RSnake Report 20251025

Hello, and thanks for reading! I had a quiet week except for pissing off the CVSS SIG (Common Vulnerability Scoring System Special Interest Group). This is the group that sets the standard for how the government ranks all known software vulnerabilities. They weren’t exactly pleased with my presentation. I wrote something more about it here. You can check out the original video here if you want to actually see what I said that kicked over the hornet’s nest. Honestly, I am okay with upsetting them because something has to change. Too many organizations are getting hacked, and it’s time to shake things up. So while I didn’t make many friends this week, I still see it as an important win.

Okay, on with the news. It was a light one geopolitically this week.

In Russia/Ukraine news, Russia has suffered enormous losses in its ongoing conflict with Ukraine, with at least 100,000 troops killed since January 2025, while capturing only 0.4 percent of Ukrainian territory. The total losses are estimated to be between 984,000 and 1.4 million troops, including 190,000 to 480,000 killed, according to The Economist. It was the high watermark that caught my eye. If that number is closer to being true, we are nudging up to 1.5M pretty fast.

From Wikipedia, “Russia has an estimated population of 146.0 million as of 1 January 2025, down from 147.2 million recorded in the 2021 census.” A diminishing population of 1.2M is pretty notable. Since not all of the casualties are deaths, and the worst case is closer to 500k, that means there were 700k deaths more than however many births occurred in 4 years. That’s like losing a Nashville-sized population every 4 years. But my point is this has to be coming from a population crash at the same time as casualties mount, a double whammy.

Where is it coming from? Well, aside from having a lot of men tied up in war, and other reasons people may not feel it is economically safe to do so, there is also a new fuel insecurity issue, which may be limiting travel, and travel may be necessary for even short-distance romance in the winter months. Fuel shortages have worsened in Russia, with 68 of its 83 regions now affected —an increase of 8 regions this week. The entire Siberian region is experiencing shortages now.

Russia is clearly feeling it now because it has telegraphed a willingness to relinquish control of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia in exchange for Donbas, which indicates the pressure it faces to find an exit strategy. Ukraine's defensive strategy is effectively degrading Russian combat power over time, with approximately 85% of Russian personnel in active battle zones being hunted down by drones or direct fire. The unsustainable attrition continues to result in Russian losses of men and vehicles for minimal territorial gains, while its economy slides toward stagnation.

The Russian Orenburg Gas Processing Plant is currently facing challenges, as shown in recent footage.

The Ryazan oil refinery is burning following an attack, with some sources claiming "Peklo" missiles were used.

The Feodosia oil depot in Crimea is no longer recoverable after being struck by Ukrainian forces, according to Mykhailo Honchar, president of the Centre for Globalistics "Strategy XXI." Strikes on fuel storage facilities in Crimea are deepening the fuel crisis and limiting the Russian Armed Forces' fuel supply capabilities and transit through the peninsula.

The Bryansk Chemical Plant has been hit, with a Russian insider channel reporting that "the plant is either screwed or very close to it." That means that these strikes are not just temporarily punitive, but may actually break the backbone of the oil and gas industry permanently.

The Russian FSB-controlled state messenger MAX was rumored to have been hacked, with 46.2 million data rows stolen. The hacker posted sample rows from the database on the dark web, although some question whether this is a real hack or a psyop. I tend to think it probably didn’t happen, but I am sure a lot of people are eying it and asking if it wasn’t already hacked, what might that take? You can see the MAX software spying on you, especially on certain devices that have pop-up cameras, which looks super scary on such devices.

Ukraine's Air Force will receive its first of up to 150 Swedish GRIPEN multirole fighter jets (C/D variants) from Sweden in the first quarter of 2026, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has confirmed.

In European news, two oil refineries linked to Russia caught fire in the EU within 24 hours. A blaze broke out at one of the units of the MOL Danube Refinery in Hungary, while an explosion occurred at Lukoil's refinery in Romania, which was undergoing maintenance. While we don’t know how they happened, I don’t think there is much likelihood that it’s not Ukraine. In a way, though, this is an attack on NATO, because Hungary and Romania are both NATO countries. I doubt this will be used as a means to start a conflict with Ukraine, but… technically, there is a requirement to act if it does turn out to be a nation-state, regardless of which nation did it.

All on the same day, Poland arrested seven agents working for Russia and preparing acts of sabotage. Romania's Secret Service released footage of the capture of two Russian agents caught placing bombs inside parcel deliveries intended for later detonation. I am not sure if they will release where they were intended, but that would be really interesting information to know. However, DIICOT's press release states that the captured agents were Ukrainian citizens, suggesting they were either working with Russians beforehand or were promised significant money to sabotage Ukraine. Others are calling it a false flag. What a mess.

In South East Asia news, South Korea has put into serial production the world's most powerful non-nuclear ballistic missile, the Hyunmoo-5. The 36-ton missile, with an 8-ton warhead and a flight range of 3000-3500 km, will be deployed on combat duty by the end of the year to deter North Korea, according to South Korea's Minister of Defense An Gyu-bak. I really like this way of thinking. It is easily large enough to destroy most non-hardened and even many hardened structures, and avoids nuclear escalation in the process.

