Technology

'Disinformation Dozen' — Just 12 People — Behind Bulk Of Vaccine Falsities Online

4:27pm May 13, 2021

by Shannon Bond

The majority of disinformation about COVID-19 vaccines originates from a small number of accounts. These accounts are known to social media platforms, so why don't the companies just shut them down?

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A fuel tank is seen at Colonial Pipeline's Linden Junction tank farm in Woodbridge, N.J., on May 10.

National

How To Stop Ransomware Attacks? 1 Proposal Would Prohibit Victims From Paying Up

3:56pm May 13, 2021

by Jason Breslow

The attack on Colonial Pipeline has focused new attention on a potentially radical proposal to stem the growing threat posed by ransomware: making it illegal for victims to pay their attackers.

Anti-vaccine advocates are using the COVID-19 pandemic to promote books, supplementals and services.

For Some Anti-Vaccine Advocates, Misinformation Is Part Of A Business

8:54pm May 12, 2021

by Geoff Brumfiel

The coronavirus pandemic has created an opening for vaccine opponents to peddle alternative therapies, unproven cures and website subscriptions.

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Biden Signs Cybersecurity Executive Order Following Colonial Pipeline Hack

8:23pm May 12, 2021

by Franco Ordoñez

President Biden signed an executive order Wednesday aimed at protecting U.S. cybersecurity and federal government networks. It also seeks to boost security for software used in the private sector.

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National

Colonial Pipeline Shutdown Is The Latest In Wave Of Cyber Attacks

7:20pm May 12, 2021

NPR's Mary Louise Kelly talks with Allie Mellen, a security and risk analyst at Forrester, a research company that monitors cybersecurity. They discuss the wave of cyber attacks on U.S. industries.

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The pandemic has underscored the importance of having a reliable internet connection, with adults dependent on it for work and young people reliant on it for their education.

National

Internet Subsidy Gives $50 A Month Discounts For Low-Income Americans

7:04pm May 12, 2021

by Vanessa Romo

The $3.2 billion temporary pandemic program will last for up to six months after the pandemic is over or until the funds run out.

A new version of the Oregon Trail game for Apple Arcade features improved Native American representation and new playable Native American characters and storylines.

Arts

A New Spin On A Classic Video Game Gives Native Americans Better Representation

7:01pm May 12, 2021

by Anna King

A new version of the classic '80s video game Oregon Trail tries to represent the lives of Native Americans more accurately — no more braids or bows and arrows. But you can still die of dysentery.

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A view of Amazon's headquarters in Luxembourg. The online retail giant on Tuesday prevailed at the European Union's second-highest court in a major tax case.

World News

Amazon Wins Case Against EU Regulators Over Luxembourg Taxes

10:27am May 12, 2021

by Scott Neuman

The European Commission has said the online giant got a sweetheart deal from Luxembourg that amounted to "illegal state aid" worth $303 million.

What The Ransomware Attack On Colonial Pipeline Means For The Industry

6:47am May 11, 2021

NPR's Steve Inskeep talks with Amy Meyers Jaffe of Tufts University's Fletcher School and author of the book Energy's Digital Future about the cyberattack on a critical U.S. fuel pipeline.

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National

FBI Says Darkside Ransomware Is Reponsible For Attack On U.S. Pipeline

6:43am May 11, 2021

by Greg Myre

The Biden administration says cybercriminals in Russia are suspected in a ransomware attack on a gas pipeline. Yet this hack is very different from another big intrusion blamed on Russia last year.

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