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Long lines have formed at ATMs around Ireland tonight as a cash machine glitch is allowing customers to withdraw more cash than they have in their accounts. Independent.ie reports: The fault with the online app allows people who have no money in their account to transfer up to 500 euros into a Revolut account. Some people claimed they were able to get access to 1,000 eros, but the bank insisted the daily withdrawal limit is 500 euros. Once people use their Bank of Ireland app to transfer the funds to Revolut they can then withdraw the cash from the Revoult account through any ATM.

Huge queues at ATMs in Dublin, Limerick, Dundalk and other parts of the country were reported this evening as people took advantage of the screw-up to withdraw cash from their Revolut accounts. There were reports in Dundalk of gardai (the state police force of the Irish Republic) having to control crowds at ATMs in the town. The frenzied withdrawal of cash was despite warnings on social media that there is no such thing as free cash and the money will have to be repaid. The bank said in a statement: "We are working on a technical issue that is impacting a number of our services including our mobile app and 365Online. We are working to fix this as quickly as possible and apologize to customers for any inconvenience caused."

"We would like to remind customers that if they transfer or withdraw funds -- including over their normal limits -- this money will be debited from their account," the bank added. "While we are conscious customers may not be able to check their balance at this time, they should not withdraw or transfer funds if they are likely to become overdrawn."

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Bank of Ireland IT Blunder Allows Customers To Withdraw More ... - Slashdot

Researchers seem to have solved the puzzle of LK-99. Scientific detective work has unearthed evidence that the material is not a superconductor, and clarified its actual properties. Nature: The conclusion dashes hopes that LK-99 -- a compound of copper, lead, phosphorus and oxygen -- marked the discovery of the first superconductor that works at room temperature and ambient pressure. Instead, studies have shown that impurities in the material -- in particular, copper sulfide -- were responsible for the sharp drops in electrical resistivity and partial levitation over a magnet, which looked similar to properties exhibited by superconductors. "I think things are pretty decisively settled at this point," says Inna Vishik, a condensed-matter experimentalist at the University of California, Davis.

The LK-99 saga began in late July, when a team led by Sukbae Lee and Ji-Hoon Kim at the Quantum Energy Research Centre, a start-up firm in Seoul, published preprints claiming that LK-99 is a superconductor at normal pressure and temperatures up to at least 127C (400 kelvin). All previously confirmed superconductors function only at extreme temperatures and pressures. The extraordinary claim quickly grabbed the attention of the science-interested public and researchers, some of whom tried to replicate LK-99. Initial attempts did not see signs of room-temperature superconductivity, but were not conclusive. Now, after dozens of replication efforts, many experts are confidently saying that the evidence shows LK-99 is not a room-temperature superconductor. The South Korean team based its claim on two of LK-99's properties: levitation above a magnet and abrupt drops in resistivity. But separate teams in Beijing, at Peking University and the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), found mundane explanations for these phenomena.

Another study, by US and European researchers, combined experimental and theoretical evidence to demonstrate how LK-99's structure made superconductivity infeasible. And other experimenters synthesized and studied pure samples of LK-99, erasing doubts about the material's structure and confirming that it is not a superconductor, but an insulator. The only further confirmation would come from the Korean team sharing their samples, says Michael Fuhrer, a physicist at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia. "The burden's on them to convince everybody else," he says. Perhaps the most striking evidence for LK-99's superconductivity was a video taken by the Korean team that showed a coin-shaped sample of silvery material wobbling over a magnet. The team said the sample was levitating because of the Meissner effect -- a hallmark of superconductivity in which a material expels magnetic fields. Multiple unverified videos of LK-99 levitating subsequently circulated on social media, but none of the researchers who initially tried to replicate the findings observed any levitation.

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LK-99 Isn't a Superconductor - How Science Sleuths Solved the ... - Slashdot

(Washington, DC) Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), and representatives from Hyundai Motor Company announced an anti-theft mobile clinic designed to increase vehicle security. The multi-day clinic will provide District motorists who own or lease certain Hyundai makes and models with the latest anti-theft technology. This technology, which will be installed by Hyundai technicians, will come at no cost to residents and will be available starting Thursday, July 27 through Monday, July 31 from 8:00 a.m. 7:00 p.m. The installations will be performed by on-site service technicians who will install and complete the software upgrade, which is expected to take less than an hour. The installations will take place at RFK Parking Lot 8, located at 2400 Independence Avenue SE, with no appointment necessary. We are encouraging all eligible DC residents to take advantage of this free software upgrade, said Mayor Bowser. We know that having your car stolen can be a frustrating, stressful, and costly experience. Earlier this year, we started distributing free wheel locks at our MPD district stations, and installing this anti-theft software is one more way for residents to protect their vehicles.

During the event, Hyundai also provided two simulated demos of the anti-theft technology. The anti-theft vehicle software upgrade is available for approximately 3.8 million vehicles. The upgrade will modify certain vehicle control modules on Hyundai vehicles equipped with standard turn-key-to-start ignition systems. As a result, locking the doors with the key fob will set the factory alarm and activate an ignition kill feature so the vehicle cannot be started when individuals try to steal the vehicle by using the popularized theft mode. Once the anti-theft software is updated in the affected vehicle, to further deter would-be thieves, Hyundai will also install anti-theft decals to the front windows of the vehicle. Engine immobilizers are now standard on all Hyundai vehicles produced as of November 2021. The updates became available for various models at the beginning of February 2023.

Residents with a Hyundai car that fits one of the makes and models below will be eligible to receive the free anti-theft technology installation:

The launch of our first mobile service center is an important next step in the series of comprehensive actions Hyundai has taken to assist customers and communities affected by vehicle thefts, said Randy Parker, CEO of Hyundai Motor America. Our dealers across the country are currently maximizing the number of anti-theft software installations that can be performed on a daily basis, and this mobile clinic will help further accelerate completion rates. Our goal is to get the software upgrade installed on every one of the affected vehicles.

In February, Mayor Bowser and MPD also rolled out a program to distribute free steering wheel locks to residents who own a 2011-2021 Kia or Hyundai to prevent vehicle thefts. The steering wheel locks are still being given to qualified residents on a first-come, first-served basis. Residents can check to see if their local District station has any wheel locks remaining by going to mpdc.dc.gov/autotheft.

It is unacceptable that criminals are targeting District residents and stealing their vehicles. In some cases, these vehicles are later used to commit acts of violent crime in our city, said Acting Chief of Police at the Metropolitan Police Department Pamela A. Smith. The Metropolitan Police Department will continue to take all crimes that are committed in our neighborhoods seriously. We are committed to public safety. We will continue to remove violent offenders and hold them accountable for their actions.

MPD also encourages residents and visitors to practice the following safety tips to prevent vehicle theft:

To learn more about the Hyundai Anti-Theft Technology, visit hyundaiantitheft.com.

Social Media: Mayor Bowser Twitter:@MayorBowser Mayor Bowser Instagram:@Mayor_Bowser Mayor Bowser Facebook:facebook.com/MayorMurielBowser Mayor Bowser YouTube:https://www.bit.ly/eomvideos

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Mayor Bowser Announces Hyundai Anti-Theft Mobile Clinic | mayormb - Executive Office of the Mayor

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) have responded to a May 2023 data breach in Progress Softwares MOVEit Transfer software on the corporate network of Maximus Federal Services, Inc. (Maximus), a contractor to the Medicare program, that involved Medicare beneficiaries personally identifiable information (PII) and/or protected health information (PHI). No HHS or CMS systems were impacted. Maximus is among the many organizations in the United States that have been impacted by the MOVEit vulnerability. This week, CMS and Maximus are sending letters to individuals who may have been impacted notifying them of the breach, and explaining actions being taken in response. CMS estimates the MOVEit breach impacted approximately 612,000 current Medicare beneficiaries.

