MADDY VARNER ANDY GREENBERG ANDREW COUTS SECURITY JAN 24, 2026 6:30 AM Security News This Week: DOGE May Have Misused Social Security Data, DOJ Admits Plus: The FAA blocks drones over DHS operations, Microsoft admits it hands over Bitlocker encryption keys to the cops, and more. PHOTOGRAPH: KEVIN DIETSCH/GETTY IMAGES Get our Tracker: ICE newsletter to understand what’s happening and what’s coming next SIGN UP By signing up, you agree to our user agreement (including class action waiver and arbitration provisions), and acknowledge our privacy policy. You’ve read your last free article. The intersection of technology, power, and culture. Start your free trial and get access to 5 all-new premium newsletters—cancel anytime. START FREE TRIAL Already a subscriber? Sign In The intersection of technology, power, and culture. Start your free trial and get access to 5 all-new premium newsletters START FREE TRIAL You Might Also Like In your inbox: Sign up for our new Tracker: ICE newsletter Moltbot is taking over Silicon Valley Big Story: He leaked a scam compound’s secrets—and had to get out alive Palantir defended its work with ICE to staff Olympics: From medals to mascots, here’s everything you need to know Written by WIRED Staff TOPICS SECURITY ROUNDUP IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT SECURITY PRIVACY ENCRYPTION CYBERSECURITY HACKING TIKTOK Don't Just Keep Up. Get Ahead Sign up for the Daily newsletter to get our biggest stories, handpicked for you each day. SIGN UP By signing up, you agree to our user agreement (including class action waiver and arbitration provisions), and acknowledge our privacy policy. READ MORE How to Film ICE Filming federal agents in public is legal, but avoiding a dangerous—even deadly—confrontation isn’t guaranteed. Here’s how to record ICE and CBP agents as safely as possible and have an impact. MADDY VARNER AI’s Hacking Skills Are Approaching an ‘Inflection Point’ AI models are getting so good at finding vulnerabilities that some experts say the tech industry might need to rethink how software is built. WILL KNIGHT US Hackers Reportedly Caused a Blackout in Venezuela Plus: AI reportedly caused ICE to send agents into the field without training, Palantir’s app for targeting immigrants gets exposed, and more. ANDY GREENBERG Moltbook, the Social Network for AI Agents, Exposed Real Humans’ Data Plus: Apple’s Lockdown mode keeps the FBI out of a reporter’s phone, Elon Musk’s Starlink cuts off Russian forces, and more. ANDY GREENBERG ICE Agents Are ‘Doxing’ Themselves The alleged risks of being publicly identified have not stopped DHS and ICE employees from creating profiles on LinkedIn, even as Kristi Noem threatens to treat revealing agents’ identities as a crime. MADDY VARNER FBI Agent’s Sworn Testimony Contradicts Claims ICE’s Jonathan Ross Made Under Oath The testimony also calls into question whether Ross failed to follow his training during the incident in which he reportedly shot and killed Minnesota citizen Renee Good. TIM MARCHMAN Hundreds of Millions of Audio Devices Need a Patch to Prevent Wireless Hacking and Tracking Flaws in how 17 models of headphones and speakers use Google’s one-tap Fast Pair Bluetooth protocol have left devices open to eavesdroppers and stalkers. ANDY GREENBERG 149 Million Usernames and Passwords Exposed by Unsecured Database This “dream wish list for criminals” includes millions of Gmail, Facebook, banking logins, and more. The researcher who discovered it suspects they were collected using infostealing malware. LILY HAY NEWMAN ICE Is Using Palantir’s AI Tools to Sort Through Tips ICE has been using an AI-powered Palantir system to summarize tips sent to its tip line since last spring, according to a newly released Homeland Security document. CAROLINE HASKINS Palantir Defends Work With ICE to Staff Following Killing of Alex Pretti “In my opinion ICE are the bad guys. I am not proud that the company I enjoy so much working for is part of this,” one worker wrote on Slack. MAKENA KELLY Former CISA Director Jen Easterly Will Lead RSAC Conference The longtime cybersecurity professional says she’s taking the helm of the legacy security organization at “an inflection point” for tech and the world beyond. LILY HAY NEWMAN Jeffrey Epstein Had a ‘Personal Hacker,’ Informant Claims Plus: AI agent OpenClaw gives cybersecurity experts the willies, China executes 11 scam compound bosses, a $40 million crypto theft has an unexpected alleged culprit, and more. MATT BURGESS