The Defrag

Before the pandemic, QR codes were largely viewed as a bit of a novelty. Many people didn't know how they worked, and you'd rarely see them in the wild. Perhaps you might spot one on an advertising campaign at a bus stop, or as a way to enter a promotion. However thanks to the pandemic, the humble QR code has seen a revival.Vince Guerrieri's story for Popular Mechanics: https://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/apps/a39048000/history-of-qr-codes/FBI PSA over QR Codes: https://www.ic3.gov/Media/Y2022/PSA220118Listen to Command Line Heroes: https://link.chtbl.com/commandlineheroes_cyoa?sid=s9.podcast.thedefragBecome a member of The Defrag to get ad-free and bonus episodes at our website https://thedefrag.com/ - or become a member of The Defrag+ on Apple Podcasts.Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/rHb7JVHz42Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or YouTube.

The conflict between Ukraine and Russia is escalating quickly. While war looms on the ground… a digital war is also underway, and concerns are growing that Russia is planning a major cyber attack to coincide with an invasion of Ukraine. Listen to Command Line Heroes: https://link.chtbl.com/commandlineheroes_cyoa?sid=s9.podcast.thedefragBecome a member of The Defrag to get ad-free and bonus episodes at our website https://thedefrag.com/ - or become a member of The Defrag+ on Apple Podcasts.Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/rHb7JVHz42Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or YouTube.

For many journalists, keeping information confidential and sources protected is a vital part of the job. It's not uncommon for reporters to use encrypted messaging apps to prevent sources being discovered by those who don't want information made public. But one service that's become an important tool for journalists, Otter, may have vulnerabilities that are being overlooked.Read Phelim Kine's story on Otter for Politico: https://www.politico.com/news/2022/02/16/my-journey-down-the-rabbit-hole-of-every-journalists-favorite-app-00009216Listen to Command Line Heroes: https://link.chtbl.com/commandlineheroes_cyoa?sid=s9.podcast.thedefragBecome a member of The Defrag to get ad-free and bonus episodes at our website https://thedefrag.com/ - or become a member of The Defrag+ on Apple Podcasts.Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/rHb7JVHz42Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or YouTube.

The International Committee for the Red Cross has released details on an investigation into a major hack across its servers. Details of 515,000 people were compromised, and the Red Cross says the attack was highly sophisticated and targeted, and used techniques consistent with state-sponsored groups. So why would hackers target a humanitarian organisation like the Red Cross?Listen to Darknet Diaries: https://darknetdiaries.com/Command Line Heroes: https://link.chtbl.com/commandlineheroes_cyoa?sid=s9.podcast.thedefragBecome a member of The Defrag to get ad-free and bonus episodes at our website https://thedefrag.com/ - or become a member of The Defrag+ on Apple Podcasts.Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/rHb7JVHz42Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or YouTube.

Mark Zuckerberg has bet the future of Facebook, now Meta, on the idea of the metaverse. But what is the metaverse, and how could it affect our social interactions?Command Line Heroes: https://link.chtbl.com/commandlineheroes_cyoa?sid=s9.podcast.thedefragBecome a member of The Defrag to get ad-free and bonus episodes at our website https://thedefrag.com/ - or become a member of The Defrag+ on Apple Podcasts.Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/rHb7JVHz42Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or YouTube.

The pandemic has changed the way many of us live and work. A lot of companies have allowed their staff to work from home, and some have decided to offer staff more flexibility on a more permanent basis. Several large companies are currently experimenting with the concept of a four-day work week. It isn't a new idea, but could now be the right time to make a switch?Command Line Heroes: https://link.chtbl.com/commandlineheroes_cyoa?sid=s9.podcast.thedefragBecome a member of The Defrag to get ad-free and bonus episodes at our website https://thedefrag.com/ - or become a member of The Defrag+ on Apple Podcasts.Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/rHb7JVHz42Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or YouTube.

Solar is the cheapest form of energy production in history. Millions of people have made the decision to put panels on their homes and embrace the renewable energy revolution. So why would an energy network need to turn some of this generation off?Command Line Heroes: https://link.chtbl.com/commandlineheroes_cyoa?sid=s9.podcast.thedefragBecome a member of The Defrag to get ad-free and bonus episodes at our website https://thedefrag.com/ - or become a member of The Defrag+ on Apple Podcasts.Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/rHb7JVHz42Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or YouTube.

The Commonwealth Games Federation are planning to run a pilot esports championship alongside the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. While not part of the main event, competitors will win medals, and the event will receive a lot of promotion and attention. So do esports belong at a major sporting event? And what will the championships mean for the profile of esports globally?Command Line Heroes: https://link.chtbl.com/commandlineheroes_cyoa?sid=s9.podcast.thedefrag Become a member of The Defrag to get ad-free and bonus episodes at our website https://thedefrag.com/ - or become a member of The Defrag+ on Apple Podcasts.Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/rHb7JVHz42Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or YouTube.

As the world moves to decarbonise we are in a constant search for new energy sources that can replace our reliance on fossil fuels. One promising, but still highly experimental, form of energy production is nuclear fusion. This week a major fusion record was broken by JET the Joint European Torus. So just what is JET? And what do these developments mean for fusion research?Apple AirTags statement: https://www.apple.com/au/newsroom/2022/02/an-update-on-airtag-and-unwanted-tracking/Become a member of The Defrag to get ad-free and bonus episodes at our website https://thedefrag.com/ - or become a member of The Defrag+ on Apple Podcasts.Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/rHb7JVHz42Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or YouTube.

Many countries have a bill of rights that protects basic freedoms such as the freedom of speech, the press, and the right to religious beliefs. But not every country has these rights enshrined in law. One such country is Australia. Right now in Australia, a debate is raging over the planned introduction of a religious discrimination bill, and it has raised significant concerns for the treatment of LGBTIQA+ students.Become a member of The Defrag to get ad-free and bonus episodes at our website https://thedefrag.com/ - or become a member of The Defrag+ on Apple Podcasts.Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/rHb7JVHz42Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or YouTube.

The ubiquity of smartphones and other technology has no doubt improved our lives. But what do we give up to have access to these technologies? Apple prides itself on its position on privacy, but one of its most recent products has raised privacy and security concerns. Resources:Stay safe with AirTag and other Find My accessoriesWhat to do if you get an alert that an AirTag or Find My network accessory is with youHow to Protect Yourself Against AirTag and Tile StalkingTracker Detect app for AndroidApple’s AirTag trackers made it frighteningly easy to ‘stalk’ me in a testBecome a member of The Defrag to get ad-free and bonus episodes at our website https://thedefrag.com/ - or become a member of The Defrag+ on Apple Podcasts.Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/rHb7JVHz42Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or YouTube.

The world's attention right now is on Beijing and the 2022 Winter Olympics. It should be a time of celebration, however behind all the glitz and glamour of the games is a concerning history of human rights abuses.Become a member of The Defrag to get ad-free and bonus episodes at our website https://thedefrag.com/ - or become a member of The Defrag+ on Apple Podcasts.Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/rHb7JVHz42Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or YouTube.

Over the past few weeks, one name in podcasting has been difficult to avoid - Joe Rogan. The popular podcast host has been accused of spreading misinformation on his show The Joe Rogan Experience. So how will this whole situation impact on Spotify's bottom line?Become a member of The Defrag to get ad-free and bonus episodes at our website https://thedefrag.com/ - or become a member of The Defrag+ on Apple Podcasts.Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/rHb7JVHz42Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or YouTube.If any of the issues mentioned in this episode brought up any issues for you, help is available:Australia:• Call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or visit lifeline.org.au• Call Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 or visit kidshelpline.com.auUnited States:• Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 1-800-273-8255 or visit suicidepreventionlifeline.org• Message the Crisis Text Line on 741741 or visit crisistextline.orgCanada:• Call the Canada Suicide Prevention Service on 18334564566 or visit crisisservicescanada.ca• Call the Kids Help Phone on 1-800-668-6868 or visit kidshelpphone.ca United Kingdom:• Call Samaritans on 116 123 or visit samaritans.org• Text Shout on 85258 or visit giveusashout.orgFor additional countries, visit suicidestop.com

NFTs or non-fungible tokens - they're all the rage in the blockchain and cryptocurrency space. However apps like Twitter are now integrating NFTs into their platform. So has the technology hit a turning point that could see widespread adoption?Become a member of The Defrag to get ad-free and bonus episodes at our website https://thedefrag.com/ - or become a member of The Defrag+ on Apple Podcasts.Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/rHb7JVHz42Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or YouTube.

Scalping is a massive issue when it comes to event tickets and new product releases. But did you know it can also be an issue with cars? Ford has been increasingly concerned about scalping of their F-150 Lightning and is now encouraging dealers to take action.Become a member of The Defrag and get ad-free episodes at our website https://thedefrag.com/ - or become a member of The Defrag+ on Apple Podcasts.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or YouTube.

While Australia has had a long history when it comes to the space race, you don't often hear the nation mentioned amongst the big players like the USA, Russia, and China. But Australia wants that conversation to change.Become a member of The Defrag and get ad-free episodes at our website https://thedefrag.com/ - or become a member of The Defrag+ on Apple Podcasts.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or YouTube.

The construction sector has boomed through much of the pandemic. Many of us decided to renovate our homes, or move out of the city, to suit our new work-from-home lifestyle. However the demand for new homes has created an issue with supply. So how serious is the supply issue? And have we seen any indication of a reprieve?Become a member of The Defrag and get ad-free episodes: https://thedefrag.com/Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or YouTube.

Microsoft announced plans in January to acquire gaming giant Activision-Blizzard for $68.7 Billion US Dollars. It's the biggest purchase ever in the gaming sector. But what does this acquisition mean for the rest of the industry?Become a member of The Defrag and get ad-free episodes: https://thedefrag.com/Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or YouTube.

The information we get on a day-to-day basis has become increasingly fragmented and it’s difficult to stay on top of what’s happening, and what really matters. The Defrag is striving to fill that void  - the information gap at the intersection of technology, business, science, and politics. Whether it’s a new innovation, a scientific breakthrough, or a deep dive on the people that are writing the rules, our goal is to ask hard questions, challenge ideas, and help you sift through the news that matters every day.Become a member of The Defrag at https://thedefrag.com. Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube.