jet

joined 2 years ago
MODERATOR OF
[–] jet@hackertalks.com 3 points 6 days ago (1 children)
[–] jet@hackertalks.com 2 points 6 days ago (1 children)

That is a good point, since the introduction of agriculture 10k years ago humanity has changed plant species for our benefit, this is absolutely true.

However, we spent 2.5m years as meat eaters, so it will take quite a while to fully adapt to a plant based diet.

I'd agree that cultivated food is better today in terms of nutrition density and harvest yield then 10,000 years ago!

The question for this community is are they optimal for health compared to other options? Probably not, at least not yet.

[–] jet@hackertalks.com 2 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

Since this poster has been banned for poor behavior, I'm still going to respond, but if they want to continue the conversation in DMs I welcome it

Which are healthier than animal fats.

This is a common misconception: https://www.dietdoctor.com/low-carb/saturated-fat#evidence-to-date

Industrial Oils do lower LDL, which is thought to be a good thing in the Ancel Keys paradigm, but this is done through plant sterols interfering with cholesterol production. LDL is only a bad thing when its damaged, and only the industrial oils damage the LDL. Animal sourced fats do not pose any threat to human health including CVD.

of course we need Vitamin D. Please do not spread potentially dangerous health misinformation by telling people that vitamins are bad.

Ideally you should get vitamin D from sun exposure, but if you cannot do that you can supplement but they should not be part of the default diet.

Whole grains. Which are healthier than what most people eat (white rice, white bread, etc).

White Rice actually has zero lectins! Curious isn't it?

Whole grains convert to blood glucose with more delay then other grains, but regardless it gets converted into blood glucose which isn't good for your health at all.

[–] jet@hackertalks.com 2 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Since they got banned for poor behavior, I'm going to try to steel man their position:

I won’t eat pufferfish although pufferfish can be raised in a way to not be poisonous. Why risk unnecessary poison?

  • More abundant food
  • Taste preferences
  • Many people can tolerate the low dose poison for a long time

That is as far as I could go. The rest was just rhetorical naysaying.

Even as the biased chaffee says - Eating plants is better then starving, the conversation isn't if we can survive with plants, the question is are they optimal in the long term.

[–] jet@hackertalks.com 1 points 6 days ago

Not all land is arable land, pasture land is not suitable for mono-crop farming but is suitable for pasture and grasses.

[–] jet@hackertalks.com 2 points 6 days ago

yeah, the goal of sustainable farmland is regenerating the topsoil without the use of industrial fertilizers... i.e. a self sufficient ecosystem.

Mono-crop farming, especially how soy is farmed, requires huge industrial inputs.

[–] jet@hackertalks.com 2 points 6 days ago

She is a really amazing speaker, and she has the respect of people I respect!

[–] jet@hackertalks.com 1 points 1 week ago

Yeah the emoji bullets are silly, but it's only for the people who don't watch the video

The conspiracy is easy to test: what was the historical science used to establish the initial pyramid? No data, it's politics

[–] jet@hackertalks.com 2 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Boom? Boom! Boom..... Boom boom? Boom

[–] jet@hackertalks.com 3 points 1 week ago

has had

Still has!!! We are still promoting "healthy" fats right now!

[–] jet@hackertalks.com 1 points 1 week ago

No oral insulin, but some t2ds can keep their blood sugar in "range" with just oral medicine.

i.e. the early t2ds whos bodies are still responsive to the insulin their pancreas is producing and are teetering on the edge.. so when metformin down regulates gluconeogenesis and upregulates glut4 transporters it can be just enough to avoid hyperglycemia

Think of it as the last hail Mary of the prediabetic

[–] jet@hackertalks.com 1 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Probably don't want to candy coat a diabetes medicine, as t2ds should be avoiding sugar all together.

 

There's a lot said about diets with mugh higher protein amounts than the standard diet guidelines like eating meat causes colon cancer, or it gives kidney problems. However, here's an interesting scientific paper that shares my point of view on these ideas.

