Hack Forum News - Edition 52 [1 YEAR OF HF NEWS]
Posted Jun 17, 2026 08:05 AM
Hack Forum News - Edition 52
[1 YEAR OF HF NEWS]
Welcome back to the Hack Forum News. Where we keep you up to date on the weekly events and news happening on site and around the world. If you have never heard of the Hack Forum News, don't worry, we have you covered. We are a team of members from the Hack Forums community who are journalists and writers, and we are here to keep you in the loop of the changes around the site and the events happening around the world.
This edition is our one year special. We have been doing HF News now for over a year and would like to celebrate the year of editions with all our readers. We have added a special section this week with a lot of words. We don't expect everyone to read it all, but it has a little bit of a backstory and a special thank you to all of our readers and others included.
![[Image: special.png]](https://hackforums.net/images/hfnews/special.png)
Writer - Mix
Before we start getting into the news, the keen eyed readers will have seen the title and have noticed how it's been a whole year since the return of the HF News and the rework. So with this special section in this week's post, the team wanted to share a few things with everyone and how everything has been so far.
So, for the first time I Mix will be writing this from my point of view to give everyone a little bit of a look at how this all began, as it's been a whole year since I started the revival of the HF News.
So, back in June on the 3rd of the month, I wanted to contribute something big. I was a previous HF Writer and the idea was to bring the whole thing back. After about a week or so of working out how it could be done, I asked around to see how I could make this happen. After speaking with a few members and seeing if anyone would help, I was given a subforum to start everything in. This subforum was given to me by the group Warriors. The owner Cap had heard about the project and wasn't using one of the subforums and mentioned how they would be happy to let us borrow the subforum. From this I had a blank canvas to work on, but my goal was to get the subforum to be very easy for new members to come into and understand, so I started making a few templates and, after speaking with Omniscient I was also given the go ahead to make things happen. Over the months, we released a few editions where it was just a small team and over the months we also saw a few members come and go. I knew this wasn't something everyone would be interested in, but at the same time, the project was something I was dedicated myself to as I wanted to commit everything I could.
After our first edition, the community was very interested in the HF news and while it was only myself and a few other members, we had stepped into the new era of HF News. My goal was to make it connected to the world and HF at the same time, which wasn't easy, but I feel we achieved this with a few flaws. After working on the flaws, we found a sweet spot and to this day you have all been reading them with many suggestions and making the touch ups which make the HF News what it is today.
After just under a month, I was looking around and figured out I still had my roles on the HF Wiki and, as some of you older members may remember, the writers group wasn't just the news but also handled and updated the HF Wiki and a few other areas of the site. I then contacted Omniscient about this as I didn't want to make any changes without his permission and to make sure he was okay with myself and the team working on updating it. As of the 11th of November 2025, I was given the perms on the wiki site to make this happen. And from that day, I started working on making a sub team for the HF News team who wanted to help with the wiki. To this day, we have updated the wiki since, and we are pleased to have the wiki updated to this day with the members who have helped along the way.
A little personal note here really. I didn't know if we would ever get this far, but after a whole year of editions I can say we as a community have built something so much better than what I could have ever imagined. I wasn't expecting anything. I didn't even expect donations or people to help with the news, but then I found out how so many members were so willing and happy to commit to the weekly editions. Yes, we did have a few editions off while we had Christmas and such, but I feel that is the best for the writers within the team as it's a special time of year when members will be spending time with loved ones and friends as well. But I just want to say thank you so much everyone for just clicking on our threads and even if you don't read everything here today, just know you are part of it all. Without you, we wouldn't be here like this today.
With this special section I want to make a little list as well. Thank a few members and the team. Without them, the HF news wouldn't be here like this today. This list will include a few members who you may know and past members who may not have been around a long time with the team but have contributed under my leadership, and I am thankful for it even if it was a short time.
Omniscient - You heard about my project and didn't expect anything, gave me some pointers and also helped with other things where needed. I am so thankful you are part of all this and I hope we can make things even better in the near future with this ongoing project.
Cap - You came out of the blue to me and offered me a subforum you were not using after hearing about the project idea and never even hesitated on any ideas I was rolling out from the back of my mind. You are such a great guy to work with and without you, I don't think I would be this far into this project. Thank you kind sir.
Hydra - I don't know if you are going to ever read this as I know you are not around so much anymore, but you allowed me to join the writers many years ago, and I wasn't too sure what I was doing, but you showed me the ways I learned. I to this day wish you were still around so much more, but I understand life gets in the way and is more important, but thank you for giving me a shot at the old team back in the day, and you inspired so many members.
Natha - You were one of the first members to come along and help with the revival of HF News. When I bought it back and granted you may no longer still be with the current team, you were such a great help. Thank you for the hard work you committed.
