In Episode 35 of IT SPARC Cast, John and Lou take you through Cisco’s bold bet on quantum networking and its implications for encryption and data privacy. OpenAI shakes things up with new leadership and acquisitions, while Disney’s massive Slack data leak ends with a hacker caught and charged. In our new Coffee Break segment, the impossible might finally be happening: Half-Life 3. In the CVE of the Week, Lou exposes malware hiding in fake Discord PyPI packages, demonstrating the risks of typo-squatting in open-source downloads. We wrap up with your questions, diving into Ultra Ethernet Protocol and its impact on AI workloads.

00:00 - Intro

News Bytes

01:02 - Cisco’s Quantum Bet

•Cisco announces a bold move into quantum computing, with plans for a quantum network entanglement chip.

•The chip aims to link small quantum machines into one cohesive “quantum mainframe.”

•Cisco plans to build a Quantum Internet Lab in Santa Monica focused on scalable quantum internet.

•Concerns around quantum encryption and its potential to shatter current security protocols.

•https://www.securityweek.com/ciscos-quantum-bet-linking-small-machines-into-one-giant-quantum-computer/ 

07:10 - OpenAI News 3-fer

•OpenAI announces a strategic reorganization: Sam Altman remains CEO, with Fidji Simo (ex-Instacart) joining as CEO of Applications.

•OpenAI’s nonprofit division retains control, signaling a focus on safety amidst growth.

•Acquisition of Windsurf, an AI-focused IDE, to integrate with OpenAI tools.

•https://techcrunch.com/2025/05/05/openai-reverses-course-says-its-nonprofit-will-remain-in-control-of-its-business-operations/ 

•https://www.reuters.com/business/openai-agrees-buy-windsurf-about-3-billion-bloomberg-news-reports-2025-05-06/ 

17:49 - Disney Hacker Identified and Charged

•Disney’s massive 1.1 TB Slack data leak traced back to hacker Ryan Michael Kramer.

•Posed as hacktivist group Nullbridge to extort Disney employees.

•FBI is handling the case, with Kramer facing federal charges.

•https://www.securityweek.com/man-admits-hacking-disney-and-leaking-data-disguised-as-hacktivist/ 

Coffee Break

21:29 - Half-Life 3 Might Actually Happen

•Valve insider Tyler McVicker reveals that Half-Life 3 is in a playable state and could release in 2025.

•Speculation that it will run on the Source 2 engine and might launch alongside Steam Deck 2.

•John and Lou dive into the nostalgia of the Half-Life series and the hype around its long-awaited return.

•https://www.engadget.com/gaming/half-life-3-is-reportedly-playable-in-its-entirety-and-could-be-announced-this-year-183030499.html 

CVE of the Week

27:41 - Malware Found in Fake Discord PyPI Packages

•Researchers uncover malware hidden in fake Discord PyPI packages named discord.py.debug.

•Over 11,000 downloads of the malicious package, which secretly opens backdoors for remote access.

•Discussion on the dangers of typo-squatting and the importance of verifying package authenticity.

•Lou shares insights on the need for entropy in network traffic to prevent easy exploitation.

•https://thehackernews.com/2025/05/researchers-uncover-malware-in-fake.html 

Wrap Up

34:48 - Mail Bag

•Listener Jeff asks about the Ultra Ethernet Protocol, designed for AI and high-performance compute workloads.

•Lou and John discuss CXL (Compute Express Link) and its potential to revolutionize data center architecture.

•https://ultraethernet.org 

39:09 - Wrap Up

•Final thoughts and a call to action to reach out with feedback and episode suggestions.

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