News Briefs

12-Year-Old’s Lost Video Has Resurfaced, Discussing Bitcoin at $8 and the Power of Peer-to-Peer Transactions

In 2011, a 12-year-old unknowingly predicted Bitcoin's rise in a forgotten YouTube video. Now, crypto enthusiasts have rediscovered it, launching $TPU, a Solana-based memecoin named after his old channel. The internet is hailing him as an accidental visionary, proving once again that the digital world never forgets -- and that early tech predictions can age like fine wine. more

New VPN Protocol Outsmarts VPN Blockers

NordVPN has introduced NordWhisper, a new protocol designed to bypass VPN restrictions in countries such as Russia and India. The protocol mimics regular internet traffic, making it difficult for internet service providers (ISPs) and websites to detect and block VPN usage. more

RDAP Replaces WHOIS: A New Era in Domain Name Data Management

Today marks a significant shift in how internet registries manage domain name data as the Registration Data Access Protocol (RDAP) officially replaces the legacy WHOIS system. Designed to address privacy and data access challenges, RDAP modernizes how information about domain registrations is queried and provided. more

Baltic Sea Infrastructure Targeted Amid Rising Geopolitical Tensions

An underwater data cable linking Sweden and Latvia was damaged early Sunday, marking the fourth such incident in the Baltic Sea, fueling concerns within NATO regarding the security of critical infrastructure. more

NATO’s Orbital Lifeline: A Backup Plan for the Internet

NATO’s HEIST project tackles the vulnerability of undersea internet cables by testing satellite backups and advanced monitoring. The initiative aims to safeguard global communications against accidental damage and potential sabotage. more

Europe Seeks Space Independence with €10.6bn Iris² Satellite Network

Europe has embarked on its most ambitious space initiative in a decade, unveiling plans to build the €10.6bn Iris² satellite network. more

Domain Trends Signal Shifting Tides in 2024

The domain industry in 2024 revealed notable shifts in registration patterns, signaling an evolving online landscape. According to a newly published report by Namecheap, .shop climbed to become the second-most-popular top-level domain (TLD), boasting over 721,000 registrations, displacing .xyz after years of dominance. Among country-code TLDs (ccTLDs), .me rose to the top, marking its ascent from eighth place in 2023. more

CENTR Study Highlights Role of Content in Domain Renewal

The Council of European National Top-Level Domain Registries (CENTR) has released a public version of its 2024 Renewal Study, offering insights into the dynamics of domain retention within country code top-level domains (ccTLDs). more

Chinese Hackers Exploit U.S. Telecom Systems, Eviction Efforts Lag

American officials have revealed an ongoing struggle to expel Chinese hackers from telecommunications networks, months after the espionage was first discovered. The campaign, attributed to a group called "Salt Typhoon," has infiltrated major telecom carriers, particularly in the Washington region. more

Meta’s $10 Billion Plan to Build the World’s Largest Subsea Cable Network

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, is embarking on an ambitious $10 billion project to construct a privately-owned, 40,000-kilometer subsea cable network. Dubbed the "mother of all submarine cables," this endeavor aims to bolster Meta's data infrastructure and sidestep geopolitical risks associated with traditional cable routes. more

FCC Clears SpaceX, T-Mobile Deal to Expand Coverage to Dead Zones

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has granted T-Mobile and SpaceX approval to extend mobile coverage to remote areas using satellite technology. This marks the first authorization of its kind, allowing collaboration between a wireless carrier and a satellite operator to utilize spectrum bands traditionally reserved for terrestrial services. more

Wi-Fi 8: Beyond Speed, Towards Seamless Connectivity

As the IEEE 802.11 task force turns its attention to developing Wi-Fi 8, the next iteration of wireless networking standards, the focus has shifted from sheer speed to enhancing user experience. more

Biden Administration to Back UN Cybercrime Treaty Amid Controversy

The Biden administration is poised to support a contentious United Nations cybercrime treaty, a move likely to spark debate over potential abuses, according to top officials.  more

PIR Reaches 11 Million .ORG Domains, Citing Growth and Online Safety Efforts

Public Interest Registry (PIR), the nonprofit managing the .ORG domain, recently announced it now oversees 11 million registrations. Jon Nevett, PIR's CEO, attributes this growth to what he describes as a "responsible" expansion, emphasizing a focus on security and community support. more

Internet Visionaries Honored with Postel Service Award

The Internet Society has announced the 2024 Jonathan B. Postel Service Award recipients, honoring Steve Crocker and Xing Li for their pioneering work in advancing the global Internet infrastructure. more