The harms of high protein intake: conjectured, postulated, claimed, and presumed, but shown? - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajcnut.2025.05.002

[Full paper not yet available on the free web]

Personal Note: This would be a great paper to review once its fully available

summerizer

Summary

This video transcript meticulously debunks common myths surrounding high protein diets by referencing a recent scientific paper titled “The harms of high protein intake: conjectured, postulated, claimed and presumed but shown.” The speaker emphasizes the critical importance of context when evaluating claims about protein intake, highlighting that terms like “high protein” are relative and must be defined against specific baselines such as dietary guidelines or individual metabolic states. The video addresses eight pervasive myths:

  1. Excess protein turns into fat.
  2. High protein raises diabetes risk via insulin signaling disruption.
  3. Protein causes acne, anger, IBS, colon cancer, and DNA damage.
  4. Protein harms bone health by causing calcium loss.
  5. High protein reduces lifespan.
  6. High protein diets cause type 2 diabetes.
  7. Protein causes kidney damage.
  8. There is a safe upper limit for protein intake beyond which harm occurs.

Each myth is examined critically, exposing a lack of robust scientific evidence or causal relationships, and underscoring that many conclusions are drawn from poorly controlled observational studies or animal models that don’t translate well to humans. The speaker stresses the essential nature of metabolic context, overall diet composition, individual health status, and the pitfalls of relying on generalized or associative data rather than rigorous experimental causality. The video concludes that the burden of proof lies with those claiming harm from high protein intake and encourages critical appraisal of nutrition research, advocating a focus on biochemistry and paleobiology for more reliable insights.

Highlights

  • 🥩 High protein myths debunked: Many claims about protein causing health issues lack scientific proof.
  • ⚖️ Context is everything: “High protein” must be defined relative to individual dietary needs and metabolic states.
  • 🦴 Protein does not weaken bones: Evidence shows protein intake may improve bone mineral density when calcium intake is adequate.
  • 🧬 No causal link to diseases: Protein is not proven to cause acne, IBS, colon cancer, or DNA damage.
  • 🐀 Rat studies don’t translate to humans: Lifespan effects of protein restriction in rats cannot be directly applied to human longevity.
  • 🩺 Kidney damage claims are unfounded: High protein intake does not harm healthy kidneys and may even reduce kidney disease risk.
  • 🔬 Nutrition studies are complex: Observational studies using questionnaires are prone to confounding, making causality difficult to prove.

Key Insights

  • 🧩 Defining “high protein” is crucial for meaningful discussion:
    The term “high protein” is meaningless without context. It must be defined relative to baseline protein intake recommendations, individual metabolic status, and overall diet. This insight is foundational because much confusion and misinformation arise from vague or relative terms used without clear benchmarks. For example, a person increasing protein from below recommended levels to adequate intake is beneficial, while doubling an already adequate intake might have different implications. This nuanced understanding prevents oversimplification and misinterpretation of nutrition data.

  • 🔄 Metabolic state dictates how protein is utilized and stored:
    Protein consumption does not universally turn into fat. If a person is in an energy-deficient state, the body prioritizes using protein for essential functions rather than converting it to fat. Conversely, in an energy surplus state, excess protein could potentially be converted to fat, though this is less likely compared to carbohydrates or dietary fats. This points to the complexity of metabolism and the importance of considering energy balance and individual physiological conditions rather than blanket statements about protein.

  • 🧬 mTOR pathway and insulin signaling are complex and context-dependent:
    Claims that high protein disrupts insulin signaling and increases diabetes risk oversimplify the role of mTOR (a central cellular metabolic regulator) and insulin. The mTOR complex integrates multiple signals, including amino acids and insulin, to regulate metabolism, protein synthesis, and cell growth. While hyperinsulinemia (high insulin levels) is a concern, high protein diets, especially when replacing carbohydrates, can improve insulin sensitivity through mechanisms like weight loss. Thus, protein’s impact on diabetes risk cannot be isolated without considering overall diet and metabolic context.

  • 🛡️ No causal evidence links high protein intake to acne, IBS, cancer, or DNA damage:
    The widespread belief that protein causes various health problems is based on poorly evidenced associations rather than experimental causality. The scientific literature reviewed finds no direct causal links, and many studies citing these effects are speculative or observational without controlling for confounding factors. This insight highlights the difference between correlation and causation, a critical distinction often missed in nutrition discourse.

  • 🦴 Protein intake positively influences bone health, not harms it:
    Contrary to the myth that protein causes calcium loss and weak bones, multiple studies suggest higher protein intake correlates with increased bone mineral density and reduced fracture risk, provided calcium intake is sufficient. The body’s management of calcium involves complex interactions with vitamin D, vitamin K2, and other nutrients, showing that protein alone is not a determinant of bone health. This insight emphasizes the multifactorial nature of nutrition and bone metabolism and warns against simplistic nutrient blaming.

  • 🐀 Animal studies on protein restriction and longevity do not directly apply to humans:
    Some rodent studies suggest protein restriction extends lifespan, but these findings are inconsistent and confounded by factors like total calorie intake and diet quality. Human studies are observational, confounded, and unable to establish causality due to ethical and logistical constraints. This insight underscores the challenge of translating animal model findings into human dietary recommendations, especially for complex outcomes like longevity.

  • 💧 Claims that high protein harms kidneys are unsupported in healthy individuals:
    The “Brena hypothesis” that high protein intake damages kidneys lacks human evidence. Short-term increases in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) with higher protein intake reflect normal physiological adaptation, not pathology. Meta-analyses and studies in resistance-trained individuals consuming very high protein show no kidney damage. This insight challenges persistent fears around protein intake and kidney health, encouraging evidence-based perspectives in clinical nutrition.

Conclusion

This comprehensive critique of high protein diet myths reveals that many widely held beliefs are oversimplifications, misconceptions, or based on weak evidence. The key takeaway is that nutrition science must be approached with a critical eye, considering individual metabolic context, overall diet quality, and the limitations of observational research. Blanket statements about protein’s harm or benefit are scientifically untenable without nuanced analysis. The burden of proof lies with those claiming harm, and current evidence consistently fails to substantiate many protein-related health fears. Instead, understanding biochemical pathways and utilizing rigorous, context-aware research remains essential for informed nutritional guidance.

 

This is a great writeup of the open knowledge exploration type of games - Witness, Outer Wilds, Blue Prince..

I've wishlisted every game mentioned!

the metroid link is a curious one, but I like the concept but not the name. Knowledge acquisition and exploration seems a better fit. One issue with these games is their game loop is the "one and done" type, so they don't get as much attention as other games.

 

Compared with the baseline diet, consumption of 12 eggs/week for 4 weeks at breakfast was associated with less reduction in LDL-C, and more lowering of systolic blood pressure, than observed with non-egg-based, energy-matched, control foods higher in CHO.

Full Paper: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-020-0599-2

Remember - Cholesterol is not a disease so not reducing LDL-c vs carbohydrates is a GOOD THING.

3
Locke - 2013 (en.wikipedia.org)
submitted 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) by jet@hackertalks.com to c/media_reviews@hackertalks.com
 

Locke is a 2013 psychological drama road film written and directed by Steven Knight. It stars Tom Hardy in the title role (and the only on-screen character) as he drives while conducting a series of phone conversations

Wow, this was both enthralling and had lots of second hand embarrassment. A entire film from inside a car, a one man production, yet the journey is captivating.

I highly recommend this film if you enjoy thoughtful art.

 

A community is a group of people gathering for some shared interest, the community is not relevant for people who do not share that interest.

The goal of a community is to create a space for people who share that interest to have a place to interact freely and openly. Shielding members of a community from external forces that would diminish or prevent free expression in that community is one of the major responsibilities of a community runner.

  1. A community means EXCLUDING people who don't share a interest.

This is just the same statement as 'A community is for people sharing a interest', but expressed differently. It is important to be explicit about this logical consequence, as it drives the responsibilities of a community maintainer.

Lemmy currently does not have a way for communities to be opt-in, all content is visible to everyone in ALL. Individuals needs to opt-out of a community by blocking it. This current model isn't ideal - the 1.0 road map does have the opt-in as a feature that is coming.

This does mean for niche communities they can get overwhelmed by incidental negativity by people browsing ALL who don't specifically intend to target the community.

In addition to normal moderation practices (being objective, hands off, ensuring conversations don't go into hostile territory, keeping this on topic), the niche moderators need to keep a eye on participation chilling events.

Example: If a new community member makes a post and gets met by lots of negativity they are unlikely to keep participating (the chilling effect).

What does this look like in practice?

