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veganism · 1 year ago

Text

The genocide is also experimentation on living beings

Israel is currently testing new weapons in Gaza, some of which will soon be sold globally as "battle-tested," according to Antony Loewenstein, an author who has written a widely acclaimed book on the issue.

For years, the Israeli defense sector has used Palestine as a laboratory for new weapons and surveillance tech, he told Anadolu, adding that this is also the case in the current ongoing war on Gaza.

One of the main reasons why "many nations, democracies and dictatorships support Israeli occupation" of Palestine is because it allows them to buy these "battle-tested" weapons, asserted Loewenstein, author of The Palestine Laboratory: How Israel Exports the Technology of Occupation Around the World.

Another aspect of Israel's war on Gaza has been the use of artificial intelligence technology, he said.

According to Loewenstein, AI has been one of the key targeting tools used by the Israeli military in its deadly campaign of airstrikes, leading to mass killings of Palestinians-now over 28,500-and damage on an unprecedented scale.

The current war on Gaza is "inarguably one of the most consequential and bloody," he said.

He described Israel's use of AI against Palestinians as "automated murder," stressing that this model "will be studied and copied by other nation-states" and Tel Aviv will sell them these technologies as tried and tested weapons.

In the last 50 years, Israel has exported hi-tech surveillance tools to at least 130 countries around the world.

To maintain its illegal occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem, and blockade of the Gaza Strip, Israel has developed a range of tools and technologies that have made it the world's leading exporter of spyware and digital forensics tools.

But analysts say the intelligence failure during the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attacks casts doubts over Tel Avis's technological capabilities.

Israel's reliance on technology "is an illusion of safety, while imprisoning 2.3 million people under endless occupation," said Loewenstein, who is Jewish and holds Australian and German nationalities.

He described Israel's response in Gaza as "apocalyptic," stressing that the killings of Palestinian civilians, including children and women, is "on a scale of indiscriminate slaughter."

- 'BLOOD MONEY'

Loewenstein, who is also a journalist, said Israel has honed its weapons and technology expertise over decades as an occupying power, acting with increasing impunity in the Palestinian territories.

This led a small country like Israel to become one of the top 10 arms dealers in the world, he said, adding that Israeli arms sales in 2021 were "the highest on record, surging 55% over the previous two years to $11.3 billion."

In his book, Loewenstein explores thoroughly Israel's ties with autocracies and regimes engaged in mass displacement campaigns, and governments slinking their way into phones.

The Israeli NSO Group sold its well-known Pegasus software to numerous governments, a spyware tool for phones that gives access to the entire content, including conversations, text messages, emails and photos even when the device is switched off.

Israeli drones were first tested over Gaza, the besieged enclave that Loewenstein referred to as "the perfect laboratory for Israeli ingenuity in domination."

Surveillance technology developed in Israel has also been sold to the US in the form of watch towers now used on the border with Mexico.

The EU's border agency Frontex is known to have used Israeli drone technology to monitor refugees.

Loewenstein explains in his book that the EU has partnered with leading Israeli defense companies to use its drones, "and of course years of experience in Palestine is a key selling point."

"So again, one sees how there are so many examples of nations that are wanting to copy what Israel is doing in their own area in their own country on their own border," he said.

These technologies and "are sold by Israel as battle-tested," he said.

In other words, he contends that Palestinians essentially have become "guinea pigs," and despite some nations and the UN publicly criticizing the Israeli occupation, in reality "they're desperate for this technology for themselves for their own countries."

"And that's how in fact, the Palestine laboratory has been so successful for Israel for so long," he said.

In his exhaustive probe into Israel's dealings with arms sales around the world, he noted that the country has monetized the occupation of Palestine, by selling weapons, spyware tools and technologies to repressive regimes such as Rwanda during the genocide in 1994 and to Myanmar during its genocide against the Muslim Rohingya people in 2017.

"This to me is blood money. I mean, there's no other way to see that and again, as someone Jewish, who has spent many, many years reporting on this conflict, both within Israel and Palestine but also elsewhere, it's deeply shameful that Israel is making huge amounts of money from the misery of others," he said.

"This is not a legacy that I can be proud of."

- 'NO NATION ACTUALLY HOLDING ISRAEL TO ACCOUNT'

Profiting from misery is to some extent the nature of what capitalism has always been about, but Israel does this with a great deal of impunity, "because Israel does what it wants," said Loewenstein.

"There is no accountability, there is no transparency, there is no nation actually holding Israel to account," he added.

Israel's regime is shielded from any political backlash for years to come because nations are reliant on Israeli weapons and spyware, said the author.

Israel may not be the only player employing surveillance technology that leads to human rights violations, but it still plays a dominant role, which is why Loewenstein insists that it deserves singular attention.

Israel's foreign policy has always been "amoral and opportunistic," he said, calling on all nations to take a stand and hold Israel accountable, and acknowledge that the world is buying what Israel is selling.

#free palestine #animal rights #govegan #animalrights #free gaza #gaza strip #gaza genocide #palestine #veganism #animals

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sarkos · 8 months ago

Quote

The new details were contained in sworn depositions from NSO Group employees, portions of which were published for the first time on Thursday. It comes five years after WhatsApp, the popular messaging app owned by Facebook, first announced it was filing suit against NSO. The company, which was blacklisted by the Biden administration in 2021, makes what is widely considered the world’s most sophisticated hacking software, which – according to researchers – has been used in the past in Saudi Arabia, Dubai, India, Mexico, Morocco and Rwanda. The timing of the latest development is important in the wake of Donald Trump’s victory in the 2024 presidential election. Pegasus has been used by autocratic leaders around the world to target journalists and dissidents, including by the government of Viktor Orbán, who Trump admires. NSO has lobbied members of Congress in an attempt to be removed from the Biden administration’s so-called blacklist, and Trump’s return to the White House could signify a change in White House policy on the use of spyware.

NSO – not government clients – operates its spyware, legal documents reveal | Hacking | The Guardian

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brookstonalmanac · 2 months ago

Text

Holidays 4.19

Holidays

Americas’ Day (Honduras)

Army Day (Brazil)

Bicycle Day (LSD)

Bitcoin Halving Day

Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Action Day

Day of the Indian (Venezuela)

Dutch-American Friendship Day

Electrical Load Shedding Day (Ecuador)

419 Day

Global Day of Action Against Spyware

Hanging Out Day

Holocaust Remembrance Day (Poland)

Horseless Carriage Day

Humorous Day

Indian Day (Brazil)

International Day of Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness

International Spandex Day

John Parker Day

King Mswati III Day (Eswatini)

Landing of the 33 Patriots Day (Uruguay)

Leucothea Asteroid Day

Lexington & Concord Day

Lydia Asteroid Day

National Canadian Film Day (Canada)

National Day of Silence

National Fingering Day

National Hanging Out Day

National Health Day (Kiribati)

National Indigenous People’s Day (Brazil)

National North Dakota Day

National Oklahoma City Bombing Commemoration Day

National Poker Day

National Slow Down Day (Ireland)

National Spice Smoking Day

Night of Destiny (Bangladesh)

Navpad Oli (a.k.a. Ayambil Oli; Jain)

Oklahoma City Bombing Commemoration Day

Patriots’ Day (Florida)

Plastic Free Lunch Day

Poetry and the Creative Mind Day [also 4.30]

Printing Industry Day (Russia)

Refresh Your Goals Day

Republic Day (Sierra Leone)

The Simpsons Day

Snakes Return to Ireland Day

Snowdrop Day

Stoner’s Eve [Day before 4.20] (a.k.a. ...

4/20 Eve

Got a Minute Day

Gotta Day

The Pre-Bake

Ursine Garlic Day

Warsaw Ghetto Uprising Remembrance Day

World Day of Action in Solidarity with Venezuela

World IBS Day

World Liver Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Garlic Day

National Amaretto Day

National Chicken Parmesan Day

National Rice Ball Day

Nature Celebrations

Blue Jay Day

Dog Parent Appreciation Day

National Cat Lady Day

National Paw Parent Appreciation Day

Primrose Day (UK)

Ursine Garlic Day (Allium Ursinum)

Independence, Flag & Related Days

Independence Declaration Day (Venezuela)

Kuban (Adoption into Russia; 2018)

Lexmark (Declared; 2019) [unrecognized]

Taman (Adoption into Russia; 2018)

Zimbabwe (Independence Day Holiday)

New Year’s Days

New Years Holidays (Myanmar)

3rd Saturday in April

California Poppy Festival begins [3rd Saturday]

Hardware Freedom Day [3rd Saturday]

Husband Appreciation Day [3rd Saturday]

International Reconciliation Day [3rd Saturday]

National Auctioneers Day [3rd Saturday]

Record Store Day [3rd Saturday]

Sandwich Saturday [Every Saturday]

Sentimental Saturday [3rd Saturday of Each Month]

Six For Saturday [Every Saturday]

Spaghetti Saturday [Every Saturday]

Steak Saturday [3rd Saturday of Each Month]

World Circus Day [3rd Saturday]

Weekly Holidays beginning April 19 (2nd Full Week of April)

Four-Twenty Weekend [Weekend Closest to 4.20]_

International Wildlife Film Week (thru 4.23)

National Park Week (thru 4.27)

Festivals On or Beginning April 19, 2025

The Big Taste (Seattle, Washington)

Brew Woo (Worcester, Massachusetts)

Cartersville BBQ & Brews Festival (Cartersville, Georgia)

Earth Day Clean-Up - Minneapolis, Minnesota)

Great New Mexico Food Truck & Craft Beer Festival (Albuquerque, New Mexico)

Medieval Market in Kungsträdgården (Stockholm, Sweden) [thru 4.20]

Petaluma Butter & Egg Days (Petaluma, California)

Rouketopolemos or Rocket War (Vrontados, Chios Island, Greece)

Stuttgart Spring Festival (Stuttgart, Germany) [thru 5.11]

Weifang International Kite Festival (Weifang, China) [thru 4.21]

World Class Crab Races & Crab Feed (Westport, Washington)

World's Biggest Fish Fry (Paris, Tennessee) [thru 4.27]

Christian Liturgical Holidays

Saturday before Easter (a.k.a. ...

Black Saturday (Philippines)

Easter Saturday (Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Seychelles)

Holy Saturday

Feast Days

Ælfheah of Canterbury (Anglican, Catholic; Saint)

Alphege (Christian; Saint)

Bandage and Lozenge-Sucking Competition (Shamanism)

Bendideia (Ancient Greece)

Cerealia (Roman Festival to Ceres, Goddess of Barley & Agriculture)

Conrad of Ascoli (Christian; Saint)

David Koresh Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Elphege, Archbishop of Canterbury (Christian; Saint)

Emma of Lesum (Christian; Saint)

Expeditus of Melintine (Christian; Saint) [Hoodoo; Nerds; Santerians]

George of Antioch (Christian; Saint)

Geroldus (Christian; Saint)

Lager Day (Pastafarian)

Leo IX, Pope (Christian; Saint)

Ma Zu (Goddess of the Sea's Birthday; Taoism)

Olaus and Laurentius Petri (Lutheran; Saint)

Persephone’s Return (Pagan)

Pierre (Muppetism)

Strabo (Positivist; Saint)

Start of Pastover (Pastafarian)

Ursmar (Christian; Saint)

Zoot’s Day (Muppetism)

Lunar Calendar Holidays

Chinese: Month 3 (Geng-Chen), Day 22 (Wu-Wu)

Day Pillar: Earth Horse

12-Day Officers/12 Gods: Full Day (满 Man) [Inauspicious]

Holidays: None Known

Secular Saints Days

Fernando Botero (Art)

Tim Curry (Entertainment)

Willem Drost (Art)

Kate Hudson (Entertainment)

Richard Hughes (Literature)

Ashley Judd (Entertainment)

Bohumil Konečný (Art)

Jayne Mansfield (Entertainment)

Dudley Moore (Entertainment)

Amanda Sage (Art)

Glenn Seaborg (Science)

Veronese (Art)

Dar Williams (Music)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Prime Number Day: 109 [29 of 72]

Shakku (赤口 Japan) [Bad luck all day, except at noon.]

Tycho Brahe Unlucky Day (Scandinavia) [19 of 37]

Umu Limnu (Evil Day; Babylonian Calendar; 18 of 60)

Premieres

ABC (TV Network; 1948)

Alvin’s Solo Flight (Little Lulu Noveltoons Cartoon; 1961)

Bob & Doug (Animated TV Series; 2009)

Boston Marathon (Race; 1897)

Cake Boss (TV Series; 2009)

Carousel (Broadway Musical; 1945)

Drop Dead Fred (Film; 1991)

Fast Color (Film; 2019)

Frog’s Legs (Little Lulu Cartoon; 1961)

Goodie the Gremlin (Noveltoons Cartoon; 1961)

Goofy Groceries (Blue Ribbon Hit Parade Cartoon; 1947)

The Greyhound and the Rabbit (Color Rhapsody Cartoon; 1940)

The Harder They Come, by T. Coraghessan Boyle (Novel; 2015)

Hound About That (Noveltoons Cartoon; 1961)

Illmatic, by Las (Album; 1994)

Iphigenia in Aulis, by C.W. Glucks (Opera; 1774)

Just a Little Bull (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1940)

King of Jazz (Oswald the Lucky Rabbit Cartoon; 1930)

Kismet (Broadway Play; 1911)

Ko-Ko’s Knock Down (Fleischer Inkwell Imps Cartoon; 1929)

The Land of Fun (Color Rhapsody Cartoon; 1941)

The Last Battle, by Cornelius Ryan (Novel; 1966)

L.A. Woman, by The Doors (Album; 1971)

Magoo Goes West (Mr. Magoo UPA Cartoon; 1956)

Mambo No. 5 (A Little Bit of …), by Lou Bega (Song; 1999)

Man for Himself: An Inquiry Into the Psychology of Ethics, by Erich Fromm (Philosophy Book; 1947)

Man Plus, by Frederik Pohl (Novel; 1976)

The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare (Film; 2024)

Miss World Contest (Beauty Pageant; 1951

Money Doodles (Noveltoons Cartoon; 1960)

Moosylvania Saved, Part 1 (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S6, Ep. 363; 1965)

Moosylvania Saved, Part 2 (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S6, Ep. 364; 1965)

Mrs. Winterbourne (Film; 1996)

My Big Fat Greek Wedding (Film; 2002)

National Barn Dance (Radio Music Series; 1924)

Oblivion (Film; 2013)

Olio for Jasper (Madcap Models George Pal Cartoon; 1946)

Oxford English Dictionary, 1st Edition (Dictionary; 1928)

