RSnake Report 20260405

F-15E Pilot saved, FBI data breach, etc.

Author

Robert RSnake Hansen
April 05, 2026

What's In the News

Hello, and thanks for reading! We had a nice family brunch to celebrate Easter. I know it was good because most of the men were passed out afterward. Good food, good family, and a lot of gratitude for what we have. I hope you got a chance to squeeze your family members today! Not every day is great, but still a blessing to have your loved ones around. Okay, let's jump into it.

In Russia/Ukraine News, a new FPV drone development dubbed "Wing over" renders 155mm/L39 caliber tube artillery obsolete in peer-to-peer conflicts. FPVs can approach front lines closer than tube artillery, giving an FPV with a 30 km range an advantage in counter-battery operations. It looks a little strange, like the wing is a complete afterthought, but it gives enough lift to make it have the same range as traditional artillery, with far greater accuracy, especially against targets that move, like personnel and vehicles.

The newly dubbed "housewife kitchen drones" destroyed a Russian S-400 air defense radar in Feodosia, Crimea, along with a Tor air defense system and over a dozen military facilities. Targets included command posts, warehouses, and two Shahed drone hubs in the Kursk and Bryansk regions. The housewife's name came from derogatory remarks by the CEO of Rheinmetall, who said there is no innovation coming out of the kitchens where these drones are being assembled. Of course, the Ukrainians took that meme and had a bit of a field day.

It does seem that there has been a bit of a lull in attacks on oil and gas over the last month or so. But it hasn't gone to zero. Ukrainian drones struck the Bashneft-Novoil refinery in Ufa, igniting a fire hundreds of kilometers from the front line. 

Almost like they were realizing they had forgotten about oil infrastructure as a target, Ukrainian drones also targeted Lukoil's oil refinery in the Nizhny Novgorod region. But they also hit a ton of random infantry, equipment an artillery as well.

A major fire broke out in Zavolzhye, Ulyanovsk region, possibly at a waste disposal facility on 30th Engineering Drive. Firefighters responded, but no official details emerged.

Russian railways' monthly loading statistics show a decline across all metrics, indicating the economy is grinding to a halt, similar to the USSR's progressive crash. There is some controversy about where these numbers came from, and I believe Prune60 originally put them together, so hat tip to her reporting.

Roskomnadzor accidentally blocked IP addresses used in the banking infrastructure, causing a nationwide payment system collapse. Terminals glitched, transfers failed, and ATMs stopped dispensing cash. Vending machines, gas stations, and stores. Terminals displayed "Delay in the bank" errors, prompting advice to use QR codes or cash. Some banks cited a hacker attack, others technical maintenance.

Kremlin economists warned of a further decline in the civilian economy, with restaurant traffic down 40 percent and the number of stores decreasing for the first time since 2000. Mass layoffs are expected shortly. Russian news reports confirmed 4,500 stores closed in Moscow and 3,000 in St. Petersburg, including long-operating chains. Not looking good! 📉

Telegram founder Pavel Durov stated that Russia's ban on the platform backfired, leading 65 million users to adopt VPNs, mirroring patterns in Iran. The ban also caused an accidental bank outage.

In European news, Airbus tested the Bird of Prey, a modified Do-DT25 drone with a 2.5-meter span, 3.1-meter length, and 160 kg weight. It autonomously hunted a kamikaze target and fired a Frankenburg Mk1 missile, one of four ultra-light options (65 cm long, under 2 kg, 1.5 km range, EO fire-and-forget). Developed in nine months, the system reduces costs compared to traditional SHORAD. This little drone fires guided air to air missiles, which reduces the cost per kill significantly and keeps combat personnel safe by keeping them out of the battlespace.

The German Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft gun system uses radar-guided 35mm autocannons for short-range, point air defense against threats such as Shahed drones. It's a very cheap solution but does require line of sight, making it less suitable for low-flying fiber-optic drones, so I am less bullish on this system, since it appears to be crewed.

In South East Asia News a private enterprise in Shandong, China, demonstrated machine wolves (robo-dogs) paired with humans for urban combat. The wolves provide fire suppression, allowing soldiers to follow. Limitations include insufficient intelligence to corner enemies, with potential for advanced PLA versions.

South Korea's Cheongung missile defense system achieved a 96.7 percent kill rate, succeeding in 29 of 30 intercepts during its combat debut over Iranian airspace. Built by LIG Nex1, presumably at a fraction of the cost of Patriots, it has drawn orders from Gulf nations, positioning South Korea as a key arms exporter. It will be interesting to see if South Korea becomes a major regional arms dealer.

