Dec 10, 2008 7:21 AM

Five for Fighting 12/10/08

* Earmark helps businesses, hurts troops * U.S. commandos kill Afghan police * Defector reaches out to North Koreans by balloon * SEAL mini-sub finally dead? * Upgrade for Army’s most popular drone (High five: EM)

* Earmark helps businesses, hurts troops
* U.S. commandos kill Afghan police
* Defector reaches out to North Koreans by balloon**
* SEAL mini-sub finally dead?
* Upgrade for Army's most popular drone

(High five: EM)

TopicsFive for Fighting Danger Room

Cybercriminals Are Hiding Malicious Web Traffic in Plain Sight

In an effort to evade detection, cybercriminals are increasingly turning to “residential proxy” services that cover their tracks by making it look like everyday online activity.

Lily Hay Newman

A GPS Blackout Would Shut Down the World

GPS jamming and spoofing attacks are on the rise. If the global navigation system the US relies on were to go down entirely, it would send the world into unprecedented chaos.

Matt Burgess

Ross Ulbricht Got a $31 Million Donation From a Dark Web Dealer, Crypto Tracers Suspect

Crypto-tracing firm Chainalysis says the mysterious 300-bitcoin donation to the pardoned Silk Road creator appears to have come from someone associated with a different defunct black market: AlphaBay.

Andy Greenberg

A Swedish MMA Tournament Spotlights the Trump Administration's Handling of Far-Right Terrorism

A member of a California-based fight club seems to have attended an event hosted by groups with ties to an organization the US government labeled a terrorist group. Will the Trump administration care?

Ali Winston

Trump Cuts Are Killing a Tiny Office That Keeps Measurements of the World Accurate

A tiny but crucial agency that maintains physical coordinates like latitude and longitude in the US is struggling as the Trump administration forces out federal employees.

Molly Taft

The Epic Rise and Fall of a Dark-Web Psychedelics Kingpin

Interdimensional travel, sex with aliens, communion with God. Anything is possible with just a sprinkle of DMT. Akasha Song’s secret labs made millions of doses—and dollars—until the feds showed up.

Andy Greenberg

3 Teens Almost Got Away With Murder. Then Police Found Their Google Searches

An arson attack in Colorado had detectives stumped. The way they solved the case could put everyone at risk.

Raksha Vasudevan

Trumpworld Is Getting Tired of Laura Loomer. They Hope the President Is Too

Trump advisers tell WIRED that their mutually beneficial arrangements with the notorious right wing influencer may be coming to an end.

Jake Lahut

The Race to Build Trump’s ‘Golden Dome’ Missile Defense System Is On

President Donald Trump has proposed building a massive antimissile system in space that could enrich Elon Musk if it materializes. But experts say the project’s feasibility remains unclear.

Caroline Haskins

A Starter Guide to Protecting Your Data From Hackers and Corporations

Thinking about where to start when it comes to protecting your online privacy can be overwhelming. Here’s a simple guide for you—and anyone who claims they have nothing to hide.

Sophie Johal

Trump Appointees Blocked From Entering US Copyright Office

The two men appeared at the US Copyright Office days after the Trump administration fired its leader, who had just published a report about the use of copyrighted materials for AI training.

Kate Knibbs

Analysts Say Trump Trade Wars Would Harm the Entire US Energy Sector, From Oil to Solar

US renewables stand to lose big in a trade war, but the sting extends to oil and other energy industries, say researchers from Wood Mackenzie.

Dan Gearino