Category Archives: Know A Little More

Passkeys use something called public key cryptography. They have your public key. And because it’s public, it doesn’t matter if anyone gets it. That public key and your private key combine to validate who you are. But how does that work? Wouldn’t they have to know something besides the public key that’s unique to you?Continue reading “About Public Key Cryptography (May 2023 Update)”

We update the history of Section 230 in light of the recent Supreme Court decisions. What it is, what it isn’t and how those decisions affected or didn’t affect the future of the “safe harbor” law in the US. Featuring Tom Merritt. MP3 Please SUBSCRIBE HERE. A special thanks to all our supporters–without you, noneContinue reading “About Section 230 (May 2023 Update)”

By 1998 the US had passed its Digital Millennium Copyright Act. And partly because the US generates so much copyrightable material, and partly just because it’s the US and is a little pushy on the world stage, the DMCA became the de facto way of handling copyright protections on the internet around the world. ButContinue reading “About the DMCA (Updated)”

Taiwan is at once one of the most vexing political situations on the globe and one of the most important to the world of technology. But few people understand how it got to be either. And understanding that is essential to understanding what might happen next and how that matters a LOT for the technologyContinue reading “About Taiwan”

There’s a lot of fear uncertainty and doubt being spread about OpenAI. So let’s help you straighten out what it is and what it isn’t. Featuring Tom Merritt. MP3 Please SUBSCRIBE HERE. A special thanks to all our supporters–without you, none of this would be possible. Thanks to Kevin MacLeod of Incompetech.com for the themeContinue reading “About OpenAI”

You may have heard that using text messages as a second factor or 2FA code to protect your logins is less secure than other forms like apps or keys. You may even know this is because of something called SIM Swapping. Are there any legitimate uses/functions to swapping/cloning? Featuring Tom Merritt. MP3 Please SUBSCRIBE HERE.Continue reading “About SIM Swaps”

Could an open source alternative finally spell the end of Twitter’s short-form bulletin board style postings? It’s been tried before, but now there’s perhaps the best contender for the Twitter throne yet: Mastadon. Featuring Tom Merritt. MP3 Please SUBSCRIBE HERE. A special thanks to all our supporters–without you, none of this would be possible. ThanksContinue reading “About Mastodon”

Algorithms are a hot topic, especially among those concerned about how information is spread. Social networks like Instagram and TikTok famously use “algorithms” to decide what content to show you. Facial recognition algorithms famously fail, especially if you aren’t light skinned. But … What is an algorithm anyway? Is it really at fault for allContinue reading “About Algorithms”

The story of RSS is simple and yet combative. In fact RSS’s success may hinge on one man’s idealistic dedication to his principles. Tom takes you through the history of RSS. Featuring Tom Merritt. MP3 Please SUBSCRIBE HERE. A special thanks to all our supporters–without you, none of this would be possible. Thanks to KevinContinue reading “About RSS”

What you need to know to form an opinion about Section 230, the “safe harbor” law in the US for tech platforms. Featuring Tom Merritt. MP3 Please SUBSCRIBE HERE. A special thanks to all our supporters–without you, none of this would be possible. Thanks to Kevin MacLeod of Incompetech.com for the theme music. Thanks toContinue reading “About Section 230”