In Middle East News, Iranian President Pezeshkian warned IRGC Commander Vahidi that the economy faces collapse in three to four weeks without a ceasefire and demanded civilian control over war decisions. Vahidi rejected the requests. Pezeshkian expressed a desire to negotiate directly with Washington, but Vahidi refused, stating it would lead to concessions. Pezeshkian later told associates he feels like a hostage reading IRGC scripts. Oil revenue fell to 5 percent of the budget from 32 percent, taxes rose over 60 percent, food prices increased at least 50 percent, and ATMs in major cities are short on cash. So Vahidi may be onto something here. 📉

The IRGC now effectively runs the country. Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi warned U.S. President Trump to change his approach and stop threats, stating no one can set deadlines for Iran, and almost immediately afterward, Trump said that the US struck a number of military leaders. Iran supposedly retains over 1,000 ballistic missiles, down from an estimated 2,500 at the war's start. The number of launchers though, remains unclear.

The

U.S. and Israel bombed a petrochemical facility in Iran. Trump has said he intends to open up attacks against power and bridges if Iran doesn't open the straight of Hormuz on Tuesday. He has previously given them a shorter timeline, but this may have been delayed due to operational reasons as much as anything.

Two U.S. officials confirmed one pilot from a downed US aircraft was rescued and is receiving medical treatment. Search operations continued for the second pilot, with HC-130 aircraft, helicopters, and possibly a Blackhawk involved. A CIA campaign spread disinformation in Iran that the downed airman was found and escaping via ground convoy. This diverted Iranian search efforts from the actual location, causing confusion among forces.

A U.S. operation in southern Iran rescued the F-15E's WSO after he evaded forces for over 24 hours, hiking a 7,000-foot ridgeline. It involved hundreds of special forces, including SEAL Team Six, fighter aircraft, helicopters, and intelligence assets. U.S. attacks targeted Iranian convoys. Two transport planes got stuck at a remote base and were destroyed to prevent capture; three replacements extracted personnel.

There was a pretty interesting video of a fighter jet gun doing strafing runs on a Shahed drone, and showing how it is very hard to hit such a slow-moving thing when you are traveling quickly. Basically, it doesn't work with guns unless you can slow way down. proved challenging.

An A-10 providing close air support for a search and rescue was shot down by Iranian air defenses and crashed in Kuwait. The pilot safely ejected, it seems, and there were no casualties. There were also two Black Hawk helicopters that were hit, but no casualties from air combat losses. 

A U.S. Army CH-47F Chinook sustained heavy damage from an Iranian one-way drone strike at Camp Buehring, Kuwait, hitting the cockpit and front rotor. These are expensive losses using dirt-cheap drones. Using thousands to kill millions of equipment.

Two drones struck Iraq's Rumaila North oilfield, wounding three Iraqi workers. This makes sense for Iran who wants to increase the oil prices worldwide to help Russia and put pressure on Trump amongst mid-term voters at the same time.

Iran-backed Iraqi terrorists also launched drone strikes on the Al-Bazraqan oil field in southern Iraq, igniting fires at multiple sites and targeting Baker Hughes facilities. These Iranian proxies will continue to haunt the region, is my bet, even long after a ceasefire.

Israeli airstrikes hit Quds Force command centers in Beirut used for Hezbollah coordination and military support. Strikes also targeted two Islamic Jihad command sites and a Hezbollah surveillance post hit by the Israeli Navy. 

Israel conducted massive strikes across Iran and Lebanon. In Iran, targets included an IRGC weapons storage site with ballistic missile launchers, missile production and development facilities, and air defense systems. In Lebanon, over 140 Hezbollah targets were hit, including a training camp, weapons depots, launch sites, Radwan Force headquarters, and infrastructure in Beirut and southern Lebanon.

A Hezbollah missile impacted northern Israel on April 4. This hit was not well covered, but there was some security camera footage showing the explosion. Frankly, it's really bad that they are hitting civilian infrastructure, because clearly, this random residential neighborhood isn't posing a risk to Iran or its proxy.

And it is not like the Iranians do not have far better weapons that can hit exactly the targets they want. In fact, they have even come into possession of fiber optics drones. Hezbollah used fiber-optic FPV attack drones against Israeli armor in southern Lebanon. Footage showed two strikes: one on a Merkava Mk. 4 tank's track, the other on the turret front. The fact that they have this tech is really not good news for Western forces. đź‘Ž

Iran shot down a second Chinese Wing Loong-2 attack drone. Wreckage was found by fishermen in Deir port in the Strait of Hormuz. Such drones serve in the UAE and Saudi Arabian inventories, but it is also possible that China itself could have been operating them. Hard to say.

Bank Sepah, a state-owned bank linked to Iran's military, suffered a widespread computer network disruption. It prevented salary payments to Revolutionary Guard personnel and military officials. Talk about demoralizing to the troops who are already probably feeling it, with the significant losses of the bulk of their air defenses.

An Iranian ballistic missile struck a residential building in Haifa, leaving four family members unaccounted for under rubble. Police focused rescue efforts, evacuating nearby buildings due to an unexploded warhead. Sappers handled the site.

Iran's security forces use software to detect Starlink terminals via signal signatures like high BSSID density and 802.11ac/ax radio types. It enables triangulation, real-time distance estimation, and acoustic tracking. Possession may lead to charges of sabotage and spying, punishable by execution. This document, which was released, is pretty much a roadmap to finding Starlinks that can be used by any government, and might make using Starlink a lot less safe for military activity.

In North America News, the FBI declared a China-linked hack of a system holding pen register and trap and trace surveillance returns a major incident. This is a huge embarrassment for the FBI. It's not clear exactly what was copied, but it doesn't look good. One thing that was mentioned was court-authorized surveillance orders, which likely give them visibility into which of their agents have been burned.

Overland AI's ULTRA autonomous ground vehicle launches target and FPV drones from AG3 Labs' rack to enable swarming, obscuration, and threat detection without a human forward presence. One of the major problems is that it takes humans rucking in drones deep behind enemy lines and forcing them to stay there for a long period until you actually want to enable them, because even keeping them inactive still requires batteries. This solves a lot of the problems and allows larger drones to be carried than humans would normally be able to easily ruck around.

Garand Thumb made a video about anti-drone rifle rounds currently deployed by the U.S. military. Upgrades in drone armor and speed reduce shotgun effectiveness. The rifle offers greater range and more rounds than a secondary weapon. It's very clear that this is becoming more commonly discussed amongst the general public, where we are seeing people publish videos to the gun community on this. It's good that it's making it out to the general public that drones are coming.

President Trump's new executive order restricts mail-in voting by adding unique barcodes with tracking to USPS envelopes. The DHS and SSA create an approved voter list, and USPS sends ballots only to that list. It will be interesting to see what it does to voter turnout and also the demographics of voters.

Pam Bondi was removed/fired as attorney general after criticism over the handling of Epstein files. President Trump met her in the Oval Office before a speech, and then she left for Florida afterward. EPA Director Lee Zeldin is under consideration as a replacement. I was hopeful that Pam Bondi would end up redeeming herself, but she really followed through with the rhetoric, which is a no-no, and it really did not make Trump look good with some of her self-promotion either. So she's out.

NASA's Artemis II launched toward the Moon, the first lunar voyage in 53 years. The 10-day mission includes accelerating to escape velocity on Day 2, Moon approach on Days 3-5, flyby on Day 6 at 250,000 miles from Earth, return tuning on Days 6-7, and reentry on Day 10 at 25,000 mph. The plan is to use parachutes to slow the capsule to 17 mph for splashdown off San Diego. Still a pretty bumpy landing, but thus far it's been almost smooth sailing with the exception of a temporarily messed-up toilet, which has now been fixed. It was a shitty situation! đź’©

Lockheed Martin suffered a potentially huge breach, with 375TB of data offered for sale on a Russian Threat Market for $598 million. That is the kind of thing that could really hurt them both in future military contracts. It also means that all Lockheed Martin airframes and missile systems are potentially very vulnerable, because how they are made can now be scrutinized.

U.S. startup XDOWN unveiled the STUD squad-level tactical drone. Each operator carries 8-12 units in a backpack, launching one in two seconds for ISR, strike, counter-UAS, and EW roles. They open like a switchblade, which makes them extremely fast to deploy. Production could reach 6,000 units monthly. The cool thing is that these are so light you can have a single operator with enough firepower to take out a tank column or a platoon of soldiers with extreme precision.

In Tech News, Claude Code source was leaked via an npm registry map file. This isn't the model that Claude Code uses, but it's the tooling necessary to build off of any sufficiently advanced frontier model. So we will see a Cambrian explosion of Claude Code IDEs and CLIs. The leaked Claude Code reveals details about its permissions system, including Bypass Permissions Mode and tool-approval logic for bash, file writes, and computer use. Attackers can now target guardrails. The full system prompt exposes behavior rules and security mechanisms, enabling easier jailbreaks. Telemetry sends metadata to Datadog without code or paths. Infrastructure like session endpoints, JWT, WebSockets, and GrowthBook flags is visible. Anthropic may rotate keys; telemetry can be disabled via environment variables. The leak exposes IP and attack surfaces, likely leading to internal consequences.

Anthropic filed a DMCA takedown on 8,100 GitHub repos with leaked Claude Code. GitHub removed them, including forks of public repos. Anthropic's Boris Cherny apologized on X. Sigrid Jin rewrote it in Python overnight, gaining 50,000 stars in two hours. Claw-code launched independently with a Rust port at version 0.1.0, reaching 140,000 stars and 102,000 forks, surpassing Anthropic's repo. 512,000 lines are now public.

Subsequently, the CCH signing system in Claude Code was fully reverse-engineered, allowing open-source clients to use Anthropic subscriptions without official binaries. 

Then someone squatted Anthropic-internal npm package names like color-diff-napi and modifiers-napi, registered the same day with a disposable email. The packages target users compiling leaked Claude Code source. Obviously installation of these should be avoided.

Lapsus$ claimed a breach of Mercor, an AI recruiting platform for labs like OpenAI and Anthropic. Stolen data includes 939GB of source code, 211GB of database with resumes and interview data, 3TB of storage with videos and verification files, and TailScale VPN access. Total: 4TB, auctioned with a make-an-offer price. It compromises candidate privacy, including KYC scans of things like driver’s licenses, passports, etc. Nasty. It was breached via the Trivy security scanner on March 19. Stolen credentials hijacked LiteLLM proxy (version 1.82.8 poisoned on PyPI), harvesting SSH keys, tokens, secrets, and deploying backdoors. Developers reportedly gave production credentials to Claude with unrestricted permissions.

A solo developer reverse-engineered Google's compression algorithm. He built a Python prototype with 141 tests, ported to C in llama.cpp with Metal GPU kernels, and optimized speed from 739 to 2,747 tokens per second via fp32 to fp16, vectorized ops, and other tweaks. Additions include sparse V for 90 percent value decompression skips, asymmetric K/V, and temporal decay. A 35B model runs on a MacBook with 4.6x compressed cache. This means that while slow, it will still be able to produce tokens. This, plus Gemma4, might actually be really powerful.

A strangely useful hack for Claude Code Max plan users shifts the five-hour usage window by sending a throwaway message at 6 AM, anchoring it to 6-11 AM instead of 8 AM-1 PM. This avoids dead time by "warming up" Claude's timer well before you need it, giving you no dead time throughout your workday. The suggestion was that you can automate via GitHub Actions cron job with an OAuth token or Claude's scheduled tasks. Clever!

Okay, onto the articles!

Geopolitics

The U.S. is increasing defense spending to $1.5 trillion as it engages in a military conflict with Iran, while proposing cuts to non-defense discretionary spending. This budget request requires Congressional approval amidst rising gas prices affecting the public and political tension surrounding the midterm elections. Specific funding increases include missile defense, shipbuilding, and pay raises for military personnel.

  • U.S. defense spending is significantly increasing amidst ongoing military engagement with Iran.

  • The budget proposal requires Congressional approval and may face opposition from lawmakers.

[RSnake: I think we, as a nation, really bit off a lot with deciding to tackle the Monroe doctrine, but that plus going after Iran is going to break the bank and our weapon supplies.]

Source: https://www.defensenews.com/news/pentagon-congress/2026/04/03/trumps-budget-proposes-massive-defense-spending-with-10-cut-to-other-programs/

The Iranian blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has drastically decreased shipping traffic from an average of 129 ships a day to just six. This disruption has led to significant increases in energy prices, affecting global supply chains and particularly impacting developing countries that rely on imports for food and energy.

  • The blockade has resulted in a sharp rise in energy prices, affecting global markets.

  • Developing countries face heightened vulnerability due to their dependence on imported energy and food.

[RSnake: It sure has. I read an interesting report that China gets a lot more of Iran’s fuel than we do. I think the real short-term losers are the other peers in the region, not the US, though a pricey day at the pump will piss off a lot of people in the US.]

Source: https://geopoliticalfutures.com/?p=429707

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has enacted new sanctions targeting Russian entities involved in the military-industrial complex and the construction of the Crimean Bridge. This sanctions package includes 26 individuals and 31 legal entities linked to the production and servicing of various military technologies and equipment.

  • New sanctions have been implemented against Russian firms supporting military operations.

  • The sanctions target companies involved in weapons production and those circumventing existing sanctions.

[RSnake: I wonder what effect that will have. Perhaps these companies also had contracts in Ukraine proper, too.]

Source: https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2026/04/04/8028742/

The proposed 2027 budget by the Trump administration includes significant funding cuts for key science agencies in the U.S., particularly the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), with some budgets facing reductions of over 50%. Additionally, the budget seeks to ban federal funding for subscriptions and publishing fees for certain academic journals, which could impact research dissemination and funding availability.

  • The NSF and EPA face massive budget cuts, impacting scientific research and leadership.

  • The proposal may restrict federal funding for academic journals, affecting research accessibility.

[RSnake: To some extent, that’s bad, obviously, but in another sense, we cannot afford all these programs either. It’s either raise taxes/tariffs (make more money if you’re the government) or spend less (reduce spending).]

Source: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/trump-administration-proposes-massive-budget-cuts-to-science/

NASA's Artemis II mission is currently underway as the Orion spacecraft, carrying astronauts, has passed the halfway point between Earth and the Moon. The mission marks the first time since 1972 that humans have traveled beyond Earth's orbit, with the crew capturing high-resolution images of Earth during their journey. Artemis II aims to loop around the far side of the Moon, returning to Earth with a scheduled splashdown in the Pacific Ocean on April 10, 2026.

  • Artemis II crew captured high-resolution images of Earth during their mission.

  • The mission signifies a historic return of humans beyond Earth's orbit since 1972.

