RSnake Report 20250206

Hello, and thanks for reading! I did a presentation at the Austin Forum this week discussing some of the issues with CVEs - I will have a lot more to say on this topic soon. Also, the panel on cyber security investments at the WEF event is live, as is the one I told you about with the quantum molecular sound healing people. If you’re high enough or want to know what it’s like to be very,very high - fair warning, it’s a hot mess. Lots of news this week, so let’s dig in.

Let’s start with Russia/Ukraine; it will take a lot of ongoing strikes to keep the pressure on - otherwise, where Ukraine has taken its strikes deep into Russian energy infrastructure again. A Ukrainian drone strike hit Gazprom’s Astrakhan gas processing plant, a critical supplier for the North Caucasus, and while Russian officials downplayed the damage at first, it turns out production is now halted for months. That’s a huge delay, but it’s notable because it shows that it will take a lot of ongoing strikes to keep the pressure on - otherwise, Russia will naturally rebuild and be right back to where it was. These are only temporary degradations of capabilities, unlike killing skilled labor, which tends to be more difficult to replace. Footage of the attack shows the strike on this facility.

In Krasnodar, yet another Russian oil depot is burning after a drone strike, adding to the growing tally of Ukrainian hits on Russian refineries. Coordinates confirm the location of the strike. In Volgograd, a refinery has gone up in flames as well—part of a larger wave of attacks that has knocked out 16% of Russia’s total refining capacity in just a week.

Meanwhile, the January 29th strikes on the SIBUR-Kstovo petrochemical plant are already hitting Russian wallets. The cost of PVC products, used in everything from pipes to packaging, is set to spike by 20%. It’s unclear if that means it represents 20% of their PVC manufacturing capability or some percentage of the total supply disrupted, but either way, that’s a big price hike for the end user while the disruption continues.

Ukrainian forces have developed “mothership” FPV drones that can deploy and intercept Russian ISR drones in mid-air. This level of drone warfare was unthinkable just a few years ago, but now it’s just standard fare. But just think how useful this will become. The mothership can be considered non-attributable but with attributable sub-munitions. That means the mothership can be made to be much faster and with more expensive sensors that simply help to guide the smaller munitions the last small distance to cover the ground with the target. The video is short but worth a watch.

The Russian response to its battlefield losses appears to be desperation. Reports suggest that Moscow is throwing scarce electronic warfare specialists and UAV operators into frontline assaults just to plug gaps in their crumbling offensive. They’re literally sacrificing their tech specialists in “meat assaults” to keep up the illusion of progress. But why, you may be asking? Because their commanders lied about having captured that small, pointless area, they now have to make the lie a reality. Think about that - where another army might just shrug and say, “Whoops, our intel was bad, we didn’t capture it, it’s not captured but low value.” The Russian army is willing to send wave after wave of their most valuable troops in a pointless operation. It’s okay to be wrong and should even be celebrated - the bravery it takes to admit your mistakes so you don’t repeat them. Russia refuses to learn that lesson.

And if a major policy shift is about to be confirmed, Ukraine’s strategic calculus might be about to change dramatically. There’s a serious rumor that Western restrictions on Ukraine using its weapons deep inside Russia have been lifted. If true, that means a whole new range of targets is now fair game. We shall see how that changes things over the coming days/months. It’s not like Russian air defense can stop these attacks anymore.

In Europe, France is finally waking up to the reality of modern warfare—at scale. The French military is looking to its automotive industry to mass-produce cheap kamikaze drones, which Ukraine has used so effectively. The goal is “Several thousand loitering munitions in a few months.” France is the most recent country that has realized that modern war isn’t going to be dominated by fighter jets. I like fighters, by the way, a lot. I grew up admiring the F16, the F18, and others. The sleek design. The crazy bomb payloads, etc. But now, I see their primary use on the battlefield as bomb-trucks not dog fighters, and there are many ways to get munitions aloft, fighters being just one of those ways, and possibly one of the most expensive ways.

Over in the Middle East, Jenin has turned into an outright battlefield, with at least 20 buildings blown up overnight in the latest Israeli operation. The level of destruction is hard to overstate. It is clear that the West Bank ceasefire is allowing Israel to focus their efforts on the West Bank, and I expect this to be another big operation like Gaza. Unlike Gaza, it is far larger, and will take more effort to clear it. Hamas is definitely alive and well there. Though perhaps with fewer personnel, weapons, and tunnels now.