  1. People who come to a community with hostile posts or comments are removed (normal moderation)
  2. People who spread negative votes on every post in a community are removed (normal moderation)
  3. People who only spread negativity when they see the community in the ALL feed are removed (niche moderation)
  4. Lurking accounts with no post or comment history who spread negativity are removed (niche moderation)
  5. Sockpuppet accounts who only vote in small bursts and don't demonstrate organic activity are removed (niche moderation)

FAQ:

Why have I been removed? I only down voted things I don't like

Unfortunately you don't like the niche community, but to protect the members of that community you have been removed from the community.

I dislike the niche community, and I don't think it should exist

Your welcome to voice your concerns across lemmy, but your negative view of the community by point 0 means your not a good fit for the community and your removal makes sense.

I was removed from the community even though I participated

This gets tricky. The guiding principle is what helps the community be a safe space for community members. Your participation with questions could be a net positive, but if you also downvote everything and everyone in the community while raising your concerns a judgement call will have to be made. The first duty is to keep the community cohesive for community members, if third parties want to participate it should be done with mutual respect.

I actually have things I want to say, and I'd like to be unbanned

Sure, just let the moderators know you have read the community rules, and your ready to participate without breaking the rules and being polite to your fellow community members.

It's unfair I can't vote on things I don't like in ALL

I actually agree with you, that sucks. Lemmy needs to mature and have opt-in for ALL, or opt-in for communities. Until then please feel free to express yourself in any of the other communities on lemmy, or make a post about the thing you don't like and vent about it!

 

First Keto, then Carnivore and fasting. Resolved obesity, and significant joint issues.

summerizer

Summary

Alana shares her transformative health journey from struggling with weight gain and carb addiction during the pandemic to adopting a carnivore lifestyle that has completely revitalized her physical and mental well-being. After years of cycling through keto diets with limited success due to hidden carbs and processed keto foods, she hit a low point when she couldn’t lift herself off the ground without assistance. Motivated by a desire to avoid becoming a burden on the healthcare system and inspired by research and continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), Alana committed fully to a carnivore diet around two and a half years ago. This shift involved eating primarily meat, with occasional eggs and fats, combined with intermittent fasting and rigorous exercise.

Her results have been dramatic: she lost 136 pounds, reversed pre-diabetes within two months, built significant muscle strength, and improved sleep quality through disciplined sleep hygiene practices. The carnivore diet also eradicated her crippling anxiety and menopausal symptoms, enhanced her mental focus, and propelled her career forward, helping her achieve a major promotion. Despite social challenges and skepticism from colleagues and friends, Alana embraces her lifestyle with confidence and encourages a gradual transition for those interested. Her husband has started keto inspired by her success, while her son maintains a mostly keto and balanced diet with an understanding of nutrition. Alana highlights the importance of personal responsibility for health, the social pressures around food, and the freedom she has found in simplicity and discipline.

Highlights

  • 🥩 Alana lost 136 pounds over 18 months on a carnivore diet, transforming her health.
  • 💪 She reversed pre-diabetes within 2 months and built significant muscle strength.
  • ⏳ She incorporates intermittent fasting (14-16 day fasts) and strict meal timing for autophagy and body composition.
  • 😴 Improved sleep quality through magnesium supplementation and strict sleep hygiene.
  • 🧠 Mental clarity and focus dramatically improved, supporting a major career promotion.
  • 😌 Carnivore diet eliminated her longstanding anxiety and menopausal symptoms.
  • 🤝 Husband started keto inspired by her journey; son follows a balanced, keto-friendly diet.

Key Insights

  • 🥩 Carnivore diet as a tool for metabolic health and weight loss: Alana’s experience highlights how a strict carnivore diet—centered on animal-based foods and exclusion of carbs—can lead to rapid and sustained weight loss, reversal of pre-diabetes, and improved insulin sensitivity. By removing hidden carbs and processed foods common even in keto, she broke the cycle of constant carb craving and blood sugar spikes, demonstrating the metabolic reset potential of this approach.

  • Fasting complements dietary changes to enhance health outcomes: Alana’s use of intermittent fasting and extended fasts contributed both to fat loss and cellular regeneration (autophagy), helping her avoid loose skin and improve body composition. Fasting also improved her mental focus and energy levels, showcasing the synergistic effect of diet and timing in health optimization.

