Friday, August 16, 2024
Thursday, August 15, 2024
2.9 Billion Records, Including Social Security Numbers, Compromised in Massive Data Hack: Key Details
August 15, 2024 Buddieizreal
2.9 Billion Records, Including Social Security Numbers, Compromised in Massive Data Hack: Key Details
A staggering number of Social Security numbers and other sensitive information belonging to millions of people may now be in the hands of a hacking group following a significant data breach. The Los Angeles Times reported this week that the compromised data might have been sold on an online marketplace.
The hacking group, known as USDoD, allegedly stole personal records of 2.9 billion individuals from National Public Data, according to a class-action lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, as reported by Bloomberg Law. The breach is believed to have occurred around April 2024, according to the lawsuit.
Here’s what you need to know about the alleged data breach:
What Information Was Compromised?
The law firm Schubert, Jonckheer & Kolbe, which filed the class-action suit, stated in a press release that the stolen data file is 277.1 gigabytes in size and contains names, address histories, family connections, and Social Security numbers dating back at least three decades.
According to a cybersecurity expert’s post on X (formerly known as Twitter), the group USDoD claims to be selling the 2.9 billion records of U.S., U.K., and Canadian citizens on the dark web for $3.5 million.
Since the data was put up for sale in April, other versions of the data have surfaced, according to the cybersecurity and technology website Bleeping Computer.
In August, a hacker known as "Fenice" reportedly released the most comprehensive version of the data for free on an online forum, Bleeping Computer reported.
What is National Public Data?
National Public Data is a background check company based in Florida and operated by Jerico Pictures, Inc.
While National Public Data has not publicly confirmed the breach, The Los Angeles Times reported that the company has been responding to inquiries via email, stating, "We are aware of certain third-party claims about consumer data and are investigating these issues."
Multiple Individuals Charged in Connection with Actor Matthew Perry’s Overdose Death
August 15, 2024 Buddieizreal
Multiple Individuals Charged in Connection with Actor Matthew Perry’s Overdose Death
Several individuals have been charged in connection with the accidental overdose death of actor Matthew Perry, according to law enforcement sources who spoke with NBC News on Thursday.
Perry, 54, was discovered unresponsive in the heated section of his pool at his Pacific Palisades residence on October 28, 2023. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office determined that his death was due to the acute effects of ketamine, a powerful anesthetic with hallucinogenic properties.
Sources reported that at least one arrest was made in Southern California early Thursday. Federal prosecutors are expected to unseal an indictment later today, detailing the charges against this individual and others involved.
The family of Keith Morrison, a “Dateline” correspondent and Perry’s stepfather, expressed their relief at the recent developments.
“We were and continue to be devastated by Matthew’s passing, but it brings some solace knowing that law enforcement has treated his case with the seriousness it deserves,” the family stated. “We look forward to seeing justice served.”
In May, the Los Angeles police confirmed their collaboration with federal authorities to investigate the source of the ketamine found in Perry’s system.
Ketamine, long popular as a recreational drug, has recently gained attention for its potential in treating depression. An increasing number of clinics offer ketamine infusions or injections for various mental health conditions.
Perry had been receiving ketamine infusion therapy for depression and anxiety, though his last session occurred over a week before his death. The medical examiner noted that the ketamine detected in Perry’s body “could not be from that infusion therapy” due to its short half-life.
The ketamine levels in his system were significantly high, comparable to those used for general anesthesia in surgical procedures, according to the medical examiner’s findings.
Ultimately, Perry’s death was ruled accidental, with contributing factors including drowning, coronary artery disease, and the presence of buprenorphine, a medication used to treat opioid dependence.
Perry, beloved for his role as Chandler Bing on the hit TV show “Friends,” had been candid about his struggles with opioid addiction and alcoholism, which he detailed in his 2022 memoir, “Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing.” The medical examiner’s report noted that Perry had been sober for 19 months at the time of his death.
It’s not unusual for law enforcement to investigate and, in some cases, charge those responsible for supplying drugs that lead to high-profile fatalities.