Meanwhile, Israel is racing to counter the wave of drone threats it has faced since October 7th. With 1,300 drones launched in Israel in just a few months, the urgency is pretty clear. If you are a fan of range days, this is a really cool video showing a wide variety of weapons systems, from sending lead downrange to 30mm auto-cannons to a variety of drone interceptors, etc. The highest efficacy at the lowest cost per intercept will win. Efficacy will measure the range and likelihood of full take-down of the target.

And then there’s Iran, which is back under the full weight of the U.S. “Maximum Pressure” campaign. The White House has reinstated the aggressive sanctions regime aimed at shutting down Iran’s path to a nuclear weapon and countering its influence across the region. This is a return to the pre-2021 approach, with economic warfare as the primary tool. I really don’t think this has much in the way of bite, but at least it’s making it clear to Iran that we’re not pleased with their continued attempts at getting nukes. Is this maximum pressure or sustained normal pressure? I mean… I suspect we have a few tools in our arsenal to add more pressure. 😆 

The IRGC has released footage of its drone-carrier ship, the Shahid Mahdavi. This is the one all the conspiracy nutters thought was off the coast of New Jersey last month. The ship has been seen in satellite imagery before, but this is the first time we’ve had confirmation of its deck in use. In seeing it, I… am not impressed. It surely is masking some of its capabilities, but its flight deck is cluttered with manned helicopters; it’s a random mix of drones - like they couldn’t figure out what they wanted, so they just got one of each. The flight deck is also enormous, looking like it is meant to launch conventional aircraft like the previously manned Qaher-313 instead of lightweight and more safely accelerated drones. It didn’t have an obvious catapult system or rocket assist launch facility for the drones. It looks like something that would be extremely easy to sink without a ton of air support or support ships to play defense. It’s really not clear what their intent of showing this footage is because it doesn’t instill a lot of faith in their capabilities.

Trump has also been on a tear, saying that he intends to relocate the people of the Gaza Strip to other areas, and make it a controlled area of the United States, similar to his plans for Greenland, presumably. The Gazan’s Riviera with sandy beaches and a Trump tower, I’m sure. Anyway, most people do not think this strategy is real, nor does there seem to be a real plan being communicated about how he relocates all those people to Jordan or Egypt, etc. That is especially interesting if he is serious because he’s saying that no US troops would be needed. At the same time, the State Department said that POTUS withdrew from the UNHRC and defunded the UNRWA. This is the same UNRWA who had people who aided or, at minimum, did nothing to alert Israel to the October 7th attacks.

Heading south of the border news, Panama has decided to back away from its agreements with China’s Belt and Road Initiative after U.S. pressure. The shift is a clear win for Washington in its competition with Beijing. There are also rumors that US-flagged military vessels will not have to pay to transit the Panama Canal. The Panamanian authority that manages the canal denies it, but the theory is that this supersedes their control or remit, and they weren’t involved in the decision. So who knows, but I am sure we’ll find out soon enough when some Naval captain gets it on video one way or another.

Mexico, for its part, is reinforcing its northern border with 10,000 National Guard troops, partly in response to Trump’s renewed crackdown on fentanyl. A major shift in cross-border security cooperation that will likely lead to nothing. These troops are largely useless and not a real hardened military like the US Marines on the other side of the fence., but it does send a signal to the cartel that they’ll have to do a lot more work to ferry people across with two lines of defense they’ll have to cross.

Nayib Bukele surprised the world by saying he’d happily take in our prisoners, including potentially our convicted illegals, and house them for a fee. He thinks that we’d pay more than his country would but less than the US would pay to house them domestically. For US citizens, this likely won’t work because of the 500-mile radius to their home requirement, but for illegals, that seems like it could work while we wait for extradition. It keeps them out of our prisons and out of our country for cheaper than we’d do it. The only remaining issue is that El Salvador is not exactly known for its excellence in human rights. Any video you see on this looks like hell - but it sure would be a strong deterrent for illegals thinking that US jails are relatively cushy. The last thing some migrant wants is to end up in an El Salvadorian jail.

In North America, Canada has narrowly avoided a new round of tariffs from the U.S. by agreeing to a $1.3 billion border security deal. The deal includes drones, advanced helicopters, and a fentanyl czar. This is only a short reprieve and will likely start a new round of negotiations in a month. Keep in mind that Canada was already planning on doing some of this, so it’s kinda pointless. But with new tariffs looming, a fierce debate is raging over what it means for Canada’s economy. There are some good arguments in both directions. Here are two reasonably good and mildly funny explainers on why it may not matter at all to the US and Pierre Poilievre’s take on how Canada should respond - reducing its own regulations between provinces.

