Sam's News — tech — 2026-08-13¶
Security¶
8 Trump Administration Authorizes Private Cyber Attacks on Criminal Organizations¶
On August 13, 2026, the president of the United States issued a presidential memorandum authorizing vetted private companies to conduct offensive cyber operations against cybercriminal organizations under DOJ and DHS approval. The policy prohibits operations causing loss of life or constituting armed attack under international law. Cybersecurity experts raised concerns about legal protections and risks to participating employees.
- August 13, 2026: Presidential memorandum authorizes private cyber attacks
- All operations require DOJ and DHS advance approval
- Operations prohibited if causing loss of life
- $20.8 billion reported cyber losses in previous year
- Expert concerns about legal protections and employee targeting
- Memo issued August 13, 2026
- First federal authorization for private companies to conduct offensive cyber ops
- Targets: ransomware, sextortion, phishing, financial fraud, impersonation scams
- Foreign transnational criminal orgs (not state-institutional foreign entities)
- Oversight: National Coordination Center, DOJ, DHS
- Prohibited outcomes: loss of life, serious injury, armed attack level under international law
- Announced August 13, 2026 via presidential memorandum
- First policy allowing private offensive cyber ops vs. prior defensive-only approach
- Companies can deploy surveillance/spyware and disruptive attacks
- $1 million escrow deposit required, forfeitable for non-compliance
- Requires DOJ and DHS sign-off before each operation
- Prohibition: targeting Americans, U.S.-based systems, or unilateral 'hack back'
- Guidance to be issued within 2 months; open to firms of all sizes
Sources: The Record AI Web Searched, BleepingComputer RSS, Ars Technica AI Web Searched, TechCrunch AI Web Searched, The Verge AI Web Searched, Engadget RSS
7.5 Year-Long Campaign Breached Salesforce and ServiceNow Customer Portals¶
An unknown attacker conducted a year-long campaign from March 2025 through August 2026 harvesting data from Salesforce and ServiceNow customer portals using over-permissioned guest accounts. The "City-Forum" operation targeted telecoms, banks, financial services, software vendors, cybersecurity firms, and government bodies using undocumented techniques including Salesforce LWR GraphQL exploitation. The busiest target logged >560,000 attacker events; activity is ongoing and accelerating.
- Year-long campaign: March 2025–August 2026
- Over-permissioned guest accounts exploited
- Salesforce LWR GraphQL technique undocumented until now
- ServiceNow Service Portal search endpoint targeted
- Busiest target: 560,000+ attacker events
- Activity increasing in volume
Sources: The Register AI Web Searched
7 DRAM vulnerability: 'Spaghettifying' physical memory corruption attack¶
Research demonstrates a novel DRAM-based attack enabling physical memory corruption.
Sources: Hacker News (front page) RSS
AI¶
8 Google Gemini 3.7 Flash and OpenAI GPT-5.6 Sol Ultrafast debut as faster AI models¶
Google and OpenAI have both released faster versions of their flagship models, with Gemini 3.7 Flash publicly available and GPT-5.6 Sol Ultrafast available by invite.
Sources: Decrypt RSS, Yahoo Tech RSS, pluang.com RSS, Межа. Новини України. RSS, TechCrunch RSS, google.com Web Search
7 Nvidia's $500B Plan to Extend GPU Value and Finance AI Infrastructure Build-Outs¶
Nvidia announced a $500 billion commitment from Apollo, BlackRock, Blackstone, Brookfield, Goldman Sachs, and KKR to build AI data centers, with Nvidia guaranteeing up to 25% of GPU collateral value depreciation. The deal aims to sustain demand for aging hardware and create a secondary GPU market; Nvidia also works on ~$750 billion in additional circular financing.
- $500 billion commitment from six major investors
- Nvidia covers up to 25% GPU collateral value loss
- Aims to create secondary GPU market
- ~$750 billion in additional circular deals underway
Sources: TechCrunch AI Web Searched
Policy/Security¶
7.5 US permits private firms to conduct authorized offensive cyber operations¶
The president of the United States issued a presidential memorandum allowing vetted private companies to conduct offensive cyber operations against international criminal gangs, marking the first time the federal government has authorized private hack-back operations. Operations require $1 million escrow, government approval, and cannot target Americans or U.S. systems.
- First federal authorization for private offensive cyber ops
- $1 million escrow deposit required per company
- Operations limited to criminal gangs internationally
- Justice Dept and DHS approval required per operation
- Cannot target Americans or U.S.-based systems
Sources: TechCrunch AI Web Searched
Space¶
7.5 Radiation-Blocking Vest Successfully Tested on Moon¶
StemRad's AstroRad radiation-shielding vest flew aboard NASA's uncrewed Artemis I mission to the Moon and back. Flight data showed the vest reduces effective radiation dose by 60% to radiosensitive organs, performing comparably to the Orion spacecraft's shelter during solar storms.
- AstroRad vest flown to Moon and back on Artemis I
- 60% radiation dose reduction to radiosensitive organs
- Protects bone marrow, breasts, stomach, colon, reproductive organs
- Developed by StemRad with Lockheed Martin
Sources: Ars Technica AI Web Searched
Funding¶
7.5 Anthropic targets $2 trillion IPO valuation, positioning for potential SpaceX valuation match¶
Investors are eyeing a $2 trillion valuation for Anthropic in what would be a record IPO, according to Financial Times reporting.
Sources: USA Herald RSS, Silicon Republic RSS, Ars Technica RSS
Policy¶
7 The President of the United States Proposes License System for Private Sector Cyber Offensive Operations¶
The administration is considering granting private cybersecurity contractors licenses to conduct offensive cyber operations against foreign criminal networks, with requirements including strict oversight and a $1 million bond.
Sources: The Register RSS
Aviation¶
7 Heart Aerospace's X1 All-Electric Aircraft Completes First Flight¶
Heart Aerospace's X1 battery-electric demonstrator aircraft flew for 27 minutes on approximately $5 of electricity, marking the first flight of the largest all-electric plane constructed to date.
Sources: Engadget RSS