EP 233.5

Key Cryptocurrency Threats & Scams
In 2025, crypto remains a hotspot for scams like Ponzi schemes, fake ICOs, pump-and-dumps, phishing attacks, and malicious wallets or exchanges designed to steal funds. Social media is often used for deceptive giveaways, impersonations, and investment scams. Other risks include fake mining operations, rug pulls, fraudulent apps, SIM swapping, and impostor tech support.

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• AI Skills Demand in the Tech Job Market
  AI expertise is increasingly sought after, with about one in four U.S. tech job postings requiring AI-related skills. This trend cuts across industries like healthcare, finance, and professional services. Although overall tech job postings have dipped, AI job listings have surged since ChatGPT’s launch, offering premium pay and higher job security.

• What Is Free95?
  Free95 is an open-source operating system on GitHub aiming for Windows compatibility without the bloat. It currently supports basic Win32 programs, with future plans for DirectX and gaming. Its creators prioritize security, simplicity, and independence from major corporate control, positioning it as a leaner alternative to systems like ReactOS.

• DOJ Push for Google to Sell Chrome
  The U.S. Department of Justice still wants Google to divest Chrome, citing an illegal monopoly in search. The DOJ argues that selling Chrome would create room for genuine competition. While it continues to push for restrictions on Google’s paid search placement deals, it has dropped calls for Google to shed AI start-up investments.

• Edge Computing on the ISS
  Axiom Space and Red Hat’s AxDCU-1 data center on the ISS tests cloud, AI, and cybersecurity in orbit. Red Hat’s Device Edge software enables real-time data processing in space, crucial due to limited satellite links with Earth. This development could boost AI training, imaging, cybersecurity, and overall autonomy in space operations.

• Undocumented ‘Backdoor’ in a Chinese Bluetooth Chip
  Researchers found hidden commands in the ESP32 microcontroller, used in over a billion devices. Attackers could exploit these commands to impersonate devices, steal data, or infiltrate networks. The chip’s widespread adoption in smartphones, locks, and medical equipment heightens the security risk, as attackers might gain long-term control.

• Security & Privacy Concerns of ‘Agentic AI’
  Signal President Meredith Whittaker warns that agentic AI requires broad system access, potentially gathering financial, scheduling, and messaging data with near-root permissions. This could break down privacy barriers between apps and introduce significant security risks, especially if sensitive data is processed in the cloud.

• Expanded Social Media Screening for Non-Citizens
  The U.S. is considering extending social media checks beyond new arrivals to all non-citizens applying for benefits like permanent residency or citizenship. This raises privacy concerns, as individuals who entered before such screenings were routine may now face additional digital scrutiny when adjusting their immigration status.