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More than 1 million patients have been affected by a data breach involving SimonMed Imaging, one of the country’s largest outpatient radiology and medical imaging providers. The breach came to light after a cyberattack compromised sensitive patient data, with reports indicating that ransomware operators may have been behind the incident. What makes this case particularly concerning is the scale of the attack and the type of information stolen, which could easily be misused for financial or identity fraud.Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy ReportGet my best tech tips, urgent security alerts and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you’ll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide – free when you join my CYBERGUY.COM newsletter.What happened at SimonMed ImagingIn January 2025, SimonMed Imaging was alerted by one of its vendors about a potential security incident. The following day, the company noticed suspicious activity on its own network. The company says in response, it reset passwords, enforced two-factor authentication and tightened endpoint security while cutting off third-party vendor access.Unfortunately, the attackers had already gained access. Between Jan. 21 and Feb. 5, 2025, cybercriminals exfiltrated sensitive data belonging to around 1.2 million individuals. The Medusa ransomware group later claimed responsibility, alleging they had stolen more than 200 GB of data, including patient IDs, financial records and medical scans.DISCORD CONFIRMS VENDOR BREACH EXPOSED USER IDS IN RANSOM PLOT SimonMed Imaging discovered suspicious network activity in January 2025, prompting an immediate security response and system lockdown. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)The attackers reportedly demanded 1 million dollars to delete the stolen files, or 10,000 dollars per day to delay publishing. SimonMed was later removed from the Medusa leak site, which could suggest a ransom payment, although the company has not confirmed this. In the aftermath, SimonMed brought in cybersecurity experts to investigate and has offered complimentary credit monitoring services to affected individuals.COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY DATA BREACH HITS 870,000 PEOPLE Hackers linked to the Medusa ransomware group stole data from 1.2 million patients, including IDs, financial details and medical scans. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)What data got exposed in the SimonMed breachWhile SimonMed’s official filing described the exposed data as names and other data elements, the ransomware group’s claims suggest a much broader leak. According to the attackers, the stolen dataset included identity documents, payment details, medical reports, account balances and raw imaging scans (via BleepingComputer).Such information is extremely valuable on dark web marketplaces. Identity details and medical records are often sold in bulk to fraud operators who use them to commit financial scams, insurance fraud, or obtain prescription drugs. Medical breaches are harder to recover from because you cannot reset or replace a medical history or a government ID scan the same way you can change a password.We reached out to SimonMed for comment, but did not hear back before our deadline.DELIVERY GIANT’S DATA BREACH EXPOSES 40,000 PERSONAL RECORDS After the breach, SimonMed hired cybersecurity experts, tightened defenses and offered free credit monitoring to affected individuals.  (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)7 steps you can take to stay protectedEven though the company is offering free credit monitoring, leaked data often circulates long after an incident is closed publicly. That is why it is important to take additional precautions on your end to reduce the long-term impact of this breach and future-proof your personal security.1) Use a data removal servicePeople-search sites collect personal records and make them publicly accessible. Data removal services handle outreach and removals on your behalf, which reduces your exposed footprint online. With less information easily available, it becomes harder for attackers to assemble a complete identity profile for scams.While no service can guarantee the complete removal of your data from the internet, a data removal service is really a smart choice. They aren’t cheap, and neither is your privacy. These services do all the work for you by actively monitoring and systematically erasing your personal information from hundreds of websites. It’s what gives me peace of mind and has proven to be the most effective way to erase your personal data from the internet. By limiting the information available, you reduce the risk of scammers cross-referencing data from breaches with information they might find on the dark web, making it harder for them to target you.Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting Cyberguy.com.Get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web: Cyberguy.com.NEARLY A MILLION PATIENTS HIT BY DAVITA DIALYSIS RANSOMWARE ATTACK2) Change your passwords and use a password managerIf you have ever interacted with SimonMed or any related platform, change your passwords immediately. Avoid reusing old passwords across different accounts. A password manager helps generate strong credentials and stores them securely so you do not have to remember them manually. This reduces the risk of one breach affecting multiple accounts.Next, see if your email has been exposed in past breaches. Our No. 1 password manager pick includes a built-in breach scanner that checks whether your email address or passwords have appeared in known leaks. If you discover a match, immediately change any reused passwords and secure those accounts with new, unique credentials.Check out the best expert-reviewed password managers of 2025 at Cyberguy.com.3) Turn on two-factor authentication everywhereEnabling 2FA adds an important layer of verification to your accounts. Even if someone gets hold of your password, they will not be able to log in without the code delivered to your phone or app. It is one of the simplest and most effective security upgrades you can make.4) Install a strong antivirusModern malware includes remote access tools and silent monitoring modules that can stay hidden before launching an attack. Strong antivirus software can detect unusual behavior, protect against ransomware and alert you in real time if something attempts to access your data without permission. This is no longer just about traditional virus protection but active threat monitoring.The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware and potentially access your private information is to have strong antivirus software installed on all your devices. This protection can also alert you to phishing emails and ransomware scams, keeping your personal information and digital assets safe.Get my picks for the best 2025 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices at Cyberguy.com.5) Monitor your financial and medical statementsRegularly review your bank statements, insurance records and medical billing activity. Cybercriminals often test stolen information with small, easily overlooked transactions before moving to larger fraud attempts. Catching and reporting these early can prevent a much bigger loss.6) Consider an identity theft protection planBecause breaches involving medical providers often expose sensitive identifiers, an identity protection service can be useful. These services scan dark web listings, alert you when your information appears in leaked databases and assist with recovery if fraud occurs. Some plans include legal support and help with credit restoration.Identity Theft companies can monitor personal information like your Social Security Number (SSN), phone number and email address, and alert you if it is being sold on the dark web or being used to open an account. They can also assist you in freezing your bank and credit card accounts to prevent further unauthorized use by criminals.See my tips and best picks on how to protect yourself from identity theft at Cyberguy.com.7) Stay informed and cautiousAfter a major breach, attackers often launch phishing campaigns that reference the affected company to appear legitimate. Be skeptical of emails or texts mentioning SimonMed or credit monitoring, especially if they request payment or personal verification. Staying aware of current scams and keeping your software updated adds a strong layer of defense.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPKurt’s key takeawayThe SimonMed Imaging breach is another reminder that cyberattacks on healthcare providers are becoming more frequent and far more invasive. Once data is taken, it can circulate indefinitely across criminal networks. Taking protective steps early, including monitoring your identity and reducing your exposed data online, can help you stay ahead of potential misuse.Do you think healthcare providers are doing enough to protect your personal and medical data? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.comSign up for my FREE CyberGuy ReportGet my best tech tips, urgent security alerts and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you’ll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide – free when you join my CYBERGUY.COM newsletter.Copyright 2025 CyberGuy.com.  All rights reserved.  

