Main content

Tech’d Off

Microsoft detects attacks by Russian hackers. What’s the state of US digital security?

This week, Microsoft announced that it detected and stopped attacks on US institutions by Russian hackers linked to the Kremlin. The attacks involved setting up fake websites that mimicked the sites of conservative think tanks that have been critical of President Trump. Zeynep Tufekci studies the intersection of technology and society and she says that foreign hacking and meddling exposes real weaknesses in America's digital security and politics.

Also: New York Times technology reporter, Sheera Frenkel, explains what tech companies are doing to get rid of fake news, deception and hate speech; a master of movie special effects recounts working on a little film called Star Wars; a new internet health study has us asking if the internet make our lives better or worse; and one of the bigger Instagram trends of the summer can be summed up in two words: sunflower selfies.

(The Microsoft Moscow headquarters at night. Credit: Mikhail Tereshchenko\Getty Images)

Available now

27 minutes

Last on

Mon 27 Aug 2018 05:32GMT

Broadcasts

  • Sat 25 Aug 2018 04:32GMT
  • Sat 25 Aug 2018 21:32GMT
  • Sun 26 Aug 2018 04:32GMT
  • Sun 26 Aug 2018 10:32GMT
  • Mon 27 Aug 2018 05:32GMT

Free Download

Subscribe to receive every episode automatically

Boston Calling Clips

Big stories, short listens - highlights from Boston Calling

Podcast