler-452, located 1,400 light-years away. If we had a space ship that could travel at the speed of light it would take us 1,400 years to get there.
- The planet is 1.6 times bigger than Earth.
- Earlier research shows that planets of this size "have a good chance" of being rocky, just like Earth.
- Kepler-452b is orbiting a G2-type star, like our Sun.
- The planet is in the habitable zone, which means that it's far enough away from its sun that its water won't evaporate, but close enough so that it won't freeze.
- A year on Kepler-452b lasts 385 days, so the planet is only 5 percent further from its star than Earth is from the Sun.
- The planet is likely to have an atmosphere, lots of clouds, and possibly active volcanoes.
- Its parent star Kepler-452b is 6 billion years old (1.5 billion years older than our Sun).
- This means that the Kepler-452b has had longer that our planet to potentially develop life.
- Kepler-452 has the same temperature, and is 20 percent brighter, and 10 percent larger in diameter than our Sun.
- Because it's orbiting a larger star, it's likely to be slightly warmer than Earth.
While these are all the things we do know, there is still a lot we don’t know. Because Kepler-452 is so far away we don’t have telescopes powerful enough to look at the planet itself. We can currently only study the star it’s orbiting. However, there are already plans to launch a telescope into space 100 times more powerful that the Hubble Telescope in 2018.
http://www.sciencealert.com/here-s-everything-we-know-about-the-most-earth-like-exoplanet-ever-found
Scientists have developed an eye drop that can dissolve cataracts
Researchers in the US have developed a new drug that can be delivered directly into the eye via an eye dropper to shrink down and dissolve cataracts. Cataracts cause the lens of the eye to become progressively cloudy, and when left untreated, can lead to total blindness.
Scientists aren’t entirely sure what cases cataracts, but most cases are related to age, with the US National Eye Institute reporting that by the age of 80, more than half of all Americans either have a cataract, or have had cataract surgery.
While the new drug has yet to be tested on humans, the team from the University of California, San Diego hopes to replicate the findings in clinical trials and offer an alternative to the only treatment that’s currently available to cataract patients - painful and often prohibitively expensive surgery.
Uber Ban in Spain Sent To The European Court of Justice for review
Uber has recently faced a lot of opposition towards its transportation model in Europe. Uber has faced violent protests in France and total bans in Germany and Spain.Today the company’s head of public policy in EMEA, Mark MacGann, announced that an ongoing case against it in Spain has been referred to the European Courts of Justice.
Uber is looking to supersede local laws that ban its service and appeal to the European Unions authority over other member nations to allow its business to proceed lawfully.
France's sweeping surveillance law goes into effect
The Verge reports that France's highest constitutional authority has approved a controversial bill that significantly expands the government's surveillance powers. In a decision handed down Thursday night, the Constitutional Council ruled that all but three of the bill's provisions are in line with the French constitution, allowing the law to go into effect despite vehement opposition from civil liberties groups.
The bill allows the government to monitor the phone calls and emails of suspected terrorists without prior authorization from a judge. It also calls for internet service providers to install so-called black boxes that sweep up and analyze metadata on millions of web users, and forces them to make that data freely available to intelligence organizations. Intelligence agents will be able to plant microphones, cameras, and keystroke loggers in the homes of suspected terrorists.
Under the law, the government can authorize surveillance for vaguely defined reasons such as "major foreign policy interests" and preventing "organized delinquency." The UN Human Rights Council expressed concern over the law earlier this week, saying it lacks sufficient oversight.
The bill was pushed through after armed gunmen orchestrated a string of attacks that began at the Paris offices of the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in January.
http://www.theverge.com/2015/7/24/9030851/france-surveillance-law-charlie-hebdo-constitutional-court
Hulk Hogan Wiped from WWE website
Today the WWE announced that they have fired Hulk Hogan
In a statement to the press they said "WWE terminated its contract with Terry Bollea (aka Hulk Hogan). WWE is committed to embracing and celebrating individuals from all backgrounds as demonstrated by the diversity of our employees, performers and fans worldwide."
Now, not only has the WWE fired Hogan, but they seem to be trying to erase him from wrestling history.
According to Wrestling News Source, “On WWE.com, Hogan is no longer listed on the WWE Hall of Fame page, and all of his merchandise has also been removed from WWEShop.com. The only thing currently remaining that mentions Hogan involves WWE’s upcoming Australian tour, which Hogan was scheduled to take part in as general manager. However, when any attempt to access this page is made, a message appears stating “you are not authorized to access this page.”