Pikachu - Sadly another member who may not see this, but you were around with the old team ran by hydra when I joined and when you heard about the news coming back with me, you were very keen to get things rolling. I know you may never see this due to life, but thank you for being there in my time of need.
Chrome - A member who I never thought would be so helpful. After we first met. We didn't get on so well, but time grew on, and we made things together to a point where I never knew who I was really talking to. You are still with the team today after a whole year and I wish I could give you more than just a thanks as you have been here every step with me.
jcole - Me and you, we are old. You joined HF and was a script kiddie. I showed you the ways of HF and also invited you to a group I led at the time. Oh, how much you have grown on the site. Thank you for being around me even if we don't talk to this day. And thank you for the gaming news. They still missed and I still can not find anyone to make them as good as you did.
Oh_Well - You joined, I asked if you needed help and you said nope. I said, okay and let you crack on. You are making notable news today and since edition 16 you have been killing it. That section is where I started my writer's role all those years ago, and I know it can be a hard one to fill, but you are a star within it.
MadScientist - A member who only managed to get a few editions out for us, but they were very good but sadly a hard one to keep up with. I know you did them well, and I want to say thank you for the work you committed to the team while you were with us.
JoshAllen - Where do I start? You come out of nowhere on the site and have done so much for the site. You are a true HF prodigy, you have been making the comics for around half a year now, and they have always been great. Thank you for everything you do here at HF and keep doing it.
Wake - I know you have only recently joined us, but you have stepped into the team like you belonged here all along. You have filled in for people you have made yourself at home and I know that isn't easy, but thank you for everything you helped with.
Jamika - You joined and took over the vices/vibes section. An area where many people don't realize how much it means to some, but you have been doing it so well each edition and I wasn't expecting anything around it to be at the level of detail you commit to each week, but thank you so much for every edition.
▄︻デ══━一一一一━ - I saw your writing and knew you would do well here and each little change we make to make things for you work better helps us all. Thank you for your committed editions each week pal.
xadamxk - A member who came back with some wild ideas and granted I know you don't write the news you have helped so much with your own little projects and the wiki in the time I have been running things. Thank you for the continued help and keep your ideas coming. I love them all.
I am sure I have missed a few members so feel free to post below, and I will make sure to update things here.
I want to say a big thank you to everyone who has also donated bytes towards the group as well as we do this without any payment we don't expect anyone to give us anything, we just want the news to be free and for everyone to read. Below is a list of those who have and, as I have thanked you already, here is another from me and the team.
JoseMar Hackers Moooookie flyingduck DemonAsylum
Sorry for such a large special section, but it's hard to make such a big year all into a small section. Thank you everyone for reading the HF News and I hope you enjoy the future editions.
P.S - We have planned a very nice giveaway coming soon. We will be sharing more details about this giveaway very soon as it will include awards, bytes and crypto.
![[Image: headlines-red.png]](https://hackforums.net/images/hfnews/headlines-red.png)
Writer - Wake
MyBB Update 1.8.4 By Omniscient
MyBB 1.8.4 was recently released and Omniscient has just finished applying all relevant updates to Hack Forums. Because Hack Forums is not a branch updates can not simply be installed with the click of a button. Each change needs to be reviewed individually to determine whether it affects the forum with any necessary fixes then applied manually. The update process has now been completed and all applicable security patches have been implemented. Keeping the forum up to date helps ensure Hack Forums remains secure, stable, and running smoothly for everyone.
SportsBook: World Cup Added By Omniscient
A member recently suggested adding the World Cup to the Bytes Sportsbook, and that request has now been implemented. World Cup betting is now available and ready to use, if you come across any bugs or issues please let us know in the original news thread. Thank you for the suggestion and good luck to everyone placing bets!
![[Image: statistics-magenta.png]](https://hackforums.net/images/hfnews/statistics-magenta.png)
Writer - Mix
![[Image: 6555b4600fe8f7f0dca4bcde1a539be6.png]](https://i.gyazo.com/6555b4600fe8f7f0dca4bcde1a539be6.png)
Last Week:
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Forum Stats
Members: 5,762,918 -> 5,764,431 (+1,513)
Posts: 62,965,615 -> 62,969,098 (+3,483)
Threads: 6,326,674 -> 6,327,111 (+437)
Bytes In Circulation: β12,030,755 -> β11,660,256 (- β370,499)
Quick Loves Given: 53,590 -> 538,44 (+254)
Total Contracts: 411,913 -> 412,055 (+142)
Completed Contracts: 160,695 -> 160,756 (+61)
![[Image: awards-yellow.png]](https://hackforums.net/images/hfnews/awards-yellow.png)
Writer - Mix
Weekend Offender Has obtained the "SportsBook" award -
bluewatertree Has obtained the "GFX Guru" award -
Motusora Has obtained the "Flip Reaper" award -
Sift Has obtained the "Flip Reaper" award -
anua Has obtained the "Flip Reaper" award -
bοxxy Has obtained the "King Decade" award -
Unixroot™ Has obtained the "King Decade" award -
![[Image: groups-yellow.png]](https://hackforums.net/images/hfnews/groups-yellow.png)
Writer - Chrome
GROUPS FOR SALE AND SOLD
Succubus group is still listed for sale by SecretAchiever101
![[Image: succubus-2.gif]](https://hackforums.net/images/groupimages/custom/succubus-2.gif)
Mystery Inc listed for sale by Scooby
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RECENT GROUP CHANGES & EVENTS
No new changes have been reported this week.