Back in the U.S. news, one interesting thought piece said that Washington is pulling back from global hegemony in a way that feels less like strategic decline and more like a deliberate shift to multipolarity. Do not fear, the US isn’t going away, but this thinking means the US was likely loosing ground in imperceptible ways for the last few decades, so this strategic retreat is likely more in line with where we actually are geopolitically. It may have played out differently had we anticipated China’s aggressive behavior better, or if Europe had been a truly equal partner militarily, or if we hadn’t given up strategic assets like our domestic oil and gas production and our ship building, but the US is lost enough ground in enough regions that we cannot project power in the way we once could, especially in the south China Sea. Is Arnaud right? Love to hear your thoughts. 🤔 

In stupid news out of Washington, which feels like it could be a segment all on its own, there is a new piece of proposed legislation to force gun owners to have gun insurance. First of all, if you have a gun, you should anyway. Secondly, if you are poor, I guess you don’t legally get to own a gun. So, all they have done is make sure that the poor, responsible gun owners are less able to defend themselves. Meanwhile, the bad guys don’t care, and the wealthy don’t care. Nice job hurting the poor, Washington! I suspect this half-baked law will get contested.

OPM was breached… or… was it simply occupied by the people who were tasked to fix it? Journalists seem to be alluding to the replacement skeleton crew as some sort of unethical or illegal breach. I know that a lot of this is unprecedented and maybe even illegal in some cases due to some law or lack of Congressional funding somewhere that probably prohibits some part of what they are doing, but this is exactly what Trump campaigned on and overwhelmingly won on - removing unnecessary bloat from government. Balancing the budget. Removing waste, etc. So even if parts of DOGE’s actions get blocked or reversed temporarily, the will of the people will prevail one way or another, and trying to spin this against Trump will likely backfire with the voters who will see anyone involved in obstructing DOGE as part of the problem. Whether the specific details of waste are true or not, the regular news cycle of removing wasteful USAID bloat or defunding a transgender overseas opera will sink into the minds of the voters who will be more and more anxious to see their tax burdens reduced and the deficit brought back to manageable without printing money.

The US postal service briefly stopped allowing parcels from China to be delivered which is a pretty huge blow to China’s economy in the short term. This was likely talked about in the context of removing the Fentanyl trade, but likely is a much more important feature of a trade negotiation to limit Chinese hacking or to come to terms on other issues. Either way, like I said, I hope you bought your Chinese crap already, because if this starts again, it will likely make getting Chinese products into the US a lot more costly.

Meanwhile, USAID staff has been told to immediately evacuate back to the United States, including their family. Likely this is while Marco Rubio assesses the value of each of the programs, and likely cuts most if not all of them, rolling projects deemed critical under the state department.

There is an interesting set of cases coming out of the FCC of all places. The first was with regard to CBS, who did an interview with Kamala Harris. In one report, they showed one answer she gave and a different answer - to the same question. That, the FCC says, could be considered election interference. The FCC demanded the full transcripts, which turned out to be just as boring and nonsensical as you might expect. The second set of cases is against PBS and NPR, who allegedly advertised, even though the FCC chair says that they aren’t allowed to do that under their mandate. All of this could mean very bad news for these different news outlets, which have traditionally skewed quite left.

Trump has signed an executive order banning biological men from women’s sports, guaranteeing that the cultural battle over gender in athletics will rage on. As this very interesting video elucidates, the debate is far from over. The reason the interview gave was that trans parents are going to have to defend their positions, or they’ll have to admit they mutilated their kids - there isn’t much middle ground, and one of those positions makes them look like they are the bad people, vs that everyone else is transphobic.

In tech, AI-generated photorealistic human videos are now here, with China’s ByteDance leading the charge. The uncanny valley is getting closer and closer to being a thing of the past. I’m honestly impressed by some of this footage. Of course, a lot of this is cherry-picked to be the best they have produced, but still. Quite impressive.

And if you haven’t started managing your online reputation, now is the time. Some companies find that AI systems like ChatGPT are burying them in search results based on negative sentiment. The AI-driven reputation economy is officially a thing. I feel like it always was, but now it’s showing up in an entirely different kind of search result.

Okay, onto the articles!

