Friday News: iOS security patch, new Penguin store, Leslie Jones hacked, and happily purging books
Actively exploited iOS flaws that hijack iPhones patched by Apple – The bottom line: run a software update on your iPhones and iPads ASAP. Pegasus spyware is an extremely “sophisticated attack” on these devices, taking over multiple functions, apps, and data sources:
After the exploits surreptitiously jailbreak a target’s iPhone, Pegasus immediately starts trawling through a wealth of its resources. It copies call histories, text messages, calendar entries, and contacts. It’s capable of activating the cameras and microphones of compromised phones to eavesdrop on nearby activities. It can also track a target’s movements and steal messages from end-to-end encrypted chat apps.
As Ars has reported, Apple has already issued updates that patch the three vulnerabilities that make the infections possible. While such attacks are likely to target only the most high-value targets—say, Fortune 500 executives and high-profile dissidents—all iOS users should install the fixes as soon as possible. – Ars Technica
Penguin Opens a Cubby-Hole Sized Bookstore in Toronto (Pics) – It’s taken a long time, but publishers finally seem to understand that readers are, in fact, their customers – or at least can be. I think this Toronto store is cleverly designed, especially for those of us who love the Penguin Classics. Not sure why it’s so tiny, though, unless they’re hoping to trade on the novelty factor.
The store stocks around 300 titles, as well as book-related merchandise, and sought-after branded swag, including Penguin Classics mugs, notebooks, and tote bags. It will be staffed by PRH employees, including both editors and designers.
“We are continually in search of innovative ways to bring the books we are so proud to publish to readers. As such, we see Penguin Shop as a research and development lab – a place where we can interact directly with consumers.” comments Brad Martin, President and CEO of Penguin Random House Canada. – The Digital Reader
The Hacking of Leslie Jones Exposes Misogynoir at Its Worst – The recent hacking of Leslie Jones’s website (which the Department of Homeland Security is currently investigating) isn’t your routine celebrity hacking. The harassment and vilification she has had to endure on Twitter over the past months should serve as a final rebuttal to anyone who still believes they’re living in a post-racial America.
The most recent attack against Leslie Jones isn’t just proof that no good deed goes unpunished. The horrific hack, which happened more than a month after peak Ghostbusters backlash, just goes to show the depths of racism and misogyny reserved for black women in the public eye. While Paul Feig and his accomplished cast faced their fair share of criticism, Leslie Jones has borne the brunt of Ghostbusters outrage. It’s a prime example of misogynoir, the term coined by scholar Moya Bailey to describe misogyny directed toward black women in American popular culture. Misogynoir reminds us that while misogyny might be universal, it is not felt or administered uniformly. The zeitgeist is riddled with misogynoir; Nicki Minaj pointed out one example in her famous takedown of the 2015 VMAs, tweeting, “Black women influence pop culture so much but are rarely rewarded for it.” – The Daily Beast
Amy Eddings: A book purge has reawakened a love of books – Marie Kondo’s book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up suggests that deciding to keep an item relies in part on whether an item “sparks joy.” Kondo even has a sorting routine for books, and Amy Eddings talks about how she implemented Kondo’s system, and about how sorting through her books, and giving many away, has renewed her love of reading and her desire to buy more books (is that part of Kondo’s plan?):
“Books are essentially paper,” [Kondo] writes. “Their true purpose is to be read, to convey the information to their readers. It’s the information they contain that has meaning. There is no meaning in their just being on your shelves.” . . .
“If you haven’t read it by now, the book’s purpose was to teach you that you didn’t need it,” she says. “It will be far better for you to read the book that really grabs you right now than one that you left to gather dust for years.”
Following KonMarie’s advice, I’ve given away several dozen books. But the “spark joy” question has had another effect. It’s re-invigorated my love of reading, and my love of reading books, real books; of engaging with words and images printed on sheets of paper, bound together into a handheld object that doesn’t glow or require an electrical charge. – Lima News
Leslie Jones is targeted because of her sex, race, appearance, and profession. In addition to the numpties who target women and blacks in general, there is a subset of jackholes who think women who don’t conform to their ideal model of beauty shouldn’t have the audacity to appear in public in any capacity. Throw in the group that thinks “women can’t be funny” and it’s the perfect storm of vitriol, even worse than what gets dished out to, say, Shumer and McCarthy, and that’s saying a lot. “Unfunny” and “unattractive” white, male comics may get the occasional jibes, but they’re not relentlessly hounded in their most personal spaces.
Yeah, sorry for the rant and all, but I just feel for Jones and wish there was more public support and outrage for her, and especially from prominent men in the entertainment industry.