In Middle East news, the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip temporarily collapsed, with the Israeli Air Force carrying out multiple strikes on the Central and Southern Gaza Strip following a reported violation of the ceasefire by Hamas in the Rafah Area. Hamas has denied involvement in the incident.

Israeli strikes continue to target sites in and around Khan Yunis in the Southern Gaza Strip. The Israeli Air Force attacked underground targets in areas it had previously avoided, including tunnels that held Israeli hostages until a week ago.

The Israel Defense Force published footage of a strike against a group of armed individuals that had crossed the "Yellow Line" in the Northern Gaza Strip, posing an immediate threat to Israeli Forces. Israeli forces then apprehended over 120 Palestinians of military age who had illegally crossed the border fence near Moshav Amatzia in the Lachish region. You know, just a casual company of men out in the middle of the night crossing borders… No big deal.

Rafael confirmed that the Iron Beam laser air defense system, with a 100-kilowatt laser and a 10 km range, is ready for deployment and will be commissioned by the IDF this quarter. The first system is expected to be delivered by the end of 2025. I was fairly surprised to see this, as I was under the impression it was used during True Promise II and beyond, but apparently not. The one not-so-good thing about this system that I saw from the video is that it takes a few seconds to burn through the incoming rounds, so it needs quite a bit of time per shot. But at a 10km range, that should work just fine for most small-scale attacks.

The IDF has started marking the new boundary within the Gaza Strip, turning the so-called "yellow line" into a physical border with a concrete visible barrier placed every 200 meters and a 3.5-meter-high pole. I think this would eventually mark the line of a new border wall, given enough time, effectively shrinking the size of Gaza into mostly just where the dunes are. The IDF effectively holds about 40 bases beyond the yellow line.

Iran claims to have unveiled upgraded Emad and Qadr missiles with advanced counter-electronic warfare capabilities, developed from lessons learned from a series of failures during the True Promise operations. I am not sure if this is a credible upgrade or just more marketing, but I have a feeling we shall see.

The Houthis issued a warning via video, claiming they can target U.S. Navy aircraft carriers and warships using their Quds-5 and Al-Mandab missiles. We have heard a lot of this rhetoric before, but I am a little surprised they’re back at it, given that they were pretty badly spanked by the Israelis a few months back. But maybe it is part of their fundraising to up their rhetoric again before they pass the hat around.

In North American news, the USS Gerald R Ford is steaming towards Venezuela. This is in support of a war on drugs, or much more likely to push the Maduro regime to step down, one way or another.

It’s also been about a month since the government shutdown started and half a million government workers without a paycheck. It also could effect 42 million or so Americans who are on SNAP. Meanwhile Timothy Mellon, a billionaire friend of Trump’s offered up $130 million to pay the paycheck for the military during the shutdown so that they cannot be used as pawns in negotiations to get concessions, of course the budget for payroll is something like $195 billion so it’s likely not going to help for more than a day or two, so Trump will need to find money elsewhere if he wants to keep funding the military payroll. The Republicans and Democrats are waiting out the clock to see who blinks first. Who is hurt worse by a long-term government shutdown? I think it’s a draw between urban poor who lean blue and rural whites who lean red.

The left has a new plan, which is to shoplift during November. As one of my readers said to me, “Sad thing about this is that most of the grocery stores and pharmacies in low-income neighborhoods are already permanently closed because of shoplifting. This will ensure that low-income and minority residents do not have a nearby grocery store. And of course our public transportation system sucks ass, so they'll be even more fucked.” Yep.

In Tech news, I saw a few things that were all about equally disturbing in how people are beginning to interact with robots. Booster Robotics introduced the all-new K1 robot, promoting it as the future of robotics and seemingly attempting to normalize robots interacting with children by showing a video of them running after their robot friend.

Also, a woman danced with a robot and humorously admitted that the robot beat her. So now we are treating robots like embodied entertainment, except these things have absolutely zero sense of fun, or of what dancing is, or beating anyone.

Unitree introduced the H2 bionic humanoid robot, standing 180cm tall and weighing 70kg, designed to serve everyone “safely and friendly”. Aside from that cringy statement, it just shows how hard the robotics industry is trying to make it feel elegant and human-like. But again, these are not at all what they appear to be. I think when they accidentally tear an arm off or crush a child, there may be a strong reaction against them, but humans cannot help but anthropomorphize objects, especially when they dance around.

More on the militarized side, Direct Drive Tech launched the D1, the world's first fully modular embodied intelligence robot, designed for swarm collaboration and featuring "All-Domain Splicing" capability for flexible motion systems. The D1 supports a maximum load of 100 kg in four-wheel crawl mode and 80 kg in standing mode, with a tested empty-load range of over 25 km and a runtime exceeding 5 hours in dual wheel-leg mode. At first, I didn’t see this as particularly useful, but the more I thought about it, the more I think it does have some real uses. First of all, it gives you the ability to repair by replacing parts. Second, by breaking up into parts, it becomes more portable by smaller aerial drones. Lastly, for recon, it might be hugely beneficial to be able to break up into smaller drones so that more area can be covered quickly, and then recombined later.

Lastly in dystopian news, a new blog post investigated how large language models trade off different lives and their values by country, sex and other attributes, finding that most models view whites as less valuable than other groups, men as less valuable than women, and undocumented immigrants as far more valuable than ICE agents. The post also identifies roughly four moral clusters among the models, with Grok 4 Fast being the only approximately egalitarian model. Pretty scary, given that almost no one uses Grok 4 Fast, and almost everyone is using ChatGPT, which is easily one of the most racist models in the researcher’s testing.

Okay, onto the articles!

NATO is facing a catch-22 as it tries to protect its data flows from subsea cable disruptions and space threats, but has failed to recognize the dangers behind Russia's escalations in both domains.

• The number of incidents involving undersea cables in the Baltic region has increased significantly since 2022, with potential Russian involvement in several cases.

• NATO is diverting high-priority data traffic from subsea cables to satellites in the event of a threat, but this backup plan may not be reliable given Russia's escalating anti-satellite capabilities.

[RSnake: Russian Hybrid warfare. Although I suspect at least some of it is China as well.]

Source: https://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2025/10/24/natos_subsea_cable_strategy_turns_into_a_catch-22_1142966.html

The US has positioned a military force off Venezuela’s coast, with thousands of troops, warships, and aircraft deployed across the region. The largest US presence in Latin America in decades is marked by at least ten deadly strikes on vessels off Venezuela’s coast, with the latest attack killing six people on board. The operation is part of a growing military build-up under the authority of US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), which oversees operations in Central and South America and the Caribbean.

• The largest US presence in Latin America in decades is marked by at least ten deadly strikes on vessels off Venezuela’s coast.

• Thousands of troops, warships, and aircraft are deployed across the region under the authority of US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM).

[RSnake: It’s likely a week or more before we’ll see a conflict starting, given the time it will take for the USS Gerald Ford to steam into position.]

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/10/25/what-military-force-has-the-us-positioned-off-venezuelas-coast?traffic_source=rss

The United States and China are competing for influence over Asia, with both nations presenting contrasting visions in areas such as trade and technology. This rivalry is pressuring Asian countries to choose sides, especially regarding economic and military relationships amidst uncertainties in U.S. commitments. The outcomes of high-stakes meetings between leaders like Trump and Xi could significantly impact regional alliances and the global economy.

• The U.S. and China are vying for influence in Asia, impacting trade and technology.

• Asian countries face pressure to choose sides in the U.S.-China rivalry.

• High-stakes meetings could lead to significant changes in regional alliances.

[RSnake: The choice isn’t a great one for most Asian countries. Choose us or choose no one, because China isn’t an ally to anyone for any longer than it gains something from that arrangement. But to choose us means they have an enemy on their doorstep.]

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/25/world/asia/trump-china-trade-deal-xi.html

Russia is forming female assault units to fight on the Pokrovsk axis in Ukraine, where they are being used as cannon fodder due to catastrophic losses, and their lives depend on the mercy of officers.

• Russian forces are using women and children as targets in the war, with evacuation impossible and civilians burying neighbors in their yards.

• Russia is relying on female assault units to fulfill personnel shortages and continue fighting, despite catastrophic losses and a high risk of death.

[RSnake: That’s a new low. Reminds me of ISIS using women as suicide bombers.]

Source: https://euromaidanpress.com/?p=369413

The United States and European Union have implemented new sanctions against Russian energy firms, targeting the country's largest oil companies to undermine its war financing capabilities in Ukraine. In response, Russia's President Putin has downplayed the effects of these sanctions, while US President Trump has expressed skepticism about their impact, signaling contrasting assessments from both leaders.

• The US and EU have coordinated sanctions that target major Russian oil companies to weaken the financing of Russia's war in Ukraine.

• The sanctions are designed to impact Russia's energy revenues and include measures that target entities assisting Russia internationally.

[RSnake: It is working, but it’s one of those things that will take years to really feel. It will be shored up with more taxes. Those taxes will contract the economy. That will cause another shortage. Then you’ll see more taxes, and on and on until the economy is all but destroyed. It’s really just the beginning.]

Source: https://euromaidanpress.com/?p=369381

Since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan over four years ago, women and girls have been systematically stripped of their rights, including access to education and employment. The current humanitarian crisis has led to increased violence against women and a collapse of healthcare services, leaving many in dire situations without basic needs met or the ability to work.

• Women and girls in Afghanistan are denied education and employment under the Taliban regime.

• The healthcare system is collapsing, with a significant shortage of skilled professionals, leading to increased risks during childbirth.

• Violence against women has surged, exacerbated by Taliban policies that restrict women's rights and mobility.

[RSnake: It really is awful. This is what Sharia brings. We really need to make absolutely sure it doesn’t take root in the Western world.]

Source: https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/?p=882868

DHS is planning to deploy a fleet of AI-powered surveillance trucks on the US-Mexico border, equipped with radar, cameras, and autonomous tracking capabilities, to extend surveillance on demand.

• The system would mount on 4x4 vehicles capable of reaching remote areas and transforming into rolling, autonomous observation towers, extending the reach of border surveillance far beyond its current fixed sites.

• The proposed system relies heavily on computer vision, a kind of “artificial intelligence” that allows machines to interpret visual data frame by frame and detect shapes, heat signatures, and movement patterns.

[RSnake: It makes sense. It scales better than on-the-ground human labor. For the time being, we’ll still require humans to deal with arrests and paperwork, but the patrols can be automated.]

Source: https://www.wired.com/story/dhs-wants-a-fleet-of-ai-powered-surveillance-trucks/

U.S. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche has sent a formal letter to California officials, including Governor Gavin Newsom, urging them against interfering with federal law enforcement officers enforcing immigration laws. The DOJ warned that those who violate federal statutes will face prosecution.

• Federal agents and officers are carrying out lawful duties, and any interference is both illegal and futile.

• Those who violate federal statutes will face prosecution.

[RSnake: He’s even threatening withholding funding amongst other punitive measures if CA doesn’t comply with federal standards.]

Source: https://www.foxnews.com/politics/doj-warns-california-officials-stand-down-face-prosecution-after-threats-arrest-ice-agents

Suriname is set to become a major oil producer and is building an economy that aims to balance its growth with environmental concerns, as the country prepares for its first offshore oil platform to begin pumping in 2028.

• Suriname will start pumping oil from its first offshore platform in 2028 and plans to use oil revenue to fund green infrastructure and social programs, aiming to balance economic growth with environmental concerns.

• The country has a 'carbon-negative' status due to its vast rainforest cover, but new mining and logging developments claim more of it each year, threatening the country's carbon-neutral status in the next decade.

[RSnake: We may see Lukoil and Rosnef go bankrupt in light of the Russian sanctions by the way. I think it’s probably a little ways out, but worth keeping my eye on. So seeing other countries building oil, especially closer to home, is good news. That said, yes, this will have an effect on the rainforest if the country isn’t careful.]

Source: https://foreignpolicy.com/?p=1210008

Prosecutors in Bangladesh are seeking the death penalty for former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is currently in hiding in India, after a violent crackdown on protests led to her ousting and significant loss of life. She faces charges, including crimes against humanity, in connection with the unrest that resulted in over 1,400 deaths. Hasina's party, the Awami League, has been banned from political activities as her rival party prepares for the upcoming elections.

• Sheikh Hasina is sought for trial on charges of crimes against humanity related to severe police violence during protests.

• The crackdown on protests has resulted in over 1,400 fatalities and significant political upheaval in Bangladesh.

[RSnake: I am fairly sure he won’t be back to find out if that threat is real or not. So, unless they plan to kidnap or force an extradition, I’m not sure what the goal here is.]

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0jd8dy7zd6o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss

The United States needs to expand its nuclear forces due to China's rapid nuclear buildup and the expiration of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) in February 2026.

• China has been engaged in the world’s most rapid nuclear expansion since the 1960s, aiming to have 1,500 nuclear weapons by 2035.

• The New START treaty is already on life support due to Russia's refusal to resume on-site inspections and China's nuclear buildup.

[RSnake: I actually think we likely have the right amount, or maybe even too many, nuclear devices. But we probably need more varied and stealthy/hypersonic means of delivery.]

Source: https://foreignpolicy.com/?p=1209417

A ceasefire plan involving the US, Egypt, Turkey, and Qatar has been put into place to end the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, following the release of hostages by Hamas in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners. Key elements of the ongoing negotiations include the return of deceased hostages, increased humanitarian aid, and further Israeli troop withdrawals from Gaza, while Hamas has yet to agree to its disarmament or governance post-conflict.

• Hamas released 20 living hostages in exchange for almost 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, leading to a ceasefire agreement.

• The US-brokered plan involves multiple phases, including increased humanitarian aid and Israeli troop withdrawals from Gaza.

[RSnake: … and then bombs dropped on those positions. So either the Israelis knew exactly where they were at the time, or the hostages let them know where they were held once released.]

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvgqx7ygq41o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss

Iran remains on the Financial Action Task Force's list of high-risk countries due to non-compliance with rules regarding anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing. Despite ratifying a UN convention aimed at suppressing terror financing, Iran's reservations and lack of action have led to continued scrutiny and the imposition of international measures.

• Iran is facing ongoing international scrutiny due to non-compliance with FATF rules.

• The ratification of the UN Convention against Terror Financing by Iran does not meet FATF standards, resulting in continued high-risk designation.

[RSnake: That’s not surprising, and until they overhaul their government, I suspect it’ll be the same situation.]

Source: https://www.iranintl.com/en/20251024923

The US and UK have taken action against a Southeast Asian crime network using trafficked workers to defraud people into bogus crypto investments, targeting 146 individuals within the Prince Group network and seizing Bitcoin worth over $14bn.

• The US Justice Department has declared the Cambodia-based Prince Group a transnational criminal organization and taken the largest action ever in Southeast Asia against this network.

• The group is accused of running a network of purpose-built forced labour camps across Cambodia, Myanmar, and other countries in the region, where workers were lured through fake job advertisements and forced to carry out online fraud against victims around the world.

[RSnake: Wow, that’s a pretty huge haul!]

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/10/15/us-uk-sanction-huge-southeast-asian-crypto-scam-network?traffic_source=rss

YouTube is launching a new dedicated section for teen-focused mental health and well-being content, making it easier for users 13-17 years old to find age-appropriate information on topics like depression, anxiety, ADHD, and eating disorders. This move comes as 39.7% of students felt ongoing sadness and hopelessness, while 28.5% reported poor mental health. The new offering is rolling out to users in several countries, including the U.S., U.K., Canada, Mexico, France, and Australia.

• YouTube is investing in mental health initiatives for teenagers by providing age-appropriate information on topics like depression, anxiety, ADHD, and eating disorders.

• The new offering aims to reach teens where they already seek information, such as YouTube, with nine out of 10 teens reporting they use the platform.

[RSnake: We talked about this last week, but here is more information on it.]

Source: https://techcrunch.com/?p=3057151

A critical vulnerability in Windows Server Update Service (WSUS) has been identified, allowing remote code execution without user interaction. Microsoft has released urgent security updates and workarounds, while reports indicate that some instances are already being exploited.

• CVE-2025-59287 is a remote code execution flaw affecting WSUS servers.

• Public proof-of-concept exploit code for the vulnerability has increased the risk of attacks.

[RSnake: Time to patch up!]

Source: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/hackers-now-exploiting-critical-windows-server-wsus-flaw-in-attacks/

Recent changes in iOS 26 have led to the overwriting of the shutdown.log file, which was crucial for detecting spyware like Pegasus and Predator. This modification may hinder forensic investigations at a time when spyware attacks are increasing, affecting both public and high-profile individuals.

• iOS 26's handling of the shutdown.log file erases important evidence of spyware infections.

• The ongoing adaptation of spyware techniques complicates the detection and investigation of these threats.

[RSnake: It really should keep logs around for longer than just one reboot.]

Source: https://iverify.io/blog/key-iocs-for-pegasus-and-predator-spyware-cleaned-with-ios-26-update

A browser named Universe Browser, allegedly connected to illegal online gambling operations, is reportedly behaving like malware, routing traffic through China and installing dubious software. Researchers have linked this browser to a broader cybercrime network in Southeast Asia, involving sophisticated organized criminal groups that engage in various forms of online scams and illegal gambling. The findings signify a rise in the technical capabilities and complexity of criminal operations in the region.

• The Universe Browser is linked to illegal online gambling and cybercrime networks in Southeast Asia.

• Researchers found that it exhibits malware-like behaviors, potentially compromising user data and privacy.

• The browser's operation signifies evolving tactics used by organized crime syndicates in the region.

[RSnake: Be very cautious of using 3rd party, unheard-of browsers and agent browsers. Browsers are very complicated pieces of software, even when they’re running well and properly financed.]

Source: https://www.wired.com/story/universe-browser-malware-gambling-networks/

China and Russia are reportedly employing "sex warfare" to infiltrate Silicon Valley, exploiting emotional vulnerabilities with personal relationships to extract trade secrets and intellectual property, posing a significant threat to national security and the tech industry's openness.

• China and Russia are using human intelligence (HUMINT) operations targeting US technology hubs, exploiting emotional vulnerabilities with personal relationships to extract trade secrets and intellectual property.

• This emerging espionage strategy exploits social vulnerabilities rather than digital ones, combining psychological manipulation with data theft.

[RSnake: This led to a lot of funny memes and comments, but it’s actually quite serious. It’s also been happening for about as long as spies have existed. The rule of thumb is that if she’s a 10, you are likely the target. That’s why I don’t tell my pretty wife anything. Safer that way. 🤣 ]

Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/china-and-russia-reportedly-using-sex-warfare-to-spy-on-silicon-valley-elon-musk-reacts/articleshow/124771871.cms

Research into Deep Research (DR) agents based on Large Language Models (LLMs) reveals risks when these agents are misused, particularly in sensitive fields such as biosecurity. Experiments indicate that harmful prompts can bypass safety measures, leading to the generation of dangerous and coherent content not typically produced by standalone LLMs. The study calls for the development of improved alignment techniques to mitigate these vulnerabilities.

• Deep Research agents can perform complex, multi-step research, but have been found to produce dangerous content when misused.

• Existing safety measures are insufficient, as harmful prompts can hijack agent intent, indicating a need for better alignment techniques.

[RSnake: Not much news to anyone who deals with these models. They are anything but good at protecting against output if they know their model at all.]

Source: https://arxiv.org/abs/2510.11851

Reddit's AI feature, Reddit Answers, has been providing harmful medical advice in forums, including suggesting users try substances like kratom and heroin for pain management. Following user complaints, Reddit has begun implementing updates to prevent such dangerous suggestions from appearing in discussions involving sensitive topics and is exploring options to enhance content visibility on the platform.

• Reddit's AI-generated responses in medical subreddits included dangerous recommendations.

• User concerns led Reddit to implement changes to prevent harmful advice from being displayed.

[RSnake: It’s so bad. So so bad. And it cannot be turned off by the mods when it’s misbehaving.]

Source: https://www.404media.co/reddit-answers-ai-suggests-users-try-heroin/

A widespread cyberexploitation campaign is targeting WordPress sites, leveraging critical vulnerabilities in widely used plugins that allow remote code execution. Researchers report that many websites remain at risk because they have not updated to patched versions of these plugins, even months after fixes were released.

• A campaign is exploiting vulnerabilities in WordPress plugins GutenKit and Hunk Companion to gain unauthorized access.

• Despite patches being available, many sites continue to operate with outdated and vulnerable plugin versions.

[RSnake: As it should. It’s not WordPress; it’s the plugins and a complete lack of security in what they are allowed to do. Needless to say, the plugins are a hot mess.]

Source: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/hackers-launch-mass-attacks-exploiting-outdated-wordpress-plugins/

Researchers are developing a fully automated artificial pancreas that can track and alter blood glucose levels through insulin, mimicking the body's natural process, with the goal of giving people with type 1 diabetes more freedom from managing their condition.

• A team of researchers is developing a fully automated artificial pancreas that can track and alter blood glucose levels through insulin, mimicking the body's natural process.

• The device aims to give people with type 1 diabetes more freedom from managing their condition by automating insulin delivery and adjusting doses based on blood glucose levels.

[RSnake: Very cool. I get the impression we are a few decades away from being able to print anything we want. Just in time for when I’m ready to start trading in my crappy organs for good ones. Just like breaks on a car allow you to go fast, I do wonder what knowing you can easily re-print organs will change about human behavior.]

Source: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-building-an-artificial-pancreas-for-people-with-diabetes-is-so-hard-and/

A recent Amazon Web Services outage affecting millions was caused by a software bug in the DynamoDB DNS management system, resulting in a 16-hour cascade of failures across multiple services.

• The root cause of the outage was a race condition in the DNS Enactor component, which resided in the DynamoDB DNS management system.

• Amazon engineers identified the root cause as a software bug that triggered a cascade of failures across multiple services, including EC2 and network load balancers.

[RSnake: Pretty huge failure, and I am already seeing vendors pitching how to replace EC2 with their own software/hardware solutions. Everything from hosting providers to X’s messenger, which doesn’t run on EC2 like Signal does. It’s ambulance chasing, for sure. I do tend to agree that having all your systems running on one infrastructure is dangerous, but I don’t see how switching improves the situation.]

Source: https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/10/a-single-point-of-failure-triggered-the-amazon-outage-affecting-millions/

A startup named Turbo AI, founded by two 20-year-old college dropouts, has rapidly grown to five million users in six months, providing an AI-powered notetaking and study tool. The platform, which helps users by recording lectures and generating interactive study materials, is profitable and has attracted a diverse user base beyond students, including professionals from various industries.

• Turbo AI has reached five million users and maintains an eight-figure annual recurring revenue.

• The platform is utilized by both students and professionals to enhance note-taking and study efficiency.

[RSnake: I am just waiting for the first $1 billion company that is run by only one person. It’s coming.]

Source: https://techcrunch.com/?p=3060888

A new startup called Doublespeed, funded by venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, is offering a service that creates and manages thousands of synthetic social media accounts using AI. This service appears to violate the policies of major social media platforms by enabling clients to generate automated and manipulated content, potentially impacting the integrity of user engagement on these platforms.

• Doublespeed's service allows clients to create and deploy thousands of AI-generated social media accounts.

• The company claims its service can circumvent detection of inauthentic behavior by mimicking real user interactions.

[RSnake: I do like this idea from a business owner’s perspective. But I hate it from a “Dead Internet” theory perspective.]

Source: https://www.404media.co/a16z-backed-startup-sells-thousands-of-synthetic-influencers-to-manipulate-social-media-as-a-service/

Microsoft has decided against offering AI tools for generating adult content, contrasting with its competitor OpenAI, which will provide such services for verified adult users. This has sparked discussion about the implications of AI in the realm of adult content and led to a divide within political circles regarding regulations and support for AI technologies. Additionally, there is a growing tension between the AI industry and the Trump administration over the definition and risks associated with 'woke' AI.

• Microsoft will not allow its AI to generate simulated adult content.

• There is an ongoing political debate regarding regulations and the role of AI in adult content creation.

[RSnake: It will push them further behind. It’s not so much that I want more adult content being produced, but LLMs work in a regime that doesn’t do well when you attempt to censor output. Also, Microsoft doesn’t have the moral high ground here. First of all they are one of Open AI’s biggest financiers, and they also have tons of adult content indexed and searchable in Bing once you turn off safe search.]

Source: https://gizmodo.com/?p=2000676718

Microsoft is set to introduce a feature in Teams that allows employers to monitor where employees are working from when connected to the company's WiFi. This development reflects a trend among companies to encourage or enforce in-office attendance post-pandemic, despite many jobs being doable remotely.

• Companies are looking for ways to track employee attendance in the office.

• The new Teams feature will be optional, but it can be enabled by company management to monitor employee location.

[RSnake: Yay, another reason not to use Teams. Which, still after many, many years, only supports Team, singular, not Teams, plural. 👎️ ]

Source: https://lifehacker.com/tech/microsoft-teams-will-let-your-boss-know-when-youre-not-in-the-office?utm_medium=RSS

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened a preliminary investigation into approximately 2,000 Waymo self-driving vehicles due to reports of traffic safety law violations concerning stopped school buses. This follows a specific incident in Georgia where a Waymo vehicle maneuvered around a stop sign and flashing lights, prompting concerns regarding the interaction of autonomous vehicles with pedestrians and cyclists. Waymo stated that they have implemented improvements to ensure better adherence to safety protocols.

• NHTSA is investigating Waymo's self-driving vehicles after reports of traffic violations.

• Waymo has committed to software updates to improve safety around stopped school buses.

[RSnake: There was a situation recently where someone reported that 50 people created a Waymo denial of service, ordering them all to one location, creating a local traffic jam. Great. I have seen the future, and it is dumb.]

Source: https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/us-investigates-waymo-robotaxis-over-102015308.html

Google Earth has introduced new AI features that allow users to ask questions related to climate change and disaster predictions, utilizing satellite data to identify affected communities. This technology is aimed at enhancing how environmental changes are monitored and analyzed. Additionally, Google is charging for advanced access to these features, marking a significant shift in how data can be utilized for climate-related inquiries.

• Google Earth AI enables users to query satellite data about climate change and disaster predictions.

• The AI combines various models to provide insights into environmental impacts and affected communities.

[RSnake: Great, hallucinations atop selectively chosen data. Talk about a filter bubble on top of a filter bubble. Google really is creating a lot of ignorance with this tech. Expect that they will control a lot of the narrative with these tools without offering up the other side. China is the global leader in pollution. Bad. But what you won’t see is that they are the leader in energy production. Good. Only showing some facts is wildly stupid.]

Source: https://www.wired.com/story/google-earth-gemini-ai-chatbot/

The hearing aid market is evolving with the introduction of over-the-counter devices, reducing costs and increasing accessibility for individuals with hearing loss. Many innovative models are now available, providing varying features and technologies to meet diverse user needs, from basic amplification to advanced, programmable options. This shift is significant as it makes hearing assistance more attainable and adaptable for a broader demographic, including younger individuals impacted by hearing loss.

• Over-the-counter hearing aids are now available, increasing accessibility and affordability for consumers.

• Modern hearing aids come with advanced technology, varying styles, and features to cater to individual needs.

[RSnake: I am very bullish on the Apple AirPod tech, btw. It’s a little large, but incredibly advanced and looks just like someone is listening to tunes or whatever.]

Source: https://www.wired.com/gallery/best-hearing-aids/

The semiconductor industry is experiencing a substantial surge in demand due to the growth of artificial intelligence, with TSMC reporting record profits and revenue surpassing analyst expectations. Despite ongoing tariff negotiations between the U.S. and Taiwan, TSMC's investments in U.S. manufacturing indicate a strategic focus on the American market, particularly in high-performance computing and AI applications.

• TSMC reported a 40% year-over-year profit increase due to rising demand for advanced chips.

• TSMC's high-performance computing revenue accounted for 57% of its total revenue in the third quarter.

[RSnake: They are killing it, and that is concerning, because we are still years away from getting anywhere near the chip-making capacity, despite our reliance on it.]

Source: https://www.supplychainbrain.com/articles/42670-tsmc-reports-record-profits-in-q3-as-ai-fuels-demand-for-chips

A catastrophic explosion at an explosives manufacturing plant in McEwen, Tennessee, on October 10, 2025, resulted in the deaths of 16 people and significant damage to the facility, with the blast felt over 20 miles away. Investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the explosion, with much of the site still being preserved for evidence collection, and legal actions have already begun from victims' families against the company involved.

• The explosion at the Accurate Energetic Systems factory involved between 24,000 and 28,000 pounds of explosives.

• 14 out of 16 victims have been identified through rapid DNA testing, with ongoing efforts to determine the cause of the explosion.

[RSnake: Very sad. I’m not sure we’ll know exactly what caused the blast. I hope it turns out to be simply an accident.]

Source: https://www.military.com/daily-news/2025/10/24/tennessee-explosives-plant-blast-killed-16-people-was-chain-reaction-felt-20-miles-away.html

Microsoft is releasing the popular game Halo: Combat Evolved on the PlayStation, marking the first time the franchise is available on a competing console. This shift indicates a strategic move by Microsoft to embrace broader competition beyond traditional console rivalry, as they also plan to bring more of their game franchises to other platforms.

• Microsoft is moving away from exclusivity by releasing Halo on PlayStation.

• This is part of a broader strategy to compete with various entertainment platforms, not just other game consoles.

[RSnake: I’m sure the gamers will love it.]

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/24/arts/halo-playstation-microsoft-xbox.html

Target Corp. is planning to cut approximately 1,800 jobs, or 8% of its corporate workforce, to streamline operations amid challenges such as weak consumer demand and market competition. The restructuring marks the company's first significant layoffs since 2015 and aims to lay the groundwork for future growth under new leadership.

• Target is eliminating 1,800 roles as part of a significant restructuring effort.

• The company has faced declining performance and market share against competitors.

[RSnake: I just think that Amazon really is killing them in terms of convenience. The people I know who used to regularly shop at Target rarely even talk about them anymore.]

Source: https://www.supplychainbrain.com/articles/42726-target-to-eliminate-1-800-roles-8-of-headquarters-team

The U.S. plans to increase the import of Argentine beef annually while lowering tariffs, which has raised objections from the U.S. Cattlemen’s Association. They argue that this move could harm American cattle producers and may compromise food safety due to Argentina's history with foot-and-mouth disease.

• The U.S. will quadruple the amount of Argentine beef imports at a lower tariff rate.

• The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association warns this could threaten American cattle farmers' livelihoods and food safety.

[RSnake: Yeah, this isn’t great for US beef, but we have had some struggles recently, so this can be a short-term thing without necessarily being a terrible thing. Especially in light of the screw worm entering the US, we may need a little extra beef capacity to keep prices in check until we can shore up our own beef reserves. Of course, market forces tend to help that, by driving up prices and encouraging domestic beef investment.]

Source: https://www.supplychainbrain.com/articles/42725-us-cattlemens-association-decries-trump-welcoming-more-argentine-beef

Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) has seen an increase in its stock value, more than doubling this year and achieving a market capitalization of over $400 billion. This growth is attributed to strong business acquisitions from OpenAI, leading to optimistic forecasts about AMD's future performance.

• AMD's stock price has more than doubled in 2025.

• The company's market capitalization reached $410 billion for the first time.

• Strong business ties with OpenAI have positively influenced AMD's future outlook.

[RSnake: Pretty impressive growth. I do wonder if it will sustain, but for now, the money is rolling in. Investors are borrowing more than ever to put it into the market, because it is such a bull market.]

Source: https://www.marketwatch.com/story/the-blistering-amd-stock-rally-is-about-to-culminate-in-a-milestone-351aa084?mod=mw_rss_topstories

Counter-Strike's player economy has experienced a significant decline, losing approximately $1.84 billion in value overnight due to a recent update from Valve. The changes allow players to trade previously rare cosmetic items, drastically affecting their prices in the marketplace.

• Counter-Strike's cosmetics economy lost 25% of its value overnight.

• Valve's update impacted the supply and value of rare cosmetic items, causing a drastic market response.

[RSnake: The update basically makes previously gloves and knives easily tradeable where they weren’t before. So, it is hurting the economy because now it’s easy to do.]

Source: https://www.polygon.com/counter-strike-cs-player-economy-multi-billion-dollar-freefall/

A sophisticated poker scam, allegedly run by mafia members, has been uncovered, stealing millions from unwitting participants through the use of advanced technology such as X-ray card tables and secret cameras. High-profile figures, including NBA players, were involved in attracting victims to this underground gambling operation, which reportedly resulted in over $7 million in losses. Arrests have been made, and investigations are ongoing as authorities seek to dismantle the broader criminal enterprise funding various mafia activities.

• A poker scam involving advanced technology has reportedly defrauded participants of over $7 million.

• High-profile athletes were allegedly used to lure victims into underground poker games controlled by the mafia.

[RSnake: I had a conversation with one of my readers about this. It’s pretty surprising that the mafia would care to do this extra step when they can already just take a rake on every hand and make tons of money without the extra steps and avoid jail time in the process.]

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz6nd9wnzn6o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss

Changpeng Zhao, the founder of Binance, has received a pardon from President Donald Trump after pleading guilty to violating US money laundering laws, and Binance also pleaded guilty, resulting in a $4.3 billion penalty. The pardon raises discussions about the administration's connection to cryptocurrency and Zhao's potential involvement in future financial ventures, despite past violations linked to the company.

• Changpeng Zhao was pardoned after pleading guilty to money laundering violations.

• Binance was fined $4.3 billion for helping users bypass sanctions.

[RSnake: Amazing. Lol. Well, I hope he does something good with that freedom.]

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly1qrl9l1qo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss