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mikael-thalen

Mikael Thalen


Mikael Thalen is a tech and security reporter based in Seattle, covering social media, data breaches, hackers, and more.

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  • daemon targaryen sitting on the iron throne (left) and rhaenyra targaryen (right) in house of the dragon

    Delving into ‘House of the Dragon’s tangled Targaryen family tree

    Internet Culture

  • gavin mayo and squiggles nft

    How accusations around a major NFT release sank it—and raised questions about an alleged NFT ‘ring’

    Tech

  • A man wearing a mask and carrying a flag.

    How fears of the ‘antifa apocalypse’ set the stage for QAnon

    Tech

Nick Fuentes Key Lieutenant in graduation cap and mask (l) Man being handcuffed by man in suit (r)

Top ally of Nick Fuentes arrested for threats against conservative group, child porn

'July 22 is the day of retribution... '

On Aug 19, 2022 by Mikael Thalen

Tech
Lawrence County Republican Party logo on white background

Republican group accidentally uses KKK symbols in Facebook post

'I would like to offer a deep and sincere apology...'

On Aug 18, 2022 by Mikael Thalen

Tech
Facebook logo centered on white background blue banner with white stars left red and white stripes banner right

Facebook is bringing back its ineffective one-week ad ban for the 2022 midterms

The social media giant carried out a similar ban in 2020.

On Aug 18, 2022 by Mikael Thalen

Tech
pregnant woman checking phone

Only one pregnancy tracking app has adequate privacy, security policies, study finds

Mozilla points out 18 health apps that it believes consumers should avoid.

On Aug 17, 2022 by Mikael Thalen

Tech
Amazon logo on blue background (l) Gen Z for Change logo on white background (r)

Top TikTokers are organizing to fight for overworked Amazon employees

Creators are refusing to monetize their accounts for Amazon unless the company meets workers' demands.

On Aug 16, 2022 by Mikael Thalen

Tech
A large fire in a crop field next to a comment blaming the governmentRob and Stephanie Levy

Conspiracy theorists keep claiming that the government is purposely burning food crops

The claim isn’t true and is part of a larger effort to blame current food-chain issues on a sinister plot.

On Aug 16, 2022 by Mikael Thalen

Tech
man speaking on couch caption "What about the tech industry do you feel like is most inaccurately portrayed thru techtok" (l) hands up close typing on laptop foreground workers typing on laptops and pointing at screen in background (c) man speaking on couch caption "What about the tech industry do you feel like is most inaccurately portrayed thru techtok" (r)

‘It leaves you in this never-ending existential crisis’: Tech worker says tech industry isn’t ‘chill’ like TikTok portrays it, sparking debate

'Super stressful industry. Don't even get me started on the interview processes.'

On Aug 12, 2022 by Mikael Thalen

Tech
man speaking (l) man holding military bag putting it down (c) man speaking touching beard (r)

‘We have guns too’: Trump supporters flood TikTok with threats of civil war

'Yea, it's go time. Everyone knows exactly what I'm talking about.'

On Aug 12, 2022 by Mikael Thalen

Tech
Man at beach setting up greenscreen background caption "Spotted :a fellow remote "worker" setting up his "office" green screen for the day" (l) Man at beach setting up greenscreen background caption "Spotted :a fellow remote "worker" setting up his "office" green screen for the day" (c) Man at beach setting up greenscreen background caption "Spotted :a fellow remote "worker" setting up his "office" green screen for the day" (r)

‘This is brilliant’: Remote employee sets up green screen while working from the beach, sparking debate

'Nothing to see here but a productive and proactive employee.'

On Aug 11, 2022 by Mikael Thalen

Tech
Young woman (l&r) Young woman with email background (c)

Tech worker explains what to do if your iPhone is stolen and they try to extort you via text by threatening to release its contents

'Should I just delete it?'

On Aug 11, 2022 by Mikael Thalen

Tech
young woman in bed with caption "having trouble getting a job?" (l) young woman in car with caption "having trouble getting a job?" (c) young woman in bed with caption "Clarification on Recruiting Hack" (r)

‘These keywords will get you past the initial screening process, which is all robotic’: Recruiter exposes job hack to help you land interview

'I merely told you what we did that got candidates in the door.'

On Aug 10, 2022 by Mikael Thalen

Tech
Facebook logo paper cutout with privacy concept paper cutouts scattered (fingerprint and lock) with lock on top

Facebook handed over a teen’s DMs to police, who then arrested her for having an abortion

Police in Nebraska charge a 17-year-old and her mother after obtaining Facebook messages.

On Aug 9, 2022 by Mikael Thalen

Tech
Donald Trump speaking on blue background (l) Bruce Reinhart speaking on city background (r)

Judge who likely signed warrant for Trump-FBI raid has ties to Epstein employees, sparking outrage

The raid is being seen as politically motived given the judge's history.

On Aug 9, 2022 by Mikael Thalen

Tech
The singer Kid Rock

Don’t fall for this fake Kid Rock post about the COVID vaccine

Conspiracy theorists are convinced Kid Rock exposed Pfizer.

On Aug 9, 2022 by Mikael Thalen

Tech
woman greenscreen TikTok over phone call caption "Part 3: got a call from their corporate offices" (l) woman speaking in car caption "Planet Fitness your days are numbered" (c) woman speaking outside caption "Part 4" (r)

‘Let’s sue Planet Fitness’: Woman can’t cancel her gym membership

'They literally make it impossible.'

On Aug 5, 2022 by Mikael Thalen

Tech

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