For example, after Michael Jackson’s death in 2009, his personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter for administering a fatal dose of potent drugs. More recently, federal prosecutors in New York charged four individuals who provided actor Michael K. Williams with the fentanyl-laced heroin that resulted in his 2021 death.
Wednesday, August 14, 2024
Hamas Declines Participation in Gaza Ceasefire Talks, Senior Official Confirms
August 14, 2024 Buddieizreal
Hamas Declines Participation in Gaza Ceasefire Talks, Senior Official Confirms
Expected Increase in Social Security Payments for 2025: What You Need to Know
August 14, 2024 Buddieizreal
Expected Increase in Social Security Payments for 2025: What You Need to Know
WHO Declares Mpox Outbreak in Africa a Public Health Emergency, Echoing Early HIV Crisis
August 14, 2024 Buddieizreal
WHO Declares Mpox Outbreak in Africa a Public Health Emergency, Echoing Early HIV Crisis
An ongoing mpox outbreak in Africa has been likened to the early days of the HIV crisis, with the World Health Organization (WHO) declaring it a public health emergency. Scientists warn that the situation mirrors the initial struggles with HIV, emphasizing the urgent need for increased access to testing, vaccines, and treatments in the affected regions.
Medical experts are calling for a swift response, urging not only the acceleration of resources but also campaigns to combat the stigma surrounding the virus. The outbreak, particularly severe in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), has resulted in 38,465 cases and 1,456 deaths across Africa since January 2022. Of these, over 14,000 cases and 524 deaths have occurred in the DRC this year alone.
The virus includes clades I and II, along with a newly identified variant, clade Ib, which seems to be driving the outbreak in the DRC and neighboring countries. Children, in particular, appear to be at higher risk from this new strain.
The WHO's declaration of a “public health emergency of international concern” puts mpox in the same category as past global threats like Ebola, Covid-19, and the 2022 mpox outbreak in Europe. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed deep concern over the situation, noting that the emergence of clade Ib in eastern DRC and its spread to nearby countries is especially alarming.
To address the crisis, the WHO has already allocated $1.5 million from its contingency fund and plans to secure the remaining $15 million needed for ongoing efforts in the region. Tedros has called on international donors to contribute more resources.
Trudie Lang, a global health research professor at Oxford University, highlighted the similarities between this outbreak and the early days of HIV, particularly the spread of the virus through sexual networks. Vulnerable groups, such as young, exploited sex workers, are at high risk, and public health campaigns will be crucial to reduce stigma and encourage treatment-seeking behavior.
Lang also noted reports from frontline workers of pregnancy complications and babies born with mpox lesions, raising concerns about transmission in the womb. There are still significant unknowns about the virus, including the number of undiagnosed cases in the community.
“What worries me most,” Lang said, “is the potential for mild, hidden infections, particularly those transmitted sexually. We still don’t know when the virus is most infectious or how it spreads.”
She added that while the virus might be quickly contained if it reached Europe or the U.S., similar success is unlikely in impoverished regions of Africa.
Dr. Ayoade Alakija, chair of the Africa Vaccine Delivery Alliance and the diagnostics non-profit Find, argued that if this outbreak occurred in Europe, it would already be considered a major international health emergency. She urged that the WHO’s declaration should spur action and funding to address the crisis more effectively.
“There’s a critical need for deeper research into mpox transmission to guide control efforts,” Alakija said, stressing the importance of equitable access to vaccines, diagnostics, and treatments. She pointed out that most of these resources have been pre-ordered by wealthier countries, with only one diagnostic test available.
Alakija also expressed concern that without adequate testing, the interplay between mpox and other viruses like HIV remains unclear, potentially exacerbating the outbreak’s severity and spread. She warned that delays in addressing the virus in the DRC have almost inevitably led to its spread to neighboring countries, increasing the risk of a broader outbreak.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) had already declared mpox a public health emergency, with its director general, Dr. Jean Kaseya, calling for aggressive efforts to contain and eliminate the virus. Responding to this, Dr. Boghuma Titanji, an assistant professor of medicine at Emory University, expressed hope that the declaration would prompt African governments to allocate necessary funds to combat the outbreak.
