Digging through manuals for security cameras, a group of gearheads found sinister details and ignited a new battle in the US-China tech war.
Backchannel
The Hunt for the Kingpin Behind AlphaBay, Part 6: Endgame
With AlphaBay shuttered, Operation Bayonet enters its final phase: driving the site’s refugees into a giant trap. But one refugee hatched his own plan.
The Hunt for the Dark Web’s Biggest Kingpin, Part 5: Takedown
After months of meticulous planning, investigators finally move in to catch AlphaBay’s mastermind red-handed. Then the case takes a tragic turn.
The Hunt for the Dark Web’s Biggest Kingpin, Part 4: Face to Face
The team uses a secret technique to locate AlphaBay’s server. But just as the operation heats up, the agents have an unexpected run-in with their target.
The Hunt for the Dark Web’s Biggest Kingpin, Part 1: The Shadow
AlphaBay was the largest online drug bazaar in history, run by a technological mastermind who seemed untouchable—until his tech was turned against him.
Inside the Shadow Evacuation of Kabul
In the last two weeks of the war, an ad hoc team armed with group chats, QR codes, and satellite maps launched a mad dash to save imperiled Afghan allies.
The Family That Mined the Pentagon’s Data for Profit
The Freedom of Information Act helps Americans learn what the government is up to. The Poseys exploited it—and became unlikely defenders of transparency.
‘How Are They Weapons? That’s Only a Flashlight!’
During the protests in Hong Kong, young people carried laser pointers, umbrellas, and plastic ties—objects that sometimes led to their arrest, and years of legal limbo.
Inside the Takedown that Shredded the Myth of Crypto’s Anonymity
The users of the largest known child sex abuse site in history thought their bitcoins were untraceable. They couldn’t have been more wrong.
They Were ‘Calling to Help.’ Then They Stole Thousands
When my mom fell victim to a phone scam, we learned a painful truth: The explosion of personal finance apps makes it all too easy to target vulnerable people.