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Time Is Money

Apr 14, 2024 • 7 min read

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Home Depot Data Breach
Apple Device Repairs

Week Recap:

The Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) is set to receive up to $6.6 billion in grants and up to $5 billion in loans from the U.S. This follows a recent deal where Intel was allocated up to $8.5 billion in funding, highlighting the government's commitment under the 2022 CHIPS and Science Act.
In a recent announcement, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau revealed that Canada's forthcoming budget will allocate C$2.4 billion ($1.77 billion) towards enhancing the nation's artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities. This funding package aims to bolster computing resources and technological infrastructure, supporting AI research, start-ups, and expanding companies across Canada. The details of this initiative will be officially presented in the budget scheduled for April 16.
SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket launched 23 Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station's Space Launch Complex 40 in Florida. On April 7, Falcon 9 launched the Bandwagon-1 mission from Kennedy Space Center. Additionally, last Saturday, April 6, at 7:25 PM PST, Falcon 9 launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base, deploying 21 Starlink satellites, six equipped with Direct Sat to Cell capabilities, into orbit.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has established its inaugural regulations on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water, addressing a long-standing concern about these durable chemicals. Known for their extensive use in various industrial applications and consumer products, PFAS are challenging to break down, potentially lasting thousands of years in the environment. PFAS studies include one from 2020, showing that the drinking water of nearly two-thirds of the U.S. population contains PFAS.
Elon Musk revealed on X that the U.S. House of Representatives has inquired about X's actions in Brazil, which allegedly breached Brazilian law. This inquiry followed Judge Alexandre de Moraes of Brazil's Supreme Court initiating an investigation into Musk for his decision to reactivate accounts previously ordered to be blocked by the judge. Musk, identifying as a supporter of free speech, opposed Moraes' directive to suspend the accounts of Brazilian parliament members and journalists, describing the actions as unconstitutional and urging Moraes to step down.
On April 9, at 3:00 a.m. Sanaa time, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces, including the USS Mason (DDG 87), intercepted and destroyed an anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM) launched by Houthi forces from Yemen in the Gulf of Aden. The missile was likely aimed at the MV Yorktown, a U.S.-flagged vessel under the protection of the USS Laboon (DDG 58) and USS Mason. No damage or injuries were reported.
The following day, between 4:15 a.m. and 6:00 a.m., CENTCOM engaged three unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) launched from Yemen, with two over the Gulf of Aden and one over the Red Sea, successfully neutralizing them without any reported injuries or damage. Later that evening, from 7:50 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., eight more UAVs were destroyed in self-defense operations in Houthi-controlled areas.
On April 11, at 12:26 p.m., a U.S. Air Force C-130 carried out a humanitarian airdrop over Northern Gaza, delivering approximately 6,000 pounds of food to civilians impacted by ongoing conflicts. This operation is part of the U.S. and allied efforts to provide ongoing support and alleviate human suffering in the area.
On Wednesday, April 10, at 1:40 a.m. ET, Falcon 9 launched 23 Starlink satellites from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. This launch marked the second outing for the first stage booster, which had previously been used for the Crew-8 mission. The next day, Thursday, April 11, at 7:25 a.m. PT, another Falcon 9 rocket launched the USSF-62 mission from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
On Wednesday, Apple issued a warning to iPhone users across 92 countries, alerting them to potential mercenary spyware attacks that could remotely compromise their devices. The notifications were distributed at 12 p.m. Pacific Time and indicated that the targeted attacks were due to the users' identities or roles. Apple emphasized the seriousness of these alerts, which are based on internal investigations and threat intelligence.
India is on the path to significantly reducing its reliance on fossil fuels by introducing one of the world's largest clean energy farms, set to be built by Adani Green Energy Limited (AGEL) near a remote airstrip in Gujarat. This Renewable Energy Park is projected to have a capacity of over 30,000 MW (30 GW) and is expected to be fully operational by 2029. Currently, AGEL has already activated 1,000 MW of solar energy in the park's initial phase. Spanning an area five times the size of Paris (538 sq km), the park will utilize both the intense solar radiation and strong wind resources of the region to maximize energy production.

Home Depot Data Breach:

Home Depot, the largest home improvement retailer in North America with over 2,300 stores and 475,000 employees, confirmed a data breach involving about 10,000 of its employees. The breach occurred in April 2024 when a third-party SaaS vendor unintentionally exposed employee data during system testing. The leaked information included names, work email addresses, and user IDs.
This exposed data was posted on a hacking forum by a threat actor known as IntelBroker, who previously gained notoriety for compromising DC Health Link and leaking sensitive information about U.S. House members and their staff. Although the data involved in the Home Depot breach is not highly sensitive, it is sufficient for conducting targeted phishing attacks.
Such attacks could potentially lead to more severe security issues, such as access to corporate networks or deployment of ransomware. Home Depot has advised its employees to exercise caution with emails asking for corporate credentials or other sensitive information, and to report suspicious emails to their IT department. This incident underscores the ongoing risks associated with third-party vendors and the importance of robust data security measures.

Apple Device Repairs:

Apple has expanded its iPhone repair options to now include the use of used components, a change set to begin this fall. Previously, certain parts like volume buttons could be replaced using components from used devices. However, this update will extend to more complex components such as batteries, displays, and cameras, which require specific configurations by Apple to function correctly. Initially, this will apply only to the iPhone 15 series, due to compatibility issues with older models.
John Ternus, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering, explained that the move aims to ensure that replacements are authentic and function as intended, particularly for critical features like biometrics. Critics and right-to-repair advocates have argued that this practice limits user repairability, citing instances where genuine Apple parts from another iPhone trigger a system alert questioning their authenticity.
Despite these controversies, Apple asserts that the process is essential for maintaining the security, privacy, and functionality of its devices. The company has also been involved in legislative discussions, such as supporting similar repair practices in California while criticizing aspects of Oregon’s right-to-repair law that challenge their parts pairing approach. This latest policy change by Apple marks a significant shift toward accommodating consumer demands for greater repairability while trying to balance the need for device integrity and quality assurance.

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