In early August, the African Union approved $10.4 million for Africa CDC’s response, but Kaseya estimates that the continent will need around $4 billion to effectively tackle the crisis.
Tuesday, August 13, 2024
Trump's Chaotic Musk Interview: A Public Relations Nightmare
August 13, 2024 Buddieizreal
Trump's Chaotic Musk Interview: A Public Relations Nightmare
For a billionaire with a fascination for flirting with far-right ideologies, Elon Musk has an uncanny talent for making conservative figures look foolish.
Former President Donald Trump eagerly promoted his upcoming Monday night interview with Musk, which was set to stream on X (formerly Twitter). However, much like the rocky launch of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ presidential campaign on the same platform, the Trump-Musk interview turned into a social media debacle, inviting widespread mockery over the glaring technical glitches and lack of preparedness.
Since Kamala Harris secured the top spot on the Democratic ticket last month, Trump’s campaign has been struggling. His immature attacks on Harris have fallen flat, and his racist remarks about her mixed-race background have alienated all but his staunchest supporters. His choice of JD Vance as his running mate has also backfired, with Vance becoming increasingly unappealing with each public appearance.
In an odd and likely misguided attempt to regain his footing, Trump decided to sit down with Musk for a chat with an audience that skews heavily online and does not reflect the broader electorate. Even if the interview had gone smoothly, it would have been a strange and ineffective move in Trump’s efforts to counter Harris’ growing momentum.
But the interview did not go smoothly. It went off the rails almost immediately. As the scheduled start time came and went, X users were left in the dark, either laughing or fuming as the broadcast failed to begin. It took over 40 minutes before the interview finally started, adding another layer of embarrassment to a campaign already struggling to maintain a veneer of competence.
Trump, who had previously ridiculed DeSantis for his Twitter interview disaster in May 2023, writing, “Wow! The DeSanctus TWITTER launch is a DISASTER! His whole campaign will be a disaster. WATCH!”, found himself in a similar, if not worse, predicament.
Once the interview finally got underway, things didn’t improve for Trump. His speech was disjointed, jumping from topics like crowd sizes and immigration to President Joe Biden and other random thoughts. Worse still, his slurred speech raised further concerns about his health and did nothing to dispel growing worries about his age and fitness for office.
Musk, who lacks the ability to steer a conversation or challenge his guest, merely echoed Trump’s bizarre statements, occasionally veering off on his own right-wing tangents, much like a man too wealthy to be told he’s wrong.
Quoting anything from the interview would be pointless, as Trump’s remarks were either too incoherent to transcribe or recycled from his usual rally rhetoric.
Trump's message has become tiresomely predictable: build a wall, drill for oil, bash Marxists and socialists, and make racially insensitive remarks about Harris. His latest attempt to revitalize his campaign by teaming up with a tech mogul known for social media missteps resulted in what Trump himself might call a "DISASTER!"
Musk, with his clumsy handling of social media and inflated sense of self-importance, first made DeSantis look inept. Now, he’s done the same to Trump.
At this rate, Musk’s continued blunders might even win him some unlikely fans.
Sunday, August 11, 2024
Trump Campaign Confirms Hack After Anonymous Emails Surface
August 11, 2024 Buddieizreal
Trump Campaign Confirms Hack After Anonymous Emails Surface
The campaign for former President Donald Trump confirmed on Saturday that some of its internal communications had been compromised by a hacker. This announcement followed the receipt of emails by POLITICO from an anonymous sender who shared documents purportedly from within Trump’s campaign.
The Trump campaign attributed the breach to “foreign sources hostile to the United States,” referencing a Microsoft report released on Friday. The report highlighted a spear phishing attempt in June by Iranian hackers targeting a senior official in a U.S. presidential campaign, though Microsoft did not specify which campaign was targeted. When asked for details, a Trump campaign spokesperson, Steven Cheung, declined to provide further information supporting the claim that Iran was responsible for the breach.
“These documents were obtained illegally from foreign sources hostile to the United States, intended to interfere with the 2024 election and sow chaos throughout our Democratic process,” Cheung stated. He also mentioned Microsoft’s report, noting that the timing of the cyberattack coincided with Trump’s selection of a vice-presidential nominee.