[RSnake: Thoughts go out to them on this Easter! It’s amazingly brave to strap yourself into a tin can and fire yourself around the moon. God speed!]

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce8jzr423p9o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss

Australia is experiencing significant fuel shortages, with hundreds of petrol stations running out of diesel, primarily in rural areas. The shortages have been exacerbated by rising fuel prices linked to the ongoing US-Israel conflict with Iran, which has led to a near-total suspension of international shipping through the crucial Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global oil and gas supplies. The Australian government is advising citizens to limit fuel use and utilize public transport while indicating that the economic impacts of the conflict will be felt for months to come.

  • Australia's fuel shortages are affecting a significant number of petrol stations across the country.

  • Rising fuel prices are connected to the disruption caused by the conflict in the Middle East.

  • The Australian government is encouraging citizens to conserve fuel and use public transport.

[RSnake: As I said, the peers in the region are going to be the most hurt by this conflict, not the US, though they could exert pressure on us.]

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c62l084kgk6o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss

Senegal's government has implemented a ban on non-essential foreign travel for ministers due to a significant rise in oil prices linked to the conflict in Iran. As the price of oil approaches double what was budgeted, measures are being taken across several African countries, including reducing fuel levies and rationing electricity, to cope with the economic effects of the ongoing crisis.

  • Senegal has banned non-essential foreign travel for government ministers due to rising oil prices.

  • Various African countries are implementing measures like reducing fuel taxes and rationing to address the economic impact of the oil crisis.

[RSnake: That’s an interesting side effect of a war. I’m not sure if it’s good or bad, but maybe they can use Zoom or something.]

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp84z5r4d32o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss

Viktor Orban, the Prime Minister of Hungary, is facing a significant challenge in the upcoming parliamentary election on April 12, as opposition candidate Peter Magyar appears to be gaining traction among voters. With allegations of corruption and a shift in public perception against Orban's Fidesz party, the election could have repercussions not only for Hungary's political landscape but also for far-right movements across Europe that Orban has come to represent.

  • Orban is being challenged by opposition candidate Peter Magyar, who has gained support ahead of the election.

  • The outcome of this election could impact far-right parties across Europe.

[RSnake: Well, yeah, because he IS corrupt. 🤣]

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/czd7y1n3jyjo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss

Cybersecurity

A newly discovered vulnerability in the AI tool OpenClaw allowed attackers to gain administrative access without authentication, threatening the security of numerous deployments. This accessibility meant that anyone with minimal pairing privileges could exploit the vulnerability, leading to potential breaches of sensitive data. Despite a recent patch, many instances of OpenClaw remain exposed, raising alarms among security professionals.

  • OpenClaw's vulnerability could allow attackers full administrative control over compromised instances.

  • The risk of exploitation was heightened due to many installs lacking proper authentication.

[RSnake: Something most people don’t understand is that the whole code was vibe coded. They are vibe coding with a vibe-coded app. Lol]

Source: https://arstechnica.com/security/2026/04/heres-why-its-prudent-for-openclaw-users-to-assume-compromise/

Meta has suspended its collaboration with Mercor after a significant supply chain attack that exposed sensitive data and AI training methodologies, which could impact several major AI companies. The breach, tied to a compromised open-source library, resulted in a loss of personal data and proprietary information, prompting investigations and a class action lawsuit involving more than 40,000 individuals.

  • Mercor, a key player in the AI training data market, experienced a cyberattack that compromised proprietary AI methodologies and personal data.

  • The attack highlights vulnerabilities in the interconnectedness of the AI industry and the potential risks associated with shared third-party data suppliers.

[RSnake: That’s probably wise. I wouldn’t be surprised if Meta got hit by lawsuits over the incident, and that didn’t cause the insurance companies to have to pay out.]

Source: https://thenextweb.com/news/meta-mercor-breach-ai-training-secrets-risk

A coordinated social engineering attack targeting maintainers of popular open-source projects has been attributed to North Korean hackers, specifically linked to the group UNC1069. The attack involved the injection of a malicious dependency into the Axios npm package, compromising systems across multiple platforms and raising alarms about the vulnerabilities in the software supply chain.

  • North Korean threat actors have targeted maintainers of widely used software packages through social engineering techniques.

  • A recent incident involving the Axios HTTP client led to the injection of malware into legitimate code, affecting numerous systems.

[RSnake: Interesting. That’s a big coup for them. They got a lot of targets in that particular supply chain hack/backdoor.]

Source: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/axios-npm-hack-used-fake-teams-error-fix-to-hijack-maintainer-account/

A significant surge in device code phishing attacks, utilizing the OAuth 2.0 Device Authorization Grant flow, has been reported, with an increase of over 37 times this year. Various phishing kits, including one named EvilTokens, have made this technique more accessible to cybercriminals, leading to widespread exploitation. Multiple platforms are now competing in this space, posing ongoing threats to user account security.

  • Device code phishing attacks have surged significantly, affecting user security.

