Eric Geller

@ericjgeller.com

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Freelance cybersecurity reporter covering all things digital security. I also co-host Hoth Takes. | Send me tips: bit.ly/contactejg

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Reylo fans got another meal to feast on in this week's episode of The Acolyte. But how seriously does the show want us to take Qimir's worldview? And is Osha buying it or just biding her time? Plus: Qimir's backstory might be hiding in plain sight — if you're whip-smart. 🧵

NEW from me: As tech and cyber issues increasingly dominate geopolitics, the State Dept is quietly preparing US diplomats to navigate these issues and score wins abroad. For WIRED, I got an exclusive look inside State's new tech and cyber training program: www.wired.com/story/us-sta...

The Acolyte hit it out of the park this week. My heart was pounding from almost the very first minute, which has never happened before with Star Wars TV. It was far from a perfect episode, with some very dubious narrative choices. But it showed a new side of what SW can be. 🧵

This week’s episode of The Acolyte was too short but still managed to cram in healthy doses of character growth, Jedi Order lore, and mystery. I remain excited and hopeful about where this story is headed. 🧵

NEW: Citing national security concerns, U.S. bans Russian cyber firm Kaspersky from selling its products in the U.S. New sales end 7/20, software updates to existing customers end 9/29. First use of Trump-era authorities. Move could jolt many businesses. My story: www.wired.com/story/us-ban...

US Bans Kaspersky Softwarewww.wired.com Using a Trump-era authority, the US Commerce Department has banned the sale of Kaspersky’s antivirus tools to new customers in the US, citing alleged threats to national security.

If you've been watching The Acolyte, you should definitely listen to our new Hoth Takes episode about the show's first three chapters. We have a spirited discussion about the controversial choices and mysterious characters. hothtakes.wordpress.com/2024/06/17/h...

Hoth Takes #51: Put Your Noodles Down And Fight Mehothtakes.wordpress.com Three episodes in, The Acolyte is taking Star Wars in a bold new direction with fresh characters and a disturbing but thought-provoking premise. Join Eric, Grace, and Haley as we break down the compli...

I enjoyed this week’s episode of The Acolyte. I wouldn't call it excellent, but it gave Osha and Mae compelling backstories by showing how each of them dealt with being raised in an oppressive dark-side cult. I just hope folks don’t misunderstand the lessons being taught here. 🧵

Two episodes in, I’m excited to see where The Acolyte goes next. It’s not without its flaws, but overall, it takes Star Wars in a fun new direction by introducing a mystery with profound stakes for the characters and the Jedi Order as a whole. 🧵

Incredible article.

OH MY GOD.

Cannot wait to listen to @selenalarson.bsky.social's new cyber podcast, Only Malware in the Building. We need more narrative-focused storytelling in cyber, and Selena has the perfect style and perspective for it. thecyberwire.com/podcasts/onl...

The curious case of the missing IcedID.thecyberwire.com Welcome in! You’ve entered, Only Malware in the Building. Join us each month to sip tea and solve mysteries about today’s most interesting threats. Your host is Selena Larson, Proofpoint intelligence analyst and host of their podcast DISCARDED. Inspired by the residents of a building in New York’s exclusive upper west side, Selena is joined by N2K Networks Dave Bittner and Rick Howard to uncover the stories behind notable cyberattacks. Being a security researcher is a bit like being a detective: you gather clues, analyze the evidence, and consult the experts to solve the cyber puzzle. On this episode, we talk about "The curious case of the missing IcedID."

With the Biden White House pressuring corporate America to take cybersecurity more seriously, the Justice Department is ramping up its use of a Civil War-era law to hold federal contractors accountable for cyber failures. My new story about this initiative: therecord.media/doj-corporat...

How the DOJ is using a Civil War-era law to enforce corporate cybersecuritytherecord.media Federal prosecutors are deploying the pointedly named False Claims Act to punish contractors that mislead the government about their cybersecurity defenses. It represents a shot across the bow for oth...

For our 50th Hoth Takes episode, we're doing something really fun: Grace and Haley's husbands and my girlfriend join us to talk about having a Star Wars nerd as a significant other. It's definitely a different kind of episode...

Hoth Takes #50: I Can See His Facehothtakes.wordpress.com What’s it like being in love with a huge Star Wars nerd? To celebrate our fiftieth episode, we’re talking about the role that Star Wars plays in our personal lives, and we’re joined by three special g...

I had fun on the Galactic Starcruiser, but I had more fun on a per-minute basis watching @jennynicholson.bsky.social dissect the greed and incompetence that killed Disney's Star Wars hotel — "the very first time a luxury cruise ship has ever been symbolic of the hubris of man."

The Spectacular Failure of the Star Wars Hotelwww.youtube.com For two days and two nights, I will step aboard an immersive galactic starcruiser experience and live MY star wars story.References and clip sources: https:/...

I wrote about an Iowa congressman who could be House Republicans' next point person on cybersecurity issues, as Congress grapples with risks like artificial intelligence and attacks on critical infrastructure that will require bipartisan solutions.

Is this Iowa congressman the next House Republican point man on cyber?therecord.media Rep. Zach Nunn arrived in Congress with arguably more cyber experience than any other new member in history. Can he fill the shoes of Rep. Mike Gallagher, the party's longtime House leader on cybersec...

