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LONDON (AP) — After a sprawling exposed the communications of an unknown number of Americans, U.S. cybersecurity officials are advising people to use encryption in their communications. To safeguard against the risks highlighted by the campaign, which originated in China, federal cybersecurity authorities released an extensive list of security recommendations for U.S. telecom companies — such as Verizon and AT&T — that were targeted. The advice includes one tip we can all put into practice with our phones: “Ensure that traffic is end-to-end encrypted to the maximum extent possible.” End-to-end encryption, also known as E2EE, means that messages are scrambled so that only the sender and recipient can see them. If anyone else intercepts the message, all they will see is a garble that can’t be unscrambled without the key. Law enforcement officials had until now resisted this type of encryption because it means the technology companies themselves won’t be able to look at the messages, nor respond to law enforcement requests to turn the data over. Here’s a look at various ways ordinary consumers can use end-to-end encryption: Officials said the hackers targeted the metadata of a large number of customers, including information on the dates, times and recipients of calls and texts. They also managed to see the content from texts from a much smaller number of victims. If you’re an iPhone user, information in text messages that you send to someone else who also has an iPhone will be encrypted end-to-end. Just look for the blue text bubbles, which indicate that they are encrypted iMessages. The same goes for Android users sending texts through Google Messages. There will be a lock next to the timestamp on each message to indicate the encryption is on. But there’s a weakness. When iPhone and Android users text each other, the messages are encrypted only using Rich Communication Services, an industry standard for instant messaging that replaces the older SMS and MMS standards. Apple has that RCS messages “aren’t end-to-end encrypted, which means they’re not protected from a third party reading them while they’re sent between devices.” Samsung, which sells Android smartphones, has also hinted at the issue in a footnote at the bottom of a last month on RCS, saying, “Encryption only available for Android to Android communication.” To avoid getting caught out when trading texts, experts recommend using encrypted messaging apps. Privacy advocates are big fans of Signal, which applies end-to-end encryption on all messages and voice calls. The independent nonprofit group behind the app promises never to sell, rent, or lease customer data and has made its so that it can be audited by anyone to examine it “for security and correctness.” Signal’s encryption protocol is so reputable that it has been integrated into rival , so users will enjoy the same level of security protection as Signal, which has a much smaller user base. End-to-end encryption is also the default mode for , which like WhatsApp is owned by Meta Platforms. Telegram is an app that can be used for one-on-one conversations, group chats and broadcast “channels” but contrary to popular perception, it doesn’t turn on end-to-end encryption by default. Users have to switch on the option. And it doesn’t work with group chats. Cybersecurity experts have warned people against using Telegram for private communications and pointed out that only its opt-in ‘secret chat’ feature is encrypted from end-to-end. The app also has a reputation for being a haven for scammers and criminal activity, highlighted by founder and CEO Pavel Durov’s . Instead of using your phone to make calls through a wireless cellular network, you can make voice calls with Signal and WhatsApp. Both apps encrypt calls with the same technology that they use to encrypt messages. There are other options. If you have an iPhone you can use for calls, while Android owners can use the service, which are both end-to-end encrypted. The only catch with all these options is that, as with using the chat services to send messages, the person on the other end will also have to have the app installed. WhatsApp and Signal users can customize their privacy preferences in the settings, including hiding IP address during calls to prevent your general location from being guessed.Jonah Goldberg Among elites across the ideological spectrum, there's one point of unifying agreement: Americans are bitterly divided. What if that's wrong? What if elites are the ones who are bitterly divided while most Americans are fairly unified? History rarely lines up perfectly with the calendar (the "sixties" didn't really start until the decade was almost over). But politically, the 21st century neatly began in 2000, when the election ended in a tie and the color coding of electoral maps became enshrined as a kind of permanent tribal color war of "red vs. blue." Elite understanding of politics has been stuck in this framework ever since. Politicians and voters have leaned into this alleged political reality, making it seem all the more real in the process. I loathe the phrase "perception is reality," but in politics it has the reifying power of self-fulfilling prophecy. Like rival noble families in medieval Europe, elites have been vying for power and dominance on the arrogant assumption that their subjects share their concern for who rules rather than what the rulers can deliver. Political cartoonists from across country draw up something special for the holiday In 2018, the group More in Common published a massive report on the "hidden tribes" of American politics. The wealthiest and whitest groups were "devoted conservatives" (6%) and "progressive activists" (8%). These tribes dominate the media, the parties and higher education, and they dictate the competing narratives of red vs. blue, particularly on cable news and social media. Meanwhile, the overwhelming majority of Americans resided in, or were adjacent to, the "exhausted majority." These people, however, "have no narrative," as David Brooks wrote at the time. "They have no coherent philosophic worldview to organize their thinking and compel action." Lacking a narrative might seem like a very postmodern problem, but in a postmodern elite culture, postmodern problems are real problems. It's worth noting that red vs. blue America didn't emerge ex nihilo. The 1990s were a time when the economy and government seemed to be working, at home and abroad. As a result, elites leaned into the narcissism of small differences to gain political and cultural advantage. They remain obsessed with competing, often apocalyptic, narratives. That leaves out most Americans. The gladiatorial combatants of cable news, editorial pages and academia, and their superfan spectators, can afford these fights. Members of the exhausted majority are more interested in mere competence. I think that's the hidden unity elites are missing. This is why we keep throwing incumbent parties out of power: They get elected promising competence but get derailed -- or seduced -- by fan service to, or trolling of, the elites who dominate the national conversation. There's a difference between competence and expertise. One of the most profound political changes in recent years has been the separation of notions of credentialed expertise from real-world competence. This isn't a new theme in American life, but the pandemic and the lurch toward identity politics amplified distrust of experts in unprecedented ways. This is a particular problem for the left because it is far more invested in credentialism than the right. Indeed, some progressives are suddenly realizing they invested too much in the authority of experts and too little in the ability of experts to provide what people want from government, such as affordable housing, decent education and low crime. The New York Times' Ezra Klein says he's tired of defending the authority of government institutions. Rather, "I want them to work." One of the reasons progressives find Trump so offensive is his absolute inability to speak the language of expertise -- which is full of coded elite shibboleths. But Trump veritably shouts the language of competence. I don't mean he is actually competent at governing. But he is effectively blunt about calling leaders, experts and elites -- of both parties -- stupid, ineffective, weak and incompetent. He lost in 2020 because voters didn't believe he was actually good at governing. He won in 2024 because the exhausted majority concluded the Biden administration was bad at it. Nostalgia for the low-inflation pre-pandemic economy was enough to convince voters that Trumpian drama is the tolerable price to pay for a good economy. About 3 out of 4 Americans who experienced "severe hardship" because of inflation voted for Trump. The genius of Trump's most effective ad -- "Kamala is for they/them, President Trump is for you" -- was that it was simultaneously culture-war red meat and an argument that Harris was more concerned about boutique elite concerns than everyday ones. If Trump can actually deliver competent government, he could make the Republican Party the majority party for a generation. For myriad reasons, that's an if so big it's visible from space. But the opportunity is there -- and has been there all along. Goldberg is editor-in-chief of The Dispatch: thedispatch.com . Get opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly to your inbox weekly!