  • Phishing kits like EvilTokens have democratized access to cybercrime techniques.

[RSnake: Phishing probably will never go away, but wow, that’s a big.]

Source: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/device-code-phishing-attacks-surge-37x-as-new-kits-spread-online/

LinkedIn has been reported to scan users' browsers for more than 6,000 Chrome extensions, collecting data related to user devices and installed software without user consent. This practice, termed 'BrowserGate', utilizes JavaScript to link users' browser data to identifiable profiles, potentially infringing upon privacy standards. LinkedIn disputes the validity of these claims, stating the data collection is for user protection and stability of the platform.

  • LinkedIn scans for over 6,000 browser extensions and collects associated device data.

  • The scanning is linked to identifiable user profiles and could infringe on privacy.

  • LinkedIn claims the data collection is aimed at protecting users and maintaining platform stability.

[RSnake: This is an age-old trick that people like Samy Kamkar and I were doing 15+ years ago. His was Evercookie, mine was Master Recon Tool (Mr. T). Same stuff, just different techniques.]

Source: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/linkedin-secretly-scans-for-6-000-plus-chrome-extensions-collects-data/

A former Air Force master sergeant admitted to defrauding the military out of $37 million through bid-rigging and bribery schemes involving IT contracts. This fraud persisted for nine years, using shell companies to divert funds to both himself and co-conspirators, and resulted in significant losses to taxpayers and military services. He has pled guilty and faces a potential sentence of up to 45 years in prison while agreeing to repay over $1.4 million to the Department of Defense.

  • The master sergeant inflated the costs of IT contracts, embezzling significant amounts from the military.

  • He used shell companies and advised co-conspirators on how to circumvent competitive bidding processes.

[RSnake: That’s a good haul! And also just shows how easy it is to do, having gotten away with it for almost a decade!]

Source: https://taskandpurpose.com/?p=367308

Technology

Nvidia has invested $2 billion in Marvell Technology to integrate its chipmaker into Nvidia's NVLink Fusion ecosystem, creating a partnership that ensures every custom chip developed by Marvell generates revenue for Nvidia. This partnership positions Nvidia to control a significant portion of the AI hardware ecosystem while expanding its influence over competitors targeting hyperscalers like Amazon and Google. Additionally, the collaboration emphasizes advancements in silicon photonics and connectivity infrastructure to support next-generation AI demands.

  • Nvidia invests $2 billion in Marvell to ensure ongoing revenue from custom AI chips.

  • The partnership emphasizes the integration of silicon photonics to meet the demands of next-generation AI infrastructure.

  • Nvidia maintains substantial control over the AI ecosystem, impacting competitors' chip development.

[RSnake: That’s the way of it, and one very good use for the funds NVIDIA is raising. Owning more of the hardware ecosystem is a win.]

Source: https://thenextweb.com/news/nvidia-marvell-nvlink-fusion-ecosystem-lock-in

Recent court verdicts found Meta and YouTube liable for harmful effects of their social media platforms on users, particularly young people. Meta was ordered to pay significant damages for its role in creating addictive designs and failing to protect children. These cases may open the floodgates for further litigation against tech companies regarding user safety and platform design.

  • Meta and YouTube were found liable for negative impacts on mental health and addiction in young users.

  • The cases may lead to increased regulation and potential changes in how social media platforms operate.

  • Further lawsuits could be expected following these precedents, threatening the business models of major tech companies.

[RSnake: I can see how their filter bubbles can produce extremely bad effects.]

Source: https://www.zerohedge.com/technology/how-social-media-verdicts-could-upend-tech-industry

Nuclear energy remains a significant part of the United States' energy infrastructure, providing nearly 20 percent of the nation's electricity through 94 reactors. There is an ongoing shift towards developing advanced nuclear technology, including small modular and microreactors, which may offer safer and more economical power solutions, aided by innovations in artificial intelligence for reactor design and operation.

  • The U.S. relies on nuclear power for about 20% of its electricity, and there is a need for more advancements in this sector.

  • Research is focused on developing new kinds of nuclear reactors and using AI to improve their safety and efficiency.

[RSnake: It probably should be more. A lot more. Speaking of, the next article kinda explains why…]

Source: https://news.mit.edu/2026/working-to-advance-nuclear-renaissance-dean-price-0403

Half of planned US data center builds have faced delays or cancellations due to power infrastructure shortages and supply chain issues stemming from China. Iranian military actions have directly impacted major tech companies and their operations in the region, with drone strikes causing significant disruptions to AWS data centers in Bahrain and Dubai, leading to service outages and ongoing regional instability affecting global supply chains.

  • US data center constructions are impaired due to infrastructural and component shortages.

  • Iran's military threats and attacks are disrupting tech operations, particularly impacting AWS data centers.

  • The ongoing conflict could severely hinder essential semiconductor supply chains.

[RSnake: Half. Wow. That’s a lot. Does not bode well if they need to hit those monetary projections.]

