Two US men have been charged with using hacked Ring home security cameras to “swat” a dozen random people across the country. The duo allegedly streamed live footage of police raiding their targets’ homes and taunted authorities when they arrived. The men allegedly hacked into Yahoo accounts, and then used the same password for Ring accounts. The charges against the men include conspiracy to intentionally access computers without authorization, and aggravated identity theft. Swatting attacks are dangerous and costly hoaxes that can often lead to tragedy. Read full article here
Societal Issues
To curb drug deaths, communities turn to Reddit, texts and wastewater
With drug overdose deaths on the rise, authorities are attempting to curb the epidemic by tracking and sharing information in real time. In one unique effort, a nonprofit in New York City is using drug-testing equipment and stamping or marking habits of dealers to identify drug batches that may endanger users. Other approaches are also being used, such as monitoring drug-related chatter on Reddit and analyzing local wastewater for opioid and other drug levels. With the combination of these efforts, researchers hope to put a dent in the opioid crisis and reduce overdose deaths. Read full article here
Merv
June 1, 2023