The US Agency for International Development (USAID) is undergoing a shutdown that affects its operations worldwide. This decision stems from the Trump administration's push, backed by Elon Musk, to dismantle what they perceive as an inefficient agency, resulting in mass layoffs and disrupted humanitarian programs which could jeopardize millions relying on US foreign assistance.

• USAID is facing a shutdown, resulting in the disruption of critical humanitarian aid globally.

• The shutdown is causing mass layoffs and halting significant programs that have provided essential services to millions.

[RSnake: I am sure there were a lot of clandestine ops being funded out of USAID. But I am also sure there is a lot of taxpayer waste. Marco Rubio has a real challenge here in knowing which is which, because a lot of people involved likely are totally unaware of what their real missions were in the clandestine case.]

Source: https://sofrep.com/?p=212552

US President Donald Trump has proposed taking over Gaza and rebuilding it, with plans to force Palestinians out of the territory. The proposal, which would involve relocating Palestinians to other parts of the Arab world or beyond, has been widely rejected by Palestinian leaders and Arab nations. The plan could also impact the ceasefire and hostage release process in the region.

• The proposal would involve taking over Gaza and rebuilding it, with plans to force Palestinians out of the territory.

• The plan has been widely rejected by Palestinian leaders and Arab nations.

[RSnake: I really am curious if there is a solid plan behind this, and not just some off-the-cuff idea. Some of the comments were funny regarding the “Amerification” of the region - putting in a “Gaza Strip Club” etc.]

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9w5q8qn59yo

The UN has reported a rise in summary executions of Ukrainian prisoners of war by Russian forces, with at least 79 cases recorded since August 2023. Ukraine's authorities are investigating these incidents, which are characterized as war crimes under international law and involve unarmed and injured soldiers being killed after surrendering or while in custody.

• 79 executions of Ukrainian POWs by Russian forces have been documented since August 2023.

• Ukraine's Human Rights Commissioner reported that at least 177 Ukrainian POWs have been executed since 2022.

[RSnake: It may seem cheaper, but it just emboldens the enemy to kill them after capture.]

Source: https://euromaidanpress.com/?p=319842

A strict new bill could prohibit US persons from advancing artificial intelligence capabilities within China, potentially banning DeepSeek and other Chinese AI apps, and may curb international collaboration and AI transparency.

• The bill would prohibit United States persons from advancing artificial intelligence capabilities within the People’s Republic of China.

• Anyone convicted of importing or exporting artificial intelligence technology to China could face up to 20 years in prison and fines of up to $1 million for individuals and $10 million for businesses.

[RSnake: Poorly written bill, with good intentions. It’s very hard to know what is Chinese and not for the average citizen. Also, even producing content that could be scraped could help Chinese models. Not a fan of the wording here.]

Source: https://lifehacker.com/tech/congress-might-ban-deepseek

The US is building an Iron Dome for America to defend against ballistic and hypersonic attacks, including space-based monitoring and interception systems. This move has raised the stakes in the Russia-US security dilemma and may lead to a hyper-militarization of space, increasing the risk of war by miscalculation. The US plans are also poised to become a game-changer in the nuclear arms control landscape.

• The US withdrawal from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty in 2002 led Russia to develop hypersonic technology.

• The US plans for an Iron Dome may lead to a hyper-militarization of space and increase the risk of war by miscalculation.

• A space-based arms control pact between the US, Russia, and China is unlikely but may be necessary to reduce the risk of nuclear conflict.

[RSnake: Good - if the drones everyone is worried about happen to be real, and the ones that actually are real become weaponized, we’ll need it. Frankly, I am of the mind that we shoot first and ask questions later when it comes to illegal drone overflight.]

Source: https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/five-takeaways-trumps-plans-build-iron-dome-america

China is rapidly enhancing its military capabilities in anticipation of potential conflict, particularly regarding Taiwan. The People's Liberation Army (PLA) is constructing a vast underground command complex near Beijing and modernizing air bases through significant investments in hardened shelters and robust defense mechanisms.

• The PLA is building a large underground command center that may serve as a wartime headquarters.

• China's military modernization includes extensive fortification of air bases and development of nuclear capabilities.

[RSnake: The hardened shelters will only protect them from smaller ordinances, and ordinances that don’t fly horizontally to the ground, but it is wise for them to be focused on that, seeing what Ukraine is doing to Russia, because airbases are one of the first targets on the list.]

Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/china/readying-for-war-the-pla-burrows-underground-and-hardens-air-bases/articleshow/117903018.cms

South Korea is debating the potential acquisition of nuclear weapons in response to perceived threats from North Korea and changing regional security dynamics. The discussion involves considerations of national security, economic implications, and the impact on international alliances, particularly with the United States. The challenges and risks of nuclear armament, including potential diplomatic isolation and a regional arms race, are significant factors in the decision-making process.

• The growing threat from North Korea's nuclear capabilities has led to discussions on South Korea potentially acquiring its own nuclear weapons.

• South Korea's pursuit of nuclear weapons could strain U.S. alliances and have broader economic and diplomatic consequences.

[RSnake: Interesting - I am not sure it would have quite the same effect as they hope it would. I don’t think NK wants to nuke SK, and if they did, they either already would have or they realized that the US would nuke them, so they didn’t. So, the upside in SK owning nukes seems a little unclear unless their fear is that the US steps back from our support obligations.]

Source: https://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2025/02/05/should_south_korea_pursue_nuclear_weapons_1089359.html

Qatar and Egypt are leading efforts to reinstate the Palestinian Authority's control over Gaza; however, the PA has struggled to maintain order in the West Bank and would face significant opposition in Gaza. The PA's security operations have proven largely ineffective, and Hamas continues to execute Palestinians accused of collaboration with Israel, undermining any potential reestablishment of PA authority. The situation remains tense, with ongoing threats and the presence of armed groups in both the Gaza Strip and the West Bank following a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.

• The Palestinian Authority is unable to control Gaza due to opposition from Hamas and its own failures in the West Bank.

• Executions by Hamas of individuals accused of collaboration with Israel indicate a severe security crisis and conflict within Palestinian territories.

[RSnake: It is interesting that Hamas really has friends in name only. Benefactors, yes, but not friends.]

Source: https://www.jewishpress.com/?p=726316

The Philippine government is enhancing its military capabilities by acquiring new aircraft and armored vehicles as part of a shift towards improved territorial defense. The 2025 national budget allocates significant funding to the Department of National Defense, despite a reduction in expected modernization allocations. The military's modernization plans include purchasing additional FA-50 fighters, armored vehicles from South Korea, and enhancing cyber defense systems to counter threats from state-backed hacking.

• The Philippine government is prioritizing territorial defense with a series of military acquisitions.

• Funding from the 2025 national budget supports the modernization of the armed forces.

• There is a focus on increasing combat aircraft capabilities and enhancing cyber defense.

[RSnake: Good for them - they are highly infiltrated by Chinese businessmen, btw. It is so bad they are trying to come up with creative ways to push their casinos and brothels out. They do not follow Philippine law, and the Philippines are largely family-oriented people, so it’s not a welcome corrupt group of Chinese. Not to mention those “legitimate” businesses are covered for CCP operations.]

Source: https://www.defensenews.com/global/asia-pacific/2025/02/04/philippines-shores-up-defenses-with-increased-military-spending/

Italy intends to make a €23 billion ($24 billion) purchase of Lynx and Panther tanks to modernize its military capabilities amid increasing global tensions. Defense officials are pressing for quick delivery schedules and have formed a joint venture to produce these armored vehicles in collaboration with German firm Rheinmetall. The production timeline includes starting deliveries of Lynx vehicles this year and Panther tanks beginning in 2027, with plans for future exports.

• Italy is set to invest €23 billion to acquire advanced armored fighting vehicles to bolster its defense.

• A joint venture with Rheinmetall aims to produce both Lynx and Panther tanks domestically, with initial deliveries planned soon.

[RSnake: I do think it is interesting that Europe is arming up, don’t you?]

Source: https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2025/02/04/italy-itching-to-drop-24-billion-on-lynx-panther-tanks-with-amore/

A 22-year-old Canadian man has been indicted for allegedly stealing $65 million in cryptocurrency by exploiting vulnerabilities in two decentralized finance platforms and attempting to extort investors.

• The scheme involved exploiting vulnerabilities in the KyberSwap and Indexed Finance smart contracts, using manipulative trading practices to cause artificial prices during re-indexing processes.

• If convicted, Medjedovic faces fines and decades in prison.

[RSnake: I am amazed they found him at all, but it’s likely because of the extortion, not because of the theft itself.]

Source: https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2025/02/man-indicted-for-two-alleged-defi-hacks-that-stole-65-million/

A zero-day vulnerability in 7-Zip was exploited by Russian hackers in a campaign targeting Ukrainian government and private organizations, allowing malicious files to run without warnings.

