[NotYourFriend]

Yesterday, a federal district court in the Southern District of Florida accepted the guilty pleas of two men to conspiring to obstruct, delay or affect commerce through extortion in connection with ransomware attacks occurring in 2023.

“These defendants used their sophisticated cybersecurity training and experience to commit ransomware attacks — the very type of crime that they should have been working to stop,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Extortion via the internet victimizes innocent citizens every bit as much as taking money directly out of their pockets. The Department of Justice is committed to using all tools available to identify and arrest perpetrators of ransomware attacks wherever we have jurisdiction.”

“Ransomware is not just a foreign threat — it can come from inside our own borders,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “Goldberg and Martin used trusted access and technical skill to extort American victims and profit from digital coercion. Their guilty pleas make clear that cybercriminals operating from within the United States will be found, prosecuted, and held to account.”

Malware like ALPHV (BlackCat) ransomware is used by bad actors to steal, extort, and launder proceeds from victim businesses and organizations,” said Special Agent in Charge Brett Skiles of the FBI Miami Field Office. “The FBI remains committed to working alongside its law enforcement partners to disrupt and dismantle criminal enterprises involved in ransomware attacks and to hold accountable not only the perpetrators but also anyone who knowingly enables or profits from them. We will continue to leverage our intelligence, law enforcement tools, global presence, and partnerships to counter cybercriminals who seek to harm the American public through these insidious attacks. We strongly encourage businesses to exercise due diligence when engaging third parties for ransomware incident response, report suspicious or unethical behavior, and to expeditiously report any ransomware attack to the FBI and our law enforcement partners to safeguard their security and privacy.”

Continue reading below:
https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/two-ameri...ransomware

[Hackers]

I found 1 prior reference to this tech on HF, over here:
https://hackforums.net/showthread.php?tid=6244361

[The Pact]

I found 1 prior reference to this tech on HF, over here:
https://hackforums.net/showthread.php?tid=6244361

That post was definitely just written by AI to quote it "Just remember, use your powers for good and keep the cybersecurity world safe from these digital villains! 💪💻✨"

🤣🙄

[Hackers]

That post was definitely just written by AI to quote it "Just remember, use your powers for good and keep the cybersecurity world safe from these digital villains! 💪💻✨"

🤣🙄

probably yeah, haha, but was still the only mention I could find from around the time this was ongoing

I was thinking maybe they were part of it too, advertising :)

[The Pact]

probably yeah, haha, but was still the only mention I could find from around the time this was ongoing

I was thinking maybe they were part of it too, advertising :)

What is this trend of not capitalising the first sentence of the first paragraph? I don't like it. Use capitalisation appropriately is in the Help Docs.

It could be sneaky advertising, yes.

[Hackers]

What is this trend of not capitalising the first sentence of the first paragraph? I don't like it。Use capitalisation appropriately is in the [url=//hackforums.net/misc.php?action=help]Help Docs[/url]。

It could be sneaky advertising, yes.

Sorry, my apologies。You spelt capitalizing wrong twice。You also didn't use proper punctuation when you said were quoting the rules。You should have used quotes because the sentence is grammatically incorrect without them.

I gave your posts a quick scan and you frequently do not use proper sentence structures, periods, or general punctuation。This is stated in the Help Docs under Rule #2 of Posting Etiquette:

Use proper grammar and punctuation.
Posts should be readable。Use capitalization and punctuation where appropriate.

However, I will allow for "where appropriate" as yet to be determined, unless it has。Where is appropriate and what is inappropriate?

is it appropriate to start this sentence without it being capitalized, if the context is to demonstrate what a sentence looks like without a capitalized starting letter, for the sake of this discussion?
Or is it inappropriate?
Starting that sentence with 'Or' is not a violation, but many might consider the use of a conjunction to start the sentence as inappropriate。

In all seriousness, I will try better for you.



Please do work on your overall paragraph and sentence structure though, and use of quotation marks or other required punctuation and rules.

[The Pact]

Sorry, my apologies。You spelt capitalizing wrong twice。

Are you really unaware that the vast majority of the rest of the world outside the USA spell it that way?

It is spelt capitalising in the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland) The Republic of Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, Jamaica, Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago, Bahamas, Belize, South Africa, Kenya and many more countries besides.

Are you really not aware that British spelling exists? It doesn't mean I live in England either see above.

I was not quoting directly from the Help Documents so quotation marks were not needed there at all.

In addition, American English differs from British/ South African/Irish/NZ/Australian English etc. in far more than just spelling.

Spelling is the most visible layer, but underneath it are punctuation rules, grammar preferences, style conventions.

As for the rest of the insinuations, it's very easy to throw out nonsense like that.

I have two learning disabilities and a masters degree with honours in English, so yes I make typos.

However, all I am trying to enforce on Hack Forums is the proper use of capital letters because this is such a basic rule of written language, and apparently it is now trendy to drop all use of capitalisation on the internet and in texting.

That is just such a horrible path to the degradation of written language that I don't think should be encouraged. That is ALL I've been advocating for re-grammar on H.F. That one basic rule.

I'm not trying to enforce correct comma usage, or correct US or British spelling etc... despite the insinuations by those who think it's "appalling" to expect the most basic rule of written language to be followed on the forum.

I am a traditionally published fiction author in addition to having self published a non fiction book that continues to make sales every month for over six years and has maintained a four and a half star rating on Amazon over a six year period. So I'm not too worried about my overall paragraphing and sentence structure. I teach at an online school.

All the snark and trying to pick me apart for just wanting that one most basic rule to be followed is promoting the degradation of written language. If you can't see how terrible it actually is for the whole internet to become a sea of small letters I don't know what to tell you.

[Hackers]

Are you really unaware that the vast majority of the rest of the world outside the USA spell it that way?

It is spelt capitalising in the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland) The Republic of Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, Jamaica, Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago, Bahamas, Belize, South Africa, Kenya and many more countries besides.

Are you really not aware that British spelling exists? It doesn't mean I live in England either see above.

I was not quoting directly from the Help Documents so quotation marks were not needed there at all.

In addition, American English differs from British/ South African/Irish/NZ/Australian English etc. in far more than just spelling.

Spelling is the most visible layer, but underneath it are punctuation rules, grammar preferences, style conventions.

As for the rest of the insinuations, it's very easy to throw out nonsense like that.

I have two learning disabilities and a masters degree with honours in English, so yes I make typos.

However, all I am trying to enforce on Hack Forums is the proper use of capital letters because this is such a basic rule of written language, and apparently it is now trendy to drop all use of capitalisation on the internet and in texting.

That is just such a horrible path to the degradation of written language that I don't think should be encouraged. That is ALL I've been advocating for re-grammar on H.F. That one basic rule.

I'm not trying to enforce correct comma usage, or correct US or British spelling etc... despite the insinuations by those who think it's "appalling" to expect the most basic rule of written language to be followed on the forum.

I am a traditionally published fiction author in addition to having self published a non fiction book that continues to make sales every month for over six years and has maintained a four and a half star rating on Amazon over a six year period. So I'm not too worried about my overall paragraphing and sentence structure. I teach at an online school.

All the snark and trying to pick me apart for just wanting that one most basic rule to be followed is promoting the degradation of written language. If you can't see how terrible it actually is for the whole internet to become a sea of small letters I don't know what to tell you.

i understand, my apologies. You have several grammatical mistakes in your reply here. i understand what you're saying but capitalization is weighted equally with grammar and punctuation, so it hits a little different when you are telling me about capitalization while also violating the rule yourself - and again here too.

thank you though, i will try harder in the future. please feel free to warn me if you feel this merits a stronger response .

---

I was not quoting directly from the Help Documents so quotation marks were not needed there at all.

Okay, so then if you aren't missing punctuation, then you are just writing bad sentences. Your sentence doesn't make sense without quotations, it's not proper English, so please refrain from trying to educate me on this when you are consistently writing combinations of words that would be marked by a professor.

Use capitalisation appropriately is in the [url=//hackforums.net/misc.php?action=help]Help Docs[/url]。

That's not a proper sentence without quotes. You are treating 'use capitalization appropriately' as the subject, or focus of what is inside the docs, but without quotations, it's no longer an "object" being referred to. Yes, speaking it aloud can be correct, but you have written this without punctuation or proper grammar.

If you want to be anal about capitalization, please try harder to improve your posting quality too.

thank You for yer attention to this Matter

[The Pact]

i understand, my apologies. You have several grammatical mistakes in your reply here. i understand what you're saying but capitalization is weighted equally with grammar and punctuation, so it hits a little different when you are telling me about capitalization while also violating the rule yourself - and again here too.

thank you though, i will try harder in the future. please feel free to warn me if you feel this merits a stronger response .

---

Okay, so then if you aren't missing punctuation, then you are just writing bad sentences. Your sentence doesn't make sense without quotations, it's not proper English, so please refrain from trying to educate me on this when you are consistently writing combinations of words that would be marked by a professor.


