425 DX News #1738

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425 DX News #1738

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24 August 2024                                            A.R.I. DX Bulletin
                                   No 1738

                         ===========================
                         *** 4 2 5  D X  N E W S ***
                         ****  DX  INFORMATION  ****
                         ===========================
                          Edited by  I1JQJ & IK1ADH
                        Direttore Responsabile  I2VGW

9M6    - Celebrating the 61st  Sabah Day (31 August)  and  Malaysia Day  (16
         September), special callsign 9M61S will be active from 23 August to
         16 September.  QSL direct to  P.O. Box 20469,  88761 Luyang, Sabah,
         Malaysia.
9M6    - Team 9M1Z will be active from the  "Semporna Islands", Sabah,  East
         Malaysia during the first half of September.  They will be QRV from
         four islands:  Mabul (1-4 September),  Timba-Timba (5-7 September),
         Mataking (8-11 September) and Pom-Pom (12-15 September).  Look  for
         activity on 80-6 metres  SSB, CW, FT8/FT4 and RTTY.  QSL via  LoTW,
         Club Log's OQRS (see https://www.qrz.com/db/9M1Z  for the links  to
         the four logs,  which will be  uploaded separately), or  direct  to
         9W8ZZK or 9M8WIN.
CY9    - Helicopter operations for the CY9C DXpedition  (26 August-5 Septem-
         ber) will  begin at 12 UTC on  24 August:  "the first flight to  St
         Paul Island  will be with several team members on board.  The first
         priority will be sending the tents and other infrastructure gear to
         the island.  The airlift  of gear  will take  all day  on the 24th.
         Please be patient  as there is a lot of work that must be completed
         to build the camp. There is very little soil (ground) on the North-
         east Island as it is essentially a large rock. We may have to drill
         anchors  into the rock  to secure our tents and  antenna masts.  At
         this point, the weather looks favorable for the airlift of gear and
         team members". See https://www.facebook.com/groups/1455659374986029
         for updates.
         CY9C will run 6 stations on 160-10 metres, and one station for VHF/
         UHF/EME and satellite.  At any given time, a minimum of  3 stations
         will be using  the new  SuperFox FT8 mode.  Their planned operating
         frequencies:  https://t-rexsoftware.com/cy9c/frequencies.htm.   QSL
         via  Club Log's OQRS  (preferred for both direct and bureau cards),
         LoTW, or direct to WA4DAN.
E5_sc  - Tom, N2WLG will be active as E51WLG from  Rarotonga (OC-013), South
         Cook Islands on 1-8 September. He will operate CW and digital modes
         on 40-10 metres. QSL via LoTW, or via home call.
EA     - Special event callsigns EG1SDC-EG9SDC (1-7 September)  and  EH1SDC-
         EH9SDC (8-15 September)  will be activated  to commemorate  Day  of
         Asturias and  the principality's patron saint,  popularly known  as
         the Santina de Covadonga.  This is the  40th edition  of the  'SDC'
         special event.  Also active will be  EG40SDC  (1-15 September)  and
         ED3SDC (14-15 September).  QSL for all callsigns via EA1AUM (direct
         or bureau), LoTW and eQSL.  See https://santina.dxfun.com/ for more
         information, including online logs and downloadable certificates.
F      - Members of the  RadioPole Associatif REF-40 (F4KLM)  will be active
         as  TM40IPC from  28 August to 8 September  during  the  Paris 2024
         Paralympic Games.  QSL via F6DZU  and  LoTW.  Several other special
         callsigns  are expected  to be active  during the event,  including
         TM2024JPP, TM2024PG,  TM24JPO, TM24JPP, TM42JP,  TM51JP,  TM63PARA,
         TM67PR, TM77PO, TM78OGP.
F      - To commemorate the  80th anniversary  of the liberation of  Wingles
         during WWII (2 September 1944),  the local radio club (F4KLR)  will
         be active as  TM80LW  on 31 August, 2 September  and for another 13
         days  until  9 November.  All  SSB and CW QSOs  will  be  confirmed
         automatically  via the bureau and eQSL;  FT8 QSOs will be confirmed
         via eQSL. [TNX F6AJA]
IS0    - Giuseppe, IK5WWA  will be  active again  as  IM0C  from  San Pietro
         Island (EU-165) on  1-15 September.  He will be QRV on 40-2 metres.
         QSL via home call.  He is in the process of clearing the backlog of
         his past activities; requests for direct and bureau cards are being
         processed slowly but surely, so please be patient with him.
OH0    - Martti, OH2BH will operate CW as OH0B from the Aland Islands on 24-
         25 August. QSL via OH2BH.  This will be the  CW part  of the  OH0AM
         outing [425DXN 1736] that made nearly  4200 QSOs mostly on FT8  and
         SSB.  The lottery is still open for  contacts made with  OH0AM  and
         this weekend's  OH0B operation.  Just send a note  of your QSOs  to
         [email protected] to participate in the lottery.  The prizes are 10
         copies of "Atlas of QSL Cards"  (https://atlasofqsl.com).  The lot-
         tery draw will take place on 19 September.
ON     - Members of UBA's Groupement De Verviers  will be active as  OR80USA
         on 1-15 September and again on 16-31 December. The special callsign
         commemorates the  80th anniversary  of the liberation  from  German
         occupation and the Battle of the Bulge during World War II,  events
         in which the US military was heavily engaged. QSL via the bureau to
         ON4GDV.
W      - Matt, AF2F has been active from Long Beach Island (NA-111) since 19
         August and will remain there  "for a few weeks".  In his spare time
         he is QRV as AF2F/2 on 40-10 metres CW and FT8.  QSL via LoTW, Club
         Log, or via home call. [TNX DX World]
YL     - Special event callsign YL35WAY  will be active on  23-31 August  to
         commemorate the  35th anniversary of the  Baltic Way.  On 23 August
         1989  hundreds of thousands people  formed a  human chain  spanning
         across Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, demanding the reestablishment
         of  the independence of the Baltic States. QSOs will be uploaded to
         LoTW, eQSL, and QRZ Logbook; see https://qsl.services/event/YL35WAY
         for downloadable certificates and QSLs.

