June 13, 2025 • By Jack Izzo

A recent New York Times article claimed that the US federal government, under President Donald Trump, had partnered with data software company Palantir to centralize data on American citizens. Palantir responded, calling the reporting "blatantly untrue" and stating that they do not collect data to unlawfully surveil Americans. However, an investigation by Snopes found that while Palantir does not have a direct contract with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), their software, Foundry, is used by various government agencies, including the Department of Defense, Health and Human Services, and Homeland Security. The investigation also found that the Trump administration has been working to consolidate government data, with an executive order signed in March 2025 aiming to eliminate information silos and promote inter-agency data sharing. While Palantir's role is to provide software capabilities to help customers use their data effectively, their tools could potentially be used to construct a master database. The claim circulating on social media that Palantir is creating a master database of all US citizens is an exaggerated version of the New York Times article's headline. However, there is evidence that the administration is undertaking an initiative to consolidate government data, with Palantir's Foundry being a part of it. The company has received over $113 million in government contracts since Trump took office, and their connections to the Trump administration, including co-founder Peter Thiel's business history with Elon Musk, have raised concerns about data privacy and surveillance. In summary, while the initial claim about Palantir creating a master database is exaggerated, the company's involvement in the government's data consolidation efforts and their connections to the Trump administration have sparked concerns about data privacy and surveillance.

June 13, 2025 • By Luisa Garcia

A recent CBS News poll found that two out of three Americans are stressed about their finances, and three out of four said their incomes aren't keeping up with inflation. The news outlet spoke to several individuals struggling to make ends meet, including a teacher, a police officer, and a 70-year-old widow. Michelle Boisjoli, a 37-year-old teacher, earns $37,000 a year and has taken on a second job to pay the bills. Anthony Bartolini, a 29-year-old police officer, is struggling to afford a home for his family. Olivia Moreno Carlson, a 70-year-old widow, is looking for work after losing her job in retail and can't afford to retire on Social Security alone. These individuals' stories highlight the affordability crisis in the US, where many people are struggling to survive due to rising costs and stagnant incomes.

June 13, 2025 • By jeffm8

A general sending a first wave AI robot army into battle. Created by AI Tech buzzwords are so snazzy! Move fast and break things, machine learning, internet of things, big data, blockchain, pivot to…

June 13, 2025 • By ResearchBuzz

Here's a concise summary of the news article: The article discusses various topics, including the rarity of memes in 2025 due to the rise of TikTok, and the Oversight Board's criticism of Meta for not doing enough to combat celebrity deepfake scams. Other topics include genealogy tips, a new RSS feed reader tool, and marketers meeting with TikTok to discuss the platform's future plans. Additionally, there are updates on online safety rules, a study on generative AI and employee creativity, and innovative technologies such as a device that extracts drinking water from the air. The article also mentions funding opportunities for libraries to support freedom to read programming and invites readers to support the ResearchBuzz newsletter.

June 13, 2025

A sophisticated attack campaign targeting Linux systems was captured by a Raspberry Pi-based Cowrie SSH honeypot on April 29, 2025. The attack involved SSH brute forcing, backdoor installation, and deployment of architecture-specific malware. The attackers used a Go-based scanning/exploitation tool and successfully authenticated using weak credentials. They established persistence by installing an SSH key and setting immutable attributes on files, making it difficult for system administrators to modify or remove the backdoor. The attackers also employed multiple techniques to maintain access, including uploading malware variants for different CPU architectures, using alternative infection attempts, and setting immutable flags on files. They used a "download, execute, delete" pattern to avoid leaving malicious files on disk and attempted to download malware through different methods. The attack campaign was global, with identical patterns originating from dozens of distinct IP addresses across different continents. The use of architecture-specific malware binaries indicates that the attackers are targeting the growing Internet of Things ecosystem alongside traditional servers. To protect systems, it is recommended to monitor SSH authentication logs, implement proper key management, and deploy behavioral analysis tools. The attack highlights the importance of understanding adversary techniques and improving defensive postures. The honeypot capture provides a valuable learning opportunity, demonstrating the complexity and automation of modern cyber attacks.

June 13, 2025 • By Joe Rice-Jones

The article discusses the author's experience with setting up a Preboot Execution Environment (PXE) server in their home lab. A PXE server allows devices to boot from installation ISOs over the network, eliminating the need for physical media like USB drives. The author has tried three different variations and is keeping two, as it provides easy access to bootable media. The PXE server can be combined with Proxmox, making it simple to set up new virtual machines (VMs) without worrying about ISO file locations. The author also mentions the Fog Project, which can image running devices to use as PXE boot images. The setup requires an Ethernet connection and router configuration to forward PXE boot requests. Alternatively, Netboot.xyz provides a bootable environment with a collection of ISO files accessible over HTTP, eliminating the need for a local PXE server. The author finds this solution invaluable for their home lab, as it saves time and reduces the need for physical media.

June 13, 2025 • By Chris Saunders

The article is written by Chris Saunders, a freelance writer and editor, who shares his experiences and insights on the writing process. He emphasizes the importance of enjoying the journey, celebrating small wins, and finding pleasure in the creative process. Saunders breaks down the writing process into stages, from idea generation to research, writing, and editing, highlighting the thrill and satisfaction that comes with each step. He also discusses the business side of writing, including pitching and selling work, and the importance of getting paid for one's work. Ultimately, Saunders concludes that finding joy in the writing process and appreciating the small victories makes the experience worthwhile, even if it's not always lucrative.

June 12, 2025 • By The Star Online

A Taiwanese tourist apologized for her online post claiming Malaysian food was not fit for human consumption. She explained that she intended to make a light-hearted comment but regretted her choice of words, and apologized to all Malaysians. Her initial post sparked criticism from Malaysians, who urged her to respect other countries' culinary cultures. In a separate incident, a man in China's Yunnan province hallucinated sea creatures after eating wild mushrooms, but recovered thanks to quick medical intervention. The mushrooms likely contained toxic fungi, leading to accidental poisoning.

June 12, 2025 • By Jason Snell

Apple has made significant changes to the iPad's operating system, iPadOS 26, allowing it to run Mac-like windows with stoplight buttons and Expose. This shift in direction is expected to benefit advanced users who want to push the iPad to its fullest potential. The new features include: * Resizable windows that can be placed anywhere * A Menu Bar, similar to the Mac's, for easy access to app functionality and keyboard shortcuts * Background task management using Live Activities * Improved Files app with customizable columns and folders * Ability to assign a default opening app for files These changes aim to address the limitations of the iPad's software, which had been holding back its powerful hardware. The author, a heavy iPad user, is optimistic about the future of the iPad and believes that Apple is on the right track by embracing Mac-like features while maintaining the simplicity of the basic iPad experience.

June 12, 2025 • By TWiT

Meta is facing issues due to its AI chatbots posing as licensed therapists. Meanwhile, Apple announced a new iOS 26 feature that could match users based on their search history. A teardown of the Nintendo Switch 2 has also revealed new discoveries. These topics will be discussed on the Tech News Weekly podcast, available for download or subscription.

June 12, 2025 • By Nicole Silverio, Daily Caller News Foundation

Brevard County, Florida Sheriff Wayne Ivey warned left-wing rioters that they will face severe consequences, including death, if they assault law enforcement officers. Ivey's statement comes ahead of "No Kings" protests scheduled for Saturday, which aim to oppose President Donald Trump. The sheriff emphasized that any violent behavior, such as resisting arrest, blocking roadways, or attacking officers, will be met with force. Ivey's warnings follow recent riots in Los Angeles, where rioters have burned cars, vandalized property, and assaulted police officers in response to ICE raids. Florida officials have also warned that anyone attempting to riot in the state will face arrest or potentially be killed if they commit violence.

June 12, 2025 • By BrianKrebs

A recent investigation by security researchers at Qurium and Infoblox has uncovered a complex network of malicious advertising technology used by Kremlin-backed disinformation campaigns to bypass moderation on social media platforms. The network, known as "Doppelganger," uses specialized links and domain cloaking services to promote pro-Russian narratives and fake news in Europe. The researchers found that Doppelganger's cloaking service is also used by other malicious entities, including VexTrio, a traffic distribution system (TDS) that manages web traffic from victims of phishing, malware, and social engineering scams. VexTrio is linked to several other TDS operators, including Partners House, BroPush, RichAds, and RexPush, all of which are Russia-based push monetization programs. The investigation also revealed that VexTrio and its partners use deceptive tactics, such as fake CAPTCHA challenges, to trick internet users into enabling push notifications, which are then used to deliver malware, scams, and other malicious content. The researchers warned that these TDSs pose a significant threat to internet users, as they can lead to the delivery of information stealers, scams, and other types of malware. To protect themselves, users are advised to be cautious when approving notifications and to consider blocking notification requests altogether. Browser settings can be modified to block notifications, and users can also use security software to detect and block malicious activity. The investigation highlights the need for increased awareness and vigilance in the face of evolving cyber threats, particularly those linked to malicious advertising technology and disinformation campaigns.

June 12, 2025 • By The New Yorker

A recent report highlights the desperate aid situation in Gaza, where Israel and the US have backed aid sites. Mosab Abu Toha shares his personal experience, describing how his family in Gaza is struggling to access food due to the blockade. On May 15th, his relatives had to share a small meal of plain white rice, which would normally feed only two people, among seven family members. The situation has worsened over the past 19 months, with frequent air strikes and a rising death toll. The Gaza health officials have reported over 53,000 deaths since October 7th. In other news, the New York Times has announced that it will no longer make endorsements in local elections, including the mayoral race. This decision has left candidates scrambling for alternative forms of media attention. Eric Lach discusses the waning influence of traditional media endorsements and the Times' attempt to remake the format. The newspaper has published a survey of prominent New Yorkers' candidate preferences, which may serve as a compromise, but its impact remains uncertain.

June 12, 2025 • By Editor

The article discusses the challenges of keeping track of preps, such as canned food, radios, and medical supplies, as they accumulate. The author shares their experience of using various methods, including paper, Rolodex, and spreadsheet systems, but finds them cumbersome and inefficient. They discover Obsidian, a note-taking tool, and realize its potential as an inventory system. Obsidian is free, internet-independent, and available on multiple platforms. The author creates a sample Obsidian inventory setup and shares it with readers, explaining the basics of using Obsidian for inventory management, including vaults, folders, and tags. They demonstrate how to organize preps using a folder structure and tags, allowing for easy searching and categorization. The article will continue in Part 2, exploring more features and capabilities of Obsidian as an inventory system.

June 12, 2025 • By Roger Montti

Google's CEO, Sundar Pichai, addressed concerns about the impact of AI-driven changes to search on the web ecosystem. He emphasized that supporting the web ecosystem is a core design principle and that AI will provide more context, encouraging users to explore topics on the web. Pichai stated that Google will continue to send users to the human-created web, but his statements are undermined by the delay in enabling web publishers to track referrals from AI Overviews and AI Mode. This has created skepticism among web publishers about Google's commitment to the human-created web. Pichai believes that AI Search is the "next chapter of search," but some experts think it may be an entirely new era. Google's evolution to providing answers instead of links has raised concerns among publishers, and it will take more positive actions from Google to overcome their negative outlook.

June 12, 2025 • By John Gruber

Apple executives have been downplaying concerns about the company's AI development, particularly with regards to Siri, after a delay in shipping new features. They claim that the delay is not a big deal and that the company's high standards are the reason for the holdup. However, this message is being met with skepticism, especially given the internal turmoil and team shakeups within Apple. A recent interview with Joanna Stern pushed Apple executives Craig Federighi and Greg Joswiak hard on these topics, revealing some inconsistencies in their marketing speak. The company's response to criticism, including a piece by John Gruber, has been seen as out of tune and proportion. Ultimately, Apple's insistence that everything is fine with their AI development is not convincing, and the company needs to get its AI house in order and catch up with the industry.

June 12, 2025 • By Paul Horowitz

Apple has announced iOS 26 for iPhone and iPadOS 26 for iPad, with the first beta versions available to users in the developer beta programs. The beta versions offer a sneak peek at the new Liquid Glass interface, redesigned Lock Screen and Home Screen icons, and other features. To install the beta, users need at least 30GB of free storage space and a compatible device, including iPhone 11 models and later, and various iPad models. The installation process is straightforward, but users should be aware that beta releases can be buggy and unstable. The final version of iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 is expected to debut in the fall, with future beta updates available through Software Update. Users can provide feedback to Apple using the Feedback app, which can help shape the final release.

June 12, 2025 • By Chinasa Afigbo

Nigerian singer 2baba's new wife, Natasha Osawaru, has sparked online conversations about their marriage. In a viral video, Natasha praised 2baba, calling him an "intentional lover" with a peaceful personality. She expressed her pride in having him as her husband and declared her love for him. The video has garnered various reactions from social media users, with some commenting on the couple's relationship and 2baba's recent appearance in public with Natasha. This comes after 2baba's marriage issues resurfaced online following a recent photo of the couple in Abuja.

June 12, 2025 • By Lauren Alexis Fisher

The article discusses editor-approved shoe pairs for various occasions, including vacation and office settings.