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Cyber Security & Hacking

The TikTok logo is displayed in front of a TikTok office in Culver City, California.
The TikTok logo is displayed in front of a TikTok office in Culver City, California.

Is This TikTok’s Huawei Moment?

As bans of the video app pile up around the world, the question is how far the U.S.—and its allies—will go.

Colonial Pipeline was the subject of a Russian cyberattack that forced its temporary closure and caused gasoline shortages on the East Coast.
Colonial Pipeline was the subject of a Russian cyberattack that forced its temporary closure and caused gasoline shortages on the East Coast.

Biden Wants to Reboot America’s Cyber Defenses

The United States is taking a more proactive approach to defending its cyberspace—and everyone else’s.

A Ukrainian soldier uses the internet on his smartphone.
A Ukrainian soldier uses the internet on his smartphone.

How the Ukraine War Has Changed Russia’s Cyberstrategy 

Defensive measures and disarray have hampered Moscow’s abilities, but that could change.

Children interact with an artificial intelligence robot at the China Science and Technology Museum in Beijing.
Children interact with an artificial intelligence robot at the China Science and Technology Museum in Beijing.

China’s Tech Money Is Now Radioactive

Washington is increasingly concerned about China poaching U.S. technology.

The TikTok logo is displayed outside a TikTok office in Culver City, California.
The TikTok logo is displayed outside a TikTok office in Culver City, California.

Tick-Tock, TikTok

The Biden administration has dragged its feet on restricting the Chinese-owned app, but pressure is building for far more drastic measures.

Anti-Russia and pro Ukraine banners hang on the fence in front of the Russian Federation embassy in Tallinn, Estonia.
Anti-Russia and pro Ukraine banners hang on the fence in front of the Russian Federation embassy in Tallinn, Estonia.

Estonia’s Former Spy Chief: Too Soon to Count Russia Out

Mikk Marran talks about Moscow’s intelligence failures, cyberwar, and whether Western resolve will last the winter.

A man dressed in all black carrying a black umbrella walks past a large, imposing white building decorated with a mural of several different people's faces.
A man dressed in all black carrying a black umbrella walks past a large, imposing white building decorated with a mural of several different people's faces.

How Albania Ended Up in Iran’s Cyber Crosshairs

Eager to stand out as a steadfast U.S. ally, Tirana often entangles itself in geopolitical issues far from its shores.

A woman walks past election signs ahead of the U.S. midterm elections in Silver Spring, Maryland, on Oct. 28.
A woman walks past election signs ahead of the U.S. midterm elections in Silver Spring, Maryland, on Oct. 28.

Chinese Election Meddling Hits the Midterms

Beijing-linked cyberactors seek to sow divisions, discourage Americans from voting, and discredit the election process.

A pedestrian talks on the phone while walking past a Huawei store in Beijing on Jan. 29, 2019.
A pedestrian talks on the phone while walking past a Huawei store in Beijing on Jan. 29, 2019.

Why Indonesia Has Embraced Huawei

If the U.S. wants to compete with China in developing countries, our research shows it needs to offer tangible assistance in response to real needs.

An entrance gate and an aerial view of Naval Station Key West.
An entrance gate and an aerial view of Naval Station Key West.

The Secrets of Modern Espionage

And how spycraft has changed over the centuries.

Workers remove a banner
Workers remove a banner

‘The Lazarus Heist’ Is the Gripping Story of North Korean Cybercrime

Worryingly, Washington’s concern does not rise to the level of the danger.

An illustration of disruptive tech pixels over a videogame controller.
An illustration of disruptive tech pixels over a videogame controller.

NFTs in Video Games Bring Laundered Money and Angry Players

Rushing to further monetize gaming adds to global social and environmental risk.

Demonstrators wave the Ukrainian flag at night in front of he Georgian Parliament building.
Demonstrators wave the Ukrainian flag at night in front of he Georgian Parliament building.

The Fight for Ukraine Is Forging a New World

If Ukraine prevails against Russia, the global movement toward a more empowered and freer digital world will accelerate.

A man in a blue jacket walks away holding a gun on a city street. A Guy Fawkes mask is on the back of his head.
A man in a blue jacket walks away holding a gun on a city street. A Guy Fawkes mask is on the back of his head.

Don’t Underestimate Ukraine’s Volunteer Hackers

Kyiv’s “IT army” could undermine Russia’s war narratives.

Russian President Vladimir Putin addresses the United Nations General Assembly in New York City on Sept. 28, 2015.
Russian President Vladimir Putin addresses the United Nations General Assembly in New York City on Sept. 28, 2015.

Learning the Right Cybersecurity Lessons From Putin

Does Russia’s restraint in Ukraine so far confirm that the digital domain isn’t especially useful for warfighting?

cyberattack-insurance-foreign-policy-illustration
cyberattack-insurance-foreign-policy-illustration

Why Insurance Companies Don’t Want to Pay Out for Cyberattacks

A recent legal decision distinguished between cyberwar and “real” war—in a way that could reshape the industry.

Fuel tanks are seen at Colonial Pipeline Baltimore Delivery in Baltimore, Maryland, on May 10, 2021.
Fuel tanks are seen at Colonial Pipeline Baltimore Delivery in Baltimore, Maryland, on May 10, 2021.

The Quixotic Quest to Tackle Global Cybercrime

Some countries want a global cybercrime treaty—they just can’t agree what “cybercrime” is.

Workers monitor computer displays in a control room in the Hungnam Fertilizer Complex in North Korea.
Workers monitor computer displays in a control room in the Hungnam Fertilizer Complex in North Korea.

North Korea Knows How Important Its Cyberattacks Are

Pyongyang’s tradition of guerrilla warfare keeps its “all-purpose sword” sharp.

lazarus-heist-bbc-podcast-playlist-article
lazarus-heist-bbc-podcast-playlist-article

Foreign Policy Playlist Podcast: North Korea and the Billion Dollar Hack

The digital heist that began with the hack of Sony Pictures

A person looks at a Google Earth map of the Middle East at an event at New York’s Whitney Museum of American Art.
A person looks at a Google Earth map of the Middle East at an event at New York’s Whitney Museum of American Art.

Iranian Ransomware Is Coming for the United States

After a year of attacks on Israel, Iran’s hackers have another target.

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