• The 7-Zip MotW bypass vulnerability, tracked as CVE-2025-0411, was exploited by Russian hackers in a campaign targeting Ukrainian government and private organizations.

• Threat actors used homoglyph techniques to hide their payloads within 7-Zip files, making them appear harmless Word or PDF documents.

[RSnake: Wow - exploits, and it wants it in compression algos. The late 90s called and it wants it’s exploits back.]

Source: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/7-zip-motw-bypass-exploited-in-zero-day-attacks-against-ukraine/

Cybercrime is projected to result in $10.5 trillion in damages globally by 2025, making it a major threat to businesses worldwide. The impact of cybersecurity incidents can lead to significant reputational damage and loss of customer trust, costing organizations considerably in their efforts to recover and maintain relationships.

• Cybercrime damages are expected to exceed $10 trillion, ranking it as the third-largest global economy.

• Loss of customer trust contributes to nearly 40% of the costs associated with cybersecurity breaches.

[RSnake: I never understood how these numbers were calculated, but it does make sense that if it is the case, a 1-2 trillion in cyber security spend in the next ten years makes a lot of sense. At some point if enough bad things happen on the Internet, ordinary people will stop using it for fear of what will happen, in which case we’ll see a tapering off as we reach equilibrium.]

Source: https://cybersecurityventures.com/?p=33118

Two federal workers are seeking a restraining order against the operation of an allegedly illegally connected email server at the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM), which they claim exposes personal data of government employees to potential foreign threats. The lawsuit argues that this setup, allegedly operated by associates of Elon Musk, bypassed necessary federal privacy assessments and may lead to further vulnerabilities in government information security.

• A lawsuit has been filed regarding an illegally connected email server at OPM.

• The server is alleged to expose personal information of federal workers to foreign threats.

[RSnake: Sounds bad - and I hope they aren’t doing anything dumb over at DOGE, but as quickly as they are moving, I wouldn’t be surprised if they are making some fast and loose decisions. Fast isn’t usually what you want when you need high levels of information security. A similar article here.]

Source: https://www.wired.com/story/federal-workers-sue-over-doge-server/

Google has removed a pledge from its website to not build AI for weapons or surveillance, citing the need to align with international law and human rights.

• Google is updating its public AI principles page to reflect a shift in priorities, including mitigating unintended outcomes and avoiding unfair bias.

• The company maintains that its AI is not used to harm humans, but some experts have raised concerns about its potential use in the military's kill chain.

[RSnake: Lol - just like they removed the Do Not Be Evil pledge. I trust Google about as far as I could throw a $100BN a year advertising company.]

Source: https://techcrunch.com/?p=2959855

A Chinese content delivery network named Funnull has been linked to malicious activities by exploiting mainstream cloud services like AWS and Microsoft Azure for hosting scams and fraudulent websites. This method, known as 'infrastructure laundering', allows criminals to continuously acquire new IP addresses to evade detection, complicating efforts by cloud providers to curb illicit activities.

• Funnull CDN has rented thousands of IP addresses from major cloud providers to host scam websites linked to money laundering.

• Major cloud service providers are struggling to keep up with the rapid acquisition and cycling of IPs used by malicious actors.

[RSnake: Shocker. Do your best to avoid any Chinese-made software. I know that’s asking a lot, because it’s in basically everything. Do your best.]

Source: https://www.darkreading.com/cloud-security/chinese-infrastructure-laundering-abuses-aws-microsoft-cloud

A Chinese hacking group, known as Evasive Panda, is conducting cyber-espionage operations by compromising network appliances through the SSH daemon, injecting malware for persistent access and covert operations. This newly identified malware suite allows the attackers to perform a variety of malicious activities, including system reconnaissance, credential theft, and command execution, targeting U.S. organizations since November 2024. Fortinet has developed AI-assisted tools to analyze this malware and has indicated that its security measures already protect customers from these threats.

• A cyber-espionage group is exploiting vulnerabilities in network appliances.

• The malware allows for extensive control and data exfiltration from compromised systems.

• AI tools are being utilized to reverse engineer and understand the mechanics of the malware.

[RSnake: Fortinet is not to be trusted - not at this point, anyway. Stop using it. Mark my words.]

Source: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/chinese-cyberspies-use-new-ssh-backdoor-in-network-device-hacks/

MIT has launched the Generative AI Impact Consortium, aimed at harnessing the capabilities of generative artificial intelligence to address societal challenges. This collaboration brings together leading industry players and MIT researchers to explore the practical applications of AI while ensuring its responsible development and implementation across various sectors.

