Matt Burgess (WIRED)
@mattburgess1.bsky.social
Security writer @wired.com
Cybercrime, privacy, surveillance, and more.
Signal: mattburgess.20 | Email: [email protected]
Cybercrime, privacy, surveillance, and more.
Signal: mattburgess.20 | Email: [email protected]
Reposted by Matt Burgess (WIRED)
Canadian Travel to the U.S. Declines for 10th Straight Month www.nytimes.com/2025/11/13/u...
Canadian Travel to the U.S. Declines for 10th Straight Month
www.nytimes.com
November 13, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Canadian Travel to the U.S. Declines for 10th Straight Month www.nytimes.com/2025/11/13/u...
Reposted by Matt Burgess (WIRED)
The most horrifying AI slop of ICE raids you can possibly imagine is wildly viral on Facebook, collectively totaling tens of millions of views from a single account. First spotted by @chadloder.bsky.social
www.404media.co/ai-generated...
www.404media.co/ai-generated...
AI-Generated Videos of ICE Raids Are Wildly Viral on Facebook
An account is spamming horrific, dehumanizing videos of immigration enforcement because the Facebook algorithm is rewarding them for it.
www.404media.co
November 12, 2025 at 5:51 PM
The most horrifying AI slop of ICE raids you can possibly imagine is wildly viral on Facebook, collectively totaling tens of millions of views from a single account. First spotted by @chadloder.bsky.social
www.404media.co/ai-generated...
www.404media.co/ai-generated...
The US Department of Justice, FBI, and Secret Service is creating a new "Scam Center Strike Force" to tackle cybercriminals running scam centers in Burma, Cambodia, and Laos
Treasury Sanctions Burma Armed Group and Companies Linked to Organized Crime Targeting Americans
WASHINGTON — Today, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA), a Burmese armed group, along with four of its senio...
home.treasury.gov
November 12, 2025 at 4:31 PM
The US Department of Justice, FBI, and Secret Service is creating a new "Scam Center Strike Force" to tackle cybercriminals running scam centers in Burma, Cambodia, and Laos
Reposted by Matt Burgess (WIRED)
Google is suing 25 people it claims are associated with a massive scam text operation using a phishing-as-a-service platform called Lighthouse. @mattburgess1.bsky.social has the details on how all this works and ends up with you getting annoying texts from fraudsters:
This Is the Platform Google Claims Is Behind a 'Staggering’ Scam Text Operation
Google is suing 25 people it alleges are behind a “relentless” scam text operation that uses a phishing-as-a-service platform called Lighthouse.
www.wired.com
November 12, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Google is suing 25 people it claims are associated with a massive scam text operation using a phishing-as-a-service platform called Lighthouse. @mattburgess1.bsky.social has the details on how all this works and ends up with you getting annoying texts from fraudsters:
*Why* does it need to be AI-generated?
All schools in England to be given AI-generated pupil attendance targets
Unions decry move, saying it will put more pressure on headteachers without tackling absence from classrooms
www.theguardian.com
November 12, 2025 at 1:35 PM
*Why* does it need to be AI-generated?
NEW: Google is taking legal action against Chinese cybercriminals responsible for sending out millions of scam text messages—including those parcel delivery scams.
Google hopes the lawsuit will help to disrupt the scammers' sprawling infrastructure
Google hopes the lawsuit will help to disrupt the scammers' sprawling infrastructure
This Is the Platform Google Claims Is Behind a 'Staggering’ Scam Text Operation
Google is suing 25 people it alleges are behind a “relentless” scam text operation that uses a phishing-as-a-service platform called Lighthouse.
www.wired.com
November 12, 2025 at 10:36 AM
NEW: Google is taking legal action against Chinese cybercriminals responsible for sending out millions of scam text messages—including those parcel delivery scams.
