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Browser Extensions Turn 1M Browsers Into Website-Scraping Bots: Researcher (Maria)

The author writes, “Extensions installed on almost 1 million devices have been overriding key security protections to turn browsers into engines that scrape websites on behalf of a paid service, a researcher said. The 245 extensions, available for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge, have racked up nearly 909,000 downloads, John Tuckner of SecurityAnnex reported. … The common thread among all of them: They incorporate MellowTel-js, an open source JavaScript library that allows developers to monetize their extensions.”

Trump Avoids Talk of Scrapping FEMA After More Than 100 Killed in Texas Flash Flood (Reader Steve)

From the AP: “President Donald Trump has avoided talking about his plan to scrap the federal disaster response agency after the catastrophic flash flood in Texas that killed more than 100 people, including children attending a girls-only camp. Asked shortly after the disaster whether he still intended to phase out the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Trump said it wasn’t the right time to talk about it. Nor did he mention such plans during a nearly two-hour meeting with his Cabinet on Tuesday. The Republican president instead opened the meeting by having Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem talk about her visit to Kerrville, Texas, on Saturday, a day after floodwaters swept away riverside campers and homeowners in the wee hours of the Fourth of July holiday.”

Trump Says He Told Putin and Xi He’d Bomb Their Capitals (Sean)

The authors write, “President Donald Trump told private donors during last year’s presidential race that he threatened to bomb the capitals of Russia and China in separate conversations with Presidents Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping. The newly released audio recordings, obtained by CNN, reveal Trump describing the tense exchanges at closed-door fundraisers in 2024.”

‘Alligator Alcatraz’ Detainees Describe Conditions at Everglades Facility (Dana)

The author writes, “Florida still has not released the number of people being detained at what they call ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ — but for the first time, we’re hearing from several men who are being held inside the facility. Leamsy Izquierdo, also known as Leamsy La Figura, a self-described Cuban urban artist, was arrested for a violent incident and has been at the detention center out in the Everglades since Friday. ‘There is no water here to bathe,’ he told Telemundo 51, adding it’s been four days since he showered. He believes there are about 400 people inside the facility. ‘They give you food only once a day, food that even has worms in it.’”

There Might Not Be a Map for That: Budget Cuts Threaten Geological Surveys (Laura)

From The New York Times: “One line in the Trump administration’s proposed budget could hamstring the ability of states to create basic geologic maps for years to come. Geologists in every state use federal funds to study wildfires, water resources, hazards, and to map the locations of mineral deposits and energy sources. In addition to mining and fossil fuel industries, the free and publicly available maps are used by geothermal energy and real estate companies.”

Vitamin C Flips Your Skin’s ‘Youth Genes,’ Reversing Age-Related Thinning (Mili)

The author writes, “Japanese researchers have found that vitamin C can thicken skin by switching on genes that boost skin cell growth, helping reverse age-related thinning. It works by reactivating DNA through a process that lets cells regenerate more effectively — potentially a game-changer for aging skin.”