This week, we talk about the Google Pixel 5A and how it’s changing our expectations of sub-$500 phones.
National Affairs
An Ambitious Plan to Tackle Ransomware Faces Long Odds
A task force counting Amazon, Cisco, and the FBI among its members has proposed a framework to solve one of cybersecurity’s biggest problems. Good luck.
The Biggest Security Threats to the US Are the Hardest to Define
In a Senate briefing, the heads of the major intelligence agencies warned the public about dangers that offer no easy solutions.
Foreign Meddling Flooded the 2020 Election—but Not Hackers
A new ODNI report shows how extensive Russian and Iranian influence operations were, but it doesn’t mention a single hack-and-leak incident.
Parler Finds a Reprieve in Russia—but Not a Solution
The far-right platform still hasn’t found a US-based home. Where it lands could have serious consequences for its users’ privacy.
Trump’s Worst, Most Bizarre Statements About ‘the Cyber’
Over the course of his presidency, he managed to be consistently wrong, outrageous, and dangerous in equal measure. We look back at his most notorious remarks.
The Race Is On to Identify and Stop Inauguration Rioters
As tech companies scramble to tackle the extreme far-right, police and law enforcement are encasing Washington, DC, in a ring of steel.
Big Tech Can’t Ban Its Way Out of This
Platforms are scrambling to avoid being used by right-wing extremists targeting the inauguration. But the seeds of this crisis were sown long ago.
Ex-CISA Head Chris Krebs: ‘Impeachment Is the Right Mechanism’
In an interview with WIRED, the famously fired DHS official shared insights on election security, disinformation, SolarWinds—and what to do about Trump.
I Am Not a Soldier, but I Have Been Trained to Kill
A sprawling tactical industry is teaching American civilians how to fight like Special Ops forces. By preparing for violence at home, are they calling it into being?