380 Gigabytes of Sensitive Data Stolen

THE PROFITS💸

• 380 Gigabytes of Sensitive Data Stolen

• There is an Accounting Shortage

• A Billionaire’s Advice

Read Time: 6 mins

THE BIG PROFITS💸

380 Gigabytes of Sensitive Data Stolen
Classified documents, gang records, and details on active cases and surveillance…

There is an Accounting Shortage
The shortage of accountants is already impacting businesses of all sizes…

A Billionaire’s Advice
"You only have to get rich once."

U.S. Marshals Service

380 Gigabytes of Sensitive Data Stolen

A hacking group claims to have stolen over 380 gigabytes of sensitive data from the U.S. Marshals Service, including classified documents, gang records, and details on active cases and surveillance.

Hunters International, the group responsible, posted images of the stolen data on their leak site, setting a ransom deadline of August 30.

If verified, this would be the second major breach of the Marshals’ systems within two years, following a serious ransomware attack in February 2023.

According to cybersecurity experts, Hunters International is primarily focused on profiting from the stolen data, rather than pursuing any political goals.

U.S. Jobs

There is an Accounting Shortage

This issue is significant because the shortage of accountants is already impacting businesses of all sizes.

In 2023, over 720 companies cited a lack of accounting staff as a factor contributing to potential financial errors, a 30% increase from 2019.

Startups and early-stage companies, which often rely on accountants rather than CFO

s, are particularly struggling to find financial guidance, according to Inc.

The Solution?

While raising salaries is one obvious solution, experts also recommend making accounting education more engaging and reducing credit-hour requirements.

Additionally, AI is being explored to streamline routine tasks in the field, with startups like JustPaid using AI to automate invoicing and bill payments, addressing the gap created by the accountant shortage.

Billionaires

A Billionaire’s Advice

For those aiming to enhance their financial standing, having a seasoned investing guru to follow can make all the difference.

For millions, Charlie Munger and Warren Buffett have served as such guides. Though Munger passed away last November, his wisdom endures, offering valuable insights for investors.

In one of his final interviews, Munger emphasized, "You only have to get rich once," underscoring the importance of sound, long-term investment strategies, whether in the stock market or alternative assets like real estate, fine art, or gold.

With the right approach, investors can secure their financial future and navigate market uncertainties with confidence.

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Sports, Entertainment & Culture

The NFL Officially Starts: The NFL Preseason is coming to a close but that means the 2024 NFL season kicks off on Thursday, September 5, with the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs hosting an AFC title rematch against the Baltimore Ravens at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC.

CoD Black Ops: The Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Open Beta is just around the corner, with Early Access available from August 30 to September 4 for pre-order customers and Game Pass subscribers, while the Open Beta for everyone else runs from September 6 to 9. Console players won’t need to worry about specs, but PC users should ensure their systems meet the hefty minimum and recommended requirements, including a 149 GB download size, to enjoy smooth gameplay during the beta.

McDonalds All Day Breakfast: Nearly 50 years ago, McDonald's transformed breakfast with the launch of the Egg McMuffin, eventually offering all-day breakfast in 2015 due to popular demand. However, in 2020, they discontinued it to streamline kitchen operations, though some franchises still serve breakfast items all day, you just have to make sure you live near one that does.

Science and Technology

The 2nd Most Expensive Gem Ever Found: We have an incredible news story for you: the world’s second-largest diamond, a colossal 2,492-carat gem, has been unearthed in Botswana’s Karowe mine by Lucara Diamond. This massive rough stone, found using the company's Mega Diamond Recovery X-ray Transmission technology, marks yet another major discovery for Lucara, which has a history of unearthing some of the world's largest diamonds. Despite its impressive size, this new find still falls short of the record-holding Cullinan Diamond, a 3,106-carat gem discovered in South Africa in 1905. While diamonds like these are rare and difficult to find, they also offer scientists valuable insights into Earth's history, as demonstrated by recent studies on ancient "superdeep" diamonds.

Atari is Back!: Atari and Plaion have unveiled the Atari 7800+, a revamped version of the classic 1986 console that offers modern features and backward compatibility with both Atari 2600 and 7800 game cartridges. This new console, set for release in winter 2024, includes HDMI support for contemporary TVs and comes with Bentley Bear’s Crystal Quest, alongside two new wireless controllers—the CX78+ Gamepad and CX40 Plus Joystick—designed for enhanced retro gaming experiences.

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Business & Markets

Archer Aviation Funding: Archer Aviation secured a $220 million investment, bringing its total funding to over $1.5 billion, with backing from major partners like United Airlines and Stellantis. This funding is expected to unlock up to an additional $400 million in capital, fueling Archer's ambitious plans, including a Los Angeles air taxi network by 2026 and global expansion into markets like Southeast Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. Recently, Archer announced the sale of 116 Midnight electric flying vehicles to Future Flight Global, a deal worth up to $580 million, contributing to the company's estimated $6 billion in future sales. With FAA certification on the horizon and strategic partnerships worldwide, Archer is poised to revolutionize urban air mobility.

PDD Stock Tumbles: PDD Holdings' American depositary receipts (ADRs) are tumbling in premarket trading after the company, which owns the discount marketplace Temu, reported second-quarter sales of 97.06 billion yuan ($13.63 billion), falling short of analysts' forecasts. Chairman Lei Chen acknowledged solid progress but warned of future challenges, while Vice President Jun Liu highlighted potential pressures on revenue and profitability due to increased competition and ongoing investments.

Stock Market Woes: On Monday, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite both declined, driven by a drop in chip stocks ahead of Nvidia's highly anticipated earnings report later this week, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average edged up to a record closing high. Despite Monday's losses, the S&P 500 remains just shy of its all-time peak, buoyed by reduced recession fears and growing expectations of a Federal Reserve rate cut, with major economic and earnings events slated for the coming days.

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