Tag Archives: stopping

Why Does Stopping a Phone Burglar Seem So Difficult?

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London is a phone theft hotspot

Jeff Blackler/Shutterstock

Even if you haven’t experienced smartphone theft personally, you likely know someone who has. Last year alone, 80,000 mobile phones were reported stolen in London. For those affected, losing a costly device can feel devastating, and navigating the tedious process of replacing it, which holds all your vital information, can be frustrating. So, what can be done to prevent phone theft and better safeguard your personal data?

The explanation involves various factors, including how criminals exploit stolen phones, alongside the failure of tech companies focused on user-friendly designs over security measures, and the lack of coordinated international strategies. In short, it’s a multifaceted issue.

Some victims have expressed frustration with the police for their perceived lack of action against phone thieves. NAV Dugmore, who hails from Wolverhampton, England, had her iPhone snatched just moments after she exited Euston Station in London. “Honestly, it hurt me,” she recalls. “We need better systems to deter them from using stolen phones. I think the police could do more.”

The Metropolitan Police informed her that other thefts had occurred in the same vicinity recently, admitting that the chances of recovery were “nonexistent.” Although Dugmore activated face recognition on her phone, it was unlocked when the thief grabbed it, allowing them to quickly spend £300 at various London stores. The most painful loss for her was a photo of her three young children that wasn’t backed up.

When a phone like Dugmore’s is stolen, it enters a grim cycle with multiple potential fates. The simplest scenario for thieves is to sell the phone, frequently exporting it to other countries. Some may also sell the devices for parts at non-official repair shops. According to Daniel Green, a police inspector in London, the thief was connected to a gang that ships the stolen devices out of the country.

More elaborate crimes can occur as well, such as removing SIM cards to disguise the phone’s identity and using another mobile to access text messages, emails, and websites that require two-factor authentication. This can be somewhat mitigated by setting up a PIN on the SIM card, yet this requires action before theft occurs.

Thieves mainly target unsecured phones, but even safeguarding your device with a PIN isn’t foolproof, warns James O’Sullivan, who runs an app called Nuke, designed to assist those whose phones have been stolen. Thieves might simply observe you enter your PIN or employ clever tactics to outsmart your security measures. For instance, if you trigger and then cancel the emergency SOS feature on an iPhone, access via face or fingerprint recognition is temporarily disabled, necessitating a PIN entry the next time. A skilled thief could document you while you unwittingly do this, preparing to capture the input after reclaiming the phone.

Unlocked devices expand the criminals’ possibilities. Thieves can access online banking apps and cryptocurrency wallets, even scamming the victim’s friends and family for emergency funds. They can also share fraudulent links through social media, fishing for further login information and private data.

What measures can we take? At least the UK government acknowledges the issue. In the latter half of last year, they initiated a crackdown aimed at pressuring smartphone manufacturers to permanently disable stolen devices. They also pledged to conduct research aimed at understanding the dynamics of phone theft and devising solutions.

In theory, technology exists to render stolen phones useless. Each device carries a unique IMEI code, allowing reported stolen codes to be blocked on mobile networks. However, blocked phones can still access the internet through Wi-Fi. For years, the Met Police has urged tech firms to enhance protocols to restrict access to cloud services on stolen phones, making them less desirable to thieves. So far, both Apple and Google have not complied.

This also becomes problematic when trying to enforce restrictions across countries, similar to IMEI blocks. Green hopes that manufacturers will create permanent kill switches to effectively eliminate the incentive for phone theft altogether. “I don’t know if that’s a problem for them,” he remarks. “We need to push more. We’re trying to pick up the pieces on the sidelines, which is a tall order.”

Jordan Hare, a former digital forensics expert with law enforcement now working for private security firm S-RM, states that many phones already possess security features capable of thwarting the most determined criminals. For instance, certain devices will lock automatically if they detect sudden movements, such as being grabbed by a thief.

The issue arises because many of these protective measures are disabled by default. Hare emphasizes that companies design for user convenience, often at the expense of security awareness. “Opting in for these features doesn’t benefit the average consumer, who may not even know they exist,” he explains. “An opt-out approach where users are informed that certain settings are enabled and why they should remain on would be far more effective.”

Meanwhile, other admirable security features, like locating your phone via a web browser, fall short in practicality. If the phone is tracked far from its original location, there’s little a police officer can do without extensive paperwork for search warrants.

