HF News - 206

Oak · (This post was last modified: Aug 30, 2014 09:23 PM by Oak.)

The edition you are currently reading is the 206th full edition. To read any older editions of HF News, please go here.

Omniscient Apologizes To Snorlax
Over the last few weeks users have noticed that 'Snorlax has been granted almost every award by Omniscient. It was following his attempt to have a few awards removed. 'Snorlax was given them in hopes that he'd be annoyed or harassed about them according to Omniscient. When that didn't work, he was banned for a month and blocked from contacting Omniscient. About a week later, Omniscient unbanned 'Snorlax, but then suspended his posting abilities, removed all awards except for donation related ones, suspended his signature privileges, put him on his ignore list, and then reset his reputation. After that, 'Snorlax self-banned himself for 6 months stating he had quit HF because of his treatment. Shortly after that Omniscient wrote an apology thread, fixed his awards, granted him diamond, and unbanned him. The apology thread can be found here.

Member of The Month
It's that time again. Member of the Month Nominations are once again opened by Froggy, who has recently taken over. She's written her own version of the rules this time so be sure to check them out before nominating anyone. If you are interested in nominating anyone for the August Member of the Month contest head over to her thread: MOTM Nominations - August 2014 by Froggy.

Xerotic's Scammer Database
It's back again! Xerotic has relaunched his scammer database website and userscript. The script is used to report members that currently have open deal disputes against them, that does not mean that the member did indeed scam someone, however, it does mean that the user could have and members should think carefully before dealing with the user. If you're interested in using the script or submitting a deal dispute report to the site head over to http://www.hfscammerdb.com/about.php to get the script and learn more about the project. The thread about the project can be found here. Also, this project is not sponsored by or affiliated in any way with Hackforums, which has it's own official deal dispute database located here.

User News

Anima. and Skwillex hit 10,000 posts.
Aurа hit 1,000 prestige. Nerd!
Mommy‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎, +Oblivious, Package, Regulus, and Sh1eld hit 1,000 reputation points.
Panik hit 24,000 posts.

News Notables

Roger Waters for his constant help in the Rules, Announcements, News, and Feedback section, and his contributions as a Mentor.

Bans*

Ḇob Ẅhite was banned for breaking the PBD rule.
๖ۣۜChief Keef. was banned for "Multiple accounts won't be tolerated."
Chills was banned for breaking the PBD rule.
Chris Ηansen was banned for assisting a ban evader.
Cᴏɴᴠɪᴄᴛᴇᴅ was banned for leaving an invalid scammer rep.
✔-Elision- was banned for breaking the PBD rule.
Mahdy was banned for breaking the PBD rule.
.Phasmatis was banned for "Use contact form to prove account ownership."
Prettykitty was banned for breaking the PBD rule.
Spring was banned for reporting Omniscient's post.
.STR. was banned for breaking the PBD rule.
Vague was banned for breaking the PBD rule.
zStabilityy was banned for breaking the PBD rule.

Vacations

- Abraham Lincoln took a vacation ban.
- Bicycles took a vacation ban.
- D‎‎‏‍‎‏‎‏‍‎‎‏‍‎‏ark took a vacation ban.
- diiaz ‌‌‌‌‌ took a vacation ban.
- HelpingOthers took a vacation ban.
- Sacred™ took a vacation ban.
- .Silent took a vacation ban.
- 'Sin took a vacation ban.
- Varosion took a vacation ban.
- Xeru took a vacation ban.
- Yellows took a vacation ban.

Closures

Spoderman had their account closed.

Repfucks

Ḇob Ẅhite was repfucked for breaking the PBD rule.
Chills was repfucked for breaking the PBD rule.
Cᴏɴᴠɪᴄᴛᴇᴅ was repfucked for leaving an invalid scammer rep.
✔-Elision- was repfucked for breaking the PBD rule.
Horny was repfucked for breaking the PBD rule.
kingxd was repfucked for breaking the PBD rule.
LiveSupport was repfucked for breaking the PBD rule.
Mahdy was repfucked for breaking the PBD rule.
Prettykitty was repfucked for breaking the PBD rule.
+Reckless was repfucked for breaking the PBD rule.
Spoderman was repfucked.
.STR. was repfucked for breaking the PBD rule.
The Illusionist was repfucked.
USMC Chris was repfucked for breaking the PBD rule.
Vague was repfucked for breaking the PBD rule.
zStabilityy was repfucked for breaking the PBD rule.

Awards

Nivarka donated for the Master Donator award, and received the Ninja award.
Panik received the 24k award.
'Snorlax had all of his awards removed, then received the Master Donator, Member of the Month, Diamond, and 24k awards.
Vinnie had the Speaker of the House, Sticky Man, Frog, and Gavel of Dredd awards removed.
xVulnerable donated for the Bitcoinage award.

* - As of the Friday prior to release.

OMCWallet.com Expired
The ill-fated venture that was OMCWallet.com has finally closed, not because the owner closed it, but because the long-since hacked wallet's hosting finally expired. While it was a good concept, and a good layout, it was ultimately hacked, as many of the other online wallets were. However, some users were not aware of this, causing loss of coins, and mass confusion. This closure will at least force the announcement that it was no longer functional. You can read more in this thread.

Weekly Highlights

New OMC Exclusives

Your name next to authentic $3,000 USD

Want a highlight? Start your shop now!

Announcements

---My Apology to 'Snorlax - Omniscient
---Omniscient apologizes for the recent treatment that 'Snorlax has been receiving.

---It's My Birthday .. - Omniscient
---Omniscient's turns 44, and he gives a thanks to everyone who sent him birthday presents.

---MOTM Nominations - August 2014 - Froggy
---Nominate worthy members to participate in August's Member of the Month competition.

Informational Threads

---[Warning] New Cryptoware, ZeroLocker, with no chances of recovering your files - Aurа
---A warning and explanation of the most dangerous Cryptoware to this day, ZeroLocker.

---[Warning] Scammers are back at it - Robin Williams death exploited via new Facebook scam - Aurа
---Read this so that you don't fall prey to the new video scam exploiting Robin Williams' death.

---Guide to Increasing Proactivity - Froggy
---Simple tips to help you become a proactive individual.

Entertaining Threads

---[OFFICIAL] ALS Ice Bucket Challenge // Videos and Nominated Members in here - iHydra
---A compilation of ALS Ice Bucket Challenge videos submitted by HF members.

---Bratwurst and Veggies - Omniscient
---Omniscient shares photos of his delicious dinner.

---Official HF Fridge Photo Thread - KyoZ
---Ever wonder what the inside of another's fridge looks like?

Contests & Giveaways

---[Phoenix] Member Upgrade Contest - L33t or Ub3r - Αlien
---Enter for a chance to win an account upgrade, courtesy of Phoenix.

---12,000 OMC to one lucky winner! Post to enter - 'Snorlax
---Simply post to be eligible to win 12,000 Omnicoins.

Miscellaneous

---To all of you who get bullied - Grievous
---A heart-warming video to motivate those who have been bullied.

---[Exercise] 4 1/2 month before and after - WinRAR™
---WinRAR™ shares his progress after 4 and a half months of exercising.

Interview - Jay (Click to View)

Interview - Soccer
(Click to View)

Oak · (This post was last modified: Aug 27, 2014 12:44 PM by Oak.)

By Goodies

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Alberton's Supermarket Hacked for Credit Card Theft
Two of the most popular supermarket chains in the United States, Albertson's and SuperValu, suffered a data breach by malicious hackers that revealed hundreds of stores' customers' credit and debit card information. Albertson's parent company, AB Acquisition LLC, has released several statements regarding the matter:

“Third-party data forensics experts are supporting an ongoing investigation. AB Acquisition LLC has not determined that any cardholder data was in fact stolen, and currently it has no evidence of any misuse of any such data.” - AB Acquisition LLC

Results of forensic examinations concluded that data was, indeed, stolen, however, there is no evidence that these credit cards have been used for any reason. The proper channels are monitoring common underground marketplaces for these stolen credit cards. In lieu of the circumstances, both companies have offered their customers one year of free credit-card monitoring. At this point, it is not known how exactly the attackers were able to ascertain the credit cards, but recent attacks against several other vendors, such as Target and Michael's, would suggest that the POS (Point Of Sale) is the most likely candidate.

You are Being Tracked by Google!
Having been apart of the WorldView 3 Satellite project, Google is taking monitoring and monetization to a whole new level. Google often uses location services to provide targeted ads to the user. The alarming side-effect is that any user can simply open Google Maps and track their movements for the last month! If you are logged into your Google account on your smartphone, you may check your tracking information here. Rupert Murdoch, the owner of The News Corporation, 20th Century Fox, Wall Street Journal, and many more news and media outlets, was quoted saying: "NSA privacy invasion is bad, but nothing compared to Google.”. Google's intense surveillance has risen the eyebrows of everyone in the hacker, security, and surveillance community. Location Services on smartphones are often unable to provide the endpoint security required to protect against things like this. Turning off location services may also mean you will not be able to access weather, GPS, and other location-based uses. Google, as well as other 3rd parties, use advertising as a means of being able to legally record movement. However, government agencies will have easy access to this very sensitive information. Be careful where you go, friends; though it may sound like paranoia, someone is watching.

4.5 Million Hospital Records Stolen
On August 18th, 2014, hackers gained access to a network of over 200 hospitals. A total of 4.5 million records were stolen which were comprised of sensitive data such as names, e-mail addresses, physical addresses, social security numbers, telephone numbers, and birthdays. Community Health Systems, which is the network of the 206 hospitals affected in the attack, has hired private contractors who have since determined that the perpetrators operated from China and launched attacks in April and June of 2014. This stolen information puts the hospitals' guests at an exponentially higher risk for identity theft, which allows malicious criminals to steal identities, create bank accounts, and take out loans on the victim's behalf. Along with private contractors, the FBI has been "committing significant resources and efforts to target, disrupt, dismantle and arrest the perpetrators." The hackers were not, however, able to retrieve medical information or credit cards.

By Delirium™

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Ransomware Disguises Itself as Decryption Tool
A typical ransomware locks your computer and demands a fee in order to return your access back. However this is not the case with ZeroLocker, a ransomware which pretends to be an unlock tool for files locked by other ransomware. What ZeroLocker does is lock your system allowing the usage of a browser only and demands the amount of $300, which becomes $600 after 5 days and $1000 after 10, in order to unlock your computer. Webroot security researchers who analysed to tool have concluded that it's less complicated than other ransomware, such as CryptoLocker, as it does not turn off the Volume Shadow Service (which is responsible for creating file backups). It also appears to be vulnerable to a security issue, which, if exploited properly, allows the user to regain access without paying the demanded ransom. ZeroLocker demands the payment to be paid using Bitcoin. The report also concluded with a warning stating that the aforementioned security issue could be fixed, therefore users are advised to keep backups of their files.

Image of ZeroLocker ransomware:
Spoiler (Click to View)

Hackers Breach Into NRC Computers
According to a report of unknown sources, hackers have managed to infiltrate the NRC (Nuclear Regulatory Commission) twice in the past 3 years. The news regarding the security breaches have been leaked through Nextgov, and claims that they received the information after the release of the NRC's open documents. The report has shown that the NRC has been breached twice by foreign hackers, once during a separate incident, and another time by an individual hacker whom Nextgov labeled us "unidentified". In the second case, the hacker unleashed a well-developed phishing attack against NRC employees, of whom 12 fell into the cyber "trap".

Malaysian Airlines Hacked After MH370 Incident
The computers of high-ranked Malaysian Airlines employees, who are involved with the MH370 incident investigation, have been hacked and classified information has been stolen. It appears that the stolen information has been sent to a computer in China, before the Malaysian IT Security bureau could shut the infected computers down. The bureau revealed that the hackers sent malware, which was disguised as a news article reporting that the missing Boeing 777 had been found, to the investigators on March 9th.

By Abide & Harlem

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Google's Modular Phone Drops Price
Google’s new modular phone was attracting consumers, but they didn’t realize how expensive it actually was. Now, Google has finally integrated a cheaper CPU that still works nicely with the phone. Google’s modular phone is called “Project Ara”, and has received a lot of support. Google was able to make this CPU change thanks to Rockchip, a company that is working on a system-on-chip with Google’s modular tech built-in. Google’s modular phone will not require any bridge clips and will let you switch processors easily. A prototype processor will arrive in 2015, and is expected to allow a lot of Google’s devices to be fully upgradable. The processor change also means that Google's new devices may become significantly cheaper.

Street View Cars Used to Find Gas Leaks
Gas leaks are hazardous and can lead to disasters. Leaking pipes have a possibility of exploding and release methane, a gas that is terrible for the environment. Surprisingly, nobody has been keeping an eye on gas leaks. Recently Google and the Environmental Defense Fund joined together to help put an end to deadly gas leaks. Google has added methane detecting sensors to their vehicles to effectively monitor larger areas. Google is giving their findings to gas companies so they can prioritize gas line repairs.

Microsoft's "DeLorean" Cloud Gaming System Shows Promise
Microsoft has created a logical solution that may make cloud gaming a reality. Researchers have come up with a way to use powerful servers to stream games to a small, inexpensive box. The problem with cloud gaming would be the delay based on internet speeds, and for hardcore gamers that can be very frustrating. Microsoft’s idea, however, eliminates this latency issue, and works similarly to a “mind reading” feature. Microsoft has titled their cloud gaming system “DeLorean”, based on the car from the movie “Back to the Future.” The DeLorean would work by predicting what you might do next in different scenarios. It will generate those options and have the frames queued and ready. So, for example, if you are playing a racing game and are approaching a turn, the DeLorean will have that turn queued and will also have the crash of the vehicles queued. So no matter what you choose, it will already be ready in order to prevent latency issues. Currently, the DeLorean has only been tested on the game Fable 3 and reported maximum delays of 250 milliseconds. However, the system is dependent on the accuracy of its predictions, and is designed to analyze how gamers would react to generate predictions. The DeLorean looks very promising, and the only downside currently is the bandwidth needed for multiplayer gaming. There may be a chance the DeLorean is implemented in a future Xbox console.

By Roger Waters & CyborgIzSoBeast

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Microsoft Introduces "Free Play Day with Gold"
It appears that Microsoft may be testing out a new feature for the Xbox One that will allow members to access certain games for free during a 24 hour period. Earlier in the week, several Reddit users who were taking part in the Xbox One Preview Program reported that Max: The Curse of Brotherhood was available free alongside the Games with Gold titles Strike Suit Zero and Crimson Dragon. The thing that was different between Max: The Curse of Brotherhood and the others? Max: The Curse of Brotherhood had a label which said “Free Play Day with Gold,” which appears to be Microsoft's version of Steam's free weekends. @XboxSupport tweeted suggesting that a program could be announced at some point in the future.

Aone in the Dark: Illumination announced for PC
The publisher gave no further details other than the new game's name - Alone in the Dark: Illuminations - and confirmation that it will be showing the title off in private sessions at the PAX Prime event in Seattle later this month. A modern-day remake of Atari 2600 game Haunted House, originally released in 1982, was also confirmed by Atari. The official Alone in the Dark website currently contains only the new game's title as well as the message "Autumn 2014". Atari has confirmed that this relates to the game's release window. The first Alone in the Dark game was developed by Infogrames and released on PC in 1992. One of the first games to use polygonal characters, it's also credited as the first polygonal survival horror game, predating Resident Evil by four years. The series has seen new installments released sporadically over the years, with only two new games since the turn of the new millennium: 2001's Alone in the Dark: The New Nightmare, and Atari's 2008 reboot simply entitled Alone in the Dark.

Xbox One pre-download feature arrives
The feature to pre-download games before they're released has now come to the Xbox One. The feature was released this week with the release of the popular sports game, Madden NFL 15. Xbox One owners who pre-order a game from the Xbox Games Store can now download and install it ahead of its official release, and it will be unlocked and available to play at midnight of that game's release date. This feature was announced just a few weeks ago by Microsoft at the Xbox Gamescom press conference and that it would be coming to the Xbox One in September, with the releases of Fifa 15 and Forza Horizon 2. EA Access Members also get a bigger benefit, as they can play the upcoming EA Sports games a few days before they are released.

