Cybersecurity
What Happened in the Kaseya VSA Incident?
Nicholas Weaver Sun, Jul 4, 2021, 2:19 PM
Right before the start of the holiday weekend, news broke of yet another massive ransomware attack. What’s the deal?
Nicholas Weaver is a senior staff researcher focusing on computer security at the International Computer Science Institute in Berkeley, California, and a lecturer in the Computer Science department at the University of California at Berkeley. All opinions are his own.
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Cybersecurity and Deterrence
How to Start Disrupting Cryptocurrencies: “Mining” Is Money Transmission
Nicholas Weaver Wed, Jun 9, 2021, 7:01 AM
Making cryptocurrency mining illegal won’t stop all mining, but it will seriously disrupt it.
Cybersecurity and Deterrence
The Ransomware Problem Is a Bitcoin Problem
Nicholas Weaver Thu, May 27, 2021, 12:56 PM
The best way to deal with this new era of big-game ransomware will involve not just securing computer systems or prosecuting criminals, but disrupting the one payment channel capable of moving millions at a time outside of money laundering laws: Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.
Cybersecurity and Deterrence
The Microsoft Exchange Hack and the Great Email Robbery
Nicholas Weaver Tue, Mar 9, 2021, 4:17 PM
The world is probably days away from a mass-exploitation of Microsoft Exchange servers—a hack that could have a far greater impact than the SolarWinds breach.
Cybersecurity and Deterrence
The SolarWinds Breach: Why Your Work Computers Are Down Today
Nicholas Weaver Mon, Dec 14, 2020, 4:07 PM
A quick guide to the news of a major cyber intrusion by the Russian government.
Autonomous Technologies
How Easy Is it to Build a Robot Assassin?
Nicholas Weaver Wed, Dec 2, 2020, 11:38 AM
Iranian scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh reportedly may have been assassinated using a remote-controlled machine gun. Such devices are unfortunately easy to construct.
Immigration
Blocking International Students Is an Attack on America’s Future
Nicholas Weaver Wed, Jul 8, 2020, 1:41 PM
On a short timeline, student immigration is not a national security issue. On a timeline measured in decades, it is.