1 Year Celebration note:
Congratulations to all group owners in all of the changes, implementations, rebrands and updates! It's been an absolute pleasure to report on your groups changes and successes of the past 12 months. I've been part of almost every group and been chatting to many owners. Hearing what their plans are and sharing ideas has been awesome. I'm sure the next 12 months there will be plenty more to report on and announce.
RECRUITMENTS:
Hack Forums News Team Recruitment
The Brotherhood Recruitment
Pink LSZ Recruitment
Warriors Recruitment
Gamblers Recruitment
Olympians leader recruitment
The Academy Recruitment
![[Image: notable.png]](https://hackforums.net/images/hfnews/notable.png)
Writer - Oh_Well
▸ Statement on the US, suspend access to Fable 5 and Mythos 5
by JoseMar
A surprising AI thread around the sudden removal of Fable 5 and Mythos 5 access after a US government directive. JoseMar shares the announcement and opens the door to a wider discussion about frontier models, export controls, national security, jailbreak concerns, and what happens when a commercial model is suddenly pulled from users. The replies capture the frustration well, especially from members who considered it one of the best models available. A notable read for anyone following how AI access, regulation, and model restrictions are starting to collide.
▸ I have returned after 10 years inactive.
by Raijin
A warm return thread from Raijin who came back after a decade away from the forum. What starts as a simple reintroduction quickly turns into a small nostalgia moment, with older members welcoming him back, talking about old awards, groups, reputation, and how much the scene has changed. There is also that classic HF skepticism about old accounts returning, which makes the thread feel very authentic.
▸ Macbook Air Installing Linux Mint
by Omniscient
A practical hardware/software thread following Omniscient's attempt to install Linux Mint on a 2020 Intel MacBook Air. The post starts with confidence after AI suggests the machine should be a good Linux candidate, but the reality quickly becomes messier because of Apple security, T2 chip complications, keyboard and trackpad issues, and mixed virtualization results. Members jump in with suggestions around Arch, Manjaro, UTM, VirtualBox, rEFInd, and whether macOS might simply be the better option on that hardware. A great real-world example of where AI advice sounds clean on paper, but hardware compatibility still decides the final answer.
▸ AI models are not just getting dumber - Prompting is changing
by Oh_Well
An AI discussion that challenges the usual "models are getting dumber" argument. Oh_Well argues that while newer models can feel softer, more restricted, or less direct, part of the problem is that prompting itself has changed. The thread breaks down the difference between long prompts and clear prompts, why old-school mega prompt tricks are becoming weaker, and why better models should need less babysitting while still rewarding clear direction. A strong read for anyone who works with AI often and has noticed that the old prompting playbook does not always hit the same anymore.
▸ {Tutorial} Scrape the DarkWeb With Robin, A Legit DarkWeb Search Tool
by Pr0m3th3us
A detailed tutorial introducing Robin, an AI-assisted DarkWeb search and scraping tool aimed at making onion discovery less painful. Pr0m3th3us walks through the general setup idea, local AI options, Docker usage, Tor requirements, and how the tool checks whether discovered links are active. The thread is useful from a research and awareness point of view, especially for people interested in OSINT, threat intelligence, or understanding how AI is being added to discovery workflows. A thread that shows how even niche investigation tools are starting to blend automation, local LLMs, and dark web research into one workflow.
▸ WLGen Browser Based Custom Wordlist Generator
by Wake
A clean web development release from Wake introducing WLGen, a lightweight browser-based custom wordlist generator. The tool runs fully client-side, supports large output generation, works on mobile and desktop, and focuses on keeping the process simple without installs or dependencies. The replies show members testing it, joking about weak passwords, and appreciating the ease of use. A useful little project that fits HF perfectly: simple, direct, practical, and built for people who want a fast tool without extra setup.
▸ HF BBCode Formatter Create Clean & Creative Forum Posts Faster
by Wake
Another strong community-focused tool from Wake this time built specifically for making Hack Forums posts easier to create. HF BBCode Formatter gives users a live preview, formatting toolbar, templates, spoilers, code blocks, dividers, image support, YouTube embeds, autosave, and one-click BBCode copying. The replies make it clear why this matters: everyone who has made a long HF thread knows the pain of hitting preview over and over just to fix spacing. A genuinely useful tool that improves the posting experience and shows someone actively building for the community itself.
