Sunday recap: Disastrous Apple bugs and more Uber skulduggery

PLUS: Our Gadget Lab podcast, gifts for the smart-home owner and architecture buff on your list, and stunning photos of an erupting Indonesian volcano. [View this email in your browser](#SPCLICKTOVIEW) [logo]( [[WIRED Magazine]12.2.17]( This week in giant screw-ups: Apple sure messed up. Not only did a flaw in MacOS High Sierra give anyone root access—all they had to do was type "root" as their username and leave the password blank—but a later update [undid]( its hasty patch. And a new Senate bill seeks jail time for executives who conceal data breaches from the public; it’s the latest fallout from the [Equifax breach]( and news that Uber [paid hackers]( to stay mum about a breach of their own. And this week in bafflement: The Uber-Waymo self-driving lawsuit just [keeps getting wilder](. This week, a former Uber employee claimed the ride-hailing company devoted a department to stealing trade secrets, and since Uber shelled out millions for his silence, it seems like he has a point. Also, President Trump retweeted a far-right group called Britain First (and stoked Islamophobic conspiracy theories in the process) and Twitter lost it over a cat named Max who was banned from a library. Also: Our Gadget Lab podcast chats with Firefox about their [Chrome-beating Quantum browser]( the gear team shares their gift recommendations for the [smart-home]( and [architecture buffs]( on your list; and our Snapchat crew explains why your dog seeks out [smelly stuff to sniff](. security roundup Security News This Week: A New Bill Wants Jail Time for Execs Who Hide Data Breaches By Brian Barrett A bill to punish hack hiders, Apple bug fix bumbling, and more of the week's top security stories. Round-up This Week in the Future of Cars: Speed Bumps By Aarian Marshall The blockbuster lawsuit over self-driving car tech between Uber and Waymo got wild again, as a new piece of evidence popped up just days before the trial was set to begin. (It’s now delayed until February.) The judge to Uber’s legal team: You’re in trou-ble. While You Were Offline While You Were Offline: Do Trump's Retweets Equal Endorsements? By Graeme McMillan Do you remember “Retweets do not equal endorsements”? It might be time for President Trump to look into that. Or at least choose his retweets a little more carefully. Gadget Lab Podcasts What Firefox's New Browser Means for a More Open Web By Wired Staff We welcome a special guest to the show this week: Mozilla’s VP of product for the Firefox browser, Nick Nguyen. Nick is the leader of the team that just released Firefox Quantum, a lighter and more efficient version of the Firefox browser. It’s been making waves as the first serious competitor to Chrome that’s come along in years, and it notably puts user privacy at the fore. [advertisement]( [Powered by LiveIntent]( [Ad Choices]( [WIRED Magazine Subscription] Get Wired Don't Let the Future Leave You Behind. Get 6 Months of WIRED Magazine for Just $5. SUBSCRIBE NOW Photo of the Week Photo of the Week: An Indonesian Volcano Roars to Life By Laura Mallonee Tumbelaka jumped in his car and drove to a small hill in the eastern subdistrict of Kubu, less than five miles from the crater, where he snapped this dramatic shot of volcanic ash pouring out of the glowing, red-hot 9,800-foot-high peak. It doesn’t disappoint. Gift Guide 13 Gifts for the Smart-Home Owner By Adrienne So No one who has ever gotten stuck outside in the rain will doubt the usefulness of a keyless smart lock ever again. Plus: Something as simple as a simulated sunrise can make waking up on a dark winter morning much easier. We have thirteen gifts for your optimistic friend or loved one who walks in the door and starts conducting his appliances as if they were an orchestra. Space Space Photos of the Week: Survey Your Home Galaxy—And Its Neighbors By Shannon Stirone We’re going to stop and stare at the striking arm of our very own Milky Way galaxy, seen shooting out of the horizon of the Atacama desert in Chile. The bright bulge of light in the center is the core of the galaxy, where more than half a million stars are burning, as well as a supermassive black hole. But don’t worry—our sun will have burned up long before we get sucked into oblivion. Gift Guide 11 Gorgeous Gifts for the Architecture Buff By Arielle Pardes Dazzle designers, architects, and urban planning enthusiasts with one of these unique gifts. Snapchat Why Your Dog Sniffs Everything Your pup won't get off your yoga mat. What's up with that? [advertisement]( [Powered by LiveIntent]( [AdChoices]( [WIRED Magazine]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Pinterest]( [Youtube]( [Instagram]( This e-mail was sent to you by WIRED. 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