HCI and Designing for Democracy

Internet of Things

What is a democratic internet, and how does it intersect with the evolving nature of HCI? Connectivity has changed everything. In fact, experts like Elizabeth Gerber, professor and co-director of the Center for Human Computer Interaction + Design at Northwestern University, say there is not a single aspect of many humans’ lives that is not…

The best webcams in 2022

Smart Tvs

Whether you’re using it for work, streaming to Twitch, or talking with family, one of the best webcams is essential for looking your best. A webcam’s image sensor is much larger than the camera built into your laptop, which means that it will pick up features better, even in lower light. Most webcams also have…

Mirai variant ‘Beastmode’ exploits fresh vulnerabilities

Internet of Things

A variant of the Mirai botnet called Beastmode has been observed exploiting recently-discovered vulnerabilities. The Mirai botnet is composed primarily of IoT and embedded devices. In 2016, Mirai made national headlines when it used exploited connected devices to overwhelm several high-profile targets with record-setting Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks. Mirai’s original creator was arrested in the…