CMS and Maximus are notifying Medicare beneficiaries whose PII and/or PHI may have been exposed that they are being offered free-of-charge credit monitoring services for 24 months. This notification also contains information about how impacted individuals can obtain a free credit report, and, for those beneficiaries whose Medicare Beneficiary Identifier number may have been impacted, information on receiving a new Medicare card with a new number.

Below please find a sample of the letter being sent to those who are potentially affected:

Dear <>

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the federal agency that manages the Medicare program, and Maximus Federal Services, Inc. (Maximus), are writing to inform you of an incident involving your personal information related to services provided by Maximus. Maximus is a CMS contractor that provides appeals services in support of the Medicare program.

The incident involved a security vulnerability in the MOVEit software, a third-party application which allows for the transfer of files during the Medicare appeals process. Maximus is among the many organizations in the United States that have been impacted by the MOVEit vulnerability.

We are sending you this letter so that you can understand more about this incident, how we are addressing it, and additional steps you can take to further protect your privacy. We are providing information with this notice on free credit monitoring services and, if your Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI) was impacted, will be giving you a new Medicare card with a new Medicare Number. This does not impact your current Medicare benefits or coverage.

What Happened?

Our understanding is as follows: On May 30, 2023, Maximus detected unusual activity in its MOVEit application. Maximus began to investigate and stopped all use of the MOVEit application early on May 31, 2023. Later that same day, the third-party application provider, Progress Software Corporation, announced that a vulnerability in its MOVEit software had allowed an unauthorized party to gain access to files across many organizations in both the government and private sectors.

Maximus notified CMS of the incident on June 2, 2023. To date, the ongoing investigation indicates that on approximately May 27 through 31, 2023, the unauthorized party obtained copies of files that were saved in the Maximus MOVEit application, but that no CMS system has been compromised. After notifying CMS, Maximus then began to analyze the files to determine which data had been affected. As part of that analysis, it was determined that those files contained some of your personal information.

What Information Was Involved?

We have determined that your personal and Medicare information was involved in this incident. This information may have included the following:

What Are We Doing?

When the incident was discovered, Maximus began an investigation, took the MOVEit application offline, applied MOVEit software patches, and notified law enforcement. CMS is continuing to investigate this incident in coordination with Maximus and will take all appropriate actions to safeguard the information entrusted to CMS.

What Can You Do?

Maximus is offering a complimentary 24 months of credit monitoring and other services from Experian at no cost to you. You do not need to use your credit card or any other form of payment to enroll in the service.

Please see Attachment #1 for information on how to utilize your free Experian Services.

Under federal law, you are entitled to one free credit report every 12 months from each of the three major nationwide credit reporting companies listed above. Call 1-877-322-8228 or request your free credit reports online at http://www.annualcreditreport.com. When you receive your credit reports, review them for problems. Identify any accounts you didnt open or inquiries from creditors that you did not authorize. Verify all information is correct. If you have questions or notice incorrect information, contact the credit reporting company.

Even if you dont find any suspicious activity on your initial credit reports, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recommends that you still check your credit reports periodically. Checking your credit report periodically can help you spot problems and address them quickly.

If you find suspicious activity on your credit reports or have reason to believe your information is being misused, call your local law enforcement agency and file a police report. Be sure to obtain a copy of the police report, as many creditors will want the information it contains to absolve you of the fraudulent debts. You may also file a complaint with the FTC by contacting them on the web at http://www.ftc.gov/idtheft, by phone at 1-877-IDTHEFT (1-877-438-4338), or by mail at Federal Trade Commission, Consumer Response Center, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20580. Your complaint will be added to the FTCs Identity Theft Data Clearinghouse, where it will be accessible to law enforcement for their investigations. In addition, you may obtain information from the FTC about fraud alerts and security freezes.

