March 8, 2024
Tech News
Rivian, an electric vehicle (EV) company, has launched its more affordable SUV models, the R2, R3, and R3X, during a livestreamed event in Laguna Beach, California. The R2, set to launch in the first half of 2026, is priced at $45,000 with an estimated range of 330 miles and a 0–60mph time under three seconds. Rivian also introduced the R3 crossover and the sport-trimmed R3X variant. Amidst a slowdown in EV sales growth and financial challenges, Rivian aims to reach profitability with these new models. The company has also paused plans to build a $5 billion factory in Georgia, opting to accommodate production in its existing Illinois facility.
U.S. police departments are warning about a new burglary tactic involving WiFi jammers to disable home surveillance and alarm systems. Thieves across the Los Angeles area and nationwide are using these devices to jam WiFi signals, making smart home devices ineffective. Authorities recommend using wired cameras and hardwiring alarm systems to counteract this threat. Despite the availability of WiFi jammers online, their use is illegal, and steps can be taken to mitigate their impact on home security.
India’s Election Commission has addressed security flaws on its website that exposed citizens’ data related to voting eligibility, political candidates, and electronic voting machines. The bugs in the Right to Information (RTI) portal allowed unauthorized access to RTI requests, transaction receipts, and official responses. The vulnerabilities were fixed following intervention by the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In), ensuring the protection of personal information in compliance with a 2014 court order.
Stephen Dubner, host of Freakonomics Radio, shared his optimistic view on the podcasting industry during an interview at On Air Fest. Despite recent challenges such as a potential recession, iOS adjustments, and consolidation within the industry, Dubner believes the panic is somewhat overstated. He emphasized the importance of focusing on content creation rather than being overly concerned with the industry’s fluctuations.
Tech Explained
Electric Vehicle (EV) – An electric vehicle is a type of vehicle that uses one or more electric motors for propulsion, relying on electricity stored in batteries or another energy storage device.
WiFi Jammers – WiFi jammers are devices that disrupt wireless signals, such as those used by WiFi networks, by emitting radio frequency signals in the same frequency range.
Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) – CERT-In is the national agency in India responsible for responding to cybersecurity incidents, providing cybersecurity awareness, and implementing security measures to protect the country’s cyberspace.
Podcasting – Podcasting is the distribution of digital audio or video files over the internet for playback on mobile devices and personal computers, typically in a series of episodes.