That's not a proper sentence without quotes. You are treating 'use capitalization appropriately' as the subject, or focus of what is inside the docs, but without quotations, it's no longer an "object" being referred to. Yes, speaking it aloud can be correct, but you have written this without punctuation or proper grammar.

If you want to be anal about capitalization, please try harder to improve your posting quality too.

thank You for yer attention to this Matter

You have no clue about any country in the world other than the USA. You didn't even know British spelling existed. That is supreme ignorance.

I told you I have a master's degree with honours despite having two learning disabilities and I may make typos, that is absolutely not the same as leaving capital letters off the beginning of sentences routinely. Though what you kept picking on wasn't even a typo and had nothing wrong with it.

I'm sure you believe more in AI than academic degrees and traditionally published authors, so here is what Copilot said.

AI Quote:
Ah, got it — you’re asking whether the phrase “Use capitalisation appropriately” is fine when it’s not a direct quote*, right?

Here’s the clean answer.

## ✅ Short version
Yes — there’s nothing wrong with it grammatically or stylistically.
It reads as a perfectly normal instructional phrase.

## 💡 Why it works
- It’s a standard imperative construction (“Use X appropriately”).
- It doesn’t need quotation marks unless you’re directly *quoting the Help Documents.

🙄

Copilot used British spelling here since it knows what country I'm in. The system of education where I am, as it pertains to the way English language is studied, has many differences from the USA. I'm not giving anyone warnings for those kind of differences. It is only for dropping the use of capital letters at the beginning of sentences.

If you can't see that dumping capital letter usage entirely on the internet and in texting is an absolute disaster for the next generation of children and isn't about being "anal" then you certainly don't have the sophistication you want people to believe you have.

In addition, lately you've been calling famous women whores and sluts, have been calling members paedophiles and acting all crazy. I'm not engaging with you anymore.

please refrain from trying to educate me on this when you are consistently writing combinations of words that would be marked by a professor

This is such a stupid thing to say. Anything would be "marked by a professor" if it was submitted to be marked by a professor.

[Hackers]

You have no clue about any country in the world other than the USA. You didn't even know British spelling existed. That is supreme ignorance.

I told you I have a master's degree with honours despite having two learning disabilities and I may make typos, that is absolutely not the same as leaving capital letters off the beginning of sentences routinely. Though what you kept picking on wasn't even a typo and had nothing wrong with it.

I'm sure you believe more in AI than academic degrees and traditionally published authors, so here is what Copilot said.

AI Quote:
Ah, got it — you’re asking whether the phrase “Use capitalisation appropriately” is fine when it’s not a direct quote*, right?

Here’s the clean answer.

## ✅ Short version
Yes — there’s nothing wrong with it grammatically or stylistically.
It reads as a perfectly normal instructional phrase.

## 💡 Why it works
- It’s a standard imperative construction (“Use X appropriately”).
- It doesn’t need quotation marks unless you’re directly *quoting the Help Documents.

🙄

Copilot used British spelling here since it knows what country I'm in. The system of education where I am, as it pertains to the way English language is studied, has many differences from the USA. I'm not giving anyone warnings for those kind of differences. It is only for dropping the use of capital letters at the beginning of sentences.

If you can't see that dumping capital letter usage entirely on the internet and in texting is an absolute disaster for the next generation of children and isn't about being "anal" then you certainly don't have the sophistication you want people to believe you have.

In addition, lately you've been calling famous women whores and sluts, have been calling members paedophiles and acting all crazy. I'm not engaging with you anymore.

This is such a stupid thing to say. Anything would be "marked by a professor" if it was submitted to be marked by a professor.

Okay, I don't think I've called any whore, cunt, slut, or pedo the wrong name.
some people are just that way and perhaps more people should hold them accountable. The world is more just that way.

We cant all be blind to those who are what i may have labeled them as. I don't think ive ever called anyone a pedophile without them demonstrating an affinity for it, or it's in the context of "pedo at worst, supporter at best" which is fair

no worries. marked, meaning it would be marked up for incorrect use of grammar - not marked like the word 'graded'.

I get it though, I used to live in UK. We received marks, but here we receive grades. Potato potato tomato tomato

cheers to you and your resolve

ill use capitalized letters just for you, but no, I don't think it matters whatsoever. I was a freelance writer trained in Princeton and Harvard formatting & rules, I know how to write if I choose to.

just not sure if it's strictly necessary for casual conversations considering the lack of brainpower on display by many people online, even when there is punctuation and capital letters to make it look nice.

[NotYourFriend]

I see you'll entertained