Source: https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/iranian-missile-blitz-takes-down-aws-data-centers-in-bahrain-and-dubai-amazon-declares-hard-down-status-for-multiple-zones

AI companies are rapidly investing in natural gas plants to meet the growing energy demands of their data centers, particularly in the southern U.S. This surge in demand is causing shortages of necessary equipment like turbines, which could significantly increase costs and create potential supply constraints in the future.

  • Major AI companies are securing natural gas supplies to power their data centers.

  • The competition for these resources has led to shortages and rising equipment costs.

  • Electricity prices are closely tied to natural gas prices, which could affect various industries.

[RSnake: So this is not a terrible idea, but it will likely also drive up fuel prices as well, which is already pretty high.]

Source: https://techcrunch.com/?p=3109180

A new gene therapy can restore hearing in people born deaf, with significant improvements observed within weeks after a single injection. The therapy targets a genetic mutation affecting the OTOF gene, essential for sound signal transmission, and was tested on ten patients with positive outcomes reported by all. Researchers plan to expand this treatment approach to other genetic causes of deafness.

  • Gene therapy demonstrated the ability to restore hearing in children and adults with congenital deafness.

  • Patients experienced significant hearing improvements within one month of treatment.

[RSnake: Wow. The miracle of modern medicine. It may be early to celebrate, but if it even works some of the time, that would be great.]

Source: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/04/260403044651.htm

SpaceX and Blue Origin are competing to establish orbital data centers with plans to launch millions of satellites into space, asserting that this could provide a solution to the increasing energy demands of AI. However, scientists express skepticism regarding the feasibility of these projects due to significant challenges related to thermodynamics, costs, and radiation effects. The current economic and technical hurdles suggest that practical implementation may take much longer than the proposed timelines.

  • SpaceX aims to launch one million satellites for orbital data centers, while Blue Origin plans for over 51,600.

  • Scientists are concerned about the physics and economic viability of operating data centers in space.

  • The rapid growth of energy consumption by AI raises the stakes for viable computing solutions.

[RSnake: The thermodynamics are still a big question mark for me. Radiating heat into space is a great idea, but how they plan to physically move it since there is no air to move the heat into is a question mark.]

Source: https://thenextweb.com/news/musk-wants-a-million-data-centre-satellites-bezos-wants-51600-scientists-want-to-know-why

Microsoft has launched three in-house AI models named MAI-Transcribe-1, MAI-Voice-1, and MAI-Image-2, positioning itself as a competitor to OpenAI after renegotiating contract terms that had previously restricted its AI development efforts. The release of these models, developed under the MAI Superintelligence team, marks a significant shift in Microsoft's strategy, moving towards creating standalone AI capabilities independent of OpenAI's technology. This transition points to a broader fragmentation of the AI model market, with Microsoft aiming to attract enterprise customers by integrating their solutions within Microsoft Foundry.

  • Microsoft released three AI models to compete with OpenAI after renegotiating restrictions on its AI development.

  • These models aim to provide Microsoft with independent AI capabilities and shift enterprise spending towards its in-house solutions.

[RSnake: I was wondering when they would start to distance themselves from OpenAI. The only alternative would be to own the whole thing, and I think even for MS that would be a bit pricey.]

Source: https://thenextweb.com/news/microsoft-mai-models-openai-independence

Business

California is experiencing the highest gas prices in the United States, primarily due to a combination of state-specific regulations, global supply issues, and the closure of local refineries. Factors such as a special fuel blend requirement, high state taxes, and increased production costs are contributing to the elevated prices, which are compounded by reliance on imported oil. The state legislature's attempts to cap oil company profits have been met with challenges, as industry representatives note that such measures fail to address market volatility.

  • California has the highest gas prices in the U.S., driven by state regulations and global supply issues.

  • State laws, including a special fuel blend requirement and high taxes, significantly contribute to the elevated gas costs.

  • The closure of local refineries has led California to rely on imported oil, which increases prices further.

[RSnake: Yep, this will affect all kinds of things, including commodities at the grocery stores. I am hearing as high as $8 a gallon.]

Source: https://www.dailywire.com/news/we-know-why-gas-costs-so-much-in-california-its-bad-for-dems

Tesla has regained the global lead in battery electric vehicle (BEV) deliveries over BYD, with 358,023 units delivered in Q1 2026. However, Tesla's production surpassed its sales, leading to inventory buildup and subsequent stock decline, while BYD is pivoting towards hybrids and international markets amid weakening domestic sales. In a competitive landscape marked by tariff pressures and changing consumer preferences, both companies face strategic challenges ahead.

  • Tesla delivered 358,023 BEVs in Q1 2026, narrowly surpassing BYD's deliveries.

  • Tesla faces challenges as production exceeds sales, leading to inventory issues and declining stock prices.

  • BYD is shifting focus towards hybrids while expanding its presence in international markets amidst fluctuating domestic demand.