How Robin Williams may be Immortalized in World of Warcraft
Reported last week on the petitions being made to immortalize Robin Williams in both World of Warcraft and the Legend of Zelda video games, we may be seeing the first of whats to come for an NPC based on Williams. Files of the latest beta build reveal a new NPC genie called "Robin the Entertainer". The fact that he's a genie opens a door to have him shape into other forms, including the idea of him shaping into a troll called Jumanji, which has been a pretty popular suggestion so far. Some other forms spotted in these files include a human female, likely based off of Mrs. Doubtfire, and a human male, which could be based off of Mork. Blizzard has yet to announce or confirm these tributes, or announce anything such as quests to go along with them. An announcement could come in the near future.

500GB Xbox 360 Hard Drive Revealed
A product page on Xbox.com reveals that Microsoft is planning to introduce a 500GB hard drive for the Xbox 360, bringing official storage support on par with the Xbox One. The hard drive will be sold for $110, according to the product listing, which also says preorders will open "soon." Microsoft also sells a 320GB hard drive, though it goes for $130. It's likely that Microsoft will drop the price of the 320GB hard drive when the 500GB model goes on sale. Currently, the Xbox 360 is available in 4GB and 250GB options. The Xbox One, of course, comes with a 500GB and also has support for external storage (as does the Xbox 360). In November, Microsoft will release a 1TB Xbox One console in a bundle with Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare. The 320GB Xbox 360 hard drive, and presumably the 500GB unit, will be compatible only with the newer Xbox 360 S and Xbox 360 E models.

CoD: Advanced Warfare definitely not coming to Wii U
The news was set in stone on Wednesday by Sledgehammer co-founder Michael Condrey, who responded via Twitter to fan queries over a Wii U version. "No, no Wii U. That was an Activision decision. We are focused on Xbox One, PS4, and PC," he said. Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare will represent the first Wii U-era Call of Duty that will not appear on the system. Last year's CoD: Ghosts and 2012's CoD: Black Ops 2 were both brought to the Nintendo console, although it was not uncommon for the Wii U versions to be announced months after their 360 and PS3 counterparts. Although no specific reasoning was given for the snub, it will likely be related to disappointing sales figures for those games on Wii U, and could have wider-reaching implications for Activision's support of the console going forward. A lack of third party support for Wii U is an ongoing problem for Nintendo. The situation worsened this week after Ubisoft - arguably the console's strongest third party supporter - declared that Watch Dogs will be the sole "mature game" it plans to release on Wii U as the company's CEO doesn't feel there is a market for such games on the console.

Trailer (Click to View)

Release Dates for the Weeks of August 16 and 23, 2014:

CounterSpy - Play Station 3, Play Station 4, Play Station Vita - August 19, 2014
Diablo III: Ultimate Evil Edition - Play Station 3, Play Station 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One - August 19, 2014
Hotline Miami - Play Station 4 - August 19, 2014
Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare - Play Station 3, Play Station 4 - August 19, 2014
Infamous: First Light - Play Station 4 - August 26, 2014
Madden NFL 15 - Play Station 3, Play Station 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One - August 26, 2014
Metro Redux - Linux, Mac, PC, Play Station 4, SteamOS, Xbox One - August 26, 2014
The Walking Dead Season 2 - Episode 5: No Going Back - iOS, Mac, PC, Play Station Network, Play Station Vita, Xbox Live - August 26, 2014

Gaming Video of the Week (Click to View)

By Eternal.

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Android L Update Rumored for Select Flagship Devices
With the Android L developer preview already out and being updated by Google, rumors are spreading about the impending official release date of Android L. Android L will be released in late October based on speculation from Android fans and news sites all over the internet, as well as past release schedules. According to leaks the flagship device that will carry Android L first will be the Galaxy Nexus 6, codenamed Shamu and manufactured by Google owned Motorola. The Nexus Schedule also adds to the Android L rumor as their release is scheduled for late October based on past dates, though nothing official has been said by Google about the release dates for Android L or the Galaxy Nexus 6.

iOS 8 On The Horizon
Apple is planning the release of iOS 8 in the fall, following past release dates. This is in consideration of Apple's statement saying it would follow their trend, as iOS 5 was released on the 12 of October 2012 and iOS 6 the 18th of 2013. iOS 8 will be more of an addition to iOS 7 than a brand new operating system overhaul. It will be integrated more naturally with Apples Mac computers and have other software improvements such as a better keyboard, Family Share, health centralized apps and improved developer APIs.

Android Cryptolocker Infection Rates Skyrocket
A Cryotolocker known as ScarePackage has infected as many as 900,000 Android Phones in the past 30 days according to Lookout Mobile Security. The malware is similar to the Windows versions where the app claims to be FBI related and puts a lock on your phone for illegal activities and demands a fine to be paid. Other forms of Ransomware have also been emerging on the Android scene. Lookout stated there are a few that have come up in the past month, and they search for ways to steal banking information or get payout using MoneyPak. Most infections come from a driveby download, or by downloading and installing an app that is not what it claims to be.

Oak · Aug 27, 2014 12:37 PM

By Happeh & Curt.

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John Lennon's Murderer Denied Parole Again
Mark Chapman, the man who gunned down Beatles star John Lennon in 1980, has now been refused parole eight times. John Lennon, for those that don't know what happened, was walking with his wife to their Central Park apartment in New York when an unprovoked Mark Chapman started firing bullets at Lennon from behind. Chapman, who is now 59, was interviewed with the parole board on Wednesday when they denied him for the 8th time. His first eligibility for parole came in the 2000's and since then he has been applying for his release every two years. John Lennon's wife has demanded that he is never to be released. I couldn't agree more, keep him locked up and throw away the key.

Iceland Receives Over 500 Earthquakes
Iceland has had a busy week as it received 568 mapped earthquakes. The long chain of earthquakes became so strong and frequent that the government had to activate their "National Crisis Coordination Centre" and block off parts of the island. The main issue is that the constant rumbling may cause disturbance to the volcano located in the Vatnajökull glacier. With magnitude raising above 3.0, specialists are concerned that the volcano may have been disturbed and there is a great deal of uncertainty whether it may become active.

Iceland Issues Bardarbunga Volcano Red Alert
Iceland has issued a red alert at the aviation industry and evacuated hundreds of people as ash emissions are imminent. The volcano that had previously erupted in 2010 produced an ash cloud that disrupted air travel causing severe delays for days. The country has a 5 point warning scale with red alert being the highest. Icelandic authorities have warned nearby residents that any eruption in the volcano could result in flooding, due to the volcano sitting under an ice cap. The eruption in April 2010 had caused the largest closure of European airspace since World War Two began, with losses estimated around 2bn euros.

Rocket SpaceX Explodes During First Test Flight
An unmanned SpaceX rocket self-destructed minutes after launching on a test flight to a development site in Texas, thankfully nobody was injured. The test flight had involved a three-engine version of the company's reusable Falcon 9 rocket. During the flight, an anomaly was detected in the vehicle which led to the flight termination system automatically terminating the mission. With research and development projects, detecting vehicle anomalies during the testing is one of the main purposes of the program. A spokesman stated they were pushing the limits of the vehicle further than any previous test, which was probably the cause of its malfunction.

Reporter Murdered On Video By ISIS
Islamic State militants have released a video where a captured reporter has been beheaded. The video in question shows James Foley, a US reporter who went missing in 2012, being slowly beheaded with a knife to his throat. This all comes after recent ISIS activity in which they have been slaughtering civilians for not changing their faith and capturing towns in a bid to force their beliefs onto others. It has also been reported that the video keeps being re-uploaded to Youtube, making it easy to access for many, including children. The US has been trying to help rid Iraq of ISIS by launching airstrikes and plan to launch more in Syria where many of the top officials for ISIS are reportedly hiding.

Sir Cliff Richard Questioned Over Sexual Assault
Sir Cliff Richard has been taken into custody by police in England for questioning of an alleged historical sexual offence. Police have previously searched his home and although he was questioned he was neither charged or taken into custody. The pop star denies the alleged offence, saying he didn't "assault anyone at a religious event", which occurred in Sheffield, 1985. There has been a recent chain of celebrities in Britain being charged for sexual assault, the most recent Rolf Harris, and as each day passes many more step forward and claim a celebrity assaulted them.

By Sudsy

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Goldman Sach's $3.15 Billion Mortgage Claim
All starting with a lawsuit that began back in 2011, Goldman Sach is now buying back mortgage bonds from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. This will end a lawsuit by the Federal Housing Finance Agency. Goldman Sach has been accused of unloading low-quality mortgage bonds to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and now Goldman is paying $1.2 billion more than what the bonds are worth now. Goldman has also avoided paying billion-dollar settlements that were paid by other banks. This week, Bank of America reached a $16.65 billion settlement with the Justice Department related to the bank's handling of shoddy mortgages. However, Goldman did not originally hand out subprime loans, and for that, has been given lower penalties than other firms.

Housing Market Spike
Since the beginning of July, the market for homes has shown signs of some real improvement. Homeowners have been able to resell their houses at the fastest pace in nearly a year. On Thursday, The National Association of Realtors said that sales for existing homes has increased by 2.4 percent to an annual rate of 5.15 million units. This marked the fourth straight month where home sales accelerated. The number of homes on the market for resale rose to 2.37 million in July, the highest level since August 2012 and 5.8 percent more than in July of last year. Also, the median price for home sales was $222,900, 4.9 percent higher than in July of 2013.

Mexico Creates Special Force for Economic Crime
Mexico has hired 5,000 people to fight industrial, farm, and business crime that has extended throughout the country's economy. Drug cartels have been at large in Mexico, and now officials reveal that everyone from fishermen to tourist resorts to banana growers have been hit by the wave of extortion, kidnapping and thefts by the gangs. But now there is a new special force known as "Gendarmerie", made up of fresh recruits, all members have never served in another police force. Also, the force was trained by the Mexican army and the commanding officers received training from police forces from Colombia, Chile, Spain, France and the U.S.

By Chieftain & God

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Laser Device to Possibly Replace Pin Pricks For Diabetics
Researchers from Princeton University have developed a way to use a laser to measure people's blood sugar. The laser itself was taken from a workbench in an engineering school. In its current stage, it needs to be attached to a workbench and have its own cooling device, but researchers claim they are close to finding a way to make it portable. This new device could mean the end to diabetics having to draw blood in order to test their blood sugar levels, as the device works simply by aiming at the palm and waiting a couple of seconds. The laser has been put to work on three healthy people thus far, before and after consuming 20 pieces of candy, and has been found to work accurately. While it is already in a working stage, the researchers say they are still trying to find more ways to improve the device.

Sunscreen Found to Be Toxic to Marine Life
Scientists from the American Chemical Society report that chemicals found in most sunscreens are toxic to the smallest inhabitants of the ocean and sea. When sunscreen washes off the body as the person steps into water, the toxic chemicals can then make their way to the marine life and harm it. While this only affects the smallest creatures, it also indirectly affects other bigger marine animals, as they are one of their only sources of nutrition. The chemicals, titanium dioxide and zinc oxide nanoparticles, are not lethal to the animals by themselves, but when they get in the ocean, they can react with ultraviolet rays to form new compounds, such as hydrogen peroxide, which can be toxic.

Missing Protein Restored In Patients With Muscular Dystrophy
A researcher team from the University of Basel has succeeded in restoring a key missing repair protein in skeletal muscle of patients with muscular dystrophy. Muscular dystrophy is a group of inherited disorders that involve weakness and loss of muscle tissue, which gets worse over time. The researchers gave three patients a single systemic dose of a proteasome inhibitor, and after several days, their bodies started to produce the missing protein at levels that could be therapeutically effective. The team is now focusing on creating long-term trials in order to see if this method can be used to fully treat patients or prevent the disorder from taking effect in the first place.

By Feynman

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An Anti-HIV Cocktail
A team of researchers from Rockefeller University has developed a new method to possibly treat HIV. Current treatment plans generally use three drugs in what is known as a triple cocktail. The new treatment combines this triple cocktail with neutralizing antibodies. After being tested on mice, it was reported that 57% of test subjects saw no resurgence of the virus, compared to no effects seen when subjects were treated with just the antibodies or antibodies and one of the drugs. The authors say that a cure for the disease can possibly be developed by researching more combined treatments.

The Equation to Happiness
A major breakthrough in regenerative medicine has recently been found with the conversion of mature cells from an elderly subject into induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. Researchers from UCSD managed to take fibroblasts from an 86-year-old man, culture them into iPS cells, and convert them into neural stem cells. The neural stem cells were then grafted into rats with spinal cord damage. After two weeks, neurons had grown around the damaged areas, but unfortunately did not help restore movement. However, this discovery may triumph the moral dilemma of using embryonic stem cells in research.

A Hidden Benefit of Cosmetic Surgery
In a world ever so concerned with appearance, cosmetic surgery has made its mark as a controversial-yet-effective tool in controlling how we look. However, recent research may have found a beneficial side effect from cosmetic eyelid surgery. 35 test patients received small incisions to their upper eyelids, near some of the nerves controlling them. Before the surgery, all patients reported frequent migraines, yet a year after, 51% of patients reported having no migraines at all. However, the surgeon in charge of of the experiment has said that no control group was used, so he is unsure if it is just a placebo effect, or if severing nerves in the eyelid can actually help severe migraines. Until further studies are conducted, he does not recommend this as a viable treatment option.

A Link Between Synapses and Autism
Neuroscientists at Columbia University have made two related breakthroughs in autism research. By studying the brains of children and adolescents, the team has found that people with autism have an abnormally high number of neural connections, known as synapses. This excess may lead to too much neural communication, impeding brain function. Using mice models with autistic-like symptoms, the team has found that using a drug which reduces the number of synapses in the brain, they can lessen the severity of autistic behaviours. Unfortunately the drug has many severe side effects limiting its usefulness, but it brings new hope that autism can be treated after diagnosis.

Oak · Aug 27, 2014 12:37 PM

By Anima. & iKinky

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Cung Le's Latest
Cung Le, a UFC middleweight contender has never sparked the thought of breaking any drug related policies within the UFC. Recently, the 42 year old martial artist has had suspicions towards performance enhancement drugs. A photo was taken of Cung Le posing with more defined, pectoral muscles and an extremely defined washboard-esque abdomen. This for sure is something out of the norm for a 42 year old, even if he's in shape. Currently the UFC is working on surprise drugs tests so that the fighters will not expect anything, of course. The UFC does realize that as you get older, your body begins to weaken and weaken. Of course, taking drugs isn't the best option to step your game up.

Pittsburgh Bust
Le'Veon Bell and LeGarrette Blount were pulled over for possibly having possession of marijuana. The two were stopped a few hours after the two had practice. One of the two, the one being Bell was arrested and charged with possession and DUI, both being misdemeanors. Fans and coaches of the Pittsburgh aren't happy about the act as the new 2014 season is coming to a start. Kids shouldn't copy what their role models have done either. With talks about suspension from the NFL, both Le'Veon and Legarrette are not getting any legal action taken on their jobs until 2015. The NFL is looking to make the laws on illegal drug possession more strict, as the two were caught in a state where medical marijuana use is illegal, unlike California and Colorado. For now, the coaches are thinking of benching the two for the next few pre-season games. Coaches say this incident won't affect the playing time at all and everything should go back to normal soon.

Yankees Plan to Honor Torre
As the Yankees don't plan to go out without a fight, the Yankees continue to battle on their competitors. As they try to push their way to the top, the Yankees will try to take home the glory once again against the Chicago White Sox in their three-game set. Former manager of the New York Yankees Joe Torre, has announced that he will be retiring. Prior to the match-up, the former manager will be given a plaque to be put up in the Monument Park. He will be presented with said plaque. In addition, Joe Torre will be retiring his #6 jersey. Current manager Joe Girardi, had a few words to say to the former coach, "He meant a lot to us as players and his leadership. I Enjoyed playing for him and I enjoyed working for him as his bench coach. And obviously learned a lot along the way." The New York Yankees are currently in second place in the AL East, and continue to pursue their way to 1st.

Money Sam?
Two high profile NFL rookies crossed paths this Saturday night. The clash was between Manziel and Sam. After Sam sacked Manziel he mocked Manziel's "money sign". "If you're going to sack Johnny, you've got to do that once," Sam said. Sam got another sack on Manziel on the final play of the game, making it his third sack this preseason. It was a pretty big shutdown after Manziel's first rushing touchdown. Sam also makes comments about his skill, "He's a talented kid," "He isn't called Johnny Football for nothing.." Sam said. Manziel didn't really have much to say besides he was impressed with his performance.

Angel Di Maria Finally Moving
Manchester United and Real Madrid have come to the agreement on Maria's pending move to Old Trafford. This move isn't cheap. The English side will pay 75 million euros upfront with an additional 15 million euros of add-ons and incentives. Spanish sources say that the English will more than likely end up paying closer to 80 million euros. Not bad for only signing a five or six year deal is it? Maria has been promised the number 7 shirt at Old Trafford. Ancelotti, Madrid boss, had confirmed Sunday that Maria is on his way out of the Bernabeu. The stated selling price would match the fee Madrid paid to sign James Rodriguez earlier this summer. This would hopefully help appease the club's fans.

Jean Sebastien Giguere is Done
The infamous goaltender known as "Jiggy" has announced his retirement at the age of 37. He has played in an amazing 16 NHL seasons in which he has won 262 games, a Conn Smythe Trophy and a Stanly Cup. Joe Sakic speaks highly of Jiggy, talking about his top notch abilities, veteran leadership, and stability in the net. Jiggy was always doing something positive for his team. For instance, when he took rookie Nathan MacKinnon under his wing and allowed him to live in his basement all season. He provided him a home and a form of transportation to and from practices and games. One of his most memorable times was when he led the Anaheim Ducks to two appearances in the Stanly Cup finals. In 2003 he obtained the Conn Smythe Trophy and hoisting the cup in 2007. Giguere played in 597 regular season games and face 16,325 shots for a total of 33,719 minutes.

By APG

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By Justin Timberlake & 1001

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A New Kind of ALS Challenge
In the past few weeks, the ALS ice bucket challenge has gained immense popularity all around the nation, with just about everyone jumping on the hype train. Recently, rapper 50 Cent came out with a modified version of the challenge. He nominated the champion boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. to do the challenge in a video posted on social media on Aug. 21. He challenged Mayweather to read a book rather than the usual icy water. 50 Cent stated that if he could read even one page of a Harry Potter book without stopping, he would donate $750,000 to a charity of his choice. The unusual request came in response to an interview Mayweather had where he discussed his issues with the rapper.

Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon Heading to Splitsville
“There is trouble in paradise," according to Nick Cannon, host of America's Got Talent. After his split with singer Mariah Carey in May, things are getting ugly. The two were planning on making a public statement regarding their breakup when Cannon went ahead and spilled the beans. The divorce settlement states that he isn't allowed to reveal any details, even though Carey is free to say as she wishes. Both Cannon and Carey have agreed that despite living apart from each other, their children are the main priority.

The Show Must Go On
Iggy Azalea, one of the breakout singers of this year, recently took a dive. Literally. The star fell off the stage during her performance of the hit song Fancy at a pre-VMA show in LA on Friday. Despite having a wipeout during the song, she played it cool and kept singing. The show must go on, right? Afterwards, she posted the video on Instagram, admitting that although she was grateful to have not sustained any injuries, she laughed about the incident. The fall worried some people however, as Iggy is set to perform at the VMAs live, along with being nominated for 7 awards.

Tina Knowles Puts an End to Beyonce and Jay Z Divorce Rumors
Rumors have been going around for a few months about Beyonce and Jay Z splitting. These rumors derived from events such as how Beyonce had her wedding tattoo removed from her ring finger and changed some lyrics from one of her songs during a concert, and were enhanced by tabloids' unconfirmed claims as to how she’s looking for her own New York City apartment and how she’s recurring to divorce advice. On the 20th of August, Tina Knowles, Beyonce’s mother, put an end to these rumors by debunking them. When asked whether everything was OK between the couple, she replied: "Everything's perfect." This occurred while the mother was leaving a lunch date with Kelly Rowland.

Stacy Keibler Welcomes Baby Girl Ava Grace
TV host Stacy Keibler has given birth to a baby girl named Ava Grace with her husband Jared Pobre on Wednesday, the 20th of August. Keibler then decided to share the news by posting a photo of three hearts in the sand on her website and announcing that her baby had been born at home, expressing the parents’ thrill and thanking her fans for their positive energy. Keibler had formerly dated actor, film director, producer and screenwriter George Clooney. She married Pobre in a private beach wedding in Mexico in March and, briefly after, announced pregnancy. On an interview with Fit Pregnancy in May, she displayed her enthusiasm in having her husband as the father of her children.

Aaron Paul Hosting Scavenger Hunt
Breaking Bad star Aaron Paul attributed his viewers as the reason for his Emmy nominations, and wanted to thank them for it. Therefore, he announced over Instagram that he’s hosting a Breaking Bad scavenger hunt in the Hollywood area. Treasures include signed Breaking Bad scripts, posters, action figures and more. The scavenger hunt shall take place on the same day as the Emmy’s: Monday, the 25th of August; and shall begin before the Emmy’s do. Some details on the scavenger hunt remain to be released, so potential participants should stay tuned. Variety has reported that Paul has hosted similar events in the past.

By Pillows

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Billy Bragg Visits Ferguson For a Surprise Concert
With all the negativity that’s been happening in Ferguson, Billy Bragg decided to use this opportunity to provide a positive environment for the community. Billy and his touring partner, Joe Purdy, were making their trip across the Rock Island Railroad. Along the way they noticed they weren’t too far away from Ferguson, and decided to make an impromptu concert. Of course he did have some help from a pub owner named Steven Fitz. Steven allowed Billy to stage a concert in the courtyard of the pub. Billy and Joe played for more than an hour and played songs such as “Hangknot, Slipknot”, “Cryin’ in the Streets”, and “I Keep Faith”.

