Plus: Deepfake disinformation spotted in the wild, Android privacy problems in China, Reddit gets phished, and more.
Crime
Meet the Creator of North Korea’s Favorite Crypto Privacy Service
The world’s most prolific crypto thieves have used Sinbad.io to launder tens of millions. Its creator, “Mehdi,” answers WIRED’s questions.
Inside Safe City, Moscow’s AI Surveillance Dystopia
Moscow promised residents lower crime rates through an expansive smart city project. Then Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine.
A Link to News Site Meduza Can (Technically) Land You in Russian Prison
Plus: Hive ransomware gang gets knocked offline, FBI confirms North Korea stole $100 million, and more.
Most Criminal Cryptocurrency Funnels Through Just 5 Exchanges
The crypto money-laundering market is tighter than at any time in the past decade, and the few big players are moving a “shocking” amount of currency.
The Unrelenting Menace of the LockBit Ransomware Gang
The notorious Russian-speaking cybercriminals grew successful by keeping a low profile. But now they have a target on their backs.
A Police App Exposed Secret Details About Raids and Suspects
SweepWizard, an app that law enforcement used to coordinate raids, left sensitive information about hundreds of police operations publicly accessible.
Slack Discloses Breach of Its Github Code Repository
Plus: Russian spies uncovered in Europe, face recognition leads to another wrongful arrest, a new porn ID law, and more.
Cops Hacked Thousands of Phones. Was It Legal?
When police infiltrated the EncroChat phone system in 2020, they hit an intelligence gold mine. But subsequent legal challenges have spread across Europe.
Hacktivism Is Back and Messier Than Ever
Throughout 2022, geopolitics has given rise to a new wave of politically motivated attacks with an undercurrent of state-sponsored meddling.