• The consortium focuses on the impact of generative AI on industries and seeks to tackle challenges before they arise.

• Industry partners, including OpenAI and Coca-Cola, aim to innovate and make advancements in AI technology accessible.

[RSnake: I am not a fan of all of the social justice around AI. All they are doing is lobotomizing it. I AM a fan of NSWF controls, though, to be fair. But I do hope they find a lot of practical applications for it.]

Source: https://news.mit.edu/2025/introducing-mit-generative-ai-impact-consortium-0203

The European Union has enacted a comprehensive AI regulatory framework that allows regulators to ban AI systems deemed to pose unacceptable risks. This legislation categorizes AI applications into four risk levels, with strict compliance deadlines for companies to follow, particularly for high-risk and unacceptable-risk systems. Organizations found in violation of these regulations may face significant fines based on their annual revenue.

• AI systems classified under unacceptable risk, such as those involved in social scoring and deceptive decision-making, will be banned.

• Companies operating in the EU must comply with the new AI regulations or risk hefty fines.

[RSnake: Lol… if I were to write a playbook on how to ensure that the EU falls behind in the AI race, I’m not sure I could do better than the EU. Idiots.]

Source: https://techcrunch.com/2025/02/02/ai-systems-with-unacceptable-risk-are-now-banned-in-the-eu/

Oracle is currently facing a legal challenge regarding its trademark of 'JavaScript', which is claimed by many in the tech community to be a generic term and not owned by any single entity. The creator of Node.js, Deno, has filed a petition to cancel Oracle's trademark, arguing that Oracle has not maintained control or use over it and has misrepresented its application.

• Oracle's claim over the 'JavaScript' trademark is being legally contested by the creator of Node.js.

• There are broader implications for trademark law if Oracle can retain ownership of a term widely recognized as generic.

[RSnake: Interesting - I never even knew it it was trademarked. It just goes to show that at least me, a guy who has been working in JavaScript for the better part of 30 years, assumed it was just the name of the language and a term of art, not a trademark. That will not help Oracle’s case.]

Source: https://deno.com/blog/deno-v-oracle2

OurSky, a software platform specializing in space observational data, has merged with PlaneWave Instruments, a U.S.-based telescope manufacturer, to enhance telescope usability and market reach. This merger aims to streamline the integration of telescope components and control systems while addressing increasing demand for tracking and communication capabilities related to space missions and objects in Earth's orbit.

• OurSky and PlaneWave have merged to create a unified platform for telescope manufacturing and data handling.

• The new company aims to address integration issues and capitalize on increasing demand for space tracking and communication technologies.

[RSnake: That’s cool - I do think civilian telescope arrays can be repurposed to offer a lot of overflight knowledge that the government would have to spend a lot of time researching and building. Think SETI at home for foreign drones.]

Source: https://techcrunch.com/?p=2959336

General Motors is downsizing Cruise, its autonomous vehicle division, laying off nearly 1,000 employees and shifting focus away from robotaxi services to personal vehicle technology, particularly the Super Cruise system. This strategic pivot comes after heavy financial losses and safety issues associated with the robotaxi program, which GM had invested billions into. The restructuring includes the departure of key executives as the company aims to adapt its approach to autonomous technology.

• General Motors is laying off nearly half the workforce at Cruise and abandoning the robotaxi business.

• The company is refocusing on its Super Cruise system for personal vehicles, anticipating significant revenue growth.

[RSnake: You can always go to Robotaxi from an autonomous vehicle. I don’t think this is the last we’ve heard from GM.]

Source: https://gizmodo.com/?p=2000559221

California's largest home insurer has requested a 22 percent emergency rate hike following catastrophic wildfires that resulted in over 16,000 destroyed homes and significant financial losses. The fires, which claimed at least 29 lives, have led to more than 8,700 claims exceeding $1 billion, marking this as potentially the costliest fire in California's history. The insurer aims to rebuild its capital to avoid jeopardizing coverage for its policyholders amidst a dire financial situation.

• California's largest home insurer requested a 22% emergency rate hike after catastrophic wildfires.

• The wildfires led to over 8,700 claims and over $1 billion in payouts.

• The insurer faces significant financial challenges, with demands to rebuild capital to support its policyholders.

[RSnake: Fire insurance in California is a rough business. I don’t blame them - this could bankrupt all but the biggest carriers.]

