Hurricane Milton Survivors Gain Access To Broadband Discounts, But Challenges Remain - 1

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Hurricane Milton Survivors Gain Access To Broadband Discounts, But Challenges Remain

  • Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
  • Fact-Checked by Justyn Newman Former Lead Cybersecurity Editor

In a Rush? Here are the Quick Facts!

  • The FCC announced a six-month waiver for Hurricane Milton survivors.
  • Survivors can access discounts on fixed and mobile voice and broadband services.
  • Eligible individuals receive up to $9.25 off broadband and $5.25 off voice service.

In response to the devastation caused by Hurricane Milton, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has announced on Friday a six-month waiver aimed at providing significant discounts on fixed and mobile voice and broadband services to impacted residents.

This initiative allows survivors to access the Lifeline program , ensuring they can stay connected during their recovery process. The Lifeline program offers low-income households financial relief by providing monthly discounts on essential communication services.

Eligible individuals can receive up to $9.25 off their broadband internet access and up to $5.25 off their voice service, whether fixed or mobile. For residents on qualifying Tribal lands, the discounts are even more substantial, with savings of up to $34.25 per month.

Economic assistance is crucial for Hurricane Milton survivors, who need reliable communication to stay in touch with emergency services, coordinate relief efforts, and connect with loved ones.

To facilitate access, the FCC has waived certain Lifeline eligibility rules, allowing survivors receiving federal disaster assistance or participating in the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) to qualify for the program.

This streamlined approach broadens access to affordable communication services for those who need it most in the wake of the hurricane. The Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC), which manages the Lifeline program, has implemented a simplified application process for survivors impacted by Hurricane Milton.

Those receiving individual assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) can apply through this new eligibility category.

While these discounts can help alleviate some financial pressure, it is important to recognize that $9.25 is not a life-changing amount for many families grappling with the aftermath of a natural disaster. For those facing significant expenses related to housing, food, and healthcare, such a small discount may barely make a dent in their overall financial burdens.

Elon Musk is also offering free internet access to victims of Hurricanes Milton through his company, Starlink. While Musk claims that this service has been “accelerated” for disaster-affected areas, victims must still purchase a Starlink starter kit for nearly $400, as first reported by The Register .

This requirement raises questions about the overall utility of the assistance, as many survivors may struggle to afford even this initial cost.

Open Source Malware Soars By 156% - 2

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Open Source Malware Soars By 156%

  • Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
  • Fact-Checked by Justyn Newman Former Lead Cybersecurity Editor

In a Rush? Here are the Quick Facts!

  • Open source malware increased by 156% over the past year.
  • 80% of application dependencies remain un-upgraded for over a year.
  • Projects with paid support resolve vulnerabilities up to 45% faster than others.

Sonatype announced on Thursday its 10th Annual State of the Software Supply Chain Report , revealing a staggering 156% increase in open source malware in the past year, alongside a record 6.6 trillion downloads of open source software.

The findings underscore the growing risks associated with software supply chains, which are becoming increasingly vulnerable as open source consumption accelerates.

The report, grounded in data from over 7 million open source projects, highlights a remarkable 80% increase in Python package requests and a 70% rise in JavaScript downloads, indicating a significant surge in software consumption.

However, this surge is accompanied by a troubling proliferation of malicious packages, with 704,102 identified since 2019. Notably, several critical vulnerabilities took over 500 days to remediate in 2024, revealing the backlog facing maintainers.

Consumer complacency exacerbates this issue; despite 99% of packages having updated versions available, 80% of application dependencies remain un-upgraded for over a year. Alarmingly, when vulnerable components are identified, 95% of the time, a fixed version already exists.

To combat these growing threats, Sonatype advocates for increased investment in open source projects.

The report reveals that open source projects with paid support are nearly three times more likely to have comprehensive security policies in place. Moreover, components with paid support resolve outstanding vulnerabilities up to 45% faster and generally have half the vulnerabilities overall.

The report also points to emerging regulations, such as the Network and Information Systems Directive (NIS2) in the EU, which are promoting Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) adoption.

“Over the last decade, we’ve seen software supply chain attacks increase in sophistication and frequency, particularly with the rise of open source malware,” said Brian Fox, CTO and Co-Founder at Sonatype.

“In order to ensure a vibrant and secure open source ecosystem for the decade ahead, we must build a foundation of proactive security with vigilance against open source malware, decreased consumer complacency, and comprehensive dependency management,” he added.

These challenges in the software supply chain reflect a broader trend in the cybersecurity landscape. A new report highlights that 66% of cybersecurity professionals find their roles more stressful than five years ago, largely due to an increasingly complex threat landscape, low budgets, and insufficiently trained staff.