Cheung did not disclose whether the campaign had engaged with Microsoft or law enforcement regarding the breach, citing the sensitivity of such discussions.
The anonymous emails began arriving at POLITICO on July 22, sent from an AOL account by someone identifying themselves only as “Robert.” Over the past few weeks, “Robert” shared what appeared to be internal communications from a senior Trump campaign official, including a research dossier on Trump’s running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, dated Feb. 23. According to two individuals familiar with the documents, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, the documents are authentic. One source described the dossier as an early draft of Vance’s vetting file.
The 271-page dossier compiled publicly available information about Vance’s record and statements, highlighting some, like his past criticisms of Trump, as “POTENTIAL VULNERABILITIES.” Another document provided by “Robert” included a portion of a research file on Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, who was also considered for the vice-presidential nomination.
When asked how they obtained the documents, “Robert” cryptically replied, “I suggest you don’t be curious about where I got them from. Any answer to this question will compromise me and legally restrict you from publishing them.”
The full extent of the breach remains unclear, but it represents a significant security lapse for the Trump campaign.
In recent weeks, reports have surfaced indicating that the U.S. intelligence community is increasingly concerned that Iran is plotting retaliation against Trump for ordering the 2020 assassination of Iranian military officer Qassem Soleimani. Although no evidence links the hacker to these plots, the situation has raised alarms.
Cheung alluded to these reports in his statement on Saturday, asserting, “The Iranians know that President Trump will stop their reign of terror just like he did in his first four years in the White House.”
Iranian officials were not immediately available for comment.
This breach recalls the 2016 hacking of top Democratic Party officials ahead of the presidential election. That cyberattack, later attributed to Russia, resulted in the leak of damaging emails that exposed the inner workings of Hillary Clinton’s campaign. The Justice Department’s subsequent investigation into Russian interference in the election did not find sufficient evidence to charge Trump or his campaign with collusion, though Special Counsel Robert Mueller did document the campaign’s enthusiasm for exploiting the hacked materials.
Tuesday, August 6, 2024
Mar-a-Lago Employee Speaks Out About Moving Classified Documents
August 06, 2024 Buddieizreal
Mar-a-Lago Employee Speaks Out About Moving Classified Documents
A butler at Mar-a-Lago revealed to CNN how he unknowingly assisted Nauta in transporting boxes of classified information from the estate to the former president's plane in June 2022. This occurred on the same day that Trump and his attorney were meeting with the Justice Department at Mar-a-Lago to discuss the classified documents.
Monday, August 5, 2024
Harris's Vice-Presidential Clash Turns Ugly
August 05, 2024 Buddieizreal
Harris's Vice-Presidential Clash Turns Ugly
Vice Presidential Race for Harris Turns Increasingly Bitter
Some strategists liken the vice presidential battle to a Democratic primary fight.
Woman Fatally Punches Husband After He Refuses to Take Her to Dubai for Birthday
August 05, 2024 Buddieizreal
Woman Fatally Punches Husband After He Refuses to Take Her to Dubai for Birthday
In a tragic incident in Pune, 36-year-old businessman Nikhil Khanna died after being punched in the nose by his wife. The altercation occurred when Khanna refused to take her to Dubai for her birthday celebration.
Sunday, August 4, 2024
Nigeria Imposes 24-Hour Curfews Amid Ongoing Protests
August 04, 2024 Buddieizreal
Nigeria Imposes 24-Hour Curfews Amid Ongoing Protests
Saturday, August 3, 2024
Divers Find 25 Bricks of Suspected Cocaine with Fake Nike Logos off Key West Coast
August 03, 2024 Buddieizreal
Divers Find 25 Bricks of Suspected Cocaine with Fake Nike Logos off Key West Coast
Was having a bit of fun with AI Art today and, well...😏☕
August 03, 2024 Buddieizreal
Was having a bit of fun with AI Art today and, well...😏☕
Iran Reports Hamas Leader Assassinated at Close Range
August 03, 2024 Buddieizreal