Firefox AI kill switch, SpaceX sats, xAI merger, Notepad++ hack + more!

Duration: 09:04

Timestamps:

0:00 i saw the soup, and it opened up...

0:09 Firefox announces AI kill switch

2:02 SpaceX 1M+ satellites, xAI merger

3:44 Notepad++ hack, patch

4:55 QUICK BITS INTRO

5:06 Apple store adds Mac customization

5:50 iOS 26.3 location privacy feature

6:31 Fire TV sideloading crackdown

7:14 Moto G17 gets no OS updates

8:11 Hair computers!

NEWS SOURCES:

MAINS

KILLSWITCH ENGAGED

Firefox announces release date for AI kill switch - https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/02/firefox-will-soon-let-you-block-all-of-its-generative-ai-features/

Firefox Blog Post about the controls: https://blog.mozilla.org/en/firefox/ai-controls/

Another Alternate article if you don’t want to use tech crunch: https://www.findarticles.com/firefox-will-let-users-block-all-ai-features/

Original Announcement from mozilla that they’re doing AI:

https://blog.mozilla.org/en/mozilla/leadership/mozillas-next-chapter-anthony-enzor-demeo-new-ceo/

Backlash to that announcement: https://www.extremetech.com/internet/mozilla-faces-backlash-after-introducing-ai-window-to-firefox

Says in the blog post it would be optional: https://lmg.gg/rde4u

The announcement that there’s gonna be a killswitch:

https://www.techradar.com/computing/firefox-responds-to-ai-backlash-by-promising-a-kill-switch-for-turning-off-controversial-new-features

https://www.techpowerup.com/344245/firefox-dev-clarifies-new-ai-feature-killswitch-i-hope-we-can-re-gain-your-trust-here

Mozilla is forming an AI rebel alliance: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/27/mozilla-building-an-ai-rebel-alliance-to-take-on-openai-anthropic-.html

Microsoft is walking back Windows 11’s AI overload — scaling down Copilot and rethinking Recall in a major shift

https://www.windowscentral.com/microsoft/windows-11/microsoft-is-reevaluating-its-ai-efforts-on-windows-11-plans-to-reduce-copilot-integrations-and-evolve-recall

This follows an announcement last week from the president of windows tha they’re focusing on rebuilding trust in windows: https://overclock3d.net/news/software/microsofts-focus-is-on-rebuilding-trust-in-windows-in-2026/

X GONNA GIVE IT TO YA

SpaceX seeks federal approval to launch 1M solar powered data centers - https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/31/spacex-seeks-federal-approval-to-launch-1-million-solar-powered-satellite-data-centers/

BBC: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cyv5l24mrjmo

FCC Filing if you need it: https://fccprod.servicenowservices.com/icfs?id=ibfs_application_summary&number=SAT-LOA-20260108-00016

Currently there are only 15,000 satellites in space: https://www.discovermagazine.com/about-15-000-satellites-are-circling-earth-and-they-re-disrupting-the-sky-48550

SpaceX acquires xAI https://www.reuters.com/business/musks-spacex-merge-with-xai-combined-valuation-125-trillion-bloomberg-news-2026-02-02/

Grok is undressing men still - https://www.theverge.com/report/872062/grok-still-undressing-men

Coalition of non profits calling for the immediate ban or grok - https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/02/coalition-demands-federal-grok-ban-over-nonconsensual-sexual-content/

EXPLOIT++

Notepad++ update feature hijacked by Chinese state hackers for months

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/notepad-plus-plus-update-feature-hijacked-by-chinese-state-hackers-for-months/

Forum post

https://notepad-plus-plus.org/news/hijacked-incident-info-update/

PC Mag: https://www.pcmag.com/news/chinese-hackers-hit-notepad-plus-plus-to-serve-malicious-update

Livemint

https://www.livemint.com/technology/tech-news/chinese-hackers-exploit-notepad-updater-to-target-select-users-for-months-report-11770051273593.html

Vulnerability patch from last December: https://notepad-plus-plus.org/news/v889-released/

Malicious fake Notepad++ download pages in ads: https://www.bleepstatic.com/images/news/u/1220909/2023/Adware/10/search-results.png

Research on the backdoor: https://www.rapid7.com/blog/post/tr-chrysalis-backdoor-dive-into-lotus-blossoms-toolkit/

QUICKBITS

I WANT IT THAT WAY

Mac purchase experience becomes more modular - https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/apples-online-store-now-lets-you-build-a-new-mac-exactly-the-way-you-want-190430251.html?src=rss

Alternate Source: https://www.macworld.com/article/3048329/apple-jbuying-mac-online-customization-options.html

Screenshot of new Sales Interface: https://drive.google.com/file/d/18k5YgJ-_J0khBJsHDyURwzEtswWPGGDA/view?usp=sharing

CAN’T C ME

New Apple privacy feature setting lets users "Limit Precise Location" shared with cellular networks on some iPhone, iPad models will be available after upgrading to iOS 26.3 or later.

https://www.techradar.com/phones/ios/iphone-users-are-getting-a-new-feature-to-protect-their-privacy-in-ios-26-3-heres-how-it-works

Blog Post: https://support.apple.com/en-us/126101

Daily Times: https://dailytimes.com.pk/1445331/apple-blocks-carriers-from-tracking-iphone-with-ios-26-3/

WE HAVE FIRE TV AT HOME

Amazon Fire TV is now blocking the installation of some sideloaded apps

https://9to5google.com/2026/01/31/amazon-fire-tv-is-now-blocking-the-installation-of-some-sideloaded-apps/

Pocket Lint: https://www.pocket-lint.com/amazon-new-crackdown-on-piracy-apps-fire-tv/

AFTV News: https://www.aftvnews.com/fire-tvs-now-block-piracy-apps-on-installation-instead-of-at-launch/

Screenshot of the error: https://i0.wp.com/www.aftvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Fire-TV-blocking-apps-on-installation.jpg

Shadow joke

https://www.wirelesshack.org/how-to-install-shadow-kodi-add-on.html

WHO NEEDS UPDATES?

Moto G17 https://www.motorola.com/gb/en/p/phones/moto-g/17/pmipmjn44mj?pn=PBBK0005GB

Notebook check: https://www.notebookcheck.net/Moto-G17-may-not-receive-any-Android-updates-as-Motorola-cites-lack-of-EU-requirements.1217839.0.html

Motorola is getting away with zero OS updates thanks to regulatory loophole

https://www.androidauthority.com/motorola-eu-software-updates-loophole-3636627/

Actual text in the regulation with big ‘IF’ circled https://lmg.gg/uLu9J

EU regulatory loophole article: https://www.afterdawn.com/news/article.cfm/2026/01/29/eu-ecodesign-flaw-android-manufacturers-dont-need-to-release-updates

2 years of security updates https://lmg.gg/1oBFa

Actual EU regulations (don’t need this in the actual video, just putting it here for posterity) https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32023R1670

ROBO-HAIR

Shanghai scientists create computer chip in fiber thinner than a human hair, yet can withstand crushing force of 15.6 tons — fiber packs 100,000 transistors per centimeter

https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/sun-shanghai-scientists-create-computer-chip-in-fiber-thinner-than-a-human-hair-touted-as-ideal-for-brain-computer-interfaces-vr-wearables-and-smart-textiles

Interesting engineering: https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/china-develops-hair-thin-fiber-chips

Journal: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09974-0

University post: https://www.fudan.edu.cn/en/2026/0122/c344a148125/page.htm

Image of the chip: https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7ybFpNv6Hz4bYYd5bVStCV-650-80.jpg.webp