Russia-backed hackers breach Signal, WhatsApp accounts of officials, journalists, Netherlands warns
'...Russian-backed hackers have launched a global cyber campaign to gain access to Signal and WhatsApp account...'
Reference: www.reuters.com
Tags:
News article references and commentary scraped from the web in an effort to inform the federal government worker on Federal Pay, Federal Benefits, Federal Retirement and all information relating to the Federal Workforce.
'...Russian-backed hackers have launched a global cyber campaign to gain access to Signal and WhatsApp account...'
'...More than 300 TSA workers have quit since the DHS shutdown began, according to reports.
TSA officer call-out rates have also rocketed into double-digit percentages at some airports, straining operations and throwing millions of Americans’ travel plans into chaos. ...Democratic lawmakers have refused to commit to DHS funding until restrictions are placed on federal immigration operations.'
'...As Radical Left Democrats drag the Department of Homeland Security shutdown into its 24th day, everyday Americans are paying the price. Now, as TSA officers work without paychecks for the third time in nearly six months, crippling staffing shortages and hours-long security lines are gripping airports as millions of families head out for spring break. ...'
'The MDPP does not require a physician referral and MDPP suppliers can receive up to $768 per MDPP beneficiary. There are no out-of-pocket costs for MDPP for beneficiaries enrolled in fee-for-service Part B Medicare.... beneficiaries must have results in the prediabetes range from a blood test conducted within a year of their first MDPP session to be eligible for MDPP. One of the acceptable blood tests to determine MDPP eligibility is the hemoglobin A1C test. ...'
'...A proposed rule, set for publication Thursday in the Federal Register, describes the current reduction in force procedures, in which tenure is the most important factor, as “outdated” and “cumbersome,” and creates a new methodology placing the most emphasis on an employee’s three most recent performance appraisals. The Office of Personnel Management cites agencies’ struggles to implement mass layoffs in 2025 as evidence that change is needed. ...'
'...Security researchers at Google on Tuesday released a report describing what they're calling “Coruna,” a highly sophisticated iPhone hacking toolkit that includes five complete hacking techniques capable of bypassing all the defenses of an iPhone to silently install malware on a device when it visits a website containing the exploitation code. In total, Coruna takes advantage of 23 distinct vulnerabilities in iOS...'
'...Fairfax County cops warned Virginia prosecutors last year that illegal immigrant Abdul Jalloh belonged behind bars — but he was free to allegedly kill last month. ...'
'The fiend behind Sunday’s bloodbath at a packed Austin bar was an ex-New York City resident wearing a “Property of Allah’’ hoodie...Texas shooter Ndiaga Diagne, 53, of Senegal arrived in the US on March 13, 2000 on a B-2 tourist visa ...became a naturalized US citizen on April 5, 2013 around the start of former President Barack Obama’s second term — despite his growing rap sheet spanning New York and Texas.
On Sunday, the killer had a Quran in his car and was possibly also wearing an undershirt featuring the Iranian flag or other Iranian symbols '
'Crowds of Iranian Americans took to the streets of Westwood, Los Angeles, celebrating U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran and calling for regime change in Tehran. KTLA spoke with Iranian refugees and local residents who still have family in Iran, sharing their personal reactions to the historic moment.
Celebrations included chanting, dancing, and waving Iranian flags in Persian Square as residents expressed hope for freedom and a democratic Iran. ...'
'...Of course, the despotic Iranian regime has already responded and is launching missiles at its arch-enemy, the Jewish state of Israel. ...the United States and its longtime ally, Israel, have launched coordinated strikes on the Islamic Republic of Iran'
'...Cities Church in St. Paul.
Bondi accused the group of attacking a house of worship.
“If you do so, you cannot hide from us — we will find you, arrest you, and prosecute you,” she wrote on social media. ...'
'...Japanese cybersecurity software firm Trend Micro has patched two critical Apex One vulnerabilities that allow attackers to gain remote code execution (RCE) on vulnerable Windows systems.
Apex One is an endpoint security platform that detects and responds to security threats, including malware, spyware, malicious tools, and vulnerabilities. ...'
'...The two new releases use images of a nebula and interacting galaxies from the James Webb Space Telescope...The Crab Nebula Priority Mail stamp and Galaxy Pair Priority Mail Express stamp are available at Post Offices and on usps.com.'
'...BOSTON (WWLP) – Gov. Maura Healey issued a reminder regarding a temporary moratorium on nonpayment evictions and residential foreclosures for federal employees impacted by ...'
'On Sunday, the U.S. Secret Service reported that an armed individual was shot and killed after breaching the secure perimeter at Mar-a-Lago, President Donald Trump’s resort in Palm Beach, Florida. ...Although Trump often spends weekends at his resort, he was at the White House during this incident. First lady Melania Trump was also with the president at the White House on Saturday night. ...He was shot by Secret Service agents and a Palm Beach County sheriff deputy, the agency said....'
'The rule, which had gone into effect Tuesday without prior notice, was quickly condemned by major veterans groups as effectively lowering a veteran’s disability rating and subsequent monthly compensation. “DAV is extremely disappointed and alarmed by VA’s decision to issue an interim final rule today that could potentially reduce disability compensation for millions of disabled veterans,” said Coleman Nee, national commander of Disabled American Veterans...VA does not agree with the way this rule has been characterized...Collins also indicated that the VA would not pursue enforcing the rule again.'
'...The Department of Veterans Affairs says the rule will not directly impact veterans' current disability ratings, while advocates are concerned it could lead to benefits being reduced. ...“If medication or treatment lowers the level of disability, the rating will be based on that lowered disability level,” according to the new VA rule published in the Federal Register that went into effect on Tuesday.
In separate statements, officials with the Veterans of Foreign Wars called the rule change an “abrupt shift,” and Disabled American Veterans said it was “issued in a closed and unnecessarily expedited process.”
“There’s been no communication between any of us,” said Andrew Tangen, president of the National Association of County Veterans Service Officers.'
'...Thousands of travelers passing through Philadelphia may have been exposed to measles, health officials warn.
Officials announced that a person with measles was confirmed to have traveled through Philadelphia International Airport's Terminal E on Thursday, February 12. ...'
'Passengers at DCA expressed concern about their fellow community members working without pay for the second time...Thousands of Transportation Security Administration employees across the country reported to work Saturday without a paycheck after Congress failed to reach a deal to fund the Department of Homeland Security, triggering a partial government shutdown. ...'
'...findings show a substantial majority of these costs stem from personnel compensation, reflecting the extensive amount of agency time spent negotiating agreements, processing grievances, and resolving disputes rather than carrying out mission-critical work. Additional costs include arbitration fees, travel, technology, office space, and penalties or settlements—all expenses footed by hard-working taxpayers.
“Civil servants are already allowed significant protections without a union,” OPM Director Scott Kupor said. “This nearly two hundred million dollars in taxpayer funds is on top of those already existing protections. Transparency is the first step toward accountability, and this report makes clear the federal government must take a hard look at whether these costs are reasonable, justified, and aligned with its core mission.”
Read Director Kupor’s blog on this...'
'Get your refund status directly fron the IRS. If you do not feel comfortable using our blog post to access the official IRS.GOV Refund Tracker | Where's My Refund? at https://sa.www4.irs.gov/wmr/ we completely understand. Always make sure any search and/or action includes the HTTPS in your link/url. Additionally, all government sites states:
An official website of the United States Government How do you know.
Note: For security reasons, we recommend that you close your browser after you have finished accessing your refund status. You may only access this system using your own personal information. Any other use of this system is an unauthorized use and is prohibited. ...'
'...Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivered a landmark address at the Munich Security Conference, boldly reaffirming President Donald J. Trump’s commitment to a revitalized transatlantic alliance grounded in mutual strength, shared heritage, and unapologetic defense of Western civilization. Drawing on Europe’s profound Christian foundations and cultural legacy — which helped forge the United States — Secretary Rubio urged European leaders to reclaim their sovereignty, confront common threats, and build a confident, self-reliant continent.
Secretary Rubio synthesized President Trump’s America First foreign policy: one that brings sovereign nations together...'
'...the SAVE America Act would require people registering to vote or those updating their voter registration to show specific documents proving American citizenship. On the surface this sounds reasonable, as the majority of Americans—regardless of political affiliation—support voter ID at the polls and do not support non-citizens voting in federal elections. ...'
'...Senate Republicans have secured the needed votes to pass the SAVE Act...Republican leadership would still need to bring the bill forward, voting Democrats to utilize a “standing” filibuster rather than the more typical “silent” filibuster used when a measure has fewer than the 60 votes needed to invoke cloture. ...The SAVE Act was recently passed in the House 218-213 with bipartisan support, with Democrat Henry Cuellar being the lone Democrat to vote in favor of the bill. The vast majority of the electorate supports the contents of the SAVE Act, but Democrats almost unanimously reject'
'...U.S. job openings fell to the lowest level in more than five years, another sign that the American labor market remains sluggish.
The Labor Department reported Thursday that vacancies fell to 6.5 million in December — from 6.9 million in November and the fewest since September 2020. Layoffs rose slightly. ...'
'...According to CNN, Mexican cartel drones breached US airspace, an administration official told CNN, which triggered a temporary airspace closure over El Paso.
The airspace closure was prompted by a US military operation related to drug cartels, according to two sources briefed on the matter. ...'
'...deeply unhappy about some of the suggestive dancing because the Puerto Rican artist repeatedly grabbed his crotch...'Nobody understands a word this guy is saying, and the dancing is disgusting, especially for young children that are watching from throughout the U.S.A., and all over the World', he said in is excoriating review on Truth Social.
'...The defendants allegedly turned a pharmacy and social adult day care centers meant to help senior citizens into a $120 million dollar Medicare and Medicaid fraud scheme ...Pharmacies and social adult day care centers exist to serve and support seniors — not to siphon off taxpayer resources and operate as engines for fraud'
'New Binding Operational Directive Requires Removal of Unsupported Hardware and Software to Reduce Risk...To mitigate this threat, CISA is requiring FCEB agencies to adhere to standard lifecycle management processes and mandatory actions within the required time limit in this directive. Required actions in this directive include:
Update each vendor supported-edge device running end-of-support software to a vendor-supported software version .
Inventory all devices to identify those that are end-of-support and report to CISA.
Remove all edge devices that are end of support from agency networks and replace devices as needed with vendor-supported devices that can receive security updates.
Establish a mature lifecycle management process for continuous discovery of all edge devices and maintain an inventory of those that are or will become end-of-support.
“Unsupported devices pose a serious risk to federal systems and should never remain on enterprise networks,” said CISA Acting Director Madhu Gottumukkala. ...'
'...Biometric locks like face recognition are easy to set up—but thanks to a legal loophole, they're easier for law enforcement to bypass than a passcode. ...a 5th Amendment loophole, law enforcement agents can use your biometric data to unlock your phone. ...face and fingerprint scans can be used against you, while passwords and passcodes cannot. Let’s talk about why you may want to stop using biometrics to unlock your phone, sooner rather than later. ...law enforcement officers are not allowed to force you to manually enter your passcode or PIN. '
'...Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act or the SAVE Act
This bill requires individuals to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections.
idual applies to register to vote, the individual provides documentary proof of U.S. citizenship; and (2) requires states to establish an alternative process under which an applicant may submit other evidence to demonstrate U.S. citizenship.
Each state must take affirmative steps on an ongoing basis to ensure that only U.S. citizens are registered to vote, which shall include establishing a program to identify individuals who are not U.S. citizens using information supplied by certain sources.
Additionally, states must remove noncitizens from their official lists of eligible voters.
The bill allows for a private right of action against an election official who registers an applicant to vote in a federal election who fails to present documentary proof of U.S. citizenship.
The bill establishes criminal penalties for certain offenses, including registering an applicant to vote in a federal election who fails to present documentary proof of U.S. citizenship. ...'
'Radio host Ari Hoffman highlighted the National Education Association’s (NEA) activism and fundraising off its anti-ICE propaganda ...the NEA exhorts its supporters to contact Congress with a form letter demanding that ICE be hamstrung and limited. ...'
'...The final rule implements Executive Order 14171, signed by President Trump on January 20, 2025, which directed OPM to modernize how policy-influencing positions are designated and managed across the federal government to ensure that employees holding these crucially important positions can be held accountable for poor performance or misconduct. Schedule Policy/Career applies to a limited set of policy-influencing positions that are confidential, policy-determining, policy-making, or policy-advocating in nature. These roles will remain career positions and continue to be filled through merit-based hiring procedures, including application of veterans’ preference, but will no longer be subject to the removal procedures that have made accountability for poor performance and misconduct exceedingly rare.
“Schedule Policy/Career restores a basic principle of democratic governance...'
'...More than 4,000 criminal illegal aliens — including violent killers, rapists, gang members, and other public safety threats — have been arrested in Minnesota since President Donald J. Trump launched Operation Metro Surge. This landmark achievement marks another decisive step forward in the Trump Administration’s relentless drive to dismantle the devastating effects of the Radical Left’s open border policies and deliver his promise to restore law and order to our communities. Today in Minneapolis, Border Czar Tom Homan underscored the unprecedented level of cooperation now emerging from local officials...'
'...two sources with knowledge of Bass’ office said that after receiving an early draft, the mayor told then-interim Fire Chief Ronnie Villanueva that the report could expose the city to legal liabilities for those failures. Bass wanted key findings about the LAFD’s actions removed or softened before the report was made public, the sources said — and that is what happened. ...The key changes she allegedly wanted detailed a failure to fully staff up and pre-deploy all available engines, even though oncoming high-intensity winds and severe fire danger had been widely reported. “The mayor didn’t tell the truth when she said she had nothing to do with changing the report,” one of the sources told the outlet. '
'...A number of highly organized and heavily funded groups are pushing anti-ICE protesters into wild confrontations with federal agents, so the groups can use the incidents for propaganda purposes and to secure greater power and even more funding.
One such organization calls itself Defend the 612 (the numbers represent a Minneapolis zip code), according to City Journal. ...'