There are three species of bats that eat birds. We know that because we have found feathers and other avian remains in their feces. What we didn’t know was how exactly they hunt birds, which are quite a bit heavier, faster, and stronger than the insects bats usually dine on.
To find out, Elena Tena, a biologist at Doñana Biological Station in Seville, Spain, and her colleagues attached ultra-light sensors to Nyctalus Iasiopterus, the largest bats in Europe. What they found was jaw-droppingly brutal.
Inconspicuous interceptors
Nyctalus Iasiopterus, otherwise known as greater noctule bats, have a wingspan of about 45 centimeters. They have reddish-brown or chestnut fur with a slightly paler underside, and usually weigh around 40 to 60 grams. Despite that minimal weight, they are the largest of the three bat species known to eat birds, so the key challenge in getting a glimpse into the way they hunt was finding sensors light enough to not impede the bats’ flight.
Cameras, which are the usual go-to sensor, were out of the question. “Bats hunt at night, so you’d need night vision cameras, which together with batteries are too heavy for a bat to carry. Our sensors had to weigh below 10 percent of the weight of the bat—four to six grams,” Tena explained.
Tena and her team explored several alternative approaches throughout the last decade, including watching the bats from the ground or using military-grade radars. But even then, catching the hunting bats red-handed remained impossible.
In recent years, the technology and miniaturization finally caught up with Tena’s needs, and the team found the right sensors for the job and attached them to 14 greater noctule bats over the course of two years. The tags used in the study weighed around four grams, could run for several hours, and registered sound, altitude, and acceleration. This gave Tena and her colleagues a detailed picture of the bats’ behavior in the night sky. The recordings included both ambient environmental sounds and the ultra-frequency bursts bats use for echolocation. Combining altitude with accelerometer readouts enabled scientists to trace the bats’ movements through all their fast-paced turns, dives, and maneuvers.