Reports online claim that the reason behind the scrubbing of Hulk Hogan is an audio clip from an interview that’s surfaced online. The radio interview occurred back in October 2012, and featured Hogan on DJ Whoo Kid’s radio show Whoolywood Shuffle, which aired on Eminem’s Sirius XM hip-hop channel Shade 45.
In the interview Hulk Hogan refers to an incident where fellow wrestler Booker T trash talks Hogan calling him a “Nigger”. Hogan then goes on to discuss how he didn’t understand how Booker T and some rappers he knew could use the word but he couldn’t.
Other sources claim that there’s a racist rant that came to light in a deposition for a Gawker lawsuit.
Use a Mouse with the Xbox One
Endgadget reports that Microsoft executive Phil Spencer was asked on Twitter if it'd be possible to stream games from a Windows machine to the Xbox -- in the opposite direction to how the company has set up its game streaming system. In response, he said that it'd require keyboard and mouse support for it to work, crucially adding "those aren't far away."
This may be our first hint that the Xbox One my soon support mouse and keyboard input for the gaming device.
http://www.engadget.com/2015/07/22/xbox-one-mouse-support/
Blizzard Announces New Hearthstone Expansion, The Grand Tournament
At an event in San Francisco, Blizzard announced a new expansion pack for Hearthstone — The Grand Tournament. It’ll be out next month. In the new expansion you get:
· A new board to play on
· 130 new cards to collect
· A new minion ability called Inspire that ties to your hero power.
o For example, one minion will add a random spell to your hand every time you trigger your Hero Power; another will gain +1 attack.
Xena: Warrior Princess Reboot
THR reports that NBC is developing a reboot of Xena: Warrior Princess.
Original executive producers Rob Tapert and Sam Raimi are involved with this new iteration of the show, which is referred to as a "modern reboot." THR's sources also indicate that insiders want star Lucy Lawless to have a role both in front of and behind the camera.
http://geektyrant.com/news/nbc-is-rebooting-xena-warrior-princess
DISNEY HIRES GAMES OF THRONES WRITER FOR LIVE-ACTION REMAKE OF THE SWORD IN THE STONE
Game of Thrones writer Bryan Cogman tweeted this week that he has been hired to write for Disney’s live action remake of the Sword in the Stone.
The Sword in the Stone joins other live-action Disney remakes or prequels like Beauty and the Beast, The Jungle Book, Dumbo, Winne the Pooh, Mulan, Tinkerbell, and Aladdin.
Bryan Singer Confirms X-Men/Fantastic Four Crossover Plans
The new Fantastic Four film hasn’t even hit theaters yet, but X-Men director Bryan Singer already wants to do a cross-over.
In a recent interview, Singer—who’s currently filming next year’s X-Men: Apocalypse—revealed that there’s been initial talks of a live-action X-Men and Fantastic Four crossover.
“Those ideas are in play,” he says. “That would be a natural match-up because they’re both ensemble films and there is a natural mechanism by which to do it.”
“It deals with time,” Singer revealed in an interview with Yahoo Movies. “That’s all I’m going to say.”
What is that “natural mechanism” Singer refers to? We suspect it is time travel, of course!
http://comicbook.com/2015/07/23/bryan-singer-confirms-x-men-fantastic-four-crossover-plans/
Jurassic World sequel announced for 2018
Universal Studios has officially announced a sequel to Jurassic World.
Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard will both return to star, and Jurassic World director Colin Trevorrow will co-write the sequel's script with Derek Connolly.
Jurassic World just climbed to number three on the list of top grossing movies of all time ($1.52), beating out The Avengers. Pratt seems to be on a box office hot streak, with Jurassic World following the huge success of Guardians of the Galaxy.
Jurassic World 2 will open in theaters June 22, 2018.
http://comicbook.com/2015/07/23/jurassic-world-sequel-officially-announced-for-2018/
KUNG POW II announced
On July 19 at the Dragonfest convention in Burbank, California, Steve Oedekerk, the writer and creater of Kung Pow made the official announcement that after thirteen years, he is finally going ahead with Kung Pow II.
