SurvivalBlog presents another edition of The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods. This column is a collection of news bits and pieces that are relevant to the modern survivalist and prepper from JWR [1]. Our goal is to educate our readers, to help them to recognize emerging threats, and to be better prepared for both disasters and negative societal trends. You can’t mitigate a risk if you haven’t first identified a risk. In today’s column, Wrench Attacks on Bitcoin Whales.
‘Wrench Attacks’ Have Crypto Whales Living in Fear
The UK Telegraph reports ‘Wrench attacks’ leave crypto billionaires living in fear [2]. A quote:
“Billions of dollars in cryptocurrency are stolen every year in cyber attacks, scams and frauds. In 2025, about $3.4bn in digital currency was stolen, according to blockchain experts at Chainalysis.
But in 2026, physical assaults are on the rise.
A report from Certik, a crypto security business, found there had been 34 physical attacks on industry figures in the first three months of 2026, a 41pc increase on 2025.
These attacks resulted in publicly reported thefts of more than $101m in cryptocurrency.”
An AI That Can Self-Replicate Into Another Machine
Reader D.S.V sent this: Researchers Alarmed by AI That Can Self-Replicate Into Another Machine [3].
Drowning in Dreadful A.I. Slop
At The Washington Post: [4] These 5 charts show how ChatGPT is flooding our live [5]s. [4]
Your Smart Appliances are Selling Your Data
D.S.V. sent this: What Your Smart Fridge And TV Are Actually Doing With Your Data [6]
The Latest in FPV Drone Warfare in Ukraine
Blog staffer Tom Christianson suggested this video link: Russian Units Had No Safe Trench — Ukrainian Drones Found Them All | Combat Footage [7].
The Iran War’s Second and Third-Order Effects
Chip Usher, over at The Cipher Brief:
“The transatlantic alliance is under extraordinary strain. When President Trump called on NATO [9] allies, China [10], Japan, and South Korea to help secure passage through the Strait of Hormuz, the response was a near-unanimous refusal. On March 16, both China and NATO’s European members rejected the request. France has refused to allow its territory to be used for military operations linked to the war. Italy has cited legal and procedural objections to providing U.S. forces access to certain military facilities. Even the United Kingdom [11] — Washington’s most reliable ally — has limited its support to defensive operations from existing bases, withholding full political or military backing.”
The Top 10 Most Stolen Cars in the U.S.
Another from D.S.V.: The Top 10 Most Stolen Cars in the U.S. — Is Yours On the List [12].
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