The Morning After: Tuesday, October 17th 2017
Let's talk about WiFi security flaws.
Welcome to Tuesday! Yesterday's news centered on a WiFi vulnerability that could affect pretty much anything that connects to wireless networks. We checked on which companies are already issuing fixes. Huawei launched its newest phone in another bid to establish itself as a top-tier smartphone brand, and there's a fancy (albeit unofficial) SNES mini for grown-ups.
What you need to know about the KRACK WiFi attack
Security researcher Mathy Vanhoef publicly announced he'd found a vulnerability in the WPA2 protection used by modern WiFi networks. Dubbed KRACK (Key Reinstallation AttaCK), it could potentially let someone within range of your WiFi network snoop on information that's not encrypted (like many websites or info used by some apps) and in some cases, possibly even information that's supposed to be encrypted.
Vanhoef previously notified many vendors, so Microsoft has already patched supported versions of Windows. Android and Linux devices are particularly vulnerable; however Google says that once devices are upgraded to the November 2017 security patch release level, they will be immune to the problem. Apple, meanwhile, has included fixes in beta versions of macOS, iOS, tvOS and watchOS, which should reach users soon. Other WiFi-connected devices will need their own updates to close the hole, but if you'd like more information then check out the FAQ here.
Can an iPad Pro replace your PC?
Apple has long pushed its iPad series as a post-PC device. Then came the iPad Pro, which Apple's Phil Schiller even described as "the ultimate PC replacement." But that wasn't really true until the launch of iOS 11, when the company really let the iPad off the leash. Daniel Cooper tries working on one to see if that's really true.
Researchers around the world are collecting troves of new data from this latest event.
Astronomers just measured a whole lot more than gravitational waves
A couple of weeks ago, the LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory) and Virgo teams announced the detection of another set of gravitational waves -- the fourth since LIGO's first detection in September 2015. The first three sets of gravitational waves were recorded by two LIGO observatories; the fourth was detected by a newly established third -- Virgo -- in Italy. Having three detectors now allows researchers to triangulate the source of those waves with extraordinary precision.
The importance of that precision is that it allows dozens of other observatories to hone in on it and collect additional data, including visual, X-ray, infrared, ultraviolet and radio wave recordings -- meaning researchers all around the world just collected, and are continuing to collect, a massive trove of information that has given us the most detailed look at a gravitational wave-generating event ever.
Amazon Fire HD 10 review (2017)
Amazon's newest Fire HD 10 features a great 10-inch screen, it's fast enough to run plenty of apps, and, most important, it costs just $150. It's the ideal machine for binge watching -- if you can live without Google's apps.
The Analogue Super Nt is Nintendo's SNES Classic for grown-ups
Just as the NES Classic Edition broke ground before the SNES Classic, Analogue is also following up on Nintendo's wallet-grab on our childhood memories with another premium, no-compromise mini console that plays the gaming carts of yesteryear and solves some of our issues with the official miniature SNES. This is all, however, for a premium price.
The Big Picture: A 747 Supertanker rains retardant on California's wildfires
A converted Boeing 747-400, the largest passenger model in the company's jumbo lineup, first entered service with Japan Airlines in 1991. After being converted with a water tanker, it can now dump up to 19,200 gallons of water or retardant in just six seconds as low as 200 feet above ground level (AGL), then climb away at 6,000 feet per minute. Those stellar capabilities have made it a big help in fighting California's insanely aggressive wine-country fires, which have so far killed 40 people and destroyed over 200 homes.
Elon Musk took to r/space to answer questions about many of his space-travel ideas, and we've rounded up some of the most interesting responses. For example, Musk explained the BFR's Raptor engines power drop from 300 tons-force to 170 with a simple one liner "We chickened out" before explaining in detail the safety considerations SpaceX is dealing with.