Dugmore experienced this firsthand with her stolen iPhone. “The last known location was about ten miles from where my phone was taken,” she recounts. “The police indicated that they wouldn’t be able to retrieve it.” When approached for comment, the Metropolitan Police told New Scientist: “Unfortunately, the investigation couldn’t progress due to the lack of CCTV in the area. We’re aware of the victim’s concerns.”

Most prominent smartphone manufacturers, including New Scientist Samsung, Xiaomi, and Google, did not respond. However, Apple did provide a statement.

“For more than a decade, we’ve been actively addressing this issue through hardware, software, and customer support,” an Apple representative stated. “We are committed to investing in industry-leading tools and features designed to empower users against theft,” although they did not clarify why some security features aren’t activated by default.

Ultimately, preventing smartphone theft hinges on ensuring manufacturers remove any appeal that criminals might find in stolen devices. They possess the capability to control hardware and software, developing features that could entirely secure your phone, its applications, and components against misuse or resale. However, O’Sullivan asserts that it doesn’t appear to be a priority. “To be candid, stolen phones generate considerable profit for those selling new devices.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

The impact of artificially stopping your period on your body

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People with a uterus experience menstruation about once every 28 days for approximately 40 years of their lives.

Menstruation goes beyond just blood. It’s common for 84% of women to experience menstrual pain regularly. Severe menstrual pain can lead women to miss numerous days of education or work each month. Additionally, periods are costly, with an estimated lifetime cost of around 4,800 pounds (approximately $6,100).

Given these challenges, it’s only natural to want to stop menstruation. While periods may naturally cease during pregnancy, breastfeeding, or menopause, many women in the UK opt to stop their menstrual cycles using hormonal contraception.

Contraceptive pills, implants, and hormonal coils work by releasing hormones that prevent ovulation. Without an egg being released or the lining of the uterus thickening for pregnancy, menstruation, which occurs due to shedding of this lining, typically stops when it ceases to grow.

“There’s nothing harmful about not having a menstrual cycle,” affirms Dr. Nicola Tempest, a researcher and gynecologist at Liverpool Women’s Hospital. “Taking hormones doesn’t detract from your body’s wellbeing.”

But are there any drawbacks to not having periods?

For individuals with regular menstrual cycles (not taking hormonal contraceptives), the sudden absence of periods may signify underlying health issues.

While the occasional missed period isn’t typically worrisome, a prolonged absence of periods after having regular cycles could indicate potential problems such as early menopause or polycystic ovarian syndrome.

Tempest notes that individuals with such conditions may require hormone medication as part of their treatment, which could help in diagnosing these conditions along with other associated symptoms, even if periods have ceased due to birth control pills.

There may be certain side effects associated with hormonal contraceptives, such as a slight increase in the risk of breast, liver, and cervical cancer with long-term use. However, Tempest emphasizes that prolonged use of birth control also reduces the risk of endometrial and ovarian cancer.

In her view, menstruation is not an indispensable aspect of a person’s health. “If you wish to forego menstruation, you have that choice,” she states.

This article addresses the question “Can I stop my period?” posed by Veronica Nielson via email.

If you have any queries, please reach out to us via email: questions@sciencefocus.comor connect with us on Facebook, ×or Instagram (please include your name and location).

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Dr. Nicola Tempest I am a clinical researcher and gynecologist at Liverpool Women’s Hospital. Her research includes chronic pelvic pain, exercise and reproduction, and endometriosis.

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Possible Future Solutions for Slowing, Stopping, or Eradicating Alzheimer’s Disease

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Alzheimer’s disease is, understandably, one of the most feared diseases of old age. It robs people of their memories, places a tremendous strain on caregivers, and imposes a huge economic burden on both individuals and society. Tens of millions of people have already been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, and if predictions are correct, that number will more than double by 2050.

Until recently, it seemed there was no hope of averting this catastrophe, but rapid advances in medical science have made it realistic prospects that Alzheimer’s may be treatable and eventually eradicated (see “A new kind of vaccine could lead to Alzheimer’s eradication”).

The first of a new class of drugs is already creating buzz, but not necessarily for the right reasons. Last week, the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency approved the drug, called lecanemab. But NICE, the body that advises on whether new treatments are cost-effective, has made a provisional decision that taxpayers will not fund the drug in England. No decision has yet been made in the rest of the UK.

