Using a custom encryption scheme within music notation, Merryl Goldberg and three other US musicians slipped information to Soviet performers and activists known as the Phantom Orchestra.
Security / National Security
Good Luck Not Accidentally Hiring a North Korean Scammer
DPRK hackers are tricking their way into jobs with western firms. A US government alert reminds employers they’re on the front lines—and potentially on the hook.
Open Source Intelligence May Be Changing Old-School War
Intelligence collected from public information online could be impacting traditional warfare and altering the calculus between large and small powers.
How One Company Helps Keep Russia’s TV Propaganda Machine Online
Russia is using satellites controlled by French operator Eutelsat to broadcast state-run programming. A grassroots group is pushing for that to stop.
Small Drones Are Giving Ukraine an Unprecedented Edge
From surveillance to search-and-rescue, consumer drones are having an unprecedented impact on Ukraine’s defense against Russia.
Is Leaking a SCOTUS Opinion a Crime? The Law Is Far From Clear
The leak of a draft opinion overturning Roe v. Wade quickly sparked a court investigation. Which laws may have been violated, if any, remains uncertain.
Ukraine’s Digital Battle With Russia Isn’t Going as Expected
Even the head of the country’s online offensive is surprised by the successes—although they’re not without controversy.
Feds Uncover a ‘Swiss Army Knife’ for Hacking Industrial Systems
The malware toolkit, known as Pipedream, is perhaps the most versatile tool ever made to target critical infrastructure like power grids and oil refineries.
How Russia’s Invasion Triggered a US Crackdown on Its Hackers
The Biden White House is using “all of the levers of national power” to counter—or preempt—cyberattacks by Russia’s most dangerous hacker groups.
Meta Tries to Break the End-to-End Encryption Deadlock
A new report Meta commissioned aims to redefine comprehensive encryption as essential to protecting human rights.