It's the spring Golden Jubilee in Rehoboth and Dewey! Tonight was the meetup and parade. Lots of good dogs as always, but really crappy weather.

Scoop: The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency is asking software companies to sign a pledge committing them to implementing seven key "secure-by-design" goals. CISA plans to announce w/ ~50 signatories at RSA. Major test of efficacy of CISA's SBD campaign. wired.com/story/cisa-c...

The US Government Is Asking Big Tech to Promise Better Cybersecuritywired.com The Biden administration is asking tech companies to sign a pledge, obtained by WIRED, to improve their digital security, including reduced default password use and improved vulnerability disclosures.

NEW: Biden has issued a long-awaited update to the government's 2013 blueprint for protecting critical infrastructure from hackers, terrorists, and natural disasters. No new additions to the 16 infrastructure sectors, but plenty of assignments for agencies. My story: www.wired.com/story/biden-...

The White House Reveals New Master Plan to Stop Everything From Cyberattacks to Terrorismwww.wired.com President Joe Biden has updated the directives to protect US critical infrastructure against major threats, from cyberattacks to terrorism to climate change.

There is an annual event at the Delaware beaches called Doodles in Dewey. A Friday night costume parade and a Saturday beach romp. @lweiss.bsky.social and I took Poppy today and it was incredible. Look at these dogs!

I was on KUOW's Soundside program yesterday talking about Microsoft's cybersecurity issues and its relationship with the U.S. government. www.kuow.org/stories/if-m... We discussed my recent Wired story on this topic: www.wired.com/story/the-us...

For Recorded Future News, I interviewed the State Department's top cyber diplomat about his plans for a major new foreign aid fund dedicated to helping our allies and partners improve their cybersecurity and digital connectivity.

America's cyber ambassador on how to spend $50 million in foreign aidtherecord.media “We need to demonstrate in the year ahead … that we are generating outsized returns for the United States and for our allies and partners" in areas like security and internet capacity, says Nathaniel ...

I am not exaggerating when I say that today's new episode of Hoth Takes features the best Star Wars pitch that my co-hosts and I have ever come up with together.

Hoth Takes #49: Thrawn In Sixty Secondshothtakes.wordpress.com Disney is following Tales of the Jedi with Tales of the Empire, opening up new opportunities for Tales anthologies focused on other corners of the galaxy. Given the recent focus on the dark side, we d...

The U.S. government has a Microsoft problem. Market dominance, bureaucratic inertia, and a savvy PR campaign have almost completely insulated the hack-plagued company from meaningful oversight, even as Biden administration officials preach corporate accountability. My new Wired story explains.

The US Government Has a Microsoft Problemwww.wired.com Microsoft has stumbled through a series of major cybersecurity failures over the past few years. Experts say the US government’s reliance on its systems means the company continues to get a free pass.

"What's the big deal?" – Millie

@darthbluesky.bsky.social hi darth poppy says hoppy easter

America's water utilities are sitting ducks for hackers. The industry wants a cooperative approach to regulation. But how would it work, and what are the hurdles? My new story for The Record explores all that and more, with an exclusive preview of a bill that could give the industry what it wants.

The water industry wants to write its own cybersecurity rules. Will Biden and Congress go for it?therecord.media When Iranian government operatives hacked into water utilities across the U.S. late last year, it was a chilling reminder of how vulnerable the water sector remains — and how tortuous the efforts to r...

Had a great time talking about an exciting and mysterious upcoming Star Wars series in the new episode of Hoth Takes.

Hoth Takes #48: Somehow, Palpatine Was Bornhothtakes.wordpress.com With the upcoming Star Wars TV show The Acolyte in the news recently, Eric and Grace sit down to discuss their hopes and expectations for the franchise’s first mystery thriller. We talk about the stor...

I've got a new story for Wired about how the conservative backlash against CISA for its work fighting misinformation in 2020 could upend painstakingly built election security partnerships between the agency and GOP election officials.

How a Right-Wing Controversy Could Sabotage US Election Securitywww.wired.com Republicans who run elections are split over whether to keep working with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency to fight hackers, online falsehoods, and polling-place threats.

New Hoth Takes episode is out, celebrating Valentine's Day with a discussion of romance in Star Wars!

Hoth Takes #47: Gothic, Melodramatic, And Bad For Everybodyhothtakes.wordpress.com For as long as the stars have been warring, they’ve also been loving. So why has the Disney era of Star Wars had noticeably fewer romances, including multiple frustrating missed opportunities in the s...

"Mr. Green denied timing his entrance to trick Republicans, explaining that he assumed that the vote would be tight but that Republicans would prevail since they had chosen to bring the resolution onto the floor."

Al Green, in Hospital Garb, Delivers Vote to Kill Mayorkas Impeachmentwww.nytimes.com The Democrat from Texas had undergone abdominal surgery but rushed to the Capitol because he said the vote was “personal.”

The Messenger shut down yesterday, which means I’m looking for a new job. If you think your newsroom needs a cyber reporter, please reach out. I posted highlights of my work from the past seven months on the other site: twitter.com/ericgeller/s...

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