This is obviously a tough pill to swallow for Alzheimer’s patients and their families. But in the grand scheme of things, this is good news. Lecanemab is not a particularly effective drug. Its effects are modest, it has serious side effects, and it is expensive. But it does show that the causes of Alzheimer’s are now understood and treatable. This is further reinforced by the fact that the drug is also approved in the United States and Japan, but the European Medicines Agency has refused to approve it.

So the way is almost paved for the next wave of drugs to target the causes of Alzheimer’s, which could be ready around 2030. These are vaccines, not in the traditional sense of conferring immunity against an infection, but they work in essentially the same way, by stimulating an immune response against the misfolded proteins that cause the symptoms of Alzheimer’s. The first vaccines will be therapeutic, slowing or stopping the progression of Alzheimer’s, but the next generation will be preventative, preventing the onset of Alzheimer’s. Eventually, the only memory that will fade will be Alzheimer’s itself.

Source: www.newscientist.com

Stopping the Rise of Aggro-ism: Addressing the Issue of Misogynistic Content | The Importance of Connection

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If you’ve ever stumbled across a misogynistic video by an influencer online, you know how harmful this content can be, but did you know that more than two-thirds of boys ages 11 to 14 are exposed to this kind of harmful and damaging “manosphere” content? 70% of teachers have noticed an increase in sexist language Will it be used in classrooms in the 12 months leading up to February 2024?

The study was published earlier this year: The rise of aggroismIt depicts a boy’s gradual slide into a misogynistic mindset, which leaves him feeling lonely and sad, and negative towards his female teachers and even his own sister.

The film, produced by Vodafone and the charity Global Action Plan, depicts the impact that harmful AI-powered algorithms are having on pre-teen boys. It reflects growing concern among parents, with one in five noticing a gradual change in the language their sons use to talk about women and girls. Experts are now urging families to talk to their sons about what may be on their phones and how it’s reaching them.

Psychologist Dr Ellie Hanson says: “Social media is designed to keep you online as long as possible, so they target your emotions. They exploit emotions such as shock, fear, anxiety, paranoia, superiority, indignation and sexuality. These emotions have been found to be captivating.”

Worryingly, many boys come across this content while searching for something unrelated, such as fitness or gaming videos. Hanson says explaining how social media algorithms are designed is important because it invites kids and teens into the conversation, which is much more effective than telling them not to look.

Teenage boys often come across harmful content while searching for something else: photos with models posing. Photo: Carol Yepes/Getty Images

“Questioning things is a normal part of being a teenager,” she says, “so let’s use that tendency to encourage them to question the tools being used to manipulate them online.”

Hanson says that simply explaining that these platforms directly benefit from your engagement with their content is a strong first step. The content that attracts the most attention is often controversial and conspiratorial. This has resulted in a plethora of influencers who promote a distorted view of masculinity that is sexist, offensive and offensive. This leads to negative and disrespectful behavior towards women and girls, and also damages boys’ mental health and ability to form relationships. Two-thirds of boys They said seeing harmful and negative content online left them feeling anxious, sad and scared.

Kate Edwards, deputy director of online child safety at the NSPCC, says parents need to be aware of how quickly their children’s phones and tablets can become inundated with harmful content. “Social media is currently made up mainly of short form content – videos streamed quickly one after the other. Once you watch something in full, react to it, like or comment, the app will serve you more and more similar content. It can quickly pull you down a rabbit hole,” Edwards said.

“There are steps you can take to teach the algorithm that you don’t want to see it anymore. Look for a ‘hide’ button or a ‘I didn’t like that’ option. Explore the different settings in the app, by yourself and with your child.”

Vodafone co-designed Digital Parenting Toolkit We’ve teamed up with the NSPCC to help parents get ahead of potential risks. It’s full of conversation starters, activities and tips to help young people stay safe while using the internet, as well as advice on what to do if they come across something inappropriate.

Sir Peter Wanless (right): “This toolkit encourages families to have open conversations about their children’s mobile phone use.” Composition: Getty Images, Adrian James White

Sir Peter Wanless, chief executive of the NSPCC, says he is particularly proud of the partnership with Vodafone because it helps navigate an online world that can be overwhelming and confusing for parents as well as children. He says: “The toolkit encourages families to have open conversations about their children’s mobile use, for example discussing situations that might arise online. It also covers safety features available on phones and setting boundaries, such as enforcing screen time limits.”