  • 🧠 Mental health benefits through dietary and lifestyle interventions: Beyond physical health, the carnivore diet along with sleep optimization eliminated Alana’s crippling anxiety and menopausal symptoms such as night sweats and brain fog. This suggests profound neurochemical and hormonal regulation benefits, likely from stabilized blood sugar, reduced inflammation, and improved nutrient absorption.

  • 💪 Strength and muscle gain on a carnivore diet: Contrary to misconceptions that carnivore or low-carb diets might impair muscle building, Alana gained significant muscle mass and strength, including deadlifting more than her body weight. This underscores that adequate protein intake and exercise can sustain anabolic processes even without carbs.

  • 🛡️ Social and psychological challenges of restrictive diets: Alana candidly discusses the social pressures and stigma faced during work events and social gatherings, where her fasting and carnivore eating made her feel like an outsider. This highlights the psychological resilience required for such lifestyle changes and the importance of community and support networks.

  • 👩‍⚖️ Improved professional performance linked to diet: The enhanced mental clarity, sustained energy, and reduced “food noise” (constant carb cravings) directly impacted Alana’s work as a private client lawyer, enabling her to handle complex tasks without energy dips and gain confidence for career advancement. This link between nutrition and cognitive performance is increasingly recognized.

  • 🌱 Individualized approach to diet and progression: Alana advises a gradual transition to carnivore, starting with low carb and keto to reduce side effects such as “keto flu” or oxalate dumping. This pragmatic approach acknowledges that strict carnivore is not for everyone and that personal experimentation and pacing are key to long-term adherence and success.

Additional Observations

Alana’s story also touches on broader cultural and systemic issues. She expresses concern about the burden of preventable metabolic diseases on the NHS and society, emphasizing personal responsibility in health choices. Her disdain for processed keto foods and the commercialization of keto culture reflects a desire to return to whole, unprocessed nutrition.

Moreover, her view on plants as “here to get us” and alignment with Dr. Chaffee’s perspective indicates a preference for an animal-based, low-to-zero plant diet, which is controversial yet gaining traction in certain health circles.

Her family dynamic—supportive husband adopting keto and son educated in nutrition—illustrates the ripple effect of lifestyle change within families and the importance of role modeling.

Lastly, Alana’s disciplined routine—early sleep, morning workouts, dog walking, gardening, and reading—paints a picture of a balanced, fulfilling lifestyle beyond diet alone, highlighting that sustainable health is multifaceted.

This comprehensive narrative provides valuable real-world insight into the potential benefits, challenges, and practicalities of adopting a carnivore lifestyle for long-term health transformation.

 

I personally find social pressure to be the biggest hazard. As a addict if I fall for social pressure once then its very easy to totally fall off the wagon for the next few days.

summerizer

Summary

The video transcript addresses the common challenges and frustrations experienced by individuals who try the carnivore diet and feel compelled to quit prematurely. It empathizes with the physical and mental struggles such as withdrawal symptoms, digestive upheaval, social pressures, temptation, low energy, and perfectionism that often lead to abandoning the regimen. The narrator explains that these difficulties are normal and temporary aspects of the body and mind adjusting to a radically different nutritional approach. The video provides practical advice on how to manage these obstacles—including eating enough fatty meat to stay satiated, hydrating properly, allowing the gut time to adapt, handling social situations with a firm but polite “90-day ask,” planning ahead to avoid temptation, and embracing progress over perfection. Ultimately, the message is one of encouragement and resilience, emphasizing that carnivore is less about rigid perfection and more about healing and reclaiming health despite societal pressures and internal doubts. The video closes by encouraging viewers not to give up and suggests further exploration into the origins of modern dietary habits.

Highlights

  • ⚡ Withdrawal symptoms on carnivore are real and can be intense, but they signal healing, not failure.
  • 🍖 Staying satiated with fatty meat and proper hydration is key to overcoming early struggles.
  • 🚽 Digestive issues like constipation or diarrhea are common as the gut adapts to a new diet.
  • 🤝 Social pressure is one of the toughest challenges, but a “90-day ask” can help garner support.
  • 🔥 Temptation is strongest when hungry; planning and snacks are essential to stay on track.
  • ⚡ Low energy in the beginning is normal as the body becomes fat-adapted; persistence leads to stable energy.
  • 🎯 Perfectionism can sabotage progress; carnivore is about progress, not perfection.