GQRP CLUB'S GOLDEN JUBILEE ---> Formed in 1974 by  Rev. George Dobbs,  G3RJV
(1943-2019), the GQRP Club promotes Low Power Radio. Celebrating  the club's
50th anniversary,  G5LOW  and  all  its  regional variants  (GD5LOW, GI5LOW,
GJ5LOW, GM5LOW, GU5LOW and GW5LOW) will be QRV on  1-30 September.  In addi-
tion,  seven  special  callsigns  will join  the celebrations  from  Austria
(OE50LOW),  Finland (OH50LOW),  France (TM50LOW),  Germany (DM50LOW),  Italy
(IR3QRP), Romania (YP50QRP) and Spain (EG5LOW).  Commemorative  certificates
will be available for chasers: https://www.gqrp.com/50years.htm.


                         ===========================
                         *** 4 2 5  D X  N E W S ***
                         ****  GOOD TO KNOW ... ****
                         ===========================
                          Edited by  I1JQJ & IK1ADH
                        Direttore Responsabile  I2VGW

Access to the main functions of www.425dxn.org is provided by the 425DXN App
for Android. It is available on Google Play - free of charge, no ads. Enjoy!

ARRL IT SECURITY  INCIDENT:  REPORT TO MEMBERS ---> Sometime  in  early  May
2024,  ARRL's systems network was compromised by  threat actors (TAs)  using
information they had purchased  on the dark web.  The TAs accessed headquar-
ters on-site systems and most cloud-based systems.  They used a wide variety
of payloads affecting everything from desktops and laptops  to Windows-based
and Linux-based servers.  Despite the wide variety of target configurations,
the TAs seemed to have  a payload that would host  and execute encryption or
deletion of network-based IT assets,  as well as launch demands for a ransom
payment, for every system.
  This serious incident was an act of organized crime. The highly coordinat-
ed and executed attack  took place during the early morning hours of May 15.
That morning, as staff arrived,  it was immediately apparent that  ARRL  had
become the victim of an extensive and  sophisticated ransomware attack.  The
FBI  categorized the attack as  "unique"  as they had not seen this level of
sophistication  among the many  other attacks,  they  have experience  with.
Within 3 hours a crisis management team had been constructed of ARRL manage-
ment,  an  outside vendor with  extensive resources  and  experience  in the
ransomware  recovery space,  attorneys experienced  with managing  the legal
aspects of the attack  including interfacing  with the authorities,  and our
insurance carrier.  The authorities  were contacted immediately  as was  the
ARRL President.
  The ransom demands by the TAs,  in exchange for access to their decryption
tools, were exorbitant. It was clear they didn't know, and didn't care, that
they had attacked  a small  501(c)(3)  organization with  limited resources.
Their ransom demands were  dramatically weakened by the fact  that they  did
not have access to  any compromising data.  It was also clear  that they be-
lieved  ARRL had  extensive insurance coverage  that  would cover  a  multi-
million-dollar ransom payment. After days of tense negotiation and brinkman-
ship, ARRL agreed to pay a $1 million ransom.  That payment,  along with the
cost of restoration, has been largely covered by our insurance policy.
  From the start of the incident, the ARRL board met weekly using a continu-
ing special board meeting for full progress reports and to offer assistance.
In the first few meetings  there were significant details to cover,  and the
board was thoughtfully engaged,  asked  important questions,  and was  fully
supportive of the team at HQ to keep the restoration efforts moving.  Member
updates were posted to a single page  on the website and  were posted across
the internet  in many forums and groups.  ARRL worked closely  with  profes-
sionals deeply experienced in ransomware matters on every post. It is impor-
tant to understand that  the TAs had ARRL  under a magnifying glass while we
were negotiating.  Based on the expert advice we were being given,  we could
not publicly communicate anything informative, useful, or potentially antag-
onistic to the TAs during this time frame.
  Today, most systems have been restored  or  are waiting for interfaces  to
come back online  to interconnect them.  While  we have been in  restoration
mode, we have also been working to simplify the infrastructure to the extent
possible.  We anticipate that it may take  another month or two  to complete
restoration under the new infrastructure guidelines and new standards.
  Most ARRL member benefits remained operational during the attack. One that
wasn't was  Logbook of The World (LoTW),  which is  one of our  most popular
member benefits. LoTW data was not impacted by the attack and once the envi-
ronment  was  ready  to again permit  public  access  to  ARRL network-based
servers, we returned LoTW into service.  The fact that LoTW took less than 4
days to  get through a backlog  that at times exceeded over 60,000 logs  was
outstanding.
  The board at the ARRL Second Board Meeting in July voted to approve  a new
committee,  the  Information Technology Advisory  Committee.  This  will  be
comprised of ARRL staff,  board members with demonstrated experience  in IT,
and additional members from the  IT industry who are  currently employed  as
subject matter experts in a few areas.  They will help analyze and advise on
future steps to take with  ARRL IT  within the financial means available  to
the organization.
  We thank you for your patience  as we navigated our way through this.  The
emails of moral support and offers of IT expertise were well received by the
team.  Although we are not entirely out of the woods yet and are still work-
ing  to restore  minor servers  that serve internal needs  (such as  various
email services like bulk mail and  some internal  reflectors),  we are happy
with the progress that  has been made and for  the incredible dedication  of
staff and consultants who continue to work together  to bring this  incident
to a successful conclusion.
[Ed:  the above information was first shared with ARRL members via email  on
21 August,  and then  made available  to the public  at large on the  ARRL's
website: https://www.arrl.org/news]

ARRL SYSTEMS SERVICE DISRUPTION: DXCC ---> While  WAS and VUCC  applications
are being processed,  and certificates  and  endorsement stickers  are being
mailed, "work is continuing to return the DXCC systems to service", the ARRL
announced on  22 August.  "DXCC award processing, including the  Online DXCC
application system, is unavailable at this time. While all DXCC user data is
secure and unaffected,  we have taken the  precautionary measure  of keeping
the service offline  until we can ensure  the security and integrity  of our
networks".

N5J ---> Pulled the plug and  went QRT at 17 UTC  on 20 August, and the team
departed Jarvis Island on  21 August  at 02.30 UTC.  According to  Club Log,
106,883 QSOs were made with 21,296 unique calls.  Complete statistics are on
https://clublog.org/charts/?c=N5J#r.

                         ===========================
                         *** 4 2 5  D X  N E W S ***
                         ******* QSL  ROUTES *******
                         ===========================
                          Edited by  I1JQJ & IK1ADH
                        Direttore Responsabile  I2VGW

===================================================================
CALL        MANAGER     CALL        MANAGER     CALL        MANAGER
===================================================================
3B8HE       M0OXO       HH2K        N3BNA       SO80LNW     SP3PDO
3V8SS       LX1NO       HL79V       6K0MF       SP80LNW     SP3PDO
4X0A        4X1VF       II1PV       IQ1GE       SU1OK       VE1AYM
5E61PG      EA7FTR      J43LH       SV3QUP      T44IJ       RW6HS
7Z1AO       EC6DX       J88BTI      EA5GL       T45FM       RW6HS
A2NEW       EA7FTR      KP2B        EB7DX       T47C        IK2DUW
AT2SPACE    VU2UUU      LR8FTDMC    F1ULQ       TF/WT8P     EA5GL
AT78I       VU2JOS      LZ156DD     LZ2VP       TM1AEL      F1EOY
C21TS       M0OXO       LZ302IT     LZ1KCP      TM22LH      DL7BC
CB2FT       CE2LK       NL8F        N7RO        TM2LW       F4ELJ
CW5X        CX2ABC      OH0AM       OH2TA       TM3TDFF     F8GGZ
CX1T        IK2DUW      OJ0JR       OH3JR       TM80BLG     F6CQU
D4UM        SQ9UM       ON4PRA      ON8JJ       TM80CAL     F5BNJ
D93H        DS1TUW      OV7X        DL2JRM      TM80DP      F4GPB
DK100DDSR   DL2BJW      PA55NTA     PA1K        TO8FP       DJ4MX
DM60IOTA    DL2VFR      PD6AB       PD7URK      TU5JZ       F5MFV
DU3/F4EBK   F4EUO       PF24GP      PA3EFR      VP8KCA      G5KC
E51EME      ZL1RS       PV2K        EA5GL       WP3C        M0OXO
ED2FPA      EA2RCA      PW7T        PT7WA       YJ0VK       M0OXO
EI0CAR      EI4JR       RI0KA       RZ3EC       YP0TA       YO3GND
HB9ILLW     HB9FVR      S79VU       N4GNR       ZB2LGT      ZB2BU
HF65KJM     SP9KJM      SF6B        SA6OHM      ZD8GB       EA5GL
HF80KG890G  SQ9LFO      SN0WFF      SP5C        ZW8T        PS8HF
HH2AA       EB7DX       SO1944LIB   SQ9Z        ZX9X        PT9DX

CE0YHO   Jose Barrera, Correos Chile, 2779001 Isla de Pascua, Chile
DS1TUW   Hojoong Ji, 506-dong 2002-ho, 816 Geumha-ro, Geumcheon-gu,
         Seoul 08646, Korea
OG0C     Juha Vanhatalo, Lehtimaentie 11, FI-45610 Koria, Finland
TM0BSM   Dietmar Worgull, Sudstrasse 33, 53757 Sankt Augustin, Germany
ZW8C     Fernando R. da Silva Junior, Rua Tomaz de Area Leao 1615,
         Teresina - PI, 64049-630, Brazil

****************************************************************************

               425 DX NEWS HOME PAGE: https://www.425dxn.org/

****************************************************************************

               425 DX News is a free of charge weekly bulletin
      edited by Mauro Pregliasco, I1JQJ and Valeria Pregliasco, IK1ADH

            Its contents may be used, reproduced and distributed
                        in part or full provided that
               "425 DX News" or "425DXN" receive proper credit

          Contributors are invited to send their DX information to
              Mauro Pregliasco, I1JQJ  ([email protected])    
                      The deadline is 12 UTC on Fridays

****************************************************************************

                           Direttore Responsabile
                            Gabriele Villa, I2VGW
               Giornalista Professionista - Tessera n. 071675
                      Ordine Nazionale dei Giornalisti
                                Roma, Italia

****************************************************************************


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