How to Not Get Scammed Out of $50,000
Plus: State-backed hackers test out generative AI, the US takes down a major Russian military botnet, and 100 hospitals in Romania go offline amid a major ransomware attack.
Security / Cyberattacks and Hacks
The Hidden Injustice of Cyberattacks
Cyberattacks and criminal scams can impact anyone. But communities of color and other marginalized groups are often disproportionately impacted and lack the support to better protect themselves.
How 3 Million ‘Hacked’ Toothbrushes Became a Cyber Urban Legend
Plus: China’s Volt Typhoon hackers lurked in US systems for years, the Biden administration’s crackdown on spyware vendors ramps up, and a new pro-Beijing disinformation campaign gets exposed.
I Stopped Using Passwords. It’s Great—and a Total Mess
Passkeys are here to replace passwords. When they work, it’s a seamless vision of the future. But don’t ditch your old logins just yet.
Ransomware Payments Hit a Record $1.1 Billion in 2023
After a slowdown in payments to ransomware gangs in 2022, last year saw total ransom payouts jump to their highest level yet, according to a new report from crypto-tracing firm Chainalysis.
What It’s Like to Use Apple’s Lockdown Mode
If you’re at high risk of being targeted by mercenary spyware, or just don’t mind losing iOS features for extra security, the company’s restricted mode is surprisingly usable.
Google Fixes Nearly 100 Android Security Issues
Plus: Apple shuts down a Flipper Zero Attack, Microsoft patches more than 30 vulnerabilities, and more critical updates for the last month of 2023.
The Worst Hacks of 2023
It was a year of devastating cyberattacks around the globe, from ransomware attacks on casinos to state-sponsored breaches of critical infrastructure.
The Most Dangerous People on the Internet in 2023
From Sam Altman and Elon Musk to ransomware gangs and state-backed hackers, these are the individuals and groups that spent this year disrupting the world we know it.
Facebook Marketplace Is Being Ruined by Zelle Scammers
I tried to sell a futon on Facebook Marketplace and nearly all I got were scammers.