A series of security breaches and operational changes have dominated recent headlines, impacting cryptocurrency users, tech companies, and global communities. From malicious software targeting digital wallets to workforce reductions and devastating attacks, the news cycle has been filled with significant developments.
In the cryptocurrency world, malicious packages published on the npm and PyPI repositories compromised the dYdX cryptocurrency exchange, leading to the theft of user wallet credentials. According to security researchers from Socket, the compromised packages backdoored devices and put all applications using the affected npm versions at risk. The attack, which included packages like dydxprotocolv4-client-js (versions 3.4.1 and 1.22.1), resulted in complete wallet compromise and irreversible cryptocurrency theft.
Meanwhile, the newsletter platform Substack confirmed a data breach that affected users' email addresses and phone numbers. In an email to users, Substack chief executive Chris Best stated that an unauthorized third party accessed user data in October. While more sensitive data like credit card numbers and passwords were unaffected, the breach exposed user contact information. Best said the company identified the issue in February and has since fixed the problem and launched an investigation.
In the tech industry, Jack Dorsey's Block Inc. announced plans to cut up to 10% of its workforce as part of a broader business overhaul. According to sources familiar with the matter, the payments firm has been notifying hundreds of employees that their jobs may be eliminated during annual performance reviews. The company, which had fewer than 11,000 employees as of late-November, is retooling its business model and staffing since 2024 to operate more efficiently.
On a more somber note, a suicide bombing at a mosque in Islamabad, Pakistan, resulted in the deaths of 31 people and injured over 170 others. NPR reported that the attack, the deadliest in Islamabad in over a decade, occurred on February 7, 2026.
Finally, a study published in Nature News revealed that oil- and gas-producing regions in the continental United States are emitting up to five times more methane than companies are reporting to government regulators.
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