Peg Leg Pete, the Pirate (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1935)

Pickled Puss (Columbia Favorites; 1956)

Plenty Below Zero (Color Rhapsody Cartoon; 1943)

Porky’s Preview (WB LT Cartoon; 1941)

The Producers (Broadway Musical; 2001)

Ring of Fire, by Johnny Cash (Song; 1963)

The Scorpion King (Film; 2002)

The Secret Life of Plants: A Fascinating Account of the Physical, Emotional and Spiritual Relations Between Plants and Man, by Peter Tompkins (Science Book; 1973)

Service with a Guile (Fleischer/Famous Popeye Cartoon; 1946)

Sing, Sing Prison (a.k.a. Sing Sing Song; Terrytoons Cartoon; 1931)

Sinkin’ in the Bathtub, featuring Bosko (Looney Tunes Cartoon; 1930) [1st Warner Bros. cartoon]

A Small Town in Germany, by John le Carre (Novel; 1969)

Stand Up & Cheer (Film; 1934) [1st Shirley Temple film]

Stripes and Stars (Oswald the Lucky Rabbit Cartoon; 1929)

Symphony No. 6, by Jean Sibelius (Symphony; 1923)

Telefilm (Fleischer Out of the Inkwell Cartoon; 1928)

Ticket to Ride, by The Beatles (Song; 1965)

Timid Tabby (Tom & Jerry Cartoon; 1957)

Tortured Poets Department, by Taylor Swift (Album; 2024)

The Trip (Noveltoons Cartoon; 1967)

Triplet Trouble (Tom & Jerry Cartoon; 1952)

Water, Water Every Hare (WB LT Cartoon; 1952)

Wings (TV Series; 1990)

Young and Healthy (WB MM Cartoon; 1933)

The Zürau Aphorisms Franz Kafka

Today’s Name Days

Gerold, Leo, Marcel (Austria)

Ema, Konrad, Rastislav (Croatia)

Rostislav (Czech Republic)

Daniel (Denmark)

Aalike, Aleksandra, Alli, Allo, Andra, Sandra (Estonia)

Pälvi, Pilvi (Finland)

Emma (France)

Emma, Gerold, Leo, Timo (Germany)

Haroula, Theoharis, Theoharoula (Greece)

Emma (Hungary)

Emma, Ermogene, Espedito (Italy)

Fanija, Liba, Vēsma (Latvia)

Aistė, Eirimas, Leonas, Leontina, Simonas (Lithuania)

Arnfinn, Arnstein (Norway)

Adolf, Adolfa, Adolfina, Alf, Cieszyrad, Czech, Czechasz, Czechoń, Czesław, Leon, Leontyna, Pafnucy, Tymon, Werner, Włodzimierz (Poland)

Ioan (Romania)

Jela (Slovakia)

Expedito, León (Spain)

Ola, Olaus (Sweden)

Garey, Garett, Garret, Garrett, Garvey, Garvin, Gary, Gerald, Geraldine, Geri, Gerry, Jared, Jarod, Jarred, Jarrett, Jarrod, Jerald,Jeri, Jerod, Jerri, Jerrod, Jerry (USA)

Today’s National Name Days

National Hayden Day

National Jayne Day

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 109 of 2025; 256 days remaining in the year

ISO Week: Day 6 of Week 16 of 2025

Celtic Tree Calendar: Saille (Willow) [Day 5 of 28]

Chinese: Month 3 (Geng-Chen), Day 22 (Wu-Wu)

Chinese Year of the: Snake 4723 (until February 17, 2026) [Ding-Chou]

Coptic: 11 Barmundah 1741

Druid Tree Calendar: Maple (April 11-20) [Day 9 of 10]

Hebrew: 21 Nisan 5785

Islamic: 20 Shawwal 1446

Julian: 6 April 2025

Moon: 65%: Waning Gibbous

Positivist: 25 Archimedes (4th Month) [Strabo]

Runic Half Month: Man (Humanity) [Day 6 of 15] (thru 4.28)

Season: Spring (Day 30 of 92)

SUn Calendar: 20 Cyan; Sixthday [20 of 30]

Week: 2nd Full Week of April

Zodiac:

Tropical (Typical) Zodiac: Aries (Day 30 of 30)

Sidereal Zodiac: Aries (Day 6 of 31)

Schmidt Zodiac: Aries (Day 4 of 31)

IAU Boundaries (Current) Zodiac: Aries (Day 1 of 25)

IAU Boundaries (1977) Zodiac: Aries (Day 1 of 25)

Calendar Changes

Aries (The Ram) begins [IAU Current Boundaries Zodiac Sign 4; thru 5.13]

Aries (The Ram) begins [1977 IAU Current Boundaries Zodiac Sign 4; thru 5.13]

#Holidays

3 notes · View notes

brookston · 2 months ago

Text

Holidays 4.19

Holidays

Americas’ Day (Honduras)

Army Day (Brazil)

Bicycle Day (LSD)

Bitcoin Halving Day

Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Action Day

Day of the Indian (Venezuela)

Dutch-American Friendship Day

Electrical Load Shedding Day (Ecuador)

419 Day

Global Day of Action Against Spyware

Hanging Out Day

Holocaust Remembrance Day (Poland)

Horseless Carriage Day

Humorous Day

Indian Day (Brazil)

International Day of Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness

International Spandex Day

John Parker Day

King Mswati III Day (Eswatini)

Landing of the 33 Patriots Day (Uruguay)

Leucothea Asteroid Day

Lexington & Concord Day

Lydia Asteroid Day

National Canadian Film Day (Canada)

National Day of Silence

National Fingering Day

National Hanging Out Day

National Health Day (Kiribati)

National Indigenous People’s Day (Brazil)

National North Dakota Day

National Oklahoma City Bombing Commemoration Day

National Poker Day

National Slow Down Day (Ireland)

National Spice Smoking Day

Night of Destiny (Bangladesh)

Navpad Oli (a.k.a. Ayambil Oli; Jain)

Oklahoma City Bombing Commemoration Day

Patriots’ Day (Florida)

Plastic Free Lunch Day

Poetry and the Creative Mind Day [also 4.30]

Printing Industry Day (Russia)

Refresh Your Goals Day

Republic Day (Sierra Leone)

The Simpsons Day

Snakes Return to Ireland Day

Snowdrop Day

Stoner’s Eve [Day before 4.20] (a.k.a. ...