But screen time rules and parental controls are only one piece of the puzzle: while parents can help stem the flow of harmful content, there is a growing belief that to break the cycle, tech companies themselves need to take action.

To appeal this, Global Action Plan has filed a petition It calls for regulators such as Ofcom to require platforms to take control away from AI-powered algorithms and enforce “safety by design”, which was a key element of the 2023 policy. Online Safety ActBut there are growing concerns that the app may get away with only having bare-bones functionality.

“Despite parents’ best efforts, children are still vulnerable to manipulative algorithms. We should do our best, but the most power lies with the tech companies and regulators,” Hanson said.

Find out more about Vodafone’s pledge to help four million people and businesses bridge the digital divide. here

Source: www.theguardian.com

The Possible Collapse of AMOC: Simulations Highlight Real Danger of Stopping Atlantic Currents

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Ocean currents flowing from the tropics to the North Atlantic have a major influence on Europe's climate.

jens carsten roseman

As the planet warms, is there a serious risk that the Atlantic Current that warms Europe will slow down and stop? Yes, according to the most detailed computer simulation ever performed. The likelihood of this scenario remains highly uncertain.

“We have demonstrated that it is indeed possible with our current setup,” he says. René van Westen At Utrecht University in the Netherlands.

Now, warm water, made more salty by evaporation, flows north from the tropics along the surface of the Atlantic Ocean, keeping Europe much warmer than it would otherwise be. When this water cools, it sinks because it becomes more salty and denser. It then returns to the tropics and flows along the ocean floor into the southern hemisphere.

This is known as the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). Studies of past climate suggest that the dramatic cooling episodes that have occurred around Europe over the past 100,000 years or so have been associated with so-called tipping points, when reverse currents slow down or stop completely, and small changes in may convert one system to another. state.

The cause is thought to be melting ice sheets. The influx of large amounts of fresh water into the North Atlantic reduces salinity, which in turn reduces surface water density and reduces the amount of water that sinks.

However, this has proven difficult to model. Most shutdown simulations require adding unrealistically large amounts of fresh water at once. Some also question whether this is a potential tipping point, since recent simulations using more advanced models have not shown any shutdowns.

Now, van Westen's team has run the most sophisticated simulation to date, which took a total of six months to run on the Dutch state-run supercomputer Sunellius. It was very expensive, he says.

Unlike previous simulations, the team added fresh water gradually rather than all at once. This created a positive feedback that amplified the effect. The decrease in salinity reduced the amount of water sinking, which reduced the amount of brine flowing north, further reducing salinity.

This eventually broke the overturning circulation, causing temperatures to rise in the Southern Hemisphere but plummet in Europe. For example, in this model, London would be 10°C (18°F) cooler on average, and Bergen, Norway would be 15°C (27°F) cooler on average. Other impacts include localized sea level rise in areas such as the East Coast of the United States.

Additionally, some of the changes seen in the model before the collapse are consistent with changes seen in the real Atlantic Ocean in recent decades.

But to cause this collapse, the researchers had to run the model for 2,500 years. And they needed to add huge amounts of fresh water. Although less than previous simulations, it is still about 80 times the amount that is currently flowing into the ocean from the melting Greenland ice sheet. “So it's absurd and not very realistic,” Van Westen said.

Furthermore, this simulation did not include global warming. The team now plans to rerun the simulation with that in mind.

“This is the most cutting-edge model in which such experiments have been performed,” he says. Peter Ditlefsen He is a co-author of a 2023 study predicting that the Atlantic overturning current could break up between 2025 and 2095, based on changes in sea surface temperatures.

The model suggests it will take large amounts of fresh water and centuries to stop the circulation from reversing, but why do we think climate models are underestimating the risk of nonlinear changes like the Atlantic tipping point? There are several, Ditlefsen said.

Climate models need to divide the world into large cubes to make their calculations workable, he says, and this has a smoothing effect. Additionally, the model has been calibrated based on how well it simulates the 20th century climate, although there was a linear relationship between greenhouse gas emissions and the resulting changes. may not be applicable in the future.

“We should expect the model to be less sensitive than the real world,” Ditlevsen says.

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Source: www.newscientist.com