[RSnake: Impressive, but having spent a lot of time in a Waymo while out in San Francisco last week, I can say that the Robotaxi is the real future. Why does anyone need a car if Robotaxi really takes off?]

Source: https://thenextweb.com/news/tesla-reclaims-the-quarterly-ev-crown-from-byd-but-the-numbers-tell-a-more-complicated-story

US President Donald Trump is proposing a budget of $152 million to reopen the Alcatraz prison as a secure facility, part of a larger $1.7 billion investment in the Bureau of Prisons. This proposal has met skepticism from various California politicians, with concerns about costs and the practical challenges of operating the site as a prison, which has not functioned as one since 1963. The current tourist attraction generates significant revenue, and its potential conversion might impact both the landmark's status and financial contributions.

  • Trump's budget proposal includes funds to renovate Alcatraz prison into a modern facility.

  • The proposal has faced criticism regarding its feasibility and financial implications.

[RSnake: Lol… I am not at all shocked that California doesn’t want that. Not only is it a tourist destination, but California wants to release more criminals, not incarcerate more.]

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3dlpk0zzy1o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss

Oracle has laid off thousands of employees while simultaneously filing over 3,000 petitions to hire foreign workers under the H1B visa program. This trend of mass layoffs in the tech industry has led to over 52,000 job cuts in the first three months of 2026, coinciding with rising tensions around job security among American workers who are now facing increased competition for jobs.

  • Oracle submitted about 3,126 H1B visa petitions while undertaking mass layoffs.

  • The tech industry has seen over 52,000 job cuts in the first quarter of 2026 amid a changing employment landscape.

[RSnake: It makes sense because these are highly skilled workers who would be bringing it. It’s not like they’re doing a 1:1 swap for foreign workers. I see this sort of thing as a necessary evil. We need more brilliant people in the US.]

Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/3126-petitions-to-employ-h1b-workers-outrage-as-oracle-fires-thousands-while-hiring-foreign-workers/articleshow/130021948.cms

The Trump administration is set to impose tariffs of up to 100% on certain imported medicines, effective in the coming months, with significant exemptions for larger pharmaceutical companies. The tariffs aim to encourage drug manufacturers to increase production in the U.S., with varying impacts based on companies' agreements with the government. Industry groups express concerns over the potential for increased costs and disruptions to supply chains.

  • The Trump administration will impose up to 100% tariffs on certain imported medicines to encourage domestic production.

  • Larger pharmaceutical companies have negotiated exemptions, while smaller firms may face significant financial risks due to the tariffs.

[RSnake: That could be a huge idea for national security, not just revenue. When supply chains get tighter, having medicines produced here is just a good move all around.]

Source: https://www.supplychainbrain.com/articles/43790-trump-will-impose-100-tariff-on-some-patented-drugs

The film industry is experiencing a shift in focus as video game adaptations gain popularity, with successful releases like 'The Super Mario Bros. Movie' and upcoming projects such as 'Mortal Kombat II' and 'The Legend of Zelda'. The MCU's decline has opened the door for video game franchises to become central to Hollywood's future, resulting in increased interest and profitability for both film studios and game manufacturers.

  • Video game adaptations are rising in film and television, signaling a shift in audience interests.

  • The financial success of recent video game movies indicates a potential long-term trend in Hollywood's content strategy.

[RSnake: Yeah, it’s sloppy, but the kids love it.]

Source: https://www.dailywire.com/news/the-next-box-office-boom-is-here-and-it-looks-nothing-like-marvel

OpenAI is experiencing a leadership restructuring with its CEO of AGI deployment, Fidji Simo, taking medical leave amid her health challenges. The company is also searching for new executive leadership, including a chief marketing officer and a chief communications officer, as it prepares for a potential IPO after substantial funding and user growth in recent years.

  • Fidji Simo is taking medical leave due to health issues.

  • OpenAI is undergoing an executive restructuring while preparing for a potential IPO.

[RSnake: So weird that a non-profit turns into a for-profit and goes public. Honestly, this is the weirdest company that has ever been made in more ways than one.]

Source: https://www.wired.com/story/openais-fidji-simo-is-taking-a-leave-of-absence/

The United States Postal Service (USPS) is experiencing a financial crisis, losing billions of dollars annually. The decline in mail volumes due to digital alternatives and inefficiencies within the organization have led to calls for privatization as a solution to modernize operations and improve service delivery.

  • USPS has been losing money for over a decade, with mail volumes collapsing as people shift to digital options.

  • Privatization could allow USPS to operate more efficiently and adapt to current market demands.

[RSnake: We do need the USPS in rural areas still, so we need to make sure it exists at least in those areas, but in many other areas, the commercial options are just as good or better, so it’s no surprise.]

Source: https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/its-past-time-privatize-post-office

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Full Disclosure: None of this is advice. This newsletter is strictly educational and my opinions. Please be careful, do your own research, and consult a professional before taking any action based on anything posted here.