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Reportedly, client information from GameStop’s website includes addresses

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According to reports, the retailer GameStop disclosed customer data including billing addresses and payment information.

On Saturday, clients were allegedly seeing other users’ details when refreshing their order pages, according to numerous people on social media.

Although one user posted a picture of a partial credit card number, it’s unclear if this also includes entire digits.

One Reddit user observed that “it’s like a cycle of four or five people,” adding that “every time I refresh the website, I can see someone else’s name, phone number, address, order history.” This is really concerning because the issue prevents even changing the password.

Another user said, “Oh God, I tried it and it’s doing it for me too.” Addresses, birthdays, emails, etc…. This is awful.

You can view the digital currency codes as the verification code is sent to your email, they continued. By clicking on a card, my friend could see the complete credit card number, but the page quickly refreshed after that.

On Saturday, one Twitter user claimed they could switch between different account just by refreshing their screen.

The GameStop website was acting strangely and constantly switching between a few dozen different profiles for me. The products in the cart, the Pro Rewards points, and the name at the top of the screen all constantly changing. I though I was seriously being hacked, but the GS app appears to be stable.

GameStop has been contacted by VGC for comment; we’ll update this post if we hear back.

As Editor here at GeekReply, I'm a big fan of all things Geeky. Most of my contributions to the site are technology related, but I'm also a big fan of video games. My genres of choice include RPGs, MMOs, Grand Strategy, and Simulation. If I'm not chasing after the latest gear on my MMO of choice, I'm here at GeekReply reporting on the latest in Geek culture.

Artificial Intelligence

The Pentagon is requesting $14.5 billion for cybersecurity expenses, which includes implementing a zero trust approach

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The U.S. Department of Defense is requesting $14.5 billion for its efforts in cyberspace, which involve protecting information networks through zero-trust strategies, expanding its workforce, and exploring advanced computers.

The fiscal 2025 budget request revealed on March 11 exceeds the Biden administration’s prior request by almost $1 billion. In fiscal 2023, it requested $11.2 billion, which is now higher.

The department is focusing on cyber-related matters because of the escalating digital competition with Russia and China. All three major world powers are renowned for their extensive virtual weapons stockpiles and their inclination to investigate and test boundaries without inciting armed confrontation.

The senior defense official at the Pentagon informed reporters that the FY25 cyber activity budget prioritizes investments in three portfolios: cybersecurity, cyberspace operations, and cyber research and development. “Cyber capabilities will remain an essential element of our national defense and will be a top priority in our budget.”

According to the Government Accountability Office, the Defense Department has experienced over 12,000 cyber incidents since 2015, with the number decreasing annually since 2017. Foreign hackers who want to steal their intellectual property target defense contractors.

The department is implementing a zero-trust approach to enhance the security of its sensitive information. The zero-trust cybersecurity paradigm operates under the assumption that networks are constantly at risk or have already been infiltrated, necessitating continuous verification of devices, users, and their virtual access.

The fiscal plan for 2025 designates a little over $977 million for the zero-trust transition. The budget includes about $300 million for updated identity, credential, and access management (ICAM) to customize available information for individuals and monitor their activities.

The senior official stated that the cybersecurity budget request enhances the department’s cyber posture by allocating funds for the creation and upgrading of cybersecurity tools and capabilities. Additionally, it increases investment in zero-trust technology to assure the entire security and protection of the department’s assets.

By 2027, the department must establish a foundational level of zero trust. Further safeguards, known as advanced zero trust, are necessary in the future. Cybersecurity experts have previously stated that meeting the approaching deadlines will be difficult.

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Space Exploration

America is currently constructing two massive telescopes, but unfortunately, there is only enough funding to complete one of them

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Three enormous optical telescopes are currently being constructed, surpassing anything we currently possess in terms of size. These three discoveries have the potential to provide answers to some of the most profound mysteries of the universe, which have remained elusive to current scientific instruments. Nevertheless, the proposed budget cap from the National Science Foundation (NSF) jeopardizes one aspect of the equation.

Even though the JWST has uncovered incredible discoveries, the future of astronomy extends beyond just space exploration. Building larger telescopes on the ground offers several advantages over their space-based counterparts. Not only are they easier to repair, maintain, and upgrade, but they also provide greater flexibility for scientific exploration. Future plans include the development of a telescope on the Moon, along with a base.

Scientists have high expectations for several ambitious projects in the field of astronomy. These include the Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT), the Thirty-meter Telescope (TMT), and the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT). Additionally, there are other telescopes, like the Square Kilometer Array, that operate at wavelengths beyond the range of human vision. Interestingly, all three of these telescopes are sometimes collectively referred to as extremely large telescopes. Despite the presence of the atmosphere, both options would provide significantly higher resolution than the JWST.

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However, a new proposal suggests eliminating one of the initial two options.

Collaboration is a key aspect of astronomy, with many individuals and organizations working together towards common goals. In this context, it may not be of great concern to some who will be responsible for building and owning certain projects. It is important to note that while the third project is a collaboration between European and South American nations, the TMT and GMT projects are both run by American organizations. That provides the ELT with a certain level of protection in the event of budget reductions. None of the consortium partners want to compromise their reputation by failing to fulfill their commitments. The work on the ELT began in 2017. Building something of this magnitude, which requires both size and precision, is a time-consuming process. As a result, the first light is anticipated to happen in 2028. Despite potential delays, there is little doubt that it will eventually occur.

Both the TMT and the GMT are American projects, with the latter being located in Chile. The funding for the GMT primarily comes from the USA’s NSF, with support from several universities and scientific institutions. Additionally, six other countries are also contributing to the project. The TMT project, although involving Indian, Japanese, and Canadian participation, originated at two California universities and is intended to be located in Hawaii.

However, the National Science Board, which advises the NSF, has suggested a limit of $1.6 billion for NSF funding for giant telescopes. That’s a lower cost compared to either of the two projected expenses individually, although considering the other factors, it should be sufficient for one.

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The statement issued by the board indicates that they have no intention of merely postponing the costs and waiting for additional funding. Furthermore, it suggests that the NSF should engage in a discussion with the Board in the upcoming May 2024 meeting regarding their strategy for choosing between the two potential telescopes to support. This discussion should encompass estimated costs and a timeline for the project.

There is a chance that the NSF might reject the recommendation, or even that Congress could allocate an additional billion and a half towards astronomy due to its perceived significance. So far, that is the current focus of each team’s representatives, at least publicly, instead of engaging in arguments about who should be given priority. It is unlikely that new funds will be available, especially considering the current political climate characterized by partisan conflicts that hinder budget allocations.

In theory, it is possible for other contributors to increase their shares. However, according to John O’Meara, the chief scientist at Keck Observatory, neither telescope currently has a viable future without investment from the NSF.

Scientists have been expressing their concern and highlighting the importance of both.

Others in different scientific fields may not be very understanding; they might even quietly make fun of those who expected to receive two new toys but had to settle for just one. However, the two instruments have been carefully crafted to function in perfect harmony. Every spot on our planet has its limitations when it comes to observing the sky. To achieve comprehensive coverage, it is necessary to have at least one instrument in the Northern Hemisphere and one in the Southern Hemisphere. Every design has been optimized to enhance specific capabilities, with the expectation that other areas will be compensated by alternative designs.

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Upon initial observation, the TMT would seem to be the most reasonable choice. Given its location in the Northern Hemisphere, it has the potential to work in collaboration with the ELT. Additionally, a suggested location in the United States could provide a group of supporters to advocate for it.

Nevertheless, there has been discussion about relocating the TMT to the Canary Islands, a northern region under Spanish jurisdiction, due to the significant opposition it faces from Native Hawaiians. In addition, discarding either project would result in a significant loss of the funds invested thus far. The GMT, being more advanced than the TMT, would incur a greater financial setback.

There are numerous valuable applications for $1.5 billion, such as medical research to combat diseases, scientific endeavors addressing global crises, or even non-scientific pursuits. However, basic research has a rich history of yielding unforeseen benefits over time. Constructing both telescopes would result in an additional $5 in taxes for every American, not on an annual basis but as a one-time payment. Their total cost will be significantly lower than that of the JWST, and each one will have a much longer lifespan.

Allocating budgets can be a challenging task, especially when comparing the potential benefits, which vary greatly. In this situation, one must consider the value of knowledge for its own sake versus options that offer practical but uncertain payoffs. In contrast, the NSF may find it relatively easy to choose between two instruments with different, but overlapping, capacities.

 

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Space Exploration

SpaceX’s Starship has achieved a successful orbit and safely reentered the Earth’s atmosphere, ultimately disintegrating over the Indian Ocean

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The third test flight of Starship was a resounding success. The spacecraft and its booster were launched into space and achieved the primary objectives of this test. Although there were some deviations from the plan, it is worth noting that both components remained intact, which represents progress compared to the previous two flights.

A Starship was launched from SpaceX’s Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas, at 8:26 am local time on March 14. This is the most distant and swiftest that Starship has ever flown. The objective of this experiment was to showcase the effective ascent burn of both the Starship and Super Heavy stages. Regarding Super Heavy, the team initially intended for a gentle splashdown. However, it seems that the descent was a bit too rapid, resulting in a forceful impact comparable to that of an F1 car colliding into the Gulf of Mexico.

Starship successfully entered into orbit and executed a series of complex maneuvers, demonstrating its capabilities in space. These included the precise opening and closing of its payload door, transferring propellant, and achieving the remarkable feat of relighting a Raptor engine while in space for the very first time.

Starship also experienced a failure towards the end, resulting in it burning up during reentry instead of executing a controlled splashdown. In this test, SpaceX did not have plans to recover either Super Heavy or Starship, despite their reusability as space vehicles.

 

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