News
Criminals Keep Hacking Themselves, Letting Researchers Unmask Them
Infostealer malware is often hidden in pirated or cracked software, and hackers then post the harvested credentials and other data online. Criminals have been infected too.
News
LinkedIn Is Training AI on User Data Before Updating Its Terms of Service
Multiple LinkedIn users on Wednesday noticed a setting that showed LinkedIn was using user data to improve its generative AI. LinkedIn told 404 Media it will update its terms of service “shortly.”
Podcast
Podcast: Hezbollah's Exploding Pagers
Some expertise on batteries and how that relates to the exploding pagers in Lebanon; an AI-powered surveillance dystopia that is already here; and how Snapchat reserves the right to serve you ads with your own AI likeness.
News
Police Hack Into ‘Ghost’, An Encrypted Platform for Criminals
Operation Kraken is a sign that organized criminals are moving away from larger encrypted phone companies to a decentralized collection of smaller players and consumer access apps that the rest of us use.
FOIA
The Air Force Is Researching a ‘MAD.AI’ That Would Adapt Drones to New Environments
The Air Force has contracted with a company called Qylur, whose tool is designed to continuously improve the AI systems of autonomous devices such as drones and UAVs.
Behind The Blog
Behind the Blog: Risks, Attention, and Telegram
This is Behind the Blog, where we share our behind-the-scenes thoughts about how a few of our top stories of the week came together. This week, we discuss communicating risks, brain rot, and the arrest of Telegram's CEO.
Podcast
Podcast: Fraudsters Say 'We Know Where You Live'
The new wave of scary sextortion emails that include your address; the rise of right to repair for your body; and a years old Reddit mystery solved.
News
In Wake of Durov Arrest, Some Cybercriminals Ditch Telegram
Hackers, fraudsters, and drug dealers are all leaving the platform in one way or another. Some are worried that Telegram may start providing user data to the authorities.
FOIA
The DEA Really Didn’t Want to Release Records About Its Retirement Medals for Some Reason
A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request over some frivolous records shows how agencies are increasingly refusing to release details on what the U.S. government spends its money on.
News
Here’s the Pitch Deck for ‘Active Listening’ Ad Targeting
404 Media previously reported Cox Media Group (CMG) was advertising a service that claimed to target ads based on what potential customers said near device microphones. Now, here is the pitch deck CMG sent to prospective companies. Google has kicked CMG off its Partner Program in response.
Podcast
Podcast: A Whirlwind Tour of DEF CON
Joseph went to DEF CON to talk to hackers on location. AI, hacking biology, and community all came up.
Announcements
What We Learned In Our First Year of 404 Media
In August 2023, we launched 404 Media with a novel idea: pay journalists to do journalism. Here we are, a year later.
