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RSnake Report 20241007
Russia downs its own drone, Beirut pummeled, etc.
Robert "RSnake" Hansen
October 07, 2024
Table of Contents
Hello, and thanks for reading! It’s been a spicy 🌶️ week in the news, so let’s get on with it! No pleasantries for you.
Let’s start with Russia vs. Ukraine. Russia is pushing further into Pokrovsk from the southeast. It’s made quite a bit of progress but still hasn’t managed to take the city itself. If it does, as we previously mentioned, it will be very dangerous as it is the center hub for a lot of supply lines and logistics for Ukraine. This is happening at the same time another drone attack occurred at the Feodosiya oil terminal.
“Russian forces recently advanced southeast of Pokrovsk”
There is a new training that Russian forces are going through - FPV defense training. No, this isn’t with air defense, this is by rolling and dodging inbound FPVs. Very strange to see martial arts moving in this direction but it makes sense. The other defense I’ve seen personnel using is motorcycles, not just to get into remote areas and save fuel, but to go fast. Of course, it really does not work.
The talk of the town is the downing of a Russian prototype S-70 Drone. Here is more info about it. The odd thing is that Russia downed its own drone. The thinking is that it likely was straying too close to Ukraine after losing control and they felt the need to destroy it with a trailing fighter to make sure it didn’t fall into enemy hands. But it did. Despite it’s advertised attributes it uses EM reflecting rivets and a completely non-stealthy engine. It’s not surprising - Russia lies a lot about their capabilities. This leaves only a couple operational S-70s left.
“S-70 Okhotnik drone”
On the Ukrainian side the Dutch has delivered more F16s and offered 400 million euros to co-develop new drones to combat Russia. This is almost exactly what the US has been pushing towards - Europe protecting itself, and learning how to supply itself with its own munitions of its own design. But make no mistake Western weapons are being used. There is new footage, apparently of a Patriot missile battery being used against Russian air assets, downing more than 30 drones since deployment.
“F16”
Russia is still holding its tin cup out for people to buy its bonds, but it is nowhere near raising enough. It has barely met its Q2 goals, and it is already Q4. That will mean it will have a rough 2025. One way it can help with the shortfall is by stealing from its own people and companies it partners with. It plans to grab almost 600 billion rubles from 2025-2027 using fines and sanctions, starting with 191.7 billion starting next year. That’s certainly one way to ensure any decent business owner and citizen with means gets out of there and ends dealings with Russia as fast as possible. Meanwhile the cost of new Russian troops has approximately doubled since 2022.
“592.7 billion rubles in fines, sanctions and damage compensation”
But it desperately needs the money for the war effort that it is not signaling a retreat from. On the contrary, Russia is planning, or at least indicating that it plans on engaging in a multi-decade conflict with the West, and has purportedly decided that some categories of the population will be banned from buying condoms and others will have to use a passport to purchase - which of course only applies to the affluent that travel. All this is under the guise of needing greater population growth for sustained conflict rather than the attrition they’re currently experiencing.
Two Russian state media channels have purportedly been shut down. Russia-1 and Russia 24 have been shut down, allegedly due to cyber attacks against them. There are other channels, but this shows how frail the state media agencies are, and this will be very noticeable to the public writ large. It’s hard to ignore the loss of channels.
In a brief stop over to European news, NATO is planning an additional 49 (yes, I know, why 49 and not 50?) more combat-ready brigades. It’s also expanding its air defense units five fold. This is a hedge against future/expanded Russian aggression.
We’ll skip over southeast Asia for today, because we have a lot to cover in the middle east. First up is some bad news for the west. Syria has indicated that they intend and desire to join BRICS. This amid a long-term civil war which may help them fight said war if they are accepted and come out the other side stronger and with allies in their backyard.
Two Sr. Hamas leaders were killed in Lebanon, according to IDF and Shin Bet. Saeed Atallah Ali and Mohammed Hussein al-Lawis. These are just two of dozens of enormous explosions across Lebanon, including southern Beirut.
“Dahieh Suburb of Southern Beirut”
An enormous weapons depot was hit as well. If you look in the background, you can see exactly how large this explosion is and how tiny the buildings are in comparison. That Hezbollah is storing this underground in civilian locations is fairly telling of how difficult it is to protect military assets against Israel and also how little they care about the civilians there. There was possibly also a large oil depot hit there, belonging to TotalEnergies - a French company. Also, an UNRWA site was hit - it was called a former UWRWA site, but it’s a bit hard to tell what side they’re on any given day.
“Hezbollah weapons depot in Beirut”
Israel has begun to issue NOTAMs. Not to be outdone, Iranians have issued their own NOTAMs. This means they both expect escalating air-space conflict. Meanwhile, in a somewhat funny moment, Jordan has apparently said that they will no longer allow Israel or Iran to violate its airspace. Lol. A little late, no? It’s kinda funny that Jordan finally decided it’s sovereignty matters.
“infrastructure, military bases, oil platforms, & nuclear sites”
Houthis are back at it with another attack on a naval vessel. This time it was a Panamanian-flagged tanker - the MV Cordelia Moon. More about that attack here. Where are they getting their arms? Well, it turns out our old pal Viktor Bout, Mr. “Lord of War,” is back at it. If you don’t remember him, he was the guy we traded for a WMBA player who hated the United States. Take it from Brittany, “I honestly feel we should not play the national anthem during our season. I think we should take that much of a stand." Viktor is now selling arms to terrorists… again. The Biden/Harris administration said they’d monitor him… and we have. And we’ve done absolutely nothing to stop him. Great trade. 👏
“Biden Admin released in a prisoner swap in exchange for WNBA player Brittney Griner”
More about the pager story has come out, and it looks like the operation did not involve infiltrating Hezbollah, but rather finding a sales guy who had sold to them before. That makes supply chain even more complex for Hezbollah because even trusted sales agents… aren’t.
There was a one-off terror attack in Karachi, where a suicide bomber in a truck was targeting Chinese men. The attack was claimed by the separatist Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), which has a history of targeting Chinese nationals involved in development projects in Pakistan. There may have been one or more high-profile inventors/scientists among them. This must have been planned out far in advance. We shall see if more comes of this one.
“a suicide bomber”
Domestic news is a bit of a mess this week with an MSNBC journalist getting caught on tape admitting that they are biased (shocker) and are doing everything they can to help the Harris campaign. At least there is no need ever tomany consider them unbiased from here on out. Like James O’Keefe or not, like his methods or not, he finds a lot of very newsworthy items… about the news.
“Producer Admits MSNBC Is 'Doing All They Can to Help’ the Harris Campaign”
In DC, an anti-Israeli protester lit himself on fire. I can’t shake my head hard enough, but I hope the taxpayers don’t have to foot his medical bills. Instead of cracking down on these protesters the Biden/Harris administration has offered a package to Israel to not attack certain targets within Iran. Keep in mind we offered Ukraine a compensation package to remove nukes, guaranteeing their security. We didn’t hold our end up on that bargain. I see no reason why Israel would take us seriously.
In other new, a hacking group tied to China dubbed Salt Typhoon has purportedly hacked into the surveillance systems that AT&T and Verizon built to help federal agents and US spies. I wish I could say this is the first time, but this is at least the second time. Previously they were only able to get phone records, but this might have given them greater access. By the way, if you are curious there is a standing theory that a Taiwanese invasion could happen as early as this month - I hope they’re wrong, but it would make sense why they need as much telemetry as they can get now. This is coming out around the same time as a new piece of Linux Malware has been identified. More info on it here.
“When a new user logs into the server, it immediately stops all “noisy” activities”
Hot on the heels of Helene, Hurricane Milton is aimed right at the west coast of Florida and is set to be approximately a category 4. This is bad timing because the ports are currently backed up due to the Longshoreman strike, which will put them behind even further from where they were, even though the strike is over.
“going to disrupt shipping in the Gulf of Mexico and across central Florida”
Okay, onto the articles!
An Israeli airstrike on a mosque in Deir al-Balah, Gaza, resulted in at least 19 fatalities as hostilities escalate between Israel and militant groups, including Hezbollah in Lebanon. The conflict is expanding, with airstrikes reported in both Gaza and southern Beirut, igniting broader regional tensions involving Iran and its allied forces.
An Israeli airstrike in Gaza has killed 19 people, intensifying ongoing military operations against militant groups.
The conflict has spread to Lebanon, with reciprocal strikes between Israeli forces and Hezbollah, contributing to significant civilian casualties and displacement.
[RSnake: It’s hard to tell if this was a mis-drop or they got the intel wrong, or if one or more of those assets were of high value military targets as Israel claims.]
Source: https://www.military.com/daily-news/2024/10/06/strike-mosque-kills-19-israel-bombards-northern-gaza-and-southern-beirut.html
On October 7, 2024, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) released statistics detailing military operations against Hamas and other terrorist organizations, reporting the elimination of over 14,000 terrorists since the beginning of the conflict. The IDF has conducted extensive air and ground attacks in the Gaza Strip and surrounding areas, along with significant arrests of individuals involved in terrorist activities. Additionally, the conflict has resulted in the loss of IDF soldiers, injuries, and trauma among servicemen during operations.
Over 14,000 terrorists have been reported eliminated in operations against Hamas.
The IDF has conducted extensive attacks in Gaza, targeting launch sites and weapon caches.
[RSnake: Notably that is more than 10x the death toll of the October 7th attack carried out by Hamas against Israel. Hard to believe that was one full year ago. A brief moment of silence for those who were slain….]
Source: https://www.jewishpress.com/?p=710716
The U.S. Supreme Court is set to begin its 2024-2025 term, addressing several high-profile cases involving topics such as gender, immigration, gun control, and e-cigarettes. Former President Donald Trump is expected to challenge legal rulings against him related to his ongoing criminal cases, which could prompt significant constitutional questions, including potential changes to presidential immunity.
The Supreme Court will consider cases on contentious issues like gender transition for minors and firearm regulations.
Trump's legal battles may lead to important Supreme Court decisions regarding presidential immunity and related challenges.
[RSnake: This will be very interesting to watch. Especially as they have overturned the ability of agencies to enforce their own rules without Congress implementing laws to match.]
Source: https://www.zerohedge.com/political/6-things-watch-upcoming-supreme-court-term
Russia is in the process of arming Iran with nuclear weapons, raising substantial concerns for Israel and Western nations. This development signals a significant escalation in geopolitical tensions, potentially destabilizing the region further.
Russia's plans to supply Iran with nuclear weapons could create a major security threat for Israel.
The potential nuclear armament of Iran by Russia highlights increasing geopolitical tensions between major global powers.
[RSnake: This is a clever deal for Russia; it reduces their costs of maintenance, and it increases the cost to the West to attempt to corral Iran. One of my friends tied closely with Washington said the conjecture is if Trump wins there is a strong chance they’ll go in and break the back of the Middle East and re-shape the entire region, but Ukraine will fall. If Trump loses, there is an expectation that Iran will nuke Israel within the first 100 days, but Ukraine will get more support. How true that is, I have no idea, but that’s what I know.]
Source: https://sofrep.com/?p=157824
The situation in southern Lebanon, particularly in the city of Tyre, has drastically deteriorated due to ongoing Israeli airstrikes and conflict with Hezbollah, resulting in widespread destruction and displacement of over one million people. Civilians are facing significant casualties and destruction of infrastructure, and many are left without homes as hospitals deal with an influx of injured individuals. The conflict signifies an escalation in hostilities, with uncertainty about future repercussions for the region.
Israeli airstrikes in Tyre have led to severe civilian casualties and widespread displacement.
Over one million people have reportedly fled their homes as conflict escalates in southern Lebanon.
Local residents express deep grief and fear over the ongoing violence, with many areas now deserted.
[RSnake: Yep - time to move, or start immediately working to expel Hezbollah at every turn. It’s their home, so they will have to fight for it.]
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp394rx53qro
Israel is intensifying its military operations against Hezbollah and Hamas, expanding strikes throughout Lebanon and targeting Hamas leaders, which has escalated tensions in the region. The conflict has resulted in significant casualties and displacement among the civilian population, drawing international attention and concern over humanitarian impacts. Iran, a key supporter of both groups, is also becoming involved with the potential for broader regional implications as military actions continue.
Israel's military campaign is targeting Hezbollah and Hamas strongholds in Lebanon, leading to a rapid escalation of conflict.
Iran's involvement and potential retaliatory actions could widen the conflict, impacting regional stability.
[RSnake: Why is Quds leadership in Lebanon in the first place? Let alone in Hezbollah leadership’s presence. Ohhh… right. They’re the same.]
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/10/05/world/israel-iran-hezbollah-lebanon/iranian-news-media-asks-where-is-top-quds-forces-commander-general-esmail-ghaani
President Biden is currently facing significant crises, including escalating military conflict in the Middle East and the impact of Hurricane Helene, the deadliest hurricane to hit the U.S. in two decades. Additionally, he is managing ongoing challenges such as the war in Ukraine, a potential strike by dockworkers, and the looming presence of former President Trump as he approaches the end of his presidency.
Iran has initiated military actions against Israel, escalating tensions in the Middle East.
Hurricane Helene has become one of the deadliest storms to affect the U.S. mainland in recent years.
[RSnake: He’s not facing anything. Someone or someones are facing things at his behest. That the NYT even prints this fails to address the obvious fact that Biden is barely mentally functional. It is Jill Biden, Hunter Biden, Jake Sullivan, and Kamala Harris and her team that are facing this crisis.]
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/05/us/politics/biden-presidency-crises.html
Russia is preparing to launch intensified military operations in the Zaporizhzhia region, specifically targeting Ukrainian supply lines near Orikhiv and Robotyne. Ukrainian military intelligence anticipates that these operations will include new assault groups and reconnaissance efforts to gain control of key logistical routes essential for Ukrainian forces in eastern Ukraine.
Russia aims to disrupt Ukrainian logistical routes in Zaporizhzhia.
Ukrainian Defense Forces expect an escalation of Russian assaults in the coming days.
A gang attack in Pont-Sonde, Haiti, has resulted in the deaths of at least 70 people and forced 3,000 residents to flee. The Gran Grif gang, which is active in the region, also set fire to numerous homes and vehicles during the assault, further exacerbating the ongoing crisis of violence and food insecurity in the country.
The Gran Grif gang attacked a town in Haiti, killing at least 70 people.
The violence has contributed to increased food shortages affecting half the population.
[RSnake: I wonder if they would like one-way trip to Ohio.]
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/10/4/at-least-70-people-killed-in-gang-attack-on-haitian-town-un?traffic_source=rss
The ongoing civil war in Sudan has escalated significantly, with external actors providing support to warring factions, which threatens to prolong the conflict and destabilize neighboring states. Humanitarian conditions have worsened, leading to the displacement of over 8.1 million people while regional crises are intensifying due to the spillover effects of the war.
External support for warring factions in Sudan is escalating the conflict.
Over 8.1 million people have been displaced due to the humanitarian crisis.
The conflict is threatening to destabilize fragile neighboring states.
Taiwan, the world's largest producer of advanced computer chips, is facing a significant energy crisis due to its heavy reliance on imported fossil fuels, a pending nuclear plant shutdown, and slow progress in renewable energy. The country's energy consumption is dominated by its industrial sector, primarily driven by semiconductor manufacturing, which poses risks to both its economy and national security amid increasing global competition and geopolitical tensions with China.
Taiwan accounts for 90 percent of the world's advanced semiconductor production.
Taiwan faces an impending energy crisis that threatens its technological dominance and ability to meet clean energy commitments.
[RSnake: I am super pro-nuclear, but it’s also a very juicy target if that region goes hot.]
Source: https://www.wired.com/story/taiwan-makes-the-majority-of-the-worlds-computer-chips-now-its-running-out-of-electricity/
Tunisia is set to hold a presidential election where President Kais Saied is expected to win decisively, amid a backdrop of widespread political repression. Many opposition candidates have been jailed or disqualified, leading to perceptions that the election lacks genuine competitive elements.
President Kais Saied is likely to win the upcoming election due to the imprisonment and disqualification of his opponents.
The current political climate reflects a significant decline in democratic practices and civil liberties since the Arab Spring.
Iran is actively targeting U.S. political adversaries through hacking and assassination plots, particularly as the U.S. presidential campaign heats up. The Iranian government has a history of utilizing these methods dating back to the Islamic Revolution in 1979, and recent attempts have included phishing attacks and potential plots against individuals such as former President Donald Trump.
Iran is accused of hacking U.S. political campaigns and targeting adversaries abroad.
The country's history of assassination and cyber warfare strategies extends back to its revolutionary period.
[RSnake: Russia, China, and North Korea are all on the short-list of countries who aren’t above this. Civility is dead, and if we keep treating them like we treat civil countries, we will keep falling behind in national defense.]
Source: https://www.military.com/daily-news/2024/10/05/alleged-plots-against-us-campaign-are-only-latest-examples-of-iran-targeting-adversaries.html
The Pentagon plans to allocate $1.2 billion for ongoing military operations in the Red Sea, which includes replenishing missile stocks used to counter threats from Iran and its proxies. This budget reflects the costs associated with maintaining a robust naval presence in the region and enhancing support for Israel amid increased hostilities.
Pentagon's $1.2 billion budget aims to support operations against Iran and its proxies.
Funding includes restocking critical missile systems and enhancing defenses for Israel.
[RSnake: We’ll need a lot more than that, unfortunately. That’ll barely keep our ships in the region. Each of those ballistic missile interceptors is tens of millions. You can burn through that $1.2B pretty quickly at that rate, let alone the costs of logistics, fuel, food headcount, etc.]
Source: https://gcaptain.com/?p=214182
Boeing has secured a $600 million contract for the testing and integration of Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) and Laser JDAM (LJDAM) systems, which will be provided to several allied nations such as Israel, Singapore, and Turkey. This contract, awarded by the U.S. Air Force, aims to enhance the capabilities of precision-guided munitions and is expected to be fulfilled by 2035, ensuring ongoing support and technical services for these advanced weapon systems.
Boeing has been awarded a contract to provide JDAM and LJDAM systems to key allies.
The contract includes technical services and support for enhancing precision-guided munitions capabilities.
[RSnake: Something they’re good at. Let’s hope they continue to keep the quality on these munitions high amid all the issues they’re having internally.]
Source: https://militaryleak.com/?p=222089
India's Foreign Minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, is set to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Pakistan but has ruled out discussions on bilateral relations with its rival. Tensions between India and Pakistan remain high, particularly regarding the disputed region of Kashmir, which both countries claim in full but govern only parts of since their independence. A prominent Kashmiri leader expressed hopes for a constructive engagement between the two nations during the summit despite the longstanding conflict.
India continues to assert that dialogue with Pakistan is contingent on addressing cross-border terrorism.
The Kashmir issue remains a significant point of contention, with both countries holding differing narratives regarding their roles in the region.
Skydweller Aero has completed successful autonomous flight tests of its uncrewed solar-powered aircraft, demonstrating extended flight durations. The aircraft can potentially operate for weeks or months at a time without human intervention, and its capabilities could revolutionize missions that have traditionally required manned flights in hostile environments.
Skydweller Aero's uncrewed aircraft completed flights lasting 16 and 22.5 hours.
The technology allows for long duration missions with reduced operational costs and risks to human crews.
[RSnake: I actually think this is pretty cool - but what will be more useful is if it can store enough power to last a full evening at normal operational latitudes. This makes Gorgon Stare so much more powerful if they can manage it. I think it’s a ways off still but closer!]
Source: https://militaryleak.com/?p=222055
The manufacturing industry is currently facing challenges in successfully implementing artificial intelligence (AI) due to outdated legacy systems and a lack of understanding of how AI can be effectively utilized. Market growth for AI in manufacturing is significant, projected to rise from $3.2 billion in 2023 to $64.63 billion by 2030, yet only a small fraction of generative AI projects in this sector are deemed successful. The integration of AI requires careful planning and a phased approach to avoid complications with existing technologies and to ensure optimal outcomes.
AI in manufacturing is projected to grow significantly from $3.2 billion in 2023 to $64.63 billion by 2030.
Challenges include outdated legacy systems that hinder effective AI integration, resulting in a low success rate for current AI projects.
Recommended strategies for successful AI implementation involve a phased approach with human oversight.
[RSnake: I have a feeling this will be crawl-walk-run. Once a few companies figure it out, the rest of the industry in whatever vertical we’re talking about will fall like dominos.]
Source: https://www.supplychainbrain.com/articles/40445-why-manufacturers-are-failing-in-their-ai-initiatives
Apple has developed a new AI model called Depth Pro that can generate detailed 3D depth maps from single 2D images in a fraction of a second.
Depth Pro is able to estimate both relative and absolute depth, a capability called metric depth, which enables real-world measurements for applications such as augmented reality and autonomous vehicles.
The model can produce high-resolution depth maps in just one image without requiring extensive training on domain-specific datasets or camera-specific data.
23andMe is facing significant financial challenges, with its valuation dropping from $6 billion to $150 million and potential bankruptcy on the horizon. Concerns are being raised regarding the security of genetic data for its approximately 15 million customers, especially as genomic data analysis technology continues to evolve and may expose more information. The company's commitment to regulatory compliance adds another layer of complexity as it navigates these challenges.
23andMe's valuation has drastically decreased, signaling potential bankruptcy.
Advancements in genomic data analysis technology could pose risks to the security of sensitive genetic information.
A spacecraft named Hera, set to launch on October 7, 2024, will rendezvous with the binary asteroid Dimorphos to analyze the effects of NASA's previous DART mission, which tested planetary defense methods. European startups, such as Kuva Space, are playing a significant role in developing technology for this mission, which could also pave the way for future asteroid mining ventures. This mission represents a collaboration between the European Space Agency and private tech companies to advance our capabilities in space exploration and resource utilization.
Hera will inspect the asteroid Dimorphos as part of a planetary defense mission.
Startup Kuva Space contributes advanced imaging technology for the mission, aiming to explore asteroid mining in the future.
[RSnake: In some ways, a big asteroid might be the one thing that gets our nations to stop naval gazing and start thinking about global promise.]
Source: https://thenextweb.com/news/startup-on-hera-mission-plans-asteroid-mining
Tesla has recently opened over 17,000 Supercharger stations to non-Tesla electric vehicles, easing long-distance travel concerns for EV owners like those of the Chevy Bolt. This development allows for more reliable charging options, particularly beneficial during road trips where access to functioning chargers can be uncertain.
Tesla Supercharger stations are now accessible to non-Tesla EVs, enhancing charging convenience.
The expansion of charging infrastructure addresses range anxiety among electric vehicle owners.
[RSnake: Pretty amazing - so much better than the government version of this same program - which after $7.5B has produced approximately none.]
Source: https://www.wired.com/story/i-own-a-chevy-bolt-and-superchargers-are-a-total-game-changer/
Fusion power technology is advancing rapidly, with numerous startups raising significant investments and pursuing different methodologies to achieve commercially viable fusion energy. Recent breakthroughs have demonstrated controlled fusion reactions, fueling optimism and competition among companies which aim to create power plants by the early 2030s, potentially disrupting energy markets worldwide.
Several fusion startups have collectively raised over $7 billion in funding to develop commercial fusion power plants.
Technological advancements are enabling breakthroughs such as achieving controlled fusion reactions, moving the industry closer to practical energy solutions.
[RSnake: Fingers crossed. This would undoubtedly help the AI race. Game is on. Before, it was nice to have, but now this seems a lot more important.]
Source: https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/04/every-fusion-startup-that-has-raised-over-100m/
Generative AI systems are becoming ubiquitous, and the need for extensible risk identification frameworks is growing due to their increasing use in various applications. A new PyRIT framework has been introduced to enhance red teaming efforts in GenAI systems. It enables probing for novel harms, risks, and jailbreaks in multimodal generative AI models.
PyRIT is a model- and platform-agnostic tool that enables red teamers to identify novel harms, risks, and jailbreaks in GenAI systems.
The framework has a composable architecture that facilitates the reuse of core building blocks and allows for extensibility to future models and modalities.
[RSnake: Cool - I know Pedram Amini is working on something similar. Funny enough I found a jailbreak that would have got me like $10k but I showed it to him before the bounty was ready. Lol. Whoops.]
Source: https://arxiv.org/abs/2410.02828
Users of Donald Trump's social media platform, Truth Social, have reported substantial financial losses due to scams perpetrated by fraudsters. Victims, primarily older adults, have experienced scams that involve deceptive investment schemes, often resulting in losses of tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Victims of scams on Truth Social report significant financial losses, indicating a pattern of fraudulent activity targeting users.
The nature of the scams often involves complex schemes that take advantage of users' trust and lack of technical knowledge.
Russian law enforcement has arrested 96 individuals, including the founder of the Cryptex cryptocurrency exchange, for their involvement in a criminal organization responsible for illegal payment processing and selling stolen credentials. The criminal network generated significant illicit income, processing over $1.1 billion in transactions and providing services primarily to cybercriminals. Assets seized during the raids included luxury vehicles, helicopters, and significant amounts of cash.
Russian law enforcement detained almost 100 suspects linked to various online services involved in illegal payments.
The arrested network processed over 112 billion rubles in illegal transactions in 2023.
Extremist neo-Nazi groups are migrating from Telegram to the SimpleX Chat app, seeking greater anonymity and security following recent arrests of their leaders. SimpleX offers enhanced privacy features that appeal to these groups, which are now sharing extremist content and calling for violence within this new environment.
Neo-Nazi groups are leaving Telegram due to security vulnerabilities.
SimpleX Chat provides significant advantages in privacy and anonymity for users.
[RSnake: I haven’t looked at this chat client at all, but this is a very simplistic way of looking at encryption/anonymity. Anywhere where those two things are present will have both lovers and terrorists alike. Freedom to express oneself is tightly coupled with secrets of all sorts, large and small.]
Source: https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2024/10/neo-nazis-head-to-encrypted-simplex-chat-app-bail-on-telegram/
AT&T claims Broadcom-proposed price hike for VMware would increase costs by 1,050%, allegedly preventing vendors from selling products to AT&T. Broadcom has stopped selling certain products and AT&T is considering legal action. The proposed price hike is extreme, even for a large company like AT&T.
AT&T claims Broadcom-proposed price hike would increase costs by 1,050%
[RSnake: So does that mean AT&T won’t jack up phone bill prices anymore now that they see how unfair that is? 😉 No, but seriously, that is a tad over the top. I would be surprised if VMWare didn’t come to the table on this one vs angering a large and vocal client.]
Source: https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2024/10/broadcom-tried-to-jack-vmware-prices-by-1050-percent-att-claims/
Ecovacs robot vacuums are reportedly collecting images, videos, and audio recordings from users' homes as part of a product improvement program to train AI models. A cybersecurity researcher has raised questions about the potential vulnerabilities of these devices, which can be hacked from over 100 meters away, and has criticized the company's transparency regarding data collection practices. The company is working to address security issues and claims to take data protection seriously, while new privacy-preserving technologies are being developed to prevent data breaches.
Ecovacs robot vacuums collect sensitive data from users' homes to improve AI.
Cybersecurity concerns are raised due to vulnerabilities in the devices.
New privacy-preserving camera technologies are being developed to enhance security.
[RSnake: I never did understand why most appliances need any Internet access at all. It does feel like we need a new standard for connected but not Internet-connected. As in - I can reach into it and push patches to it and control it, but it can’t phone anything home to anyone for any reason - or if it needs to signal me, it can only do that through a bastion host, and only I can receive those messages.]
Source: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-10-05/robot-vacuum-deebot-ecovacs-photos-ai/104416632
MITRE's Center for Threat-Informed Defense has launched the AI Incident Sharing initiative, collaborating with over 15 companies to enhance knowledge of threats and defenses relating to AI systems. This initiative aims to facilitate secure sharing of real-world AI incident data to improve collective defenses and understanding of risks associated with AI technologies.
Collaboration with over 15 companies to improve AI threat defenses.
Protected sharing of real-world AI incident data to enhance community knowledge.
Extension of the ATLAS threat framework to include generative AI case studies and mitigation methods.
[RSnake: If it is breech-lost and not just breech, it would be even more useful, possibly even rivaling what the Insurance industry receives.]
Source: https://www.darkreading.com/threat-intelligence/mitre-launches-ai-incident-sharing-initiative
Microsoft and the US Department of Justice have dismantled more than 100 domains associated with the Russian hacker group Star Blizzard, which has been active since 2017 and targeting journalists, NGOs, and military contractors. This operation is significant in the context of the upcoming US presidential election as it aims to disrupt foreign interference linked to Russian interests in destabilizing democratic processes.
Microsoft and DOJ took down domains associated with Russian hacker group Star Blizzard.
Star Blizzard has targeted organizations linked to Ukraine, journalists, and military contractors since its establishment.
The actions come ahead of the US presidential election, aiming to prevent foreign interference.
The African continent is experiencing a significant rise in ransomware attacks, with a reported 81% year-on-year increase from 2023 to 2024. Cybercriminals are leveraging Africa's weaker cybersecurity infrastructure as a low-risk environment to refine their strategies before targeting more secure regions.
Ransomware gangs are shifting tactics to exploit Africa's emerging digital economies.
Only 9 out of 44 African countries have a robust cybersecurity maturity, making them vulnerable to attacks.
[RSnake: Lots of land and resources in Africa for whoever wants it. They’re too poor to scam compared to the West for most criminal networks to bother, but shifting attitudes and making sure your agenda is served is worth a lot.]
Source: https://www.darkreading.com/cyberattacks-data-breaches/criminals-test-ransomware-africa
A significant shift in cybersecurity regulations for defense contractors is on the horizon, with Controlled Unclassified Information and Federal Contract Information required to meet stricter standards under the new Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification 2.0 (CMMC 2.0) guidelines. Many defense firms are unprepared for these changes, which become mandatory in mid-2025, and face a critical shortage of certified capabilities amidst rising cyber threats from foreign adversaries like China and Iran.
CMMC 2.0 requires thousands of defense contractors to meet new cybersecurity standards by mid-2025.
A high percentage of firms report they are unprepared for compliance with these new cybersecurity requirements.
The automotive industry is undergoing significant changes as manufacturers, like BMW, focus on decarbonizing their production processes in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and achieve climate goals. Efforts include integrating sustainable materials and renewable energy sources throughout the supply chain, while also maintaining flexibility in manufacturing to adapt to changing market demands for electric and hybrid vehicles.
BMW aims to decarbonize its manufacturing processes to reduce CO2 emissions.
The company is focusing on integrating recycled materials and renewable energy in its supply chain.
Manufacturers are adopting flexible production strategies to respond to varying market demands for different vehicle types.
[RSnake: This is a huge cost-burden on companies and is really mostly just performative anyway in light of the Chinese industrial machine. That said, I have been audited before by a company out of the EU for my carbon footprint as a pen-testing company. So there is a real risk of losing contracts in the EU if they don’t come to heel.]
Source: https://fortune.com/europe/2024/10/07/bmw-greening-automotive-industry-making-electric-cars/
The S&P 500 companies are expected to report a 4.7% increase in quarterly earnings compared to the previous year, marking the weakest increase in four quarters. Economic uncertainties, rising interest rates, and geopolitical risks are leading investors to closely monitor these earnings reports as they gauge the potential for future market performance.
S&P 500 companies are forecasted to report their weakest quarterly earnings growth in a year.
Investor sentiment is strained by economic uncertainties and a looming presidential election.
[RSnake: I hope that’s true. We need a bit of a rebound, and it almost doesn’t matter who becomes president, the uncertainty and fear factor will be past and we’ll get to move on to spending and growing again. The regime will shape the future but retail can weather that if consumers aren’t scared..]
Source: https://fortune.com/2024/10/06/earnings-season-preview-q3-reports-sp500-stock-market-outlook/
Mortgage rates in the United States saw a significant increase of more than 0.25 percent in a single day, now averaging 6.53 percent for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage. This surge follows a strong labor market report indicating 254,000 new jobs added in September, which has implications for consumer demand and potential inflation.
Mortgage rates jumped from 6.26 percent to 6.53 percent, marking one of the largest single-day increases ever tracked.
The strong employment report exceeded expectations and suggests a slowing of anticipated rate cuts by the Federal Reserve.
[RSnake: So much for house affordability!]
Source: https://www.zerohedge.com/personal-finance/mortgage-rates-undergo-one-biggest-single-day-jumps-report
Global economic uncertainty is leading to a surge in stock market volatility, with major indices experiencing significant fluctuations in recent days. Central banks are facing unprecedented pressure to stabilize financial markets and prevent economic downturns.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned of a potential global recession due to rising inflation rates and declining economic growth.
Major central banks, including the Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank, are taking emergency measures to stabilize financial markets and prevent economic downturns.
[RSnake: Volatility is where traders make their money, so that’s useful, but not when it can’t be predicted from day to day. Once the election is over that will be the point where the uncertainty starts diminishing - whether you like the outcome or not.]
Source: https://www.economist.com/united-states/2024/10/05/checks-and-balance-newsletter-gender-politics-in-the-election
Fisker's former headquarters in La Palma, California, has been abandoned and is in disarray, with hazardous waste and unfinished business left behind after the company's bankruptcy filing. The landlord is facing significant cleanup costs and legal disputes regarding the ownership of the assets remaining at the site as Fisker prepares for its liquidation plan.
Fisker's headquarters has significant hazardous waste and equipment left behind following its bankruptcy.
Legal disputes are unfolding around the ownership of the remaining assets and the cleanup responsibilities.
Dockworkers across the US have agreed to suspend a strike that halted operations at 14 major ports, impacting container traffic from Maine to Texas. A tentative agreement on wage increases has been reached, with negotiations continuing on other outstanding issues like automation, following the first major stoppage in nearly 50 years.
The strike's suspension allows for the resumption of crucial port operations that handle over a third of US imports and exports.
Dockworkers are set to receive a significant wage increase while negotiations on other issues will continue.
[RSnake: Whew, is all I can say. 😅 ]
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn8jxnn76qwo
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is implementing a new program to address staffing shortages by allowing graduates from certain Oklahoma schools to bypass additional training and start their careers as air traffic controllers sooner. This initiative is part of a broader Congressional effort that includes a $105 billion bill aimed at hiring and retaining more air traffic controllers to improve aviation safety and update technology systems. The FAA aims to hire 2,000 more controllers by 2025 to counter a long-term decline in workforce numbers.
The FAA is fast-tracking air traffic controller training for new graduates.
Congress passed a $105 billion bill to address air traffic control staffing shortages.
The U.S. economy added 254,000 jobs in September, significantly surpassing expectations and alleviating fears of an imminent recession. The unemployment rate decreased to 4.1%, and steady job growth coupled with stable inflation provides a more optimistic economic outlook, allowing the Federal Reserve to consider gradual rate cuts without the immediate need for aggressive intervention.
The U.S. economy added 254,000 jobs in September, indicating economic resilience.
The unemployment rate dropped to 4.1%, suggesting a strong labor market.
Experts predict that the Federal Reserve may lower interest rates in response to stable economic conditions.
[RSnake: Yeah, except all these numbers are masking the fact that total numbers are still way down. Down 0.7% in absolute terms or 1.1% in relative. This is especially bad for people in the 55+ age bracket. Be careful with these rosy numbers - they’re too good to be true.]
Source: https://abcnews.go.com/Business/blockbuster-jobs-report-paves-us-economy-avoid-recession/story?id=114496295
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