State-of-the-art methodologies

Painting of Napoleon’s army.

Credit:

Barbieri et al., Current Biology/CC BY-SA

Rascovan and his co-authors note in their paper that the 2006 study relied upon outdated PCR-based technologies for its DNA analysis. As for the virus family detected in the Kalingrad dental pulp, they argue that those viruses are both ubiquitous and usually asymptomatic in humans—and thus are unlikely to be the primary culprits for the diseases that wiped out the French army. So Rascovan’s team decided to use current state-of-the-art DNA methodologies to re-analyze a different set of remains of Napoleonic soldiers who died in Vilnius.
“In most ancient human remains, pathogen DNA is extremely fragmented and only present in very low quantities, which makes it very difficult to obtain whole genomes,” said Rascovan. “So we need methods capable of unambiguously identifying infectious agents from these weak signals, and sometimes even pinpointing lineages, to explore the pathogenic diversity of the past.”
An 1812 report from one of Napoleon’s physicians, J.R.L. de Kirckhoff, specifically noted typhus, dysentery, and diarrhea after the soldiers arrived in Vilnius, which he attributed to large barrels of salted beets the starving troops consumed, “greatly upsetting us and strongly irritating the intestinal tract.” Rascovan et al. note that such symptoms could accompany any number of conditions or diseases common to 19th-century Europe. “Even today, two centuries later, it would still be impossible to perform a differential diagnosis between typhus, typhoid, or paratyphoid fever based solely on the symptoms or the testimonies of survivors,” the authors wrote.

Imperial Guard button discovered during excavation.

Credit:

UMR 6578 Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, EFS

Over 3,200 individual remains, almost all men between the ages of 20 and 50, were excavated from the mass grave at Vilnius. Rascovan et al. focused on 13 teeth from 13 different individuals. To compensate for the degraded nature of the 200-year-old genome fragments, co-authors at the University of Tartu in Estonia helped develop a multistep authentication method to more accurately identify pathogens in the samples. In some cases, they were even able to identify a specific lineage.

Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, shared a different point of view in an interview with Fox News earlier this week.
“I believe there’s a lot of fake outrage right now because nearly every single president who has lived in this beautiful White House behind me has made modernizations and renovations of their own,” Leavitt said.
An official White House fact sheet published Tuesday used similar sensationalized language, accusing “unhinged leftists and their Fake News allies” of “clutching their pearls over President Donald J. Trump’s visionary addition of a grand, privately-funded ballroom to the White House.”

President Donald Trump displays a rendering of the White House ballroom as he meets with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte (left) in the Oval Office of the White House on Wednesday.

Credit:

Alex Wong/Getty Images

It’s true that every president has put their own mark on the White House, but all of the updates cost at least an order of magnitude less than Trump’s ballroom. Most amounted to little more than redecorating, and none were as destructive as this week’s teardown. Former President Barack Obama repainted the lines of the White House tennis court and installed hoops to turn it into a basketball court. During the George W. Bush administration, the White House press briefing room got a significant makeover. Taxpayers and media companies shared the bill. It’s hard to imagine that happening today.
Former President Gerald Ford had an outdoor swimming pool built near the West Wing. Former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy famously spearheaded the redesign of the White House Rose Garden and East Garden, which was later renamed in her honor. The grass in the Rose Garden was paved over with stone tiles earlier this year, and the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden was razed this week, the result of which was also visible from space.
In July, Leavitt said the East Wing would be “modernized.” Like Trump, she did not mention plans for demolition, only saying: “The necessary construction will take place.”
Thanks to satellites and commercial space, we now know what necessary construction really meant.

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Spotify is rolling out a major update for parents who want more control over what their children listen to. Managed accounts, first tested in select countries, are now expanding to the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Germany, France and the Netherlands. These accounts create a safer and more personalized way for young listeners to enjoy music while parents stay in control of what plays.Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy ReportGet my best tech tips, urgent security alerts and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you’ll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide – free when you join my CYBERGUY.COM newsletter.TEENS FACE NEW PG-13 LIMITS ON INSTAGRAMA safer way for kids to explore musicSpotify’s new managed accounts are built for kids under 13. They offer a music-only experience inside the main Spotify app. Parents can use their Family Plan settings to filter explicit lyrics, block certain artists or songs and hide videos or looping visuals called Canvas. Unlike the limited Spotify Kids app, these accounts exist within the regular Spotify platform. Kids get a familiar interface with features like Discover Weekly and Daylist, but with restrictions that fit their age. Parents can now guide what their kids listen to while enjoying music together on Spotify. (Spotify)How managed accounts workPremium Family subscribers can set up a managed account directly from their Spotify settings. Choose “Add a Member,” then select “Add a listener aged under 13.” Parents control what content plays, while kids build their own playlists and get personalized recommendations based on their listening habits. This separation keeps parents’ Discover Weekly and Wrapped playlists clean from unexpected surprises like a sudden obsession with gaming soundtracks or silly meme songs.META STRENGTHENS TEEN SAFETY WITH EXPANDED ACCOUNTS Managed accounts make family streaming safer, simpler and more personalized for young listeners. (Spotify)Why this matters for parentsFor years, parents have struggled to give kids music freedom while keeping explicit content away. This update finally solves that challenge. Managed accounts let parents turn off videos, block podcasts and make sure no age-restricted content slips through. It provides peace of mind for families who love streaming music together. Kids get their own playlists and recommendations without changing what parents hear. (Spotify)What this means for youIf you already subscribe to the Premium Family plan, this update adds even more value. You still get six individual accounts, and now you can include a customized child account. Parents can share their favorite songs safely while using filters that protect young listeners. Kids get the freedom to explore new music and create playlists without affecting the main account’s recommendations.Take my quiz: How safe is your online security?Think your devices and data are truly protected? Take this quick quiz to see where your digital habits stand. From passwords to Wi-Fi settings, you’ll get a personalized breakdown of what you’re doing right and what needs improvement. Take my Quiz here: Cyberguy.com  Spotify’s new tools give families more control and more ways to connect through music. (Spotify)CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPKurt’s key takeawaysSpotify’s expansion of managed accounts is a smart move toward safer, family-friendly streaming. It protects young listeners while helping them build their own love for music. With strong parental controls built right into the app, families can enjoy listening together with confidence and ease.Will you set up a Spotify managed account for your child, or keep family listening under one shared profile? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy ReportGet my best tech tips, urgent security alerts and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you’ll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide – free when you join my CYBERGUY.COM newsletter.Copyright 2025 CyberGuy.com.  All rights reserved.  

Enabling & Support

24/10/2025
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An agreement, supported by ESA and signed on 24 October 2025 between the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) and ArianeGroup states that Vinci, the upper stage engine of Ariane 6, will be integrated by ArianeGroup Germany at DLR’s facilities in Lampoldshausen, Germany, where the final assembly of its components will take place. The plans for a new production building to support this agreement were unveiled during this event.This agreement completes a decision between Germany, Italy, France and ESA signed on 18 December 2024, to transfer the Ariane 6 oxygen turbopump development to Vernon, France, and the Vinci assembly integration and testing from Vernon to Lampoldshausen, Germany. The Vinci engine installation into Ariane 6’s upper stage will remain in Bremen, Germany.The Vinci engine is used as the upper stage engine of Ariane 6 and is fed by liquid hydrogen and oxygen. It is a restartable engine, which means that by controlling the mixture of the two propellants in the combustion chamber, it can be stopped and restarted multiple times –such as to place satellites into different orbits and then de-orbit the upper stage.ESA’s Director of Space Transportation Toni Tolker-Nielsen was present in Lampholdshausen together with representatives from DLR, and ArianeGroup. Toni thanked all the partners who will be running the assembly and tests at Lampoldshausen: “During its initial development, the Vinci engine was originally hot-fired in Vernon, France, its journey now continues here in Germany – an embodiment of European cooperation at its best. The Vinci engine assembly integration and test in Lampoldshausen, Germany, reinforces the leading role of Germany in the upper stages. I am also glad to highlight the proposal for the development of the ASTRIS orbital transfer vehicle at the next Council at Ministerial level, with a leading role of Germany, which will bring additional capabilities to Ariane 6.”
Testing expertise

Ariane 6 Vinci engine testing at DLR Lampoldshausen

Testing rocket engines on Earth is a major industrial undertaking. Europe has many test centres each with their own capabilities and expertise. The DLR test centre in Lampholdshausen performs component, engine and even entire rocket stage tests. For the test conditions to resemble flight as closely as possible, the test rigs simulate rockets: the engines are supplied with all fuels and fluids, as they would before liftoff. The test systems measure data and control, regulate and monitor the engines during operation. This test centre has already tested Vinci as well as the full upper stage for Ariane 6, qualifying the 5.4 m-diameter upper stage in the run up to its inaugural flight in 2024.

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Aiming for LEO … This will be the first flight of Innospace’s HANBIT-Nano launch vehicle, standing roughly 72 feet (22 meters) tall with a diameter of 4.6 feet (1.4 meters). The two-stage rocket is powered by hybrid propulsion, consuming a mixture of paraffin and liquid oxygen. For its debut flight, the rocket will target an orbit about 300 kilometers (186 miles) high with a batch of small satellites from customers in South Korea, Brazil, and India. According to Innospace, HANBIT-Nano can lift about 200 pounds (90 kilograms) of payload into orbit.

A new record for rocket reuse. SpaceX’s launch of a Falcon 9 rocket from Florida on October 19 set a new record for reusable rockets, Ars reports. It marked the 31st launch of the company’s most-flown Falcon 9 booster. The rocket landed on SpaceX’s recovery ship in the Atlantic Ocean to be returned to Florida for a 32nd flight. Several more rockets in SpaceX’s inventory are nearing their 30th launch. In all, SpaceX has more than 20 Falcon 9 boosters in its fleet on both the East and West Coasts. SpaceX engineers are now certifying the Falcon 9 boosters for up to 40 flights apiece.
10,000 and counting … SpaceX’s two launches last weekend weren’t just noteworthy for Falcon 9 lore. Hours after setting the new booster reuse record, SpaceX deployed a batch of 28 Starlink satellites from a different rocket after lifting off from California. This mission propelled SpaceX’s Starlink program past a notable milestone. With the satellites added to the constellation on Sunday, the company has delivered more than 10,000 mass-produced Starlink spacecraft to low-Earth orbit. The exact figure stands at 10,006 satellites, according to a tabulation by Jonathan McDowell, an astrophysicist who expertly tracks comings and goings between Earth and space. About 8,700 of these Starlink satellites are still in orbit, with SpaceX adding more every week.
China is on the cusp of something big. Launch startup LandSpace is in the final stages of preparations for the first flight of its Zhuque-3 rocket and a potentially landmark mission for China, Space News reports. LandSpace said it completed the first phase of the Zhuque-3 rocket’s inaugural launch campaign this week. The Zhuque-3 is the largest commercial rocket developed to date in China, nearly matching the size and performance of SpaceX’s Falcon 9, with nine first stage engines and a single upper stage engine. One key difference is that the Zhuque-3 burns methane fuel, while Falcon 9’s engines consume kerosene. Most notably, LandSpace will attempt to land the rocket’s first stage booster at a location downrange from the launch site, similar to the way SpaceX lands Falcon 9 boosters on drone ships at sea. Zhuque-3’s first stage will aim for a land-based site in an experiment that could pave the way for LandSpace to reuse rockets in the future.