Google hopes the lawsuit will help to disrupt the scammers' sprawling infrastructure
Google hopes the lawsuit will help to disrupt the scammers' sprawling infrastructure
Reposted by Matt Burgess (WIRED)
SCOOP: China's top 2 gay dating apps, Blued and Finka, became unavailable on app stores over the weekend. Apple confirmed to WIRED that it removed the two apps following "an order from the Cyberspace Administration of China."
latest with @lmatsakis.bsky.social
latest with @lmatsakis.bsky.social
Apple Pulls China’s Top Gay Dating Apps After Government Order
The removal of Blued and Finka marks another setback for China’s marginalized LGBTQ+ community.
www.wired.com
November 10, 2025 at 5:27 AM
SCOOP: China's top 2 gay dating apps, Blued and Finka, became unavailable on app stores over the weekend. Apple confirmed to WIRED that it removed the two apps following "an order from the Cyberspace Administration of China."
latest with @lmatsakis.bsky.social
latest with @lmatsakis.bsky.social
Reposted by Matt Burgess (WIRED)
"Paranoia is a constant friend of hackers." In an exclusive interview for our podcast, we went inside a Colorado prison to interview former Most Wanted cyber criminal 'Tank'. Vyacheslav Penchukov, climbed to the top of the Russian-speaking cyber-underworld.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Tank interview: A hacking kingpin reveals all to the BBC
One of the world's most prominent cyber-criminals speaks to the BBC in an exclusive interview.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 9:05 AM
"Paranoia is a constant friend of hackers." In an exclusive interview for our podcast, we went inside a Colorado prison to interview former Most Wanted cyber criminal 'Tank'. Vyacheslav Penchukov, climbed to the top of the Russian-speaking cyber-underworld.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Matt Burgess (WIRED)
I love that the Boston cop slide never got fixed and now people just willingly go down it in tribute. It’s basically a national landmark at this point
November 8, 2025 at 6:15 AM
I love that the Boston cop slide never got fixed and now people just willingly go down it in tribute. It’s basically a national landmark at this point
Reposted by Matt Burgess (WIRED)
Hey everyone, thank you so much for the outpouring of support.
I need to pay rent, and I launched a GoFundMe spot.fund/LahutRentFund
I need to pay rent, and I launched a GoFundMe spot.fund/LahutRentFund
Click here to support Jake Lahut's story *LahutRentFund
*spotfund is the easiest place to create beautiful and free online fundraisers. It takes just minutes to start raising money today.
spot.fund
November 7, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Hey everyone, thank you so much for the outpouring of support.
I need to pay rent, and I launched a GoFundMe spot.fund/LahutRentFund
I need to pay rent, and I launched a GoFundMe spot.fund/LahutRentFund
Reposted by Matt Burgess (WIRED)
"Research shows that features like Face ID and fingerprints enable violent, forced phone access by police and authorities" the-decenter.ghost.io/the-body-as-... by Afsaneh Rigot
The Body as a Password: The Cost of Face ID
Convenience is costing people their freedom. Research shows that features like Face ID and fingerprints enable violent, forced phone access by police and authorities, writes Afsaneh Rigot.
the-decenter.ghost.io
November 6, 2025 at 4:53 PM
"Research shows that features like Face ID and fingerprints enable violent, forced phone access by police and authorities" the-decenter.ghost.io/the-body-as-... by Afsaneh Rigot
Reposted by Matt Burgess (WIRED)
As my general two cents: don't cancel your WIRED subscriptions.
Best culture, best newsroom of anywhere I've worked. I love the living shit out of these folks, and they don't deserve to be negatively impacted by a decision that was made by the parent company, not them. And it's only $2 a month.
Best culture, best newsroom of anywhere I've worked. I love the living shit out of these folks, and they don't deserve to be negatively impacted by a decision that was made by the parent company, not them. And it's only $2 a month.
November 6, 2025 at 6:39 PM
As my general two cents: don't cancel your WIRED subscriptions.
Best culture, best newsroom of anywhere I've worked. I love the living shit out of these folks, and they don't deserve to be negatively impacted by a decision that was made by the parent company, not them. And it's only $2 a month.
Best culture, best newsroom of anywhere I've worked. I love the living shit out of these folks, and they don't deserve to be negatively impacted by a decision that was made by the parent company, not them. And it's only $2 a month.
Reposted by Matt Burgess (WIRED)
Jake did tremendous work at WIRED and I'm really going to miss working with him every day.
I was one of the four people who got canned.
In the interim, you can subscribe to my newsletter, Straight From The Hut. No paywall, but feel free to choose the pay to support model. I'm not going anywhere — the show goes on, and I'll be back on MSNBC Saturday night. straightfromthehut.substack.com
In the interim, you can subscribe to my newsletter, Straight From The Hut. No paywall, but feel free to choose the pay to support model. I'm not going anywhere — the show goes on, and I'll be back on MSNBC Saturday night. straightfromthehut.substack.com
November 6, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Jake did tremendous work at WIRED and I'm really going to miss working with him every day.
Reposted by Matt Burgess (WIRED)
Jake is a resourceful political reporter with deep access to the White House; he goes out of his way to befriend everyone in the newsroom; and he is tireless at promoting our work on TV.
WIRED will carry on politics reporting with his legacy, but he deserves a better employer and platform.
WIRED will carry on politics reporting with his legacy, but he deserves a better employer and platform.
I was one of the four people who got canned.
In the interim, you can subscribe to my newsletter, Straight From The Hut. No paywall, but feel free to choose the pay to support model. I'm not going anywhere — the show goes on, and I'll be back on MSNBC Saturday night. straightfromthehut.substack.com
In the interim, you can subscribe to my newsletter, Straight From The Hut. No paywall, but feel free to choose the pay to support model. I'm not going anywhere — the show goes on, and I'll be back on MSNBC Saturday night. straightfromthehut.substack.com
November 6, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Jake is a resourceful political reporter with deep access to the White House; he goes out of his way to befriend everyone in the newsroom; and he is tireless at promoting our work on TV.
WIRED will carry on politics reporting with his legacy, but he deserves a better employer and platform.
WIRED will carry on politics reporting with his legacy, but he deserves a better employer and platform.
Reposted by Matt Burgess (WIRED)
This is a really hard day and I want to just add as WIRED's politics editor -- WIRED's politics reporting isn't going anywhere. We are very much here and won't stop.
Please continue to read and support us - canceling your subscription to WIRED is not standing in solidarity with our journalists.
Please continue to read and support us - canceling your subscription to WIRED is not standing in solidarity with our journalists.
The key thing to watch here: they fired a Wired political reporter. That’s the title doing the most effective, pointed work. Teen Vogue’s stuff was culturally impactful, but less focused on investigating the administration. Within the Condé portfolio, Wired and the New Yorker are the canaries.
New: Conde Nast fired four employees who were among a group that confronted the company's head of human resources on Wednesday over the decision to fold Teen Vogue into Vogue/recent cuts. Employees who were fired included journalists from the New Yorker, Wired, and Bon Appétit.
November 6, 2025 at 6:26 PM
This is a really hard day and I want to just add as WIRED's politics editor -- WIRED's politics reporting isn't going anywhere. We are very much here and won't stop.
Please continue to read and support us - canceling your subscription to WIRED is not standing in solidarity with our journalists.
Please continue to read and support us - canceling your subscription to WIRED is not standing in solidarity with our journalists.
Reposted by Matt Burgess (WIRED)
Breaking News: Late last night Conde Nast illegally fired 4 union organizers who asked company execs to explain the downsizing of Teen Vogue and continued layoffs. We’ve filed a grievance.
November 6, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Breaking News: Late last night Conde Nast illegally fired 4 union organizers who asked company execs to explain the downsizing of Teen Vogue and continued layoffs. We’ve filed a grievance.
Reposted by Matt Burgess (WIRED)
I was one of the four people who got canned.
In the interim, you can subscribe to my newsletter, Straight From The Hut. No paywall, but feel free to choose the pay to support model. I'm not going anywhere — the show goes on, and I'll be back on MSNBC Saturday night. straightfromthehut.substack.com
In the interim, you can subscribe to my newsletter, Straight From The Hut. No paywall, but feel free to choose the pay to support model. I'm not going anywhere — the show goes on, and I'll be back on MSNBC Saturday night. straightfromthehut.substack.com
November 6, 2025 at 6:02 PM
I was one of the four people who got canned.
In the interim, you can subscribe to my newsletter, Straight From The Hut. No paywall, but feel free to choose the pay to support model. I'm not going anywhere — the show goes on, and I'll be back on MSNBC Saturday night. straightfromthehut.substack.com
In the interim, you can subscribe to my newsletter, Straight From The Hut. No paywall, but feel free to choose the pay to support model. I'm not going anywhere — the show goes on, and I'll be back on MSNBC Saturday night. straightfromthehut.substack.com
Reposted by Matt Burgess (WIRED)
New: Conde Nast fired four employees who were among a group that confronted the company's head of human resources on Wednesday over the decision to fold Teen Vogue into Vogue/recent cuts. Employees who were fired included journalists from the New Yorker, Wired, and Bon Appétit.
November 6, 2025 at 5:49 PM
New: Conde Nast fired four employees who were among a group that confronted the company's head of human resources on Wednesday over the decision to fold Teen Vogue into Vogue/recent cuts. Employees who were fired included journalists from the New Yorker, Wired, and Bon Appétit.
Reposted by Matt Burgess (WIRED)
SCOOP (free, as it's FOIA-based!): I obtained 1,665 pgs of documents about "Bicken Ben," a growing private school the Zuckerbergs ran illegally out of their Palo Alto compound
Neighbors complained the school for years. Then, in 2024, they reached their breaking point:
www.wired.com/story/mark-z...
Neighbors complained the school for years. Then, in 2024, they reached their breaking point:
www.wired.com/story/mark-z...
Mark Zuckerberg Opened an Illegal School at His Palo Alto Compound. His Neighbors Revolted
Neighbors complained about noise, security guards, and hordes of traffic. An unlicensed school named after the Zuckerbergs’ pet chicken tipped them over the edge.
www.wired.com
November 6, 2025 at 1:29 PM
SCOOP (free, as it's FOIA-based!): I obtained 1,665 pgs of documents about "Bicken Ben," a growing private school the Zuckerbergs ran illegally out of their Palo Alto compound
Neighbors complained the school for years. Then, in 2024, they reached their breaking point:
www.wired.com/story/mark-z...
Neighbors complained the school for years. Then, in 2024, they reached their breaking point:
www.wired.com/story/mark-z...
Reposted by Matt Burgess (WIRED)
Incredible reporting from @carolinehaskins.bsky.social about a school Mark Zuckerberg opened on his Palo Alto compound and operated for years with no permits, permissions, anything at all
Mark Zuckerberg Opened an Illegal School at His Palo Alto Compound. His Neighbors Revolted
Neighbors complained about noise, security guards, and hordes of traffic. An unlicensed school named after the Zuckerbergs’ pet chicken tipped them over the edge.
www.wired.com
November 6, 2025 at 10:44 AM
Incredible reporting from @carolinehaskins.bsky.social about a school Mark Zuckerberg opened on his Palo Alto compound and operated for years with no permits, permissions, anything at all
Reposted by Matt Burgess (WIRED)
Mere months ago, @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social was polling at 1 percent—right next to “Someone Else.” Tonight, he was elected New York City’s newest mayor.
www.wired.com/story/the-bi...
www.wired.com/story/the-bi...
November 5, 2025 at 3:03 AM
Mere months ago, @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social was polling at 1 percent—right next to “Someone Else.” Tonight, he was elected New York City’s newest mayor.
www.wired.com/story/the-bi...
www.wired.com/story/the-bi...
Reposted by Matt Burgess (WIRED)
"The hard-hitting report was to be published on Thursday at a landmark event in London. But the Guardian understands that the report, prepared by experts over many months, has been halted."
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
National security threatened by climate crisis, UK intelligence chiefs due to warn
Report by joint intelligence committee delayed, with concerns expressed that it may not be published
www.theguardian.com
November 4, 2025 at 9:20 PM
"The hard-hitting report was to be published on Thursday at a landmark event in London. But the Guardian understands that the report, prepared by experts over many months, has been halted."
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Matt Burgess (WIRED)
SCOOP w/ @dell.bsky.social: the FBI is warning law enforcement to look out for people impersonating ICE to facilitate other criminal acts
Plus, some odd details I got via FOIA about a March incident in which an aspiring prank YouTuber allegedly impersonated ICE:
www.wired.com/story/fbi-wa...
Plus, some odd details I got via FOIA about a March incident in which an aspiring prank YouTuber allegedly impersonated ICE:
www.wired.com/story/fbi-wa...
FBI Warns of Criminals Posing as ICE, Urges Agents to ID Themselves
In a bulletin to law enforcement agencies, the FBI said criminal impersonators are exploiting ICE’s image and urged nationwide coordination to distinguish real operations from fakes.
www.wired.com
November 4, 2025 at 8:08 PM
SCOOP w/ @dell.bsky.social: the FBI is warning law enforcement to look out for people impersonating ICE to facilitate other criminal acts
Plus, some odd details I got via FOIA about a March incident in which an aspiring prank YouTuber allegedly impersonated ICE:
www.wired.com/story/fbi-wa...
Plus, some odd details I got via FOIA about a March incident in which an aspiring prank YouTuber allegedly impersonated ICE:
www.wired.com/story/fbi-wa...
Reposted by Matt Burgess (WIRED)
New: The FBI is quietly urging ICE agents to properly ID themselves in the field.
In a bulletin to law enforcement last month, it warned of criminals posing as ICE to rob, rape, kidnap—a problem it says now demands national coordination to confront.
By me & @carolinehaskins.bsky.social:
In a bulletin to law enforcement last month, it warned of criminals posing as ICE to rob, rape, kidnap—a problem it says now demands national coordination to confront.
By me & @carolinehaskins.bsky.social:
FBI Warns of Criminals Posing as ICE, Urges Agents to ID Themselves
In a bulletin to law enforcement agencies, the FBI said criminal impersonators are exploiting ICE’s image and urged nationwide coordination to distinguish real operations from fakes.
www.wired.com
November 4, 2025 at 7:34 PM
New: The FBI is quietly urging ICE agents to properly ID themselves in the field.
In a bulletin to law enforcement last month, it warned of criminals posing as ICE to rob, rape, kidnap—a problem it says now demands national coordination to confront.
By me & @carolinehaskins.bsky.social:
In a bulletin to law enforcement last month, it warned of criminals posing as ICE to rob, rape, kidnap—a problem it says now demands national coordination to confront.
By me & @carolinehaskins.bsky.social:
Reposted by Matt Burgess (WIRED)
SCOOP :
I got hold of the death threats, doxes and attacks teachers in Arizona are facing after a TPUSA spokesperson inaccurately claimed they mocked Charlie Kirk during Halloween.
"We’re coming for you. Literally driving to Tucson as we speak You fucking wait.”
www.wired.com/story/arizon...
I got hold of the death threats, doxes and attacks teachers in Arizona are facing after a TPUSA spokesperson inaccurately claimed they mocked Charlie Kirk during Halloween.
"We’re coming for you. Literally driving to Tucson as we speak You fucking wait.”
www.wired.com/story/arizon...
Teachers Get Death Threats After MAGA Claims Their Halloween Costumes Mocked Charlie Kirk
A Turning Point USA official inaccurately claimed a high school's math department wore Halloween costumes that mocked Charlie Kirk. Those teachers are now facing a flood of online attacks and death th...
www.wired.com
November 4, 2025 at 7:37 PM
SCOOP :
I got hold of the death threats, doxes and attacks teachers in Arizona are facing after a TPUSA spokesperson inaccurately claimed they mocked Charlie Kirk during Halloween.
"We’re coming for you. Literally driving to Tucson as we speak You fucking wait.”
www.wired.com/story/arizon...
I got hold of the death threats, doxes and attacks teachers in Arizona are facing after a TPUSA spokesperson inaccurately claimed they mocked Charlie Kirk during Halloween.
"We’re coming for you. Literally driving to Tucson as we speak You fucking wait.”
www.wired.com/story/arizon...