Kevin Collier

Cyber reporter at NBC. Also privacy, elections, infrastructure, etc. I like to tell stories about the cyber affecting everyday people. Burner signal for sensitive tips: 347-461-7155. And kevin.collier@nbcuni.com.

Public Key

npub1sc55alaau3sapjm04mw9etk93nj4skx4ewfx7mds9c7rp0aq22jssva6tw

NIP-05 Address

kevincollier_at_mastodon.social@mostr.pub

Profile Code

nprofile1qqsgv22wl777gcwsedh6ahzu4mzcee2ctr2uhyn0dkczu0psh7s99fgulhrjl

Author Public Key

npub1sc55alaau3sapjm04mw9etk93nj4skx4ewfx7mds9c7rp0aq22jssva6tw

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Last Notes

2024-08-15 11:51:23

The last casualty of the early aughts pirates vs studio wars, and one of the most disingenuous English-language Kremlinpilled shitposters in the game.
https://www.reuters.com/world/kim-dotcom-be-extradited-new-zealand-after-12-year-fight-with-us-2024-08-15

2024-08-11 13:25:07

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@npub1zj4…fyjh https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6VjPM5CeWs

2024-08-10 22:28:28

Hey fellow media, we all remember the lessons from 2016 about how to ethically cover an adversarial nation-state hack-and-leak operation designed to influence a presidential election while being true to journalism but also not being played in the op, right? Whew. And we all agree on what those lessons were? Great, awesome, just checking.

2024-07-27 23:19:18

It's very surreal to watch a man write a book falsely portraying the people you grew up with, then see the rich liberals you live around as an adult make it a bestseller, then that success nets him a GOP senate seat, then he becomes a consensus freak laughing stock tanking a far-right pres ticket.

2024-07-22 15:20:35

Hey cyber/AI folks, who does good prompt injection/LLM red teaming work? Looking for smart folks to talk to who can help me better understand how to detect LLM-created text and how it can break.

2024-07-19 11:10:18

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@npub18c7…er9d I'm positive there's somebody at Crowdstrike having a much rougher morning than either of us

2024-07-19 11:04:44

Good morning everyone in cyber! Let me know if I missed anything in the five hours I was able to sleep because of infant

2024-07-15 11:40:01

Morning! I'm back today after several incredible months of leave. Hungry for solid, actionable tips! Especially re election cybersecurity, kids' privacy, online propaganda campaigns, and cyber threats to our day to day life (i.e Volt Typhoon, attacks on hospitals and schools).

2024-06-26 14:49:43

FBI briefings about foreign online influence campaigns are BACK. Julian Assange is BACK. Uncertainty of which social media companies and US government agencies will do what to combat election mis/disinformation is BACK.

2024-06-26 14:11:41

This is the case that prompted DOJ guidance for the FBI to stop warning social media companies about foreign influence campaigns on their platforms, though they had somewhat resumed
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/supreme-court/supreme-court-tosses-claim-biden-administration-coerced-social-media-c-rcna151356

2024-06-16 16:05:13

At some point extremely prolific cybercriminals wanted by the FBI and who knows who all else are going to realize they can't just fly in and out of Spain, but I guess we aren't there yet.
https://krebsonsecurity.com/2024/06/alleged-boss-of-scattered-spider-hacking-group-arrested/

2024-06-09 22:55:09

Hi! I'm launching a project while I'm on paternity leave: Cyber Dad, a privacy newsletter and blog for parents. It's tough to protect kids from the onslaught of people and services harvesting their data, and not nearly enough resources on how to do that, I've found. So I'm sharing what I'm learning. If you or a parent you know want to better protect a kids' privacy, please join me:
https://cyberdad.info/

2024-05-08 21:00:44

With this move, Nakasone has broken from the tradition of the previous two NSA/Cybercom directors and chosen to *not* immediately do cyber consulting in for a MENA country or company.
https://therecord.media/paul-nakasone-heading-to-vanderbilt-institute

2024-05-08 15:39:07

USAA really really not reading the room here and is *now* unveiling voice account verification, just as the whole world knows it's trivially easy to clone someone's voice with AI. Incredibly bad decision that will undoubtedly lead to bank accounts getting drained.
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/112/406/216/496/212/134/original/1163f099a8d0011b.png

2024-04-05 15:24:56

Amazing reporting. I read it not as "lol opsec fail" but how on a long enough timeline, anyone's ability to use the internet while remaining anonymous is very close to nonexistent.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/apr/05/top-israeli-spy-chief-exposes-his-true-identity-in-online-security-lapse

2024-03-21 00:26:28

Scoop: The FBI has quietly resumed some of its outreach to tech platforms about foreign propaganda campaigns, eight months after it was put on hold over a GOP lawsuit
https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/security/fbi-social-media-facebook-twitter-x-meetings-briefings-jordan-rcna144289

2024-03-14 13:11:59

A big natsec angle to the Tiktok ban I have not seen discussed much is how much of an enormous intelligence boon it has been for the US since the 90s that global social media companies are American and follow American laws and court orders. TikTok (and to a lesser extent Telegram) is really the first major challenge to that dominance.

2024-03-14 12:01:29

Props to Reuters here: it's significantly harder to report on cyber or influence campaigns that the US uses against China or Russia than the other way around
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-launched-cia-covert-influence-operation-against-china-2024-03-14/

2024-03-13 15:46:59

Hey! Your friendly neighborhood reporter is looking to speak with someone who has direct knowledge about the mechanics of how Google or Apple make certain apps available to users in different countries, given that some countries ban specific apps that are otherwise available to the rest of us. Like do they just check your IP address? Is it more complicated than that? You'd help inform the public, a very noble service. Thank you! I'm kevin.collier@nbcuni.com and kevincollier01 on signal.

2024-03-09 22:25:51

There's this genre of hot-take tech writing, perfected exclusively at the Atlantic, that's just millennials doing an Andy Rooney grump about something for a few hundred words and hitting send. Little reporting, no solutions, little insight. Who is this for? Who reads it and says thank you, I am better informed or richer for this?
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/112/068/076/897/961/482/original/d8d1e225922b0c79.png
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/112/068/076/894/095/202/original/f41b8027fc9b67b7.png
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/112/068/076/895/423/977/original/b77f158519645327.png
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/112/068/076/941/988/363/original/2cd1067c18f50f63.png

2024-03-08 03:31:08

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@npub178r…qekt weird, I am also not using a pair of Shure SM57s right now.

2024-03-01 14:56:09

Change Healthcare's latest announcement about its ongoing, devastating ransomware attack uses some PR speak: more than 90% the 70,000+ US pharmacies that use it have developed workarounds.
That seems worded to hide that thousands are totally offline.
https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/security/ransomware-attack-us-health-care-payment-processor-serious-incident-ki-rcna141322

2024-02-29 17:52:52

Even if this was just a misconfiguration issue, which it almost certainly was, I think this is great. Telecom triolpoly means AT&T has absolutely no qualms refusing to tell the public almost anything about what happened. It's a good use of public-good legal authority to compel them, IMO.
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/112/016/042/486/099/070/original/85bf87a59e97f67f.png

2024-02-24 18:01:59

Has anybody finally had enough and quit Google search because of how bad it's gotten recently? Are you finding another search better?

2024-02-22 00:43:08

New: I profiled Mac Warner, the top election official in WV, who I've known for years. He's gone from conspiracy theorist to anti-disinformation fighter. But as he's leaving office and running for governor, he's embracing election denialism more than ever
https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/misinformation/west-virginia-election-chief-mac-warner-backs-conspiracy-theories-rcna138479

2024-02-19 21:23:28

If you know a ransomware analyst, congratulate them. They just got their version of a Super Bowl win

2024-02-15 18:08:50

Props to the Cut's financial advice columnist (!!!) for writing this. Threads the needle very deftly between highlighting some red flags everyone should watch for but also showing how easy it can be to panic and miss them.
https://www.thecut.com/article/amazon-scam-call-ftc-arrest-warrants.html

2024-02-07 13:15:33

I think it's bad form in journalism to punctuate your headline with "Really" when the story isn't true.
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/111/890/381/663/522/735/original/f388bab4d32faa33.png

2024-02-01 16:23:36

This is one of the best written, clearest looks at conspiracy theorizing and its harms to regular people that I've seen. Really worth the read: https://apnews.com/article/covid19-trump-conspiracy-theories-qanon-facebook-f79a3af0e04487890e3976fea6f03867?taid=65bba0651827f9000196dcdc

2024-01-03 15:22:32

Really late to this from @npub1hyk…3p33 but new year new you. This really articulates my most fundamental skepticism of gen AI as a business model. If it necessarily makes unreliable information, and therefore always needs a human minder, how the shit is it going to save anyone money?
https://locusmag.com/2023/12/commentary-cory-doctorow-what-kind-of-bubble-is-ai/
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/111/692/689/377/149/398/original/8cb029772b3b89f3.png

2023-12-13 20:22:18

More news today about Russia’s devastating cyberattack on Ukraine’s largest mobile service provider, which connects more than half the country. Coming back online now after more than a full-day outage, during which Russia shelled Kyiv. A true escalation, even this far into the war.
https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/security/ukraine-kyivstar-outage-down-russia-cyberattack-internet-phone-rcna129582

2023-12-12 14:48:53

NEW: Ukraine’s largest mobile network is down this morning after what appears to be one of the largest cyberattacks against a civilian communications network in history. Millions across the country are without service.
https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/security/ukraines-top-mobile-internet-company-blames-russian-cyberattack-rcna129253

2023-11-29 23:25:39

FBI put out a warning earlier this month about a rise in grandparent scams. Of note: despite a lot of claims to this effect with strong anecdotes but no evidence, the warning here makes no mention of the scammers using AI voice cloning:
https://www.ic3.gov/Media/Y2023/PSA231117

2023-11-10 13:26:19

New and big: There has been a quiet, major shift since 2020. Federal agencies, spooked by the GOP, have completely stopped their election information outreach to tech companies. CISA doesn't talk to Silicon Valley anymore. The FBI no longer briefs social media companies about foreign propaganda
https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/gop-muzzled-quiet-coalition-fought-foreign-propaganda-rcna103373

2023-09-13 13:54:19

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@npub1zj4…fyjh 2003, when data breaches began! Or California notifications at least.

2023-09-13 13:02:40

Anybody know of a good service that tracks total annual US data breaches and number of victims? I know of the Identity Theft Resource Center and HaveIBeenPwned (which doesn't do comprehensive reports, afaik). But ideal would be comprehensive, authoritative historical data that goes back 20 years

2023-09-01 13:35:42

If you or anyone you know in NYC takes anti-surveillance measures this weekend because of the drones, I'd love to hear about it.
https://apnews.com/article/drones-labor-day-eric-adams-nypd-jouvert-c2787e87bcad8fa87aa8d34b454ee6cf

2023-08-04 19:41:46

New: largest ransomware attack on US healthcare this year hits 16 hospitals and 165 other facilities. Lots of doctors and nurses using pen and paper, outpatient facilities closed: https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/security/hackers-force-hospital-system-take-national-computer-system-offline-rcna98212

2023-07-20 12:59:20

New: the NYC subway has since 2020 been using an AI system to track alleged fare evasion, and has plans to significantly expand it by the end of this year, gov docs show:
http://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/nyc-subway-using-ai-track-fare-evasion-rcna93045

2023-07-15 19:33:04

This is truly jaw-dropping. Absolutely no one's doubting her credentials. A young Black woman already doing the job of acting National Cyber Director can't get formally Senate confirmed in that role because she has debt?
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/07/15/kemba-walden-nomination-cyber-director/

2023-05-03 16:18:26

Media is an extremely difficult business model. And I respect that Khan wants to speak through the paper of record. But since this is important writing from a current US official, here's a reminder that viewing links via archive.is gets you around most paywalls.
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/03/opinion/ai-lina-khan-ftc-technology.html

2023-05-01 13:04:22

Somebody could write a book about how Russia-Ukraine is the first real video gamified war. https://www.pcmag.com/news/ukrainian-army-uses-steam-deck-to-control-a-machine-gun-turret

2023-04-27 22:29:32

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#[0] well I save my best unique content for Truth Social and Patriots.win

2023-04-27 21:02:18

So excited to try Bluesky so that whenever I have a news story or a delightful bon mot to share with the world, I can copy and paste it to a third app after Mastodon and Twitter.

2023-04-26 14:26:09

I took a deep dive into files that ransomware hackers leaked from the Minneapolis School District. It's so much worse than just SSNs and home addresses. It's psych evals, writeups of physical and sexual abuse. Always with the child's name, testimony.
https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/security/students-psychological-reports-abuse-allegations-leaked-ransomware-hac-rcna79414

2023-04-23 02:06:56

When there's major societal collapse, the internet often goes with it. Imagine your country's dealing with a military coup and suddenly you're cut off from all outside information and most means of communication.
https://mastodon.social/@netblocks/110245391449669838

2023-03-28 16:20:41

Today, Tuesday, March 28, 2023: Microsoft becomes the first major tech company to pitch reporters that its products are safer because they use generative AI.
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/110/101/815/899/255/271/original/d89c9a0f59ec84b0.png

2023-03-14 13:01:45

Ring/Amazon spox tells me they've not experienced a ransomware attack but that a third-party vendor has. Says the vendor doesn't have customer accounts, but no word on what they actually do have.
https://twitter.com/BrettCallow/status/1635420566546178049?t=dkhxK3u3kZoGYb-fGHlOWQ&s=19