Internet

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The hacker Bassterlord in his own words: Portrait of an access broker as a young man

He started off doing simple phishing attacks. But the Russian, who is known as Bassterlord, soon graduated to planting ransomware in emails, holding companies' data hostage. And he quickly became one of the best. In her exclusive interview with the hacker, Dina Temple-Raston of the "Click Here" podcast delves into the ransomware underworld.

The hacker Bassterlord in his own words: Portrait of an access broker as a young man
US Army recruits in assumed position, wearing black t-shirts that have "ARMY" written across in bold yellow letters

The US military faces challenges on the homefront as recruitment shortages continue

The US military faces challenges on the homefront as recruitment shortages continue
Graphic of Chinese President Xi Jinping.

China’s tech weapons roll in to quell demonstrations, identify protesters

China’s tech weapons roll in to quell demonstrations, identify protesters
In this June 19, 2017, file photo, a person types on a laptop keyboard in North Andover, Massachusetts. 

'Ransomware Diaries:' Going undercover with the leader of LockBit

'Ransomware Diaries:' Going undercover with the leader of LockBit
Funeral workers burry a coffin with an unidentified civilian body, who died in Bucha during the Russian occupation period in February-March 2022, during a funeral in Bucha, Ukraine

Digital clues and the stories Ukraine’s mass graves tell

Digital clues and the stories Ukraine’s mass graves tell
A woman typing on a laptop on a train in New Jersey

What comes after Hydra, the darknet marketplace that changed everything?

Dina Temple-Raston of the "Click Here" podcast spoke with Niko Vorobyov, the Russian author of Dopeworld and Kim Grauer, director of research at Chainalysis and an expert in cryptocurrency economics and crime, about Hydra, its closure in April and who or what is likely to replace it.

What comes after Hydra, the darknet marketplace that changed everything?
Barcelona’s MareNostrum 4 supercomputer is one of the fastest in the world

Barcelona’s supercomputer MareNostrum is one of the world's fastest. It's about to get a massive upgrade.

In a few months, the MareNostrum 4 will be replaced by the 5. It will be able to compute in one hour what the 4 needed an entire year to complete.

Barcelona’s supercomputer MareNostrum is one of the world's fastest. It's about to get a massive upgrade.
Chinese policemen patrol the bund area in Shanghai, June 1, 2022.

Massive data breach in China raises questions around govt's responsibility in securing data, expert says

Zeyi Yang, a China reporter with MIT Technology Review, looked at some of the data and spoke from New York with The World's host Marco Werman about the situation.

Massive data breach in China raises questions around govt's responsibility in securing data, expert says
Commercial satellite companies provide views once reserved for governments, like this image of a Russian military training facility in Crimea.

Technology is revolutionizing how intelligence is gathered and analyzed — and opening a window onto Russian military activity around Ukraine

National security professionals and armchair sleuths alike are taking advantage of vast amounts of publicly available information and software tools to monitor geopolitical events around the world.

Technology is revolutionizing how intelligence is gathered and analyzed — and opening a window onto Russian military activity around Ukraine
The Department of Justice indicted six officers of Russia’s GRU military intelligence service in October 2020 on charges of hacking and deploying malware.

Russia could unleash disruptive cyberattacks against the US — but efforts to sow confusion and division are more likely

Russia probably has the means to attack US electrical grids and otherwise create havoc but probably won’t go that far. Instead, watch for disinformation aimed at undermining the US and NATO.

Russia could unleash disruptive cyberattacks against the US — but efforts to sow confusion and division are more likely
Efforts to reduce tensions between the Koreas, like the 2018 inter-Korean summit, are frequently the target of disinformation campaigns in South Korea.

Disinformation is spreading beyond the realm of spycraft to become a shady industry – lessons from South Korea

Disinformation is being privatized around the world. This new industry is built on a dangerous combination of cheap labor, high-tech algorithms and emotional national narratives.

Disinformation is spreading beyond the realm of spycraft to become a shady industry – lessons from South Korea
Andreina Baduel wears a T-shirt that reads in Spanish "Justice and freedom" and holds a sign with pictures of people during a protest against political prisoners outside the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service, known as the Helicoide, in Caracas

ICC to open investigation over alleged crimes against humanity in Venezuela

Chief prosecutor Karim Khan announces the ICC will open an investigation into alleged crimes against humanity in Venezuela. Also, the US has added NSO Group, the Israeli company behind the controversial Pegasus spyware, to its trade blacklist. And, the UK approves Molnupiravir, the first antiviral oral pill found to be effective in treating symptomatic COVID-19.

ICC to open investigation over alleged crimes against humanity in Venezuela
Colorful trees stand near a road through the Taunus region near Frankfurt, Oct. 2, 2021. More than 100 countries are pledging to end deforestation at COP26 in Glasgow.

More than 100 countries pledge to curb deforestation at COP26 conference

More than 100 countries pledge to end deforestation in the coming decade during the COP26 conference in Glasgow. Also, A deadly explosion at a military hospital kills at least 19 people in Afghanistan. And, Yahoo pulls out of China.

More than 100 countries pledge to curb deforestation at COP26 conference
Fingers on a keyboard

The people powering AI decisions

Sometimes, human intelligence trumps artificial.

The people powering AI decisions
Elementary students sit in a computer lab at school

Sal Khan on leveling the playing field, in and out of the classroom

Father of online education weighs in on learning loss, screen fatigue and education no longer bound by time and space.

Sal Khan on leveling the playing field, in and out of the classroom