Key Insights

  • 💥 Withdrawal as a Healing Phase: The intense withdrawal symptoms experienced when starting carnivore (headaches, cravings, brain fog, fatigue) are a physiological and psychological detox from addictive foods like sugar, grains, and processed carbs. This phase is often mistaken for failure, but it is actually a sign of the body repairing itself from years of unhealthy eating. Recognizing this helps individuals reframe discomfort as progress and persist through the initial hardships.

  • 🍳 Satiety as a Strategic Tool: One of the strongest strategies to combat cravings and temptation on carnivore is to ensure constant satiety through fatty meat, bacon, butter, cheese, and other high-fat animal foods. Hunger weakens willpower, so maintaining fullness keeps the body and mind stable. This insight shifts the focus from restrictive eating to abundance within the carnivore parameters, facilitating adherence and preventing relapse.

  • 🤢 Gut Adaptation Requires Patience: The digestive system’s reaction to eliminating fiber and carbs, while increasing fats and proteins, can cause significant changes in bowel movements such as constipation or diarrhea. Understanding that this is a transitional phase where the microbiome and digestive enzymes recalibrate helps reduce anxiety and embarrassment. Patience and time (usually one to two weeks or more) are essential for this adaptation, after which digestion often improves dramatically compared to prior routines.

  • 🗣 Navigating Social Pressure with the 90-Day Ask: Social dynamics often undermine dietary changes because friends, family, co-workers, and even doctors may express skepticism or criticism. The “90-day ask” strategy—requesting non-judgmental support for a trial period—creates a clear boundary that minimizes conflict and invites curiosity rather than confrontation. This approach empowers adherents to maintain their path while gradually winning respect and support from their social circle.

  • 🍔 Temptation Is Amplified by Hunger and Environment: The omnipresence of addictive food marketing and sensory cues (smells, ads, social settings) creates constant temptation, especially when an individual is hungry or emotionally vulnerable. Recognizing that temptation is situational rather than a personal weakness allows for strategic preparation—such as carrying carnivore-friendly snacks and avoiding starvation—to strengthen resistance and build sustainable habits.

  • Energy “Adaptation Dip” is Temporary: The initial lack of energy and feelings of fatigue during the carnivore diet result from the body shifting from carbohydrate metabolism to fat metabolism (fat adaptation). This transition is often misunderstood as a sign that the diet isn’t working, causing many to quit prematurely. Understanding this physiological process encourages persistence, as energy levels typically stabilize and even improve dramatically once fat adaptation occurs, leading to improved mental clarity and physical endurance.

  • 🎯 Perfectionism Undermines Long-Term Success: The mindset trap of needing to be 100% compliant or considering any deviation as failure is a major hidden cause of quitting. This “all or nothing” thinking creates guilt and discouragement when slips happen, prompting abandonment of the diet. Shifting the mindset to value progress over perfection fosters resilience and sustainability, acknowledging that healing is a journey rather than a flawless race. This insight is critical to long-term adherence and health restoration.

The video ultimately reframes the carnivore diet experience as a challenging but worthwhile process of breaking free from addictive foods and societal norms. It encourages viewers to be patient, strategic, and compassionate with themselves through the initial discomfort, and to recognize that success is measured in incremental progress toward better health, not perfect compliance.

 

The Harrigans, a London crime family, find themselves in a battle with the Stevensons that could end syndicates and their lives. Harry Da Souza is a street-smart and formidable fixer employed by the Harrigan family to navigate and mitigate the escalating conflict threatening their empire. As tensions between the families intensify, Harry is tasked with protecting the Harrigans' interests and preventing an all-out gang war.

Tom Hardy makes this series work. It's like game of thrones levels of duplicity, the first 6 episodes are really good, the last few feel a bit forced. It's very enjoyable, especially to see Tom Hardy as a quiet fixer type.

I recommend for the crime drama aspects.

 

RCEs happen, all the time, the question is - What can you do about it?

  1. Disable Javascript JIT
  2. Disable Javascript
  3. Keep the Browser in a unprivileged account
  4. Keep the Browser in a container
  5. Keep the Browser in a VM

Eric Parker shows us the neko tool - Self hosted browser that runs inside docker https://github.com/m1k1o/neko (so this would be mitigation 4)

This looks like a really cool tool for desktops!