NFL Asks Katy Perry, Rihanna, and Coldplay To Play At Super Bowl
The NFL’s top choices for 2015’s Super Bowl Halftime singers were Katy Perry, Rihanna, and Coldplay. So far the responses from celebrities don’t seem to be looking to well in regards to playing during halftime. It’s strange that the singers would have to think twice to play in the Super Bowl considering the amount of publicity that one would get. One of the reasons that why singers in general would be refusing to play, is because of the NFL’s new rule requiring celebrities to pay to play.

Soundcloud Starts to Launch Ads
With Soundcloud's arrival of advertisements on the site, artists can now be paid for their music. Soundcloud artists will only get paid through their "On Soundcloud" invite-only premier program. Some advertisement partners that have joined Soundcloud to help display ads are Red Bull, Jaguar, Sonos, Squarespace, and Comedy Central. The advertisements shown are similar to Youtube's in where the advertisement is 30 seconds but one can cancel the advertisement after 15 seconds. The most important part to mention about the advertisements is that there will only be display ads on mobile users only as that is where Soundcloud has received the most growth. Jeff Toig, Soundcloud's Chief Business Officer also mentions that in the coming months, a subscription based service will be released to help artists monetize more.

By Fox™ & Froggy

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White Bird in a Blizzard Movie Trailer Released
A trailer has just been released for the new film, Gregg Araki's White Bird In A Blizzard. Starring in the movie, as a home maker, is Eva Green. Shailene Woodley stars as 17-year-old Kat Connors, who is the daughter of Eve (played by Eva Green). You can find the trailer here. No release date has been set.

Jennifer Lawrence in Talks to Join the Hateful Eight
Jennifer Lawrence, star of The Hunger Games trilogy, could be seen in The Hateful Eight. However, it is thought that Kurt Russell, Samuel L. Jackson and Michael Madsen will be starring in the film, but the cast list has not been confirmed. The film will focus on passengers in a stagecoach, who, after huge a snowstorm causes them to change their path, they are forced together in an old saloon. The film is supposed to arrive in theaters December of 2015.

Johnny Depp, Starring alongside His Daughter in a Film
Johnny Depp and Lily-Rose Depp, his daughter, will be staring in Yoga Hosers. Directed by Kevin Smith, the film will feature Harley Quinn (Smith's daughter), and Lily-Rose. The film shows the two working at a grocery store called Eh-2-Zed, in Manitoba, Canada. The two must fight an ancient evil, from under the ground, and team with man-hunter, Guy Lapointe (Johnny Depp), in order to arrive to their 12th grade party. A release date is unknown.

Social Media Buzz about New Halloween Movie Refuted
Over two years ago, Halloween 3D was meant to be the new movie in the slasher franchise, Halloween, but was later pulled out of the release calendar by Dimension Films. Earlier this year, it was announced that the next chapter in the Halloween franchise would be on its way. Shmoes Know reported that it would be named Halloween: The Next Chapter, but the title has recently been refuted by producer Malek Akkad. The franchise's official Facebook page made a statement that, although the information spreading through social media is false, a new installment of Halloween is indeed in development and on the way.

First Full Trailer Released for Annabelle
Warner Bros. Pictures has released a brand new full trailer for Annabelle, a spin-off of the movie The Conjuring. The film, directed by John R. Leonetti, stars Annabelle Wallis, Alfre Woodard, Eric Ladin, and a few others. When a loving husband buys his expecting wife a vintage doll, it brings the attention of a satanic cult, who violently attack the couple in their home. The couple tries to flee, but the cultists have conjured an evil entity into the doll named Annabelle. You can watch the trailer here.

Release Dates (USA) for the Week of August 24, 2014:

The November Man - Trailer - August 27th, 2014
Starred Up - Trailer - August 27th, 2014
Through a Lens Darkly - Trailer - August 27th, 2014
As Above, So Below - Trailer - August 29th, 2014
Cantinflas - Trailer - August 29th, 2014
The Congress - Trailer - August 29th, 2014
Jamie Marks is Dead - Trailer - August 29th, 2014
The Last of Robin Hood - Trailer - August 29th, 2014
Last Weekend - Trailer - August 29th, 2014
Life of Crime - Trailer - August 29th, 2014

Oak · (This post was last modified: Aug 27, 2014 01:19 PM by Oak.)

I shall be working tirelessly over the next week to prepare the HF News for what is to come.

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^ click here or the gallery to send in artwork ^

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Aug 27, 2014 01:15 PM

Good job Sir, another great edition.

Oh shit first post, GG

Tonight · Aug 27, 2014 01:17 PM

Our team list is a bit outdated, but lookin' good, Quill.

Hopsin · Aug 27, 2014 01:18 PM

Excellent job sir. Like always, Great edition as well.

Peter · Aug 27, 2014 01:19 PM

Another great edition like always.
Thanks HF news team

bandors · Aug 27, 2014 01:26 PM

Great editon! I always love reading the news :3
It's super neat.

Aug 27, 2014 01:26 PM

Epic news as always, keep up the good work sir.

clark.dll · Aug 27, 2014 01:27 PM

Excellent edition as always, though you've made an error in the notable member highlights.

Aug 27, 2014 01:29 PM

The second time I have had an article published in the news.

Great release as always guys.

Aug 27, 2014 01:30 PM

great news. sorry i was being lq :))))))

Captain Steve Rogers · (This post was last modified: Aug 27, 2014 01:33 PM by Captain Steve Rogers.)

Thanks for the update Sir, very helpful!

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