The original Kung Pow! Enter the Fist was a comedy martial arts film that took the 1977 martial arts film called Tiger and Crane Fist and virtually re-dub all the voices and insert new scenes with actors Jennifer Tung, Leo Lee, and Steve Oedekerk, along with various stuntmen. https://worldfilmgeek.wordpress.com/2015/07/21/thoughts-kung-pow-ii-is-finally-happening/
Little Girl saved by Minion
This week a 5-year-old girl in Colorado Springs somehow managed to fall backwards out of the window and on to the ground, 30 feet below. The girl walked away from the fall with a broken arm. Police believe she was saved from more serious and potentially mortal injury by the large plushy Minions figure her parents say she carried everywhere with her.
http://www.geek.com/news/minions-cuddly-toy-saves-5-year-old-girls-life-in-30-foot-fall-1629093/
Trailers of the Week
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2
With the nation of Panem in a full scale war, Katniss confronts President Snow in the final showdown. Teamed with a group of her closest friends – including Gale, Finnick, and Peeta – Katniss goes off on a mission with the unit from District 13 as they risk their lives to liberate the citizens of Panem, and stage an assassination attempt on President Snow who has become increasingly obsessed with destroying her. The mortal traps, enemies, and moral choices that await Katniss will challenge her more than any arena she faced in The Hunger Games.
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 is in theaters November 20th!
Spectre
The next James Bond movie is called SPECTRE. There have been couple other trailers but this is the one you want to watch. You get your first peek at the shadowy evil organization, SPECTER, that have produced James Bond’s most infamous enemies in the older films. Watch the trailer for the great action scenes alone.
SPECTRE will blow up at theaters in the UK on October 26, and in the US on November 6, 2015.
http://www.geekbytespodcast.com/news/2015/7/22/finally-a-great-trailer-for-spectre
Before We Go
Chis Evens and Alice Eve’s star in this movie that takes place over just one night.
Set in Manhattan, the story follows two strangers after their serendipitous meeting in Grand Central. Over the course of one night, they form an unlikely bond and the conflicts in their own lives become the basis for exploration into each other and themselves.
http://geektyrant.com/news/chris-evans-and-alice-eve-fall-for-each-other-in-before-we-go-trailer
The Good Dinosaur
"The Good Dinosaur" asks the question: What if the asteroid that forever changed life on Earth missed the planet completely and giant dinosaurs never became extinct? Pixar Animation Studios takes you on an epic journey into the world of dinosaurs where an Apatosaurus named Arlo makes an unlikely human friend. While traveling through a harsh and mysterious landscape, Arlo learns the power of confronting his fears and discovers what he is truly capable of.3
http://www.geekbytespodcast.com/news/2015/7/21/watch-the-full-trailer-for-the-good-dinosaur
Mississippi Grind
Mississippi Grind stars Ryan Reynolds and Ben Mendelsohn as a pair of gamblers that go on a gambling spree together.
Gerry (played by Mendelsohn) is a talented poker player, but his gambling habit is getting the best of him. One day, he meets a charismatic young traveler named Curtis (played by Reynolds). Deeming Curtis his lucky charm, Gerry convinces him that they should hit the road together. As they gamble their way down South toward a legendary high-stakes poker game in New Orleans, the trip’s highs and lows unveil the duo’s true character and motivation, and an undeniable bond forms between them.
In Theaters September 25, 2015.
Vacation- Red Band Trailer
Ed Helms plays Rusty Griswold, the now-grown son of Chevy Chase's Clark, and he takes his own family across the country to Wally World in an effort to recapture the "magic" of his childhood road trip.
http://geektyrant.com/news/go-on-a-raunchy-road-trip-in-new-red-band-trailer-for-vacation-reboot
The Muppets Show
The video they’re showing is actually a proof of concept that Jim Henson Studios put together to give the ABC executives an idea what the new program would be like. They showed it at San Diego Comic Con this year and have released it for your viewing pleasure.
The Muppets will premiere Sept. 22nd on ABC.
http://www.geekbytespodcast.com/news/2015/7/21/your-first-look-at-the-new-show-the-muppets
Supergirl “Her Story”
The latest TV Spot features footage of Kara (Melissa Benost) fighting the villain Vartox. It highlights the action in the show but be assured that there is plenty of emotional drama in the show as well.
http://geektyrant.com/news/kara-fights-vartox-in-new-trailer-for-supergirl-her-story
For a review of the topics we covered and any of the links in show notes for this episode visit our site geekbytespodcast.com
If you have any comments or news suggestions for us, please e-mail us at feedback@geekbytespodcast.com
Onto our Discussion section
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Discussion-
· What’s happening with us?
o Clermont
· The Hogan Scandal2
That will be it for us this week.
Thanks for listening folks. Now Go Geek out about something.
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Music Credits
"Happy Bee", "Movement Proposition", "Theme for Harold (var.3) ", "Take the Lead"
Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/