For 5, there is Qubes of course where browsers live inside of VMs - this is the gold standard.

What do you do to protect yourself against RCEs?

video summery

Summary

In this video, Eric discusses a critical and increasingly common security vulnerability affecting web browsers, specifically focusing on a recently discovered zero-day exploit in Google Chrome’s V8 JavaScript engine, identified as CVE-2022-56554. This exploit leverages a "type confusion" flaw in the V8 engine’s just-in-time (JIT) compilation process, allowing attackers to achieve remote code execution simply by a user clicking a malicious link. The vulnerability has been actively exploited in the wild by nation-state actors, including groups like North Korea’s Lazarus Group, targeting businesses and potentially engaging in espionage and cryptocurrency theft.

Eric explains the broader context of browser security, noting that due to the dominance of Chromium-based browsers (Chrome, Edge, and others), these vulnerabilities have widespread impact. Although Google and other browser vendors frequently patch vulnerabilities, the frequency and severity of zero-days remain concerning. Mitigations are limited but include disabling JIT compilation to reduce attack surfaces, albeit with performance trade-offs. This can be configured more easily in Microsoft Edge than in Chrome, with Firefox also offering some options through its about:config settings.

Eric also introduces a novel security approach using Niko, a self-hosted virtual browser running inside a Docker container. This setup isolates browsing sessions from the host machine, significantly reducing the risk of browser-based exploits compromising the user’s system. Niko supports multiple browsers (Firefox recommended for security) and can be run on a VPS for even stronger isolation, offering a practical solution for users who need enhanced security without sacrificing usability entirely.

The video concludes with a recommendation to practice cautious browsing habits, utilize available mitigations, and consider advanced sandboxing solutions like Niko to protect against increasingly sophisticated browser exploits.

Highlights

  • 🛡️ Chrome’s V8 JavaScript engine has a critical zero-day type confusion vulnerability enabling remote code execution.
  • 🌐 Over two-thirds of web users rely on Chromium-based browsers, amplifying the risk of widespread exploitation.
  • 🕵️ Nation-state actors, like North Korea’s Lazarus Group, have weaponized these zero-days for espionage and crypto theft.
  • ⚙️ Disabling JIT compilation in browsers can mitigate risk but results in noticeable performance degradation.
  • 🧰 Microsoft Edge provides more user-friendly options to disable JIT compared to Chrome or Firefox.
  • 🐳 Niko offers a self-hosted, containerized virtual browser environment for enhanced isolation and security.
  • 🔐 Combining sandboxing tools with cautious browsing and enterprise policies is crucial in defending against browser exploits.

Key Insights

  • 🚨 Zero-day vulnerabilities in browser engines remain a persistent and evolving threat: The V8 engine’s type confusion flaw illustrates how even optimized and heavily scrutinized components of browsers can harbor exploitable bugs. The use of just-in-time compilation, while improving performance, creates complex attack surfaces that are difficult to fully secure. The active exploitation of these vulnerabilities by sophisticated actors underlines the urgency for users and organizations to stay vigilant and update promptly.

  • 🌍 Browser monoculture increases systemic risk: With Chrome and Chromium-based browsers dominating the market (approximately 66% Chrome, 13% Edge), a single engine vulnerability impacts a vast majority of users globally. This monoculture effect means attackers get high “return on investment” for their exploits, incentivizing continued weaponization of browser zero-days. It also complicates mitigation strategies since switching browsers doesn’t guarantee immunity.

  • 🏴‍☠️ Nation-state cyber espionage and financially motivated attacks exploit browser vulnerabilities: Groups like Lazarus have demonstrated how browser zero-days can be weaponized for both espionage and financial gain, such as cryptocurrency theft. Their ability to deploy massive resources and remain unarrested means these threats are persistent and increasingly sophisticated. This highlights the intersection of cybercrime and geopolitical conflict in modern cybersecurity.

  • ⚖️ Disabling JIT compilation trades security for performance: JIT is essential for modern JavaScript performance but also introduces exploitable complexity. Disabling JIT or running browsers in “jitless” mode can prevent these exploits but at the cost of slower browsing and reduced functionality (especially with WebAssembly). Enterprises and security-conscious users must weigh these trade-offs carefully, and vendors like Microsoft Edge are leading in making these options accessible.