Please see Attachment #2 for additional steps you can take to protect your information.

At this time, we are not aware of any reports of identity fraud or improper use of your information as a direct result of this incident. However, if your MBI was impacted, a new Medicare card with a new number will be issued to you. CMS will mail the new card to your address in the coming weeks. In the meantime, you can continue to use your existing Medicare card. After you get your new card, you should:

For More Information

We take the privacy and security of your Medicare information very seriously. CMS and Maximus apologize for the inconvenience this privacy incident might have caused you.

If you have any further questions regarding this incident, please call the Experian dedicated and confidential toll-free response line at xxx-xxx-xxxx. This response line is staffed with professionals familiar with this incident who know what you can do to protect against misuse of your information. The response line is available Monday through Friday from 8 am 10 pm Central, or Saturday and Sunday from 10 am 7 pm Central (excluding major U.S. holidays).

You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) with any general questions or concerns about Medicare.

###

Get CMS news at cms.gov/newsroom, sign up for CMS news via emailand follow CMS on Twitter @CMSgov

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Responding to Data Breach at Contractor | CMS - CMS

By Neal Reid.

Five alumni of Auburn University who teamed together to create the software development company SmartWiz have been awarded $150,000 in developmental funds by Google to advance and distribute their tax accounting software.

Samuel Ginn College of Engineering graduates Olumuyiwa Aladebumoye, Tevin Harrel and Jordan Ward, as well as Bre Johnson from the Raymond J. Harbert College of Business and Justin Robinson from the College of Sciences and Mathematics, founded the Birmingham, Alabama-based company in 2018 and have grown it into a trusted service-based tax business. The company is a tax professional software and digital accounting firm that optimizes accounting, tax management, legal and consulting services.

SmartWiz has used artificial intelligence (AI) and modern integrations to create the first-ever all-in-one tax softwarefor tax professionals serving underserved communities. SmartWiz is one of 46 U.S. recipients of the 2023 Google for Startups Black Founders Fund and Latino Founders Fund awards. Its software was approved by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) last year, and the company also recently spent three months in Los Angeles as part of a TechStars cohort.

Our team is very big on strategic partnerships, said Johnson, a 2018 graduate who played on the Auburn womens basketball team. We are big on working with partners who understand our vision to change the world with the way taxes are done forever, and Google has offered such amazing resources and opportunitiesto us. This funding means tous theability to build our product faster, scale our organization and really take over the digital space with improved support on how we market our software using Google SEO.

The six-figure Google for Startups investment will allow SmartWiz to impact the way millions of Americans file their taxes. The funds are equity-free, and SmartWiz also will receive sales and fundraising training, technical support from Google mentors, up to $100,000 in Google Cloud credits, mental health coaching from a team of Black and Latino therapists and participation in the funds interactive community.

As we build out our engineering team, we now have the ability to really focus on improving thetechnology and AI capabilitiesto bring tech to the tax industry, said Johnson, who was named to the 2017 SEC Academic Honor Roll. We will be giving our users a more innovative, fun and revolutionary approach to tax preparation while ensuring every single person who gets their taxes done by someone using our software will have an improvedexperience every singleyear. Being Black founders, and even me being a woman, we dont take this opportunity for granted because we know it is a blessing from God to be chosen by Google for Startups to be a part of this journey.

Since 2020, the Google for Startups Founders Fund has provided more than $45 million in funding to more than 500 Black and Latino founders, and past recipients have raised more than $400 million in investments after their selections in the fund.

SmartWizs founding quintet graduated from Auburn between 2014-18 and created the company shortly after their days on the Plains.

We are five founders from Auburn University, and we graduated from three different colleges, Johnson said. That just speaks to the education and opportunity at our university on all levels to develop and grow into a business owner and have the skills in any industry to be successful.

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Five Auburn Alumni Receive Award for Work to Advance Tax Prep ... - CPAPracticeAdvisor.com