Economic and Political Prognosis for 2025Stock market today: S&P 500, Dow end at record as investors shake off tariff fears, digest Fed minutesFor travelers, Puerto Rico is a floating island of desirability
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Lockly recently released its latest Zeno Series smart door locks, which include some fantastic features that Apple fans will love. Unveiled at CES 2024 and now available at The Home Depot , the new series features a redesigned, smaller footprint and state-of-the-art technology, including built-in Wi-Fi for streamlined connectivity and, most importantly, compatibility with HomeKit and Home Key . HomeKit Weekly is a series focused on smart home accessories, automation tips and tricks, and everything to do with Apple’s smart home framework. The series’ flagship, the Lockly Visage, brings facial recognition access to the door lock. This feature goes beyond typical smart lock capabilities by using binocular facial recognition and radar detection, enabling a hands-free, approach-to-open experience that users will appreciate for ease of use. Also in the lineup is the Lockly VisionTM Zeno Series, which merges a 2K video doorbell with an intercom for comprehensive entryway surveillance. It also incorporates a next-gen 3D biometric fingerprint sensor for quick, secure access. Rounding out the series, the Lockly Secure Pro Zeno Series offers built-in Wi-Fi, Apple Home Key access, and a reliable 3D fingerprint sensor. At the same time, the Lockly PIN Genie Pro Zeno Series boasts voice assistant support and the patented, hack-proof PIN Genie® Keypad. Door unlock options Apple Home Keys Integration : Your iPhone or Apple Watch can effortlessly unlock your door, integrating smoothly with Apple’s HomeKit ecosystem. 3D Biometric Fingerprint Sensor : The upgraded sensor recognizes fingerprints in just 0.2 seconds, providing quick and reliable access. PIN Genie® Keypad: This patented security technology shuffles PINs randomly, preventing unauthorized individuals from guessing your code HomeKit and Home key Apple fans’ key features are HomeKit and Apple Home Key. The Lockly Zeno Series offers full support for HomeKit and Home Key access. This feature enables easy entry with an iPhone or Apple Watch, eliminating the need for traditional keys or manual app controls. Home Key, stored in the Wallet app, allows for straightforward, secure access with just a tap, even if your device is out of battery. With HomeKit compatibility, the Zeno Series can be controlled from the Home app and built into HomeKit scenes and automation. For example, you could quickly build an automation that turns on a light in your living room when the lock is unlocked. Wrap up on Lockly and HomeKit The Lockly Zeno Series is a reliable, feature-rich addition to any smart home. With options that include advanced facial recognition, a robust biometric fingerprint sensor, and easy HomeKit and Home Key integration, it offers convenience and security tailored for Apple users. The lock’s availability in multiple color finishes ensures you can choose a style that matches your home. For those heavily in homeKit, the Zeno Series is an excellent choice that blends modern design with great Home Key and HomeKit support. You can buy any of the new locks for yourself from Home Depot or directly from Locky. Other Home Key Compatible locks Level Lock+ Aqara U50 Aqara U100 Aqara U200 Schlage Encode Plus Yale Assure Lock 2 Plus
ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — Former Newfoundland and Labrador premiers say a draft energy agreement signed Thursday with Quebec marks a historic break in a long-standing political standoff. Brian Tobin, who was premier from 1996 to 2000, describes the sweeping new energy contract as a long-awaited "breaking of political gridlock" between Newfoundland and Labrador and Quebec. Tobin says he has no doubt that ending the 1969 deal that gave Quebec nearly free electricity from Labrador was a top priority for every premier since Joey Smallwood, the man who signed the contract. Roger Grimes ran the province between 2001 to 2003, and he says all of the province's premiers wished they had found a willing partner in Quebec to reshape the agreement. Pointing to the province's unsuccessful attempts to challenge the deal in court, he says Quebec Premier François Legault had no obligation to throw out the contract but saw a good opportunity and showed political will. The two provinces signed an agreement in principle Thursday under which Quebec will pay higher rates for power and partner with Newfoundland and Labrador on new hydroelectric projects in Labrador. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 13, 2024. Sarah Smellie, The Canadian Press
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