abc – Page 11 – Stilgherrian

05 November 201605 November 2016

Talking medical device hacks on ABC The World Today

ABC logo Whenever there’s news of a medical device being hacked, it gets a lot of attention — and rightly so. So when cardiac devices made by St Jude Medical got some attention, I did a radio spot.

ABC Radio journalist Lindy Kerin recorded a brief interview with me on 25 October, and fragments were used in this 5-minute story from The World Today, and in a separate written story, Cyber security experts claim St. Jude cardiac implants vulnerable to life-threatening hacks.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (2.2MB)

02 October 2016

Talking the death of voicemail on ABC 1233 Newcastle

On Thursday, Mornings on ABC 1233 Newcastle noticed that some big businesses in the US had turned off voicemail, using text messaging instead. They also noted that many people had stopped using voicemail personally too.

That led to a conversation on the radio with Rosemarie Milsom, and here’s a recording.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (6.9MB)

25 September 2016

Talking the Yahoo data breach on ABC Radio National Drive

ABC Sydney TARDIS 1 ABC logo Yahoo was the victim of the biggest data breach in history, at least so far, so it was inevitable that I ended up talking about it in the media.

This is my conversation with Jonathan Green on ABC Radio National Drive on Friday night.

Yahoo has confirmed the theft of user data including e mail addresses, birth dates, encrypted passwords and security questions. It took the internet giant two years to find out about the massive data breach. Stilgherrian is a Yahoo user and avid writer and commentator on the topic of cyber security and privacy. He talks to RN Drive about the incident.

And here’s what it sounded like.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 5:13 — 4.8MB)

[Photo: The view in ABC Sydney TARDIS 1, photographed in April 2016.]

25 September 201625 September 2016

Talking The Code and smart cars on ABC 774 Melbourne

Screenshot from The Code series 2 ABC logo I haven’t made a big deal of being technology consultant for the new series of the ABC TV drama The Code — at least not here — but we decided to talk about that on ABC 774 Melbourne on Thursday night.

The conversation with Casey Bennetto also included some of the recent news about self-driving and smart cars — and, for some reason, the Twitter account Florida Man. Amongst other things.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (12.1MB)

[Photo: Jan Roth (Anthony LaPaglia) and Jesse Banks (Ashley Zukerman) in The Code series 2. Photo courtesy ABC TV.]

21 August 201621 August 2016

Talking Facebook’s Project Aquila on ABC Radio National

On Wednesday I spoke with ABC Radio National about Facebook’s Project Aquila. I’ll let their introduction explain it.

Facebook’s ‘Aquila’ drone has the wingspan of a 737 airliner. But it’s powered by the equivalent of three blow-dryers, and it will stay aloft for months at a time.

It’s a technological feat, built with the idea of extending internet connectivity to more of the developing world.

But the net commentator Stilgherrian explains that Facebook’s offering comes with certain limits.

Here’s the full conversation with presenter Michael Mackenzie, which also included a few words about Google’s Project Loon and net neutrality.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (12.5MB)

[Photo: Facebook’s ‘Aquila’ aerial internet platform has the same wingspan as a Boeing 737 airliner. (supplied)]

06 August 2016

Talking the 2016 Census and privacy on ABC 666 Canberra

ABC logo The second of my two radio spots about the 2016 Census was with Adam Shirley on ABC 666 Canberra. I think it’s the better of the two, probably because it was my second go at some intelligent-sounding sound bites.

For the background on this Census issue, see the previous post.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (4.5MB)