▸ Do Self-Help Products and Services Actually Work?
by TheNaturalBoy
An interesting Lounge discussion questioning whether self-help books, seminars, videos, courses, and gurus actually help people or just recycle vague advice that feels personal because it applies to almost everyone. TheNaturalBoy uses Robert Kiyosaki as the starting point, then opens the floor for members to share whether self-help ever worked for them or whether most of it is just polished motivation and profit-driven pseudoscience. A good conversation because it does not dismiss self-improvement completely, but asks the more important question: what separates useful frameworks from empty guru talk?
![[Image: music-header.png]](https://hackforums.net/images/hfnews/music-header.png)
Writer - Mix
This weeks Song Of The Week:
Avicii - Pure Grinding
![[Image: ves-brown.png]](https://hackforums.net/images/hfnews/ves-brown.png)
Writer - Jamika
Celebrate the Small Wins
Most people only celebrate the big moments: graduation, promotions, major achievements, or reaching a long-term goal. But those milestones are built from hundreds of small victories that often go unnoticed. Finishing a difficult task, sticking to a good habit, learning a new skill, or simply getting through a tough week are all reasons to be proud.
Celebration isn't about being satisfied with where you are—it's about recognizing how far you've come. Taking a moment to appreciate progress can boost motivation and remind you that every step forward matters.
Advice of the week
Don't wait for a major achievement to celebrate. Acknowledge the small wins that are getting you there.
Quote of the week
“Success is a series of small wins.”
— Maya Angelou
![[Image: w-movies.png]](https://hackforums.net/images/hfnews/w-movies.png)
Writer - Mix
This weeks Movie Of The Week:
Widows Bay
Trailer:
This movie was submitted on our Submision thread [HF News] Movie Of The Week Submissions
This week's submission is thanks to Edmond Dantes
A movie Edmond Dantes recently watched & has hsared how they were surpised by the movie itself. You can also see this thread the user made about the series. Mortal Kombat 2
![[Image: tech-brown.png]](https://hackforums.net/images/hfnews/tech-brown.png)
Writer - ▄︻デ══━一一一一━
One Year of HF Tech News
Welcome to Edition #52 of HF Tech News.
This edition marks one full year since the series began. Over the past 52 weeks, we've covered some of the biggest developments in technology, from the explosive growth of artificial intelligence and cybersecurity incidents to major product launches, space missions, and industry-shaping events.
Thank you to everyone who has followed the series, shared feedback, and participated in the discussions throughout the year. Your support has helped make HF Tech News a consistent part of the Hack Forums community.
Now, let's take a look at this week's biggest stories.
Google reportedly exploring Samsung partnership for next-generation AI chips
Google is reportedly in discussions with Samsung to manufacture part of its future AI chip platform, signaling efforts to diversify production beyond TSMC and strengthen its long-term AI hardware strategy.
Source
AI leaders expected to attend G7 summit discussions
Executives from OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, and other major technology companies are expected to participate in G7 discussions centered on artificial intelligence, online safety, and international AI governance.
Source
Apple and OpenAI rivalry intensifies in the AI race
Apple's latest AI announcements and OpenAI's continued expansion into consumer and enterprise markets highlight the increasingly competitive battle for leadership in artificial intelligence.
Source
Anthropic pushes for mandatory safety testing of advanced AI models
Anthropic has urged lawmakers to establish mandatory testing requirements for the most advanced AI systems, arguing that powerful models should undergo extensive safety evaluations before deployment.
Source
SpaceX planning orbital AI computing experiments
SpaceX is reportedly preparing future missions that could test artificial intelligence computing systems in orbit, potentially creating new opportunities for space-based data processing and research.
Source
China sees workforce changes as AI adoption accelerates
Companies across China are increasingly implementing AI and automation technologies, leading to significant changes in workforce requirements and corporate hiring practices.
Source
EU expands digital cooperation with Brazil
The European Union announced a new digital partnership with Brazil focused on cybersecurity, connectivity, artificial intelligence, and reducing dependence on foreign technology providers.
Source
Trump proposes AI companies should 'give back' to the public
The U.S. administration is discussing ways major AI companies could share a portion of the economic benefits generated by artificial intelligence with the broader public.
Source
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Writer - JoshAllen
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Support The Team by wearing our signatures
If you have enjoyed the read please consider using one of our signatures in any way to support us!
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If you want to use these to support us, we would like to thank you a lot.
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A big thank you to all the members who put in the hard work to bring us another edition of HF News this week
Mix Cap Chrome Jamika Oh_Well JoshAllen Wake ▄︻デ══━一一一一━ Thoth



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