  • 🔒 Built-in OS mitigations partially limit damage but don’t fully prevent exploitation: Features like Windows’ Mandatory Integrity Control reduce what an exploited browser process can do, limiting privilege escalation and file system damage. However, these mitigations are not comprehensive and vary across platforms (Linux lacks similar protections by default). This means fully mitigating browser zero-day risks requires layered defenses beyond just OS-level controls.

  • 🐳 Containerized virtual browsers like Niko represent a promising security model: Isolating the browser in a Docker container or remote VPS environment can contain exploits, preventing them from reaching the host OS. Niko’s self-hosted nature allows users to maintain control over their browsing environment without relying on third-party services, striking a balance between security, privacy, and usability. This approach can be particularly valuable for high-risk users and organizations.

  • 📚 Practical cybersecurity training and hands-on experience are vital: Eric’s mention of Try HackMe underscores the importance of experiential learning in cybersecurity. Understanding vulnerabilities, how exploits work, and how mitigations affect systems is crucial for both professionals and enthusiasts to effectively defend against complex threats like these browser takeovers.

Extended Analysis

The video serves as a comprehensive overview of a highly technical and critical area of cybersecurity: browser engine vulnerabilities. By focusing on a recent zero-day, Eric contextualizes the problem within the broader ecosystem of browser security and attacker motivations. The discussion around JIT compilation’s dual nature—enhancing performance but exposing complex attack surfaces—is particularly insightful, highlighting the inherent tension between usability and security in software design.

The emphasis on the Chromium browser monoculture is especially important. While browser standardization benefits developers and users, it also creates systemic vulnerabilities that, if exploited, can cause widespread damage. The video implicitly calls for diversification and innovation in browser security architectures, but recognizes the practical challenges given market realities.

Eric’s presentation of mitigation strategies is pragmatic. He neither downplays the severity of the vulnerabilities nor overpromises easy solutions. Instead, he outlines realistic options like disabling JIT, leveraging OS-level controls, and using containerized browsing environments. His demonstration of Niko as a self-hosted, Docker-based browser isolation solution offers viewers a tangible, actionable path forward that doesn’t rely solely on vendor patches or enterprise tools.

Finally, the video ties technical discussion to broader cybersecurity education, emphasizing the need for interactive, hands-on learning platforms to build real-world skills. This holistic approach—from understanding vulnerabilities and attacker tactics to applying mitigations and improving knowledge—makes the content valuable for a wide audience, from casual users to security professionals.

Overall, the video effectively communicates complex concepts, highlights current threats, and suggests practical defenses in a clear, engaging manner. It underscores that while browser security remains a challenging frontier, users have options to significantly reduce their risk by combining technical hardening with safe browsing habits and innovative isolation technologies.

4
The Pitt - 2025 (en.wikipedia.org)
submitted 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) by jet@hackertalks.com to c/media_reviews@hackertalks.com
 

Attending physician Dr. Michael "Robby" Robinavitch starts a grueling shift at the Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Hospital's emergency room (ER), nicknamed "the Pitt" by its staff, by welcoming four newcomers: Victoria Javadi, a third-year medical student; Dennis Whitaker, a fourth-year medical student; Dr. Trinity Santos, an intern; and Dr. Melissa "Mel" King, a second-year resident. Throughout the next fifteen hours, the students and residents learn more about their professional duties, while trying to deal with the emotional toll of patient care and the hardships of working in an overcrowded and underfunded ER, guided by Robby and the Pitt's other staff members, including charge nurse Dana Evans, second-year resident Dr. Cassie McKay, third-year resident Dr. Samira Mohan, and senior residents Dr. Heather Collins and Dr. Frank Langdon. Meanwhile, Robby struggles to cope with traumatic memories resurfacing on the fourth anniversary of his mentor's death, which happened in the Pitt during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A really intense single day in a ER, each episode is one hour, 15 hours in the day. The medical drama is there in abundance, but I found myself being invested in this huge ensemble cast in a few episodes. Some of the onscreen injuries did make me squeamish, but they are well done.

Some of the TV tropes you can see coming, but it doesn't make the show any less entertaining.

I highly recommend the Pitt, its a great show to binge. Its frenetic enough that it is NOT second screen material.

 

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