4/20 Eve

Got a Minute Day

Gotta Day

The Pre-Bake

Ursine Garlic Day

Warsaw Ghetto Uprising Remembrance Day

World Day of Action in Solidarity with Venezuela

World IBS Day

World Liver Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Garlic Day

National Amaretto Day

National Chicken Parmesan Day

National Rice Ball Day

Nature Celebrations

Blue Jay Day

Dog Parent Appreciation Day

National Cat Lady Day

National Paw Parent Appreciation Day

Primrose Day (UK)

Ursine Garlic Day (Allium Ursinum)

Independence, Flag & Related Days

Independence Declaration Day (Venezuela)

Kuban (Adoption into Russia; 2018)

Lexmark (Declared; 2019) [unrecognized]

Taman (Adoption into Russia; 2018)

Zimbabwe (Independence Day Holiday)

New Year’s Days

New Years Holidays (Myanmar)

3rd Saturday in April

California Poppy Festival begins [3rd Saturday]

Hardware Freedom Day [3rd Saturday]

Husband Appreciation Day [3rd Saturday]

International Reconciliation Day [3rd Saturday]

National Auctioneers Day [3rd Saturday]

Record Store Day [3rd Saturday]

Sandwich Saturday [Every Saturday]

Sentimental Saturday [3rd Saturday of Each Month]

Six For Saturday [Every Saturday]

Spaghetti Saturday [Every Saturday]

Steak Saturday [3rd Saturday of Each Month]

World Circus Day [3rd Saturday]

Weekly Holidays beginning April 19 (2nd Full Week of April)

Four-Twenty Weekend [Weekend Closest to 4.20]_

International Wildlife Film Week (thru 4.23)

National Park Week (thru 4.27)

Festivals On or Beginning April 19, 2025

The Big Taste (Seattle, Washington)

Brew Woo (Worcester, Massachusetts)

Cartersville BBQ & Brews Festival (Cartersville, Georgia)

Earth Day Clean-Up - Minneapolis, Minnesota)

Great New Mexico Food Truck & Craft Beer Festival (Albuquerque, New Mexico)

Medieval Market in Kungsträdgården (Stockholm, Sweden) [thru 4.20]

Petaluma Butter & Egg Days (Petaluma, California)

Rouketopolemos or Rocket War (Vrontados, Chios Island, Greece)

Stuttgart Spring Festival (Stuttgart, Germany) [thru 5.11]

Weifang International Kite Festival (Weifang, China) [thru 4.21]

World Class Crab Races & Crab Feed (Westport, Washington)

World's Biggest Fish Fry (Paris, Tennessee) [thru 4.27]

Christian Liturgical Holidays

Saturday before Easter (a.k.a. ...

Black Saturday (Philippines)

Easter Saturday (Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Seychelles)

Holy Saturday

Feast Days

Ælfheah of Canterbury (Anglican, Catholic; Saint)

Alphege (Christian; Saint)

Bandage and Lozenge-Sucking Competition (Shamanism)

Bendideia (Ancient Greece)

Cerealia (Roman Festival to Ceres, Goddess of Barley & Agriculture)

Conrad of Ascoli (Christian; Saint)

David Koresh Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Elphege, Archbishop of Canterbury (Christian; Saint)

Emma of Lesum (Christian; Saint)

Expeditus of Melintine (Christian; Saint) [Hoodoo; Nerds; Santerians]

George of Antioch (Christian; Saint)

Geroldus (Christian; Saint)

Lager Day (Pastafarian)

Leo IX, Pope (Christian; Saint)

Ma Zu (Goddess of the Sea's Birthday; Taoism)

Olaus and Laurentius Petri (Lutheran; Saint)

Persephone’s Return (Pagan)

Pierre (Muppetism)

Strabo (Positivist; Saint)

Start of Pastover (Pastafarian)

Ursmar (Christian; Saint)

Zoot’s Day (Muppetism)

Lunar Calendar Holidays

Chinese: Month 3 (Geng-Chen), Day 22 (Wu-Wu)

Day Pillar: Earth Horse

12-Day Officers/12 Gods: Full Day (满 Man) [Inauspicious]

Holidays: None Known

Secular Saints Days

Fernando Botero (Art)

Tim Curry (Entertainment)

Willem Drost (Art)

Kate Hudson (Entertainment)

Richard Hughes (Literature)

Ashley Judd (Entertainment)

Bohumil Konečný (Art)

Jayne Mansfield (Entertainment)

Dudley Moore (Entertainment)

Amanda Sage (Art)

Glenn Seaborg (Science)

Veronese (Art)

Dar Williams (Music)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Prime Number Day: 109 [29 of 72]

Shakku (赤口 Japan) [Bad luck all day, except at noon.]

Tycho Brahe Unlucky Day (Scandinavia) [19 of 37]

Umu Limnu (Evil Day; Babylonian Calendar; 18 of 60)

Premieres

ABC (TV Network; 1948)

Alvin’s Solo Flight (Little Lulu Noveltoons Cartoon; 1961)

Bob & Doug (Animated TV Series; 2009)

Boston Marathon (Race; 1897)

Cake Boss (TV Series; 2009)

Carousel (Broadway Musical; 1945)

Drop Dead Fred (Film; 1991)

Fast Color (Film; 2019)

Frog’s Legs (Little Lulu Cartoon; 1961)

Goodie the Gremlin (Noveltoons Cartoon; 1961)

Goofy Groceries (Blue Ribbon Hit Parade Cartoon; 1947)

The Greyhound and the Rabbit (Color Rhapsody Cartoon; 1940)

The Harder They Come, by T. Coraghessan Boyle (Novel; 2015)

Hound About That (Noveltoons Cartoon; 1961)

Illmatic, by Las (Album; 1994)

Iphigenia in Aulis, by C.W. Glucks (Opera; 1774)

Just a Little Bull (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1940)

King of Jazz (Oswald the Lucky Rabbit Cartoon; 1930)

Kismet (Broadway Play; 1911)

Ko-Ko’s Knock Down (Fleischer Inkwell Imps Cartoon; 1929)

The Land of Fun (Color Rhapsody Cartoon; 1941)

The Last Battle, by Cornelius Ryan (Novel; 1966)

L.A. Woman, by The Doors (Album; 1971)

Magoo Goes West (Mr. Magoo UPA Cartoon; 1956)

Mambo No. 5 (A Little Bit of …), by Lou Bega (Song; 1999)

Man for Himself: An Inquiry Into the Psychology of Ethics, by Erich Fromm (Philosophy Book; 1947)

Man Plus, by Frederik Pohl (Novel; 1976)

The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare (Film; 2024)

Miss World Contest (Beauty Pageant; 1951

Money Doodles (Noveltoons Cartoon; 1960)

Moosylvania Saved, Part 1 (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S6, Ep. 363; 1965)

Moosylvania Saved, Part 2 (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S6, Ep. 364; 1965)

Mrs. Winterbourne (Film; 1996)

My Big Fat Greek Wedding (Film; 2002)

National Barn Dance (Radio Music Series; 1924)

Oblivion (Film; 2013)

Olio for Jasper (Madcap Models George Pal Cartoon; 1946)

Oxford English Dictionary, 1st Edition (Dictionary; 1928)

Peg Leg Pete, the Pirate (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1935)

Pickled Puss (Columbia Favorites; 1956)

Plenty Below Zero (Color Rhapsody Cartoon; 1943)

Porky’s Preview (WB LT Cartoon; 1941)

The Producers (Broadway Musical; 2001)

Ring of Fire, by Johnny Cash (Song; 1963)

The Scorpion King (Film; 2002)

The Secret Life of Plants: A Fascinating Account of the Physical, Emotional and Spiritual Relations Between Plants and Man, by Peter Tompkins (Science Book; 1973)

Service with a Guile (Fleischer/Famous Popeye Cartoon; 1946)

Sing, Sing Prison (a.k.a. Sing Sing Song; Terrytoons Cartoon; 1931)

Sinkin’ in the Bathtub, featuring Bosko (Looney Tunes Cartoon; 1930) [1st Warner Bros. cartoon]

A Small Town in Germany, by John le Carre (Novel; 1969)

Stand Up & Cheer (Film; 1934) [1st Shirley Temple film]

Stripes and Stars (Oswald the Lucky Rabbit Cartoon; 1929)

Symphony No. 6, by Jean Sibelius (Symphony; 1923)

Telefilm (Fleischer Out of the Inkwell Cartoon; 1928)

Ticket to Ride, by The Beatles (Song; 1965)

Timid Tabby (Tom & Jerry Cartoon; 1957)

Tortured Poets Department, by Taylor Swift (Album; 2024)

The Trip (Noveltoons Cartoon; 1967)

Triplet Trouble (Tom & Jerry Cartoon; 1952)

Water, Water Every Hare (WB LT Cartoon; 1952)

Wings (TV Series; 1990)

Young and Healthy (WB MM Cartoon; 1933)

The Zürau Aphorisms Franz Kafka

Today’s Name Days

Gerold, Leo, Marcel (Austria)

Ema, Konrad, Rastislav (Croatia)

Rostislav (Czech Republic)

Daniel (Denmark)

Aalike, Aleksandra, Alli, Allo, Andra, Sandra (Estonia)

Pälvi, Pilvi (Finland)

Emma (France)

Emma, Gerold, Leo, Timo (Germany)

Haroula, Theoharis, Theoharoula (Greece)

Emma (Hungary)

Emma, Ermogene, Espedito (Italy)

Fanija, Liba, Vēsma (Latvia)

Aistė, Eirimas, Leonas, Leontina, Simonas (Lithuania)

Arnfinn, Arnstein (Norway)

Adolf, Adolfa, Adolfina, Alf, Cieszyrad, Czech, Czechasz, Czechoń, Czesław, Leon, Leontyna, Pafnucy, Tymon, Werner, Włodzimierz (Poland)

Ioan (Romania)

Jela (Slovakia)

Expedito, León (Spain)

Ola, Olaus (Sweden)

Garey, Garett, Garret, Garrett, Garvey, Garvin, Gary, Gerald, Geraldine, Geri, Gerry, Jared, Jarod, Jarred, Jarrett, Jarrod, Jerald,Jeri, Jerod, Jerri, Jerrod, Jerry (USA)

Today’s National Name Days

National Hayden Day

National Jayne Day

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 109 of 2025; 256 days remaining in the year

ISO Week: Day 6 of Week 16 of 2025

Celtic Tree Calendar: Saille (Willow) [Day 5 of 28]

Chinese: Month 3 (Geng-Chen), Day 22 (Wu-Wu)

Chinese Year of the: Snake 4723 (until February 17, 2026) [Ding-Chou]

Coptic: 11 Barmundah 1741

Druid Tree Calendar: Maple (April 11-20) [Day 9 of 10]

Hebrew: 21 Nisan 5785

Islamic: 20 Shawwal 1446

Julian: 6 April 2025

Moon: 65%: Waning Gibbous

Positivist: 25 Archimedes (4th Month) [Strabo]

Runic Half Month: Man (Humanity) [Day 6 of 15] (thru 4.28)

Season: Spring (Day 30 of 92)

SUn Calendar: 20 Cyan; Sixthday [20 of 30]

Week: 2nd Full Week of April

Zodiac:

Tropical (Typical) Zodiac: Aries (Day 30 of 30)

Sidereal Zodiac: Aries (Day 6 of 31)

Schmidt Zodiac: Aries (Day 4 of 31)

IAU Boundaries (Current) Zodiac: Aries (Day 1 of 25)

IAU Boundaries (1977) Zodiac: Aries (Day 1 of 25)

Calendar Changes

Aries (The Ram) begins [IAU Current Boundaries Zodiac Sign 4; thru 5.13]

Aries (The Ram) begins [1977 IAU Current Boundaries Zodiac Sign 4; thru 5.13]

#calendar #Holidays

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odinsblog · 2 years ago

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(source)

In June 2019, three Israeli computer engineers arrived at a New Jersey building used by the F.B.I. They unpacked dozens of computer servers, arranging them on tall racks in an isolated room. As they set up the equipment, the engineers made a series of calls to their bosses in Herzliya, a Tel Aviv suburb, at the headquarters for NSO Group, the world’s most notorious maker of spyware. Then, with their equipment in place, they began testing.

The F.B.I. had bought a version of Pegasus, NSO’s premier spying tool. For nearly a decade, the Israeli firm had been selling its surveillance software on a subscription basis to law-enforcement and intelligence agencies around the world, promising that it could do what no one else — not a private company, not even a state intelligence service — could do: consistently and reliably crack the encrypted communications of any iPhone or Android smartphone.

Since NSO had introduced Pegasus to the global market in 2011, it had helped Mexican authorities capture Joaquín Guzmán Loera, the drug lord known as El Chapo. European investigators have quietly used Pegasus to thwart terrorist plots, fight organized crime and, in one case, take down a global child-abuse ring, identifying dozens of suspects in more than 40 countries. In a broader sense, NSO’s products seemed to solve one of the biggest problems facing law-enforcement and intelligence agencies in the 21st century: that criminals and terrorists had better technology for encrypting their communications than investigators had to decrypt them. The criminal world had gone dark even as it was increasingly going global.

But by the time the company’s engineers walked through the door of the New Jersey facility in 2019, the many abuses of Pegasus had also been well documented. Mexico deployed the software not just against gangsters but also against journalists and political dissidents. The United Arab Emirates used the software to hack the phone of a civil rights activist whom the government threw in jail. Saudi Arabia used it against women’s rights activists and, according to a lawsuit filed by a Saudi dissident, to spy on communications with Jamal Khashoggi, a columnist for The Washington Post, whom Saudi operatives killed and dismembered in Istanbul in 2018.

(continue reading)

#politics #spyware #nso group #israel #pegasus #surveillance state #mass surveillance #privacy rights #cyber warfare

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businessresearchinsights · 17 days ago

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Solar Combiner Boxes Market 2025 Size, Recent Scope and SWOT Analysis Report

Global “Solar Combiner Boxes Market” research report is a comprehensive analysis of the current status of the Solar Combiner Boxes industry worldwide. The report categorizes the global Solar Combiner Boxes market by top players/brands, region, type, and end-user. It also examines the competition landscape, market share, growth rate, future trends, market drivers, opportunities, and challenges in the global Solar Combiner Boxes market. The report provides a professional and in-depth study of the industry to help understand its current state and future prospects. What Are The Prominent Key Player Of the Solar Combiner Boxes Market?

ABB

Pentair

KACO new energy GmbH

Weidmüller Interface GmbH & Co. KG

Delta Electronics, Inc

Texas Instruments

China Suntree Electric

SolarBOS, Inc.

Sinetech

ZJBENY

Micno

Shenzhen City ROHOX Technology Co.,Ltd

The Primary Objectives in This Report Are:

To determine the size of the total market opportunity of global and key countries

To assess the growth potential for Solar Combiner Boxes

To forecast future growth in each product and end-use market

To assess competitive factors affecting the marketplace

This report also provides key insights about market drivers, restraints, opportunities, new product launches or approvals.

Regional Segment of Solar Combiner Boxes Market:

Geographically, the report includes research on production, consumption, revenue, market share, and growth rate of the following regions:

United States

Europe (Germany, UK, France, Italy, Spain, Russia, Poland)

China

Japan

India

Southeast Asia (Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam)

Latin America (Brazil, Mexico, Colombia)

Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Egypt, South Africa, Nigeria)

The global Solar Combiner Boxes Market report answers the following questions:

What are the main drivers of the global Solar Combiner Boxes market? How big will the Solar Combiner Boxes market and growth rate in upcoming years?

What are the major market trends that affecting the growth of the global Solar Combiner Boxes market?

Key trend factors affect market share in the world's top regions?

Who are the most important market participants and what strategies being they pursuing in the global Solar Combiner Boxes market?

What are the market opportunities and threats to which players are exposed in the global Solar Combiner Boxes market?

Which industry trends, drivers and challenges are driving that growth?

Browse More Details On This Report at - https://www.businessresearchinsights.com/market-reports/solar-combiner-boxes-market-104441

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juned321 · 1 month ago

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North America Biometric Technologies Market Size, Revenue, End Users And Forecast Till 2030

The North America biometric technologies market was valued at US$ 13,516.24 million in 2022 and is expected to reach US$ 45,097.67 million by 2030; it is estimated to register a CAGR of 16.3% from 2022 to 2030.

Market Overview

The US, Canada, and Mexico are among the major economies in North America. This region accounts for a significant share of the biometric technologies market. Surging data theft identity fraud incidences, and terrorist operations, among other security breaches, are driving the biometric technologies market in North America. In October 2023, the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs faced a cyberattack from Vietnamese hackers trying to install spyware on the phones of journalists. This propels the demand and adoption of biometrics technologies to handle unlawful practices and enhances national security. Biometric authentication in phones unlocks greater security due to its resistance to most common cyberattacks such as password cracking or phishing. Biometric technologies offer an efficient way to keep physical attacks and cyber-attacks in check by delivering more stringent security measures to users. The market in North America is anticipated to expand at a significant rate during the forecast period owing to the surging demand for biometrics solutions from the IT sector and the rising number of phishing attacks.

Grab PDF To Know More @ https://www.businessmarketinsights.com/sample/BMIRE00030666

North America Biometric Technologies Strategic Insights

Strategic insights for the North America Biometric Technologies provides data-driven analysis of the industry landscape, including current trends, key players, and regional nuances. These insights offer actionable recommendations, enabling readers to differentiate themselves from competitors by identifying untapped segments or developing unique value propositions. Leveraging data analytics, these insights help industry players anticipate the market shifts, whether investors, manufacturers, or other stakeholders. A future-oriented perspective is essential, helping stakeholders anticipate market shifts and position themselves for long-term success in this dynamic region. Ultimately, effective strategic insights empower readers to make informed decisions that drive profitability and achieve their business objectives within the market.

Increasing Use of Biometric Systems at Airports Fuels North America Biometric Technologies Market

Airports around the world are actively exploring and implementing biometric solutions at various touchpoints, including check-in kiosks, security checkpoints, and boarding gates, which results into a continuous demand for new hardware and software systems. As airport administrations experience success with initial implementations, they are likely to expand the application of biometrics to other areas at airports, creating additional demand for technology and integrations. Moreover, facial recognition is becoming common in airport operations. For instance, in February 2024, passenger screening using facial recognition software was made available to select travelers at La Guardia by Delta Air Lines and the Transportation Security Administration. This explains how biometric technology, which uses an individual's unique physical identifiers such as face or fingerprints, promises to transform airline operations and traveling experience. Therefore, the increasing use of biometric technology in airports presents a significant biometric technology market trend.\

Market leaders and key company profiles

Aware, Inc.

Thales SA

Cognitec Systems GmbH

NEC Corp

IDEMIA France SAS

HID Global Corp

Fujitsu Ltd

Leidos Holdings, Inc.

M2SYS Technology

Precise Biometrics AB

North America Biometric Technologies Regional Insights

The geographic scope of the North America Biometric Technologies refers to the specific areas in which a business operates and competes. Understanding local distinctions, such as diverse consumer preferences (e.g., demand for specific plug types or battery backup durations), varying economic conditions, and regulatory environments, is crucial for tailoring strategies to specific markets. Businesses can expand their reach by identifying underserved areas or adapting their offerings to meet local demands. A clear market focus allows for more effective resource allocation, targeted marketing campaigns, and better positioning against local competitors, ultimately driving growth in those targeted areas.

About Us:

Business Market Insights is a market research platform that provides subscription service for industry and company reports. Our research team has extensive professional expertise in domains such as Electronics & Semiconductor; Aerospace & Defence; Automotive & Transportation; Energy & Power; Healthcare; Manufacturing & Construction; Food & Beverages; Chemicals & Materials; and Technology, Media, & Telecommunications.

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yassinnoovebusiness · 3 months ago

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NSO lawyer names Mexico, Saudi Arabia, and Uzbekistan as spyware customers accused of 2019 WhatsApp hacks

The Government of Mexico, Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan were among several countries accused of standing behind the 2019 hacking campaign, which targeting more than 1,200 WhatsApp users NSO Group’s Pegasus Spyware, according to a lawyer who worked for the Israeli spy manufacturer. During a lawsuit in a lawsuit between WhatsApp and the NSO Group Last Thursday, the NSO Acrotirianakis NSO lawyer has…

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jcmarchi · 4 months ago

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Israel’s Trojan Horse: How Ghana’s Pegasus Purchase Ignites Privacy Concerns Across Africa

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/israels-trojan-horse-how-ghanas-pegasus-purchase-ignites-privacy-concerns-across-africa/

Israel’s Trojan Horse: How Ghana’s Pegasus Purchase Ignites Privacy Concerns Across Africa

In the shadowy world of international espionage and digital surveillance, few names evoke as much controversy as Israel’s NSO Group and its infamous Pegasus spyware. As Ghana joins the ranks of African nations that have acquired this powerful tool, questions arise about the implications for privacy, democracy, and Israel’s role in shaping the continent’s digital landscape.

The Ghanaian Gambit

In December 2015, under the cover of bureaucratic obscurity, Ghana made a fateful decision. The West African nation, known for its relative stability and democratic progress, quietly signed a $5.5 million contract to acquire the Pegasus spyware system. This deal, shrouded in secrecy, involved a complex web of players: the Israeli NSO Group, a shadowy intermediary called Infralocks Development Limited (IDL), and Ghana’s National Communications Authority (NCA).The transaction raised eyebrows not just for its clandestine nature, but for the markup involved. IDL was set to resell the system to the NCA for $8 million, pocketing a cool $2.5 million in the process. This financial sleight of hand would later come back to haunt the deal’s architects, leading to legal repercussions and convictions.

Pegasus: The All-Seeing Eye

But what exactly did Ghana acquire? Pegasus is no ordinary surveillance tool. It’s a digital skeleton key, capable of unlocking the most intimate secrets of any smartphone it infects. With a single missed call or a seemingly innocuous text message, Pegasus can silently infiltrate a device, granting its operators unfettered access to calls, messages, photos, and even the phone’s microphone and camera.What makes Pegasus truly terrifying is its “zero-click” capability. Unlike traditional malware that requires user interaction, Pegasus can infect a device without any action from its target. This invisible intrusion leaves no trace, turning personal devices into unwitting spies against their owners.The technical prowess of Pegasus is staggering. Once installed, it can:

Read text messages and emails

Monitor and record phone calls

Track GPS location in real-time

Access the device’s microphone and camera

Harvest data from various apps, including encrypted messaging platforms

Collect passwords and sensitive information

The Dark Side of Innovation

The story of Pegasus and its creator, NSO Group, is a cautionary tale of technology’s double-edged sword. Founded in 2010 by former members of Unit 8200, Israel’s elite intelligence corps, NSO Group initially positioned itself as a force for good, developing tools to help governments combat terrorism and crime.However, as reports of Pegasus being used to target journalists, human rights activists, and political dissidents began to surface, the company’s narrative began to unravel. From Mexico to Saudi Arabia, from India to Morocco, Pegasus has been implicated in some of the most egregious violations of privacy and human rights in recent years.The Pegasus Project, a collaborative investigation by 17 media organizations, revealed the shocking scale of the spyware’s misuse. Thousands of phone numbers belonging to activists, journalists, and even heads of state appeared on a list of potential surveillance targets. This revelation sent shockwaves through the international community, leading to diplomatic tensions and calls for greater regulation of the cyber-surveillance industry.

Ghana’s Surveillance State

For Ghana, the acquisition of Pegasus marked a significant escalation in its surveillance capabilities. While the government justified the purchase as necessary for national security, critics saw a more sinister motive. In a country with a history of political tensions, the potential for abuse was clear.The fears of misuse were not unfounded. In May 2020, Ghana’s High Court ruled the Pegasus purchase illegal, convicting two NCA officials and the former National Security Coordinator. The spyware, it emerged, had been installed not at a secure government facility, but at the private residence of the national security advisor, raising alarming questions about its intended use.This revelation sparked intense debate about the balance between national security and individual privacy rights. Human rights organizations expressed concerns about the potential for these technologies to be used for political repression and violation of privacy rights, particularly in a region where democratic institutions are still developing.

Israel’s African Gambit

Ghana’s Pegasus saga is part of a larger story of Israel’s growing influence in Africa. Through the export of advanced surveillance technologies, Israel has been cultivating relationships with African nations, positioning itself as a key player in the continent’s security landscape.This digital diplomacy serves multiple purposes for Israel. It opens new markets for its tech industry, strengthens diplomatic ties, and potentially provides valuable intelligence. However, it also raises ethical questions about the responsibility of nations in exporting powerful surveillance tools to countries with questionable human rights records.The sale of surveillance technology to African countries is not limited to Israel. China, through companies like Huawei and ZTE, has also been actively involved in deploying similar technologies across the continent, raising concerns about technological dependence and data sovereignty.

Legal Challenges and International Backlash

The proliferation of Pegasus and similar spyware has not gone unchallenged. In 2021, Apple filed a lawsuit against NSO Group in the United States, accusing the company of targeting Apple users with its spyware. Similarly, WhatsApp sued NSO Group for allegedly exploiting its messaging platform to deploy Pegasus spyware on users’ devices.The international community has also taken action. The U.S. Department of Commerce added NSO Group to its Entity List, effectively restricting its access to American technology and markets. This decision was based on evidence that NSO’s activities were contrary to U.S. national security and foreign policy interests.In Europe, the European Parliament established the PEGA Committee to investigate the use of Pegasus and similar spyware across the continent. The committee has called for a moratorium on the sale and use of spyware until rigorous safeguards are in place.

The Road Ahead

As Ghana grapples with the fallout from its Pegasus purchase, the broader implications for Africa and the world are clear. The proliferation of advanced surveillance technologies poses a significant threat to privacy, freedom of expression, and democratic norms.The Pegasus affair serves as a wake-up call, highlighting the urgent need for international regulations governing the sale and use of surveillance technologies. It also underscores the delicate balance between national security and individual rights in the digital age.For Ghana, Israel, and the world, the Pegasus saga is a stark reminder of the power of technology to shape our lives and our societies. As we navigate this brave new world of digital surveillance, the choices we make today will determine the kind of future we inhabit tomorrow.In the end, the story of Pegasus in Ghana is more than just a tale of spyware and surveillance. It’s a mirror reflecting our collective struggles with power, privacy, and the price of security in the 21st century. As technology continues to advance, it is imperative that we remain vigilant, fostering a global dialogue on the ethical use of surveillance tools and the protection of fundamental human rights in the digital age.

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darkmaga-returns · 7 months ago

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The Last American Vagabond

Dec 16, 2024

Joining me today is Derrick Broze, here to discuss some of his recent articles and how they relate to some of the current stories dominating the headlines. We discuss the new contracts between SpaceX and the Biden administration for rolling out an all-encompassing satellite spy network around the world with the NRO and how this overlaps with the rapidly growing control grid that is being implemented. We also discuss the Israeli government dominated spyware field and how this is set to explode in the next Trump administration. We also consider how the current drone craze might fit into all of this.

Source Links:

Derrick Broze, Author at The Last American VagabondNew TabMeet the Spyware Companies Preparing to Unleash Their Tech During Trump's 2nd TermThe Biden Administration's Legacy of Migrant Children TraffickingTrump Confirms Plan To Declare National Emergency For "Mass Deportations" Using "Military Assets"(34) Robert Skvarla on X: "New docs obtained by journalist Jack Poulson confirm an Israeli spyware firm was marketing its software based on its ability to "target" the social accounts of everyone from BLM protesters to J6ers https://t.co/CVDgMjgJet" / XThe SAVE Act, REAL ID & ID2020 - Using The #TwoPartyIllusion & The Election To Usher In Digital IDsSuspected Terrorist At Texas Border Works For Mossad & "UNRWA Is Hamas" Exposed As Israeli OperationWhether Through Biden, Harris, or Trump - Digital ID's Are Coming to AmericaDigital ID: The Foundation for TechnocracyAmerica's Frontier Fund: The Venture Capital Firm with Ties to Peter Thiel and Eric SchmidtNew TabElection 2024: Zionist Technocrats vs Zionist Technocrats'You Can't Hide': Elon Musk & SpaceX Are Helping US Intelligence Build the World's Largest Spy Satellite NetworkElon Musk | Tesla Investor Relations(31) Evan on X: "SpaceX’s Starlink now has more than 5,000 satellites orbiting Earth 🌎 up from 0 operational satellites at the start of 2019 Here’s what that journey looks like 👀 https://t.co/ZPTXcXOhjg" / XSpaceX Wins First US Space Force Contract for Satellites - BloombergNew TabIsrael Connection To Drone Psyop & Netanyahu Government "Unanimously Approved" Plan To Settle SyriaNJ Drone 'Invasion' Just In Time For Congress To Reauthorize Orwellian Law | ZeroHedge(21) Palantir on X: "“For more than two decades, we have been providing warfighters with mission-critical software and production AI capabilities – including Project Maven,” says Aki Jain, Palantir’s CTO & President, US Government. “Deploying Palantir’s Visual Navigation atop Red Cat’s drones and… https://t.co/cvbhq6cfSm" / XNATO - News: Ukraine joins NATO counter-drone exercise for first time, 10-Sep.-2024The Drone Wars: You Are Not Prepared | The Corbett Report(34) Truth Seeker on X: "Palantir aired this commercial during the Army vs Navy game showing drones being released from a ship..... Further proof this is all a psyop... https://t.co/ORT4XyPeQA" / XPeter Thiel: Palantir, Israel Agree Strategic Partnership for Battle Tech - Bloomberg‘Lavender’: The AI machine directing Israel’s bombing spree in GazaIsraeli Company Is Hawking Its Self-Launching Drone System to U.S. PoliceThe People's Reset - The People's Reset: Mexico 2025New TabWith Fluoride Back in the News, Americans Are Once Again Being Told to "Trust the Science"Fluoride Trial Archives - The Last American Vagabond

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govindhtech · 10 months ago

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Operations Of Cyber Espionage Aimed Against Mexico

Cyber Espionage news

With the twelfth-biggest economy globally, Mexico attracts the attention of cyber espionage actors from several countries, whose targeting strategies reflect broader goals and priority areas observed elsewhere. Cyber espionage groups from over ten nations have been targeting Mexican users since 2020; however, groups from the People’s Republic of China (PRC), North Korea, and Russia account for over seventy-seven percent of government-sponsored phishing activity.

The examples provided illustrate both historical and contemporary instances of cyber espionage entities targeting Mexican consumers and organizations. It should be mentioned that these campaigns only discuss targeting; they don’t provide instances of successful exploitation or compromise.

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China Cyber Espionage

Cyber espionage by the PRC Aims for Mexico

Seven cyber espionage outfits with ties to the PRC have been spotted targeting users in Mexico since 2020; these entities account for one-third of the government-backed phishing activity in the nation.

The extent of PRC cyber espionage is comparable to that of other areas, such those included in China’s Belt and Road Initiative, where Chinese government funding has been concentrated. Apart from their actions directed on Gmail users, groups supported by the PRC have also targeted journalistic organizations, higher education establishments, and government entities in Mexico.

North Korea Cyber Espionage

Groups Supported by the North Korean Government Aim for Mexico

Since 2020, about 18% of government-sponsored phishing attacks against Mexico have been carried out by cybercriminals from North Korea. Businesses that deal with cryptocurrencies and financial technology have received special attention, much as their targeting interests in other locations.

The threat posed by North Korean individuals working covertly in organizations to perform various IT functions is one of the new trends Google cloud is seeing around the world from North Korea. Given the historical activities of North Korean threat actors in Mexico and the difficulties related to the widespread issue of North Korean actors seeking work abroad, stress the possibility that this threat will pose a concern to Mexican firms in the future.

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Russia Cyber Espionage

Mexico Is the Target of Russian Cyber Espionage Activity

Since the beginning of Russia’s war in Ukraine, Russian cyber espionage groups have been targeting users in Mexico on a regular basis. This is likely due to Russia’s efforts to concentrate resources on targets in Ukraine and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in the context of the Russia-Ukraine war. Nevertheless, Russian activity targeting Mexico has significantly decreased. Out of the four Russia-backed groups that have been seen attacking Mexico, APT28 is responsible for more than 95% of the associated phishing activity.

About one-fifth of government-sponsored phishing attacks targeting Mexico since 2020 have been traced back to Russian cyber criminals. But in 2023 and 2024, less than 1% of government-sponsored phishing attacks directed towards Mexico are coming from Russian cyber actors.

Providers of Commercial Surveillance

Spyware is commonly employed to observe and gather information from individuals who pose a risk, such as opposition-party leaders, journalists, human rights advocates, and dissidents. The increased demand for spyware technology due to these capabilities has created a profitable industry that sells the capacity to exploit vulnerabilities in consumer devices to governments and unscrupulous parties. Google provides a number of features to help shield people who pose a high risk from internet dangers.

Many incidents of spyware being used to target various segments of Mexican civil society, such as journalists, activists, government officials, and their families in Mexico, have been documented by open sources over the past few years. TAG has previously drawn attention to the detrimental effects of commercial spyware tools, such as the spread of sophisticated Cyber Espionage threat capabilities to new sponsors and operators, the rise in the discovery and exploitation of zero-day vulnerabilities, and harm to the tools’ targets.

Even though the use of spyware usually only has a limited influence on a few human targets at a time, its broader effects are felt globally as a result of the growing dangers to free expression, the free press, and the integrity of democratic processes all around the world. TAG is still finding evidence of multiple commercial surveillance companies doing business in Mexico. TAG saw malware being deployed in Mexico with lures that have a Mexican news theme as recently as April 2024.

Perspectives on Cybercrime Aimed at Users and Businesses in Mexico

Mexico is frequently faced with a moderately significant threat from cybercrime. Notably, Google cloud have noticed a range of activities, such as threat actors selling compromised credentials and/or access, targeting banking credentials, cryptomining, and ransomware and extortion. TAG is still looking for and stopping a variety of financially driven organizations and users in Mexico.

Among these, the first four most often observed groups over the last year included three that were first access brokers for extortion groups. Threat actors have been observed by Mandiant to use a range of initial access vectors, such as password spraying, phishing, malware, and infected USB devices. Threat actors offering compromised access and/or credentials for sale, cryptomining, ransomware, and extortion operations were among the threat activities that this initial access later facilitated.

Mexico is subject to threat activities from actors predominantly operating in Latin America as well as global operations, similar to other countries in the region. Using banking trojans like METAMORFO dubbed “Horabot,” BBtok, and JanelaRAT, as well as other methods, a considerable number of campaigns that have been reported concentrate on obtaining login credentials for banking or other financial accounts. It seems that a large number of threat actors operating in the Latin American underground concentrate on easier activities like credit card theft and fraud, where they can make quick and easy earnings.

Mexico’s Effects of Extortion

Organizations in all countries and industries, including Mexico, are still being impacted by extortion operations, which result in large financial losses and disruption of business. These operations include ransomware, multidimensional ransomware, and extortion. Please refer to blog post, Ransomware Protection and Containment Strategies: Practical Guidance for Hardening and Protecting Infrastructure, Identities, and Endpoints, as well as the related white paper, for comprehensive instructions on defensive tactics against ransomware.

Mandiant monitors a number of data leak sites (DLSs) that are devoted to disclosing victim data after ransomware and/or extortion attacks where the targets decline to comply with a ransom demand. From January 2023 to July 2024, counts of DLS listings showed that, although the global distribution of extortion activity as indicated by DLS listings continues to be heavily skewed towards the U.S., Canada, and Western Europe, Mexico was the nation in Latin America and the Caribbean most affected by ransomware and extortion operations, with Brazil coming in second.

In Mexico, the industries most commonly affected include manufacturing, technology, financial services, and government. LockBit, ALPHV, and 8BASE are among the DLSs that list Mexican organizations the most frequently.

Disseminating malware by pretending to be official government services

Tax and finance-themed lures are often used in malware distribution operations aimed at Mexican users, with the goal of tricking receivers into opening harmful links or files. Mandiant saw UNC4984 activity spreading the SIMPLELOADER downloader or malicious browser extensions during 2023 and early 2024.

The group used a variety of distribution methods, including as email lures, to spread the malware. The malicious websites used in these operations frequently pose as Chilean or Mexican government websites dealing with taxes or finance, and the malicious browser extensions target bank institutions in Mexico specifically.

Another financially driven gang, identified as UNC5176, compromises individuals from a number of nations, including Brazil, Mexico, Chile, and Spain, using emails and malicious advertisement campaigns. Mandiant discovered several malicious email campaigns that were spoofing Mexico’s state-owned power utility, Comisión Federal de Electricidad, in December 2023.

These efforts distributed the URSA backdoor to Latin American enterprises across many industries. Via malicious PDF attachments with an embedded link to a ZIP download, a UNC5176 phishing effort transmitted URSA to enterprises mostly based in Latin America in April 2024. In certain cases, the ZIP archives were stored and obtained from reputable file-hosting platforms like Dropbox, a Azure, S3 buckets, and Github.

In summary

Threat actors will continue to find Mexico to be a desirable target for a variety of reasons. Long-standing risks come from international cyber espionage actors, including cybercriminals from the PRC, North Korea, and Russia. Recognizing this particular interaction of threats and taking a proactive approach to cybersecurity are critical for protecting Mexican businesses and users.