|
New WeekByte in your mailbox
|
͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
|
View in browser
|
|
|
|
1. Abandoned S3 Buckets as a Supply-Chain Attack Vector – Case Study
INFO: Do you remember the researchers who took over the MOBI domain registry by purchasing an old domain? Or the ones who backdoored existing web backdoors? Well, here’s their third case study. This time, they scanned the internet for abandoned AWS S3 buckets— once in use, later deleted, and now available for re-registration. They then used them to attack applications that were unknowingly still relying on those resources. Surprisingly, this was an easy way to compromise several Fortune 500 companies—a must-read for cybersecurity and pentesting enthusiasts.
|
|
|
2. Training Your AI Model to Generate Images Based on Your Photos
INFO: Many AI models can swap faces in photos or turn you into a superhero, but what if you could train a model that focuses only on your face? For less than $3, you can create a personalized AI model that generates high-quality images of yourself for just $0.03 per image. The article provides a step-by-step guide on training, configuring, and using your model—quick, affordable, and easy to set up!
|
|
|
3. SQLite vs. PostgreSQL – Performance Comparison & Data Migration
INFO: Twilio built a dashboard to analyze blog traffic using SQLite, but as user numbers grew, they questioned whether it could still meet their needs. Tests showed that PostgreSQL could be a better choice in some scenarios. However, migrating data from one database to another is not always straightforward. There’s no definitive winner between the two—each excels in different use cases. If you're choosing a database, benchmarks should reflect your specific workload. For smaller databases, SQLite remains highly competitive under certain conditions.
|
|
|
4. AI vs. an 11-Year-Old – Who Solves Math Puzzles Better?
INFO: In the past, language models were often compared to a 5-6-year-old child regarding reasoning skills. The author of this article decided to test how well modern AI models perform by giving the same math problems to his 11-year-old daughter and various AI models. Who handles logical reasoning and accuracy better? Have today’s AI models surpassed the problem-solving abilities of an 11-year-old, or do they still have a long way to go? Find out in this interesting experiment!
|
|
|
5. Life After Selling Your Own IT Business
INFO: What happens after selling a self-built tech startup? This article offers insights from a former Google engineer who left his job to become a solo entrepreneur, launched his startup, and sold it. He shares lessons from running a business, balancing work and personal life, and which technologies were most valuable. A thought-provoking read for anyone considering starting or selling their own tech business—perfect for a relaxed Friday!
|
|
|
6. NanoKVM – Remote Management for Home Labs
INFO: KVM systems for servers are often bulky and expensive, but they don’t have to be. NanoKVM is a compact device that offers the same functionality as larger KVM solutions while fitting inside a small enclosure, even inside a server. This could be a useful gadget for home lab setups. Watch the video to see how it works in practice.
|
|
|
7. How Dating App Algorithms Work – Surprising Facts
INFO: This article offers an interesting analysis of what happens inside dating apps, and some surprising statistics. It highlights the differences in how these apps are designed for women versus men. How is user attractiveness calculated? Which gender spends more time on the app? Why is the women's feed more diverse? The text is lengthy but filled with fascinating insights.
|
|
|
8. 7 Mental Models for IT Managers – How to Make Better Decisions?
INFO: If you're managing projects or teams, decision-making is integral to your job. How can you make these decisions more efficiently and effectively? This article presents 7 proven techniques to help you think outside the box, which can lead to better decisions. These techniques are applicable in everyday life, not just for managers but also for employees. However, they are useful for managers.
|
|
|
9. Processing Millions of PDFs with Gemini 2.0 – Never Been This Cheap
INFO: Processing PDF files at scale is challenging. Scalability, cost, and accuracy issues often arise, especially when documents contain tables or custom mathematical notations. A new language model, Gemini Flash 2.0 from Google, is an excellent solution for this problem. It performs exceptionally well compared to other models at a remarkably low cost. While not everything works perfectly in Gemini, it has already reached a very high level of document processing capability.
|
|
|
10. Using iptables and sudo to Gain Root Privileges on Linux
INFO: This article presents an interesting case of privilege escalation in a system using tools typically considered secure, such as iptables and iptables-save. The example shows how a user with sudo access to run these commands as root can cleverly exploit this to execute arbitrary commands in the system. If you're into pentesting or a Linux enthusiast, this article is for you.
|
|
|
11. Running DeepSeek R1 (671B) Locally at 3x Lower Cost – Cost Optimization
INFO: A week ago, an article showed how to run the DeepSeek model on a setup costing around $6,000. However, someone found a way to do it three times cheaper a week ago! This article details how to build and configure a server to run the most advanced version of DeepSeek R1 (671B) locally. The setup uses an AMD EPYC 7702 and 512GB RAM to run the full DeepSeek model. It includes advice on recommended hardware components, current prices, and step-by-step instructions on assembly and BIOS configuration for optimal performance. The guide also covers software installation and setup, enabling local AI inference without needing an expensive GPU.
|
|
|
12. Most Commonly Chosen PIN Codes Compromise Your Security
INFO: If you think people come up with four-digit PINs randomly, this study shows that's not the case. About 10% of the population uses the same simple four-digit PIN codes. Some base their PIN on their birthdate, while others use a geometric pattern. Breaking into resources protected by such a PIN often doesn't require checking all possible combinations, because starting with the most popular patterns can drastically shorten the attack time. More details can be found in the article.
|
|
|
13. Google Gemini 2.0 vs Competitors: DeepSeek R1 and OpenAI O3-mini (Video, 5m)
INFO: It looks like Google has finally released something that might cause a stir in the AI world—Google Gemini 2.0. Not only does it outperform OpenAI's O3-mini in tests, but it's also extremely affordable, even compared to cloud versions like DeepSeek R1. What makes this model so special and what can it be used for? You can find out in the video.
|
|
|
14. Practical Uses of Large Language Models by a Programmer – How I Use Them
INFO: The author shares how they use large language models in their everyday work as a programmer. The article provides concrete examples of using AI to build simple web applications, optimize code, automate tasks, and learn new technologies. It’s helpful because it doesn’t just list ideas but also includes specific AI conversations. The text is well-balanced—neither overly enthusiastic nor excessively skeptical.
|
|
|
15. New Chrome Extension Vulnerability Allows System Takeover
INFO: Researchers at SquareX have discovered a vulnerability in Chrome extensions that could allow full control over a device. The attack doesn’t require advanced programming skills—it exploits standard read/write functions found in many popular extensions. The article details the attack process, from taking over a browser profile to gaining full control over the victim’s system.
|
|
|
16. MP3 Format Is Now Free! – And Nobody Cares…
INFO: MP3 was the standard for audio files but was a closed format with specific licensing rules. Its patents and licenses expired, making it officially "free" this year. However, few people have noticed this significant change in the audio world. The liberation of the MP3 format has hardly stirred anyone. Well, let's just say, "Times have changed."
|
|
|
17. Top DevOps Tools for Infrastructure Automation in 2025
INFO: If you're a DevOps engineer looking to expand your toolkit, this article offers 27 popular tools divided into 8 categories to make your work easier. You'll find tools for infrastructure management, version control systems, security applications, monitoring environments, and cost optimization.
|
|
|
18. Httptap - HTTP/HTTPS Request Viewer for Linux
INFO: Httptap is a tool for monitoring HTTP and HTTPS traffic sent by any program on a Linux system. It doesn't require root privileges, system configuration changes, or firewall adjustments, making it noninvasive to other running processes. Simply run the application with the program you want to monitor as a parameter, and the HTTP/HTTPS requests generated by that program will appear in your terminal.
|
|
|
19. Reasoning LLMs – What’s the Deal?!
INFO: Recently, there's been a surge of "reasoning" models in the realm of large language models (LLMs). In the past, most models were built for chat interactions. But how are reasoning models different? What exactly defines them? How do they work, how are they trained, and what are their practical applications? This article explains everything you need to know.
|
|
|
20. DeepSeek – How Much Did Training This Model Really Cost?
INFO: Not long ago, the world was stunned by reports that China managed to train a language model far more powerful than GPT-4 at just 1/20th of OpenAI’s cost. But was that the case? Turns out, this is only part of the story. There are hidden expenses that weren’t included in the official cost estimate. In reality, if you wanted to achieve what DeepSeek did, you’d likely need to add two more zeros to that budget.
|
|
|
21. Anthropic Invites You to Test Its AI Model’s Security
INFO: Anthropic has introduced new security systems in its language models, designed for enhanced classification of incoming questions and filtering out most jailbreak attempts. Experts have already spent over 3,000 hours trying to bypass the new safeguards. The company is even offering a reward for anyone who can get the model to answer 10 restricted questions.
|
|
|
22. Feluda – tool for identifying restrictive licenses in dependencies
INFO: Legal teams often scrutinize whether all libraries comply with the required licenses when starting a new project. Manual verification can be extremely time-consuming, but this tool does it for you. Simply run it on your repository to identify dependencies with overly restrictive licenses—those that may be unusable in your company or could lead to legal issues in the future.
|
|
|
23. Lume – Lightweight CLI for Managing VMs on Apple Silicon
INFO: If you use macOS with an Apple Silicon processor and need a simple, lightweight tool for managing virtual machines, this might be what you're looking for. With a single command, you can create a virtual environment running an isolated macOS or Linux system.
|
|
|
|
We hope that you like this episode of Weekbytes. If you would like to find us online, feel free to reach us via:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
You received this email because you signed up on our website or made a purchase from us.
|
|
|
|
|
|