Source: https://www.zerohedge.com/political/state-farm-asks-california-insurance-department-emergency-22-percent-rate-increase

A tentative agreement has been reached between the Teamsters union and Costco, averting a potential strike that could have impacted approximately 18,000 workers across six states. The agreement comes after the expiration of the previous contract, with demands focused on wage increases and enhanced employee benefits. Additionally, Costco has announced wage increases for its non-union employees as part of its commitment to worker compensation.

• The Teamsters union represents 8% of Costco's U.S. workforce and was poised to strike earlier this week.

• Costco has raised pay for non-union employees, indicating broader trends challenging retailer labor practices.

[RSnake: That’s good - it would have only impacted the absolute poorest of the US consumer, and for their sake, I’m glad they still have a place to shop for inexpensive high quality items.]

Source: https://www.supplychainbrain.com/articles/41146-costco-reaches-tentative-deal-with-teamsters-in-11th-hour

The United States Postal Service has suspended all package shipments from China and Hong Kong due to new tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, which also eliminated the de minimis exemption for low-value imports. This has caused significant disruptions in the ecommerce industry, as packages are now subject to rigorous customs inspections and increased tariffs, leading to potential delays and higher costs for consumers.

• The USPS has halted all incoming packages from China and Hong Kong amid new tariffs.

• The elimination of the de minimis exemption is leading to significant challenges for ecommerce companies.

• Consumers may face increased costs and delays for products previously imported without tariffs.

[RSnake: I hope you don’t get whiplash, but it’s already been reversed… for now.]

Source: https://www.wired.com/story/tariffs-trump-ecommerce-amazon-temu/

Bernie Sanders is proposing a bipartisan bill to cap credit-card interest rates, which could affect millions of Americans with high-interest debt.

• A temporary rate cap of 10% for five years would curb credit-card annual percentage rates and reduce the amount of money people pay on their credit-card debt.

• The bill aims to address the issue of high-interest debt, with millions of Americans struggling to make payments and facing rates above 20%.

[RSnake: Gotta be careful with this, because that may make it much more difficult to get credit cards for the most risky consumers. It basically means they have to use cash or a risky debit card.]

Source: https://www.marketwatch.com/story/bernie-sanders-floats-a-bipartisan-bill-to-fulfill-a-trump-campaign-promise-critics-say-its-pandering-b03036ec?mod=mw_rss_topstories

Egg prices in the U.S. have reached record highs due to a severe avian influenza outbreak, leading to a decline in egg-laying hen populations. The outbreak has resulted in the loss of over 104 million hens since its start in 2022, impacting grocery store supplies and causing restaurants to increase prices.

• Egg prices have surged to an average of $7.08 per dozen in the Midwest due to the bird flu outbreak.

• A nationwide egg shortage is causing retailers to limit purchases and affecting menu prices at restaurants.

[RSnake: Is it time to buy some chickens? 🫠 ]

Source: https://www.zerohedge.com/commodities/time-build-backyard-chicken-coop-wholesale-egg-prices-hit-new-record-highs

Amazon's stock has reached record high levels despite losing a significant portion of its deliveries from UPS. The stock's performance indicates strong investor confidence and suggests a continued upward trajectory in the market.

• Amazon's stock has achieved two consecutive record weekly closes.

• Despite UPS cutting its deliveries for Amazon by more than half, the stock surged.

[RSnake: When I got a divorce I refurnished my apartment with Amazon, and I was kicking myself the whole time that I didn’t invest in Amazon.]

Source: https://www.marketwatch.com/story/amazons-stock-resumes-its-breakout-losing-some-ups-deliveries-wont-stop-it-d9b055ec?mod=mw_rss_topstories

Palantir Technologies reported significant revenue growth for Q4 2024, with a 36% year-over-year increase overall and a 52% increase in U.S. revenue. The company expects continued growth in fiscal year 2025, projecting a revenue increase of 31% year-over-year.

• Palantir's U.S. commercial revenue grew by 64% year-over-year.

• The company closed a record-setting $803 million in U.S. commercial total contract value, up 134% year-over-year.

[RSnake: Wow - just shows that surveillance is hot. Data is hot. Aggregated data that is actionable is super hot.]

Source: https://thereadable.co/palantir-reports-q4-2024-revenue-growth-of-36-y-y-u-s-revenue-growth-of-52-y-y-issues-fy-2025-revenue-guidance-of-31-y-y-growth-eviscerating-consensus-estimates/