- Tech
-
-
Tech
The gadgets, platforms, and software that make your digital life possible. if it bleeps, clicks or blinks, you’ll find it here.
-
Categories
-
-
Latest
- Feds say college student operated drug business through gaming app Thursday 4:36 PM
- Facebook let advertisers target users interested in infamous Nazis Thursday 1:58 PM
- Trump randomly calls for companies to ‘step up’ their 5G efforts in U.S. Thursday 10:28 AM
- 12 essential Amazon Echo accessories for your smart home Thursday 6:00 AM
- Pinterest is reportedly blocking vaccination searches Wednesday 2:53 PM
-
-
-
- Internet Culture
-
-
Internet Culture
There’s a community for everyone online.
-
Categories
-
-
Latest
- Bowser is taking over Nintendo—and the memes make themselves Thursday 7:02 PM
- The eyes have it in these ‘Alita: Battle Angel’ memes Thursday 2:13 PM
- Someone figured out that Toothless from ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ looks just like Bulbasaur Thursday 12:44 PM
- The truth behind the anti-LGBTQ emoji controversy Wednesday 1:37 PM
- John Mayer steps in to Photoshop Diplo’s Instagram Wednesday 9:28 AM
-
-
-
- Streaming
-
-
Streaming
You’ve cut the cord—now what?
-
Categories
-
-
Latest
- How to watch the new Bon Appetit channel for free Thursday 12:03 PM
- Eminem disses Netflix for canceling ‘The Punisher’ Thursday 11:50 AM
- Chris Hemsworth will become Hulk Hogan for Netflix biopic Thursday 11:29 AM
- Fortnite just introduced a K-Pop skin, and here’s how to unlock it Thursday 11:06 AM
- The YouTuber who exposed the site’s ‘softcore pedophile ring’ is under attack Thursday 10:39 AM
-
-
-
- IRL
-
-
IRL
Where your off- and online identities collide.
-
Categories
-
-
Latest
- Feds say college student operated drug business through gaming app Thursday 4:36 PM
- Disturbing Snapchat video shows 17-year-old throwing dog on trampoline Thursday 12:16 PM
- Florida prisons sued for depriving inmates of music they paid for Thursday 11:36 AM
- The Twitter accounts taking on journalism’s straight, white, cis male problem Thursday 6:30 AM
- These people are organizing Fyre Fest live-action role-play parties Wednesday 6:35 PM
-
-
-
- Social
-
-
Social
If it happens online, it’s here.
-
Categories
-
-
Latest
- ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ delivers a powerfully political episode Thursday 8:30 PM
- Bowser is taking over Nintendo—and the memes make themselves Thursday 7:02 PM
- California aims to strengthen data breach notification law Thursday 5:37 PM
- Feds say college student operated drug business through gaming app Thursday 4:36 PM
- Trump is again using old videos to claim his border wall is ‘under construction Thursday 4:05 PM
-
-
-
- Bazaar
-
-
Bazaar
The Bazaar specializes in the stuff you don’t actually need…but you really, really want.
-
Categories
-
-
Latest
- Allow your wallet to be your spirit guide during this rad anime sale Tuesday 10:43 AM
- 14 artsy cartoon mugs that’ll help make your days more creative Monday 12:15 PM
- Get your nerd on with ThinkGeek’s Funko Pop B2G1 sale Monday 3:00 AM
- Play all your NES games in high def with the Hyperkin RetroN HD Tuesday 8:39 AM
- The Introvert Activity Book is perfect for those who find solace in alone time Monday 11:30 AM
-
-
-
- More
- Search
See all Editor's Picks →
See all Popular →
Represented by Complex Media, Inc. for advertising sales.
Privacy Policy Terms & Conditions Ethics
Latest
- ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ delivers a powerfully political episode Thursday 8:30 PM
- Bowser is taking over Nintendo—and the memes make themselves Thursday 7:02 PM
- California aims to strengthen data breach notification law Thursday 5:37 PM
- Feds say college student operated drug business through gaming app Thursday 4:36 PM
- Trump is again using old videos to claim his border wall is ‘under construction Thursday 4:05 PM
- Laura Loomer led a second protest at Twitter yesterday Thursday 3:37 PM
- The eyes have it in these ‘Alita: Battle Angel’ memes Thursday 2:13 PM
- Facebook let advertisers target users interested in infamous Nazis Thursday 1:58 PM
- Dem senator promises to put net neutrality on the ‘political hot seat’ in coming months Thursday 1:28 PM
- Someone figured out that Toothless from ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ looks just like Bulbasaur Thursday 12:44 PM
- Disturbing Snapchat video shows 17-year-old throwing dog on trampoline Thursday 12:16 PM
- How to watch the new Bon Appetit channel for free Thursday 12:03 PM
- Eminem disses Netflix for canceling ‘The Punisher’ Thursday 11:50 AM
- Florida prisons sued for depriving inmates of music they paid for Thursday 11:36 AM
- Chris Hemsworth will become Hulk Hogan for Netflix biopic Thursday 11:29 AM
Ross Ulbricht’s legal defense fund struggling to raise money

Lyn Ulbricht says she can’t raise enough money for her son’s defense.
Ross Ulbricht, the alleged mastermind behind Deep Web black market Silk Road, is broke.
In an interview recently posted to YouTube, Lyn Ulbricht, Ross’s mother, describes the tough time she’s had raising money for her son’s legal defense fund. It’s been “very slow,” Lyn Ulbricht says. “We are way behind.”
“Another misconception is that Ross is rich,” Lyn said in a recent interview conducted during SXSW.” Ross has nothing, he’s completely dependent on his parents to put money in his commissary. We are not rich people.”
Lyn says the money will go towards putting forward the best defense possible including the best forensics available “to analyze this complex and difficult data.”
“This will be a precedent setting case,” she said. “The future of Bitcoin, Internet privacy, Internet freedom, tor, encryption, Internet commerce…is at stake.”
Arrested in Oct. 2013, Ulbricht faces charges that he conspired to traffic narcotics, engage in money laundering, and ran a “continuing criminal enterprise,” a charge often levelled against heads of organized crime cartels. He’s also been hit with murder-for-hire charges, which Ulbricht’s family called “the most sensationalist and damning allegation.” Those were noticeably absent at a recent arraignment, mentioned only as an aside in the drug conspiracy charge.
The fund, which was launched shortly after the arrest was made, has yet to catch on despite many of Dread Pirate Roberts’ old supporters likely being wealthy from their trade on Silk Road. One of the major reason Ulbricht has been shunned by a significant portion of the Deep Web and Bitcoin communities is the murder allegation that hangs over him. If that charge truly disappears, is it too late to repair an already damaged image?
“It doesn’t have to be a lot,” Ulbricht’s mother said, asking for more donations. “If a lot of people gave a little, it’d make a difference.”
Photo via Free Ross/Facebook

Patrick Howell O'Neill
Patrick Howell O'Neill is a notable cybersecurity reporter whose work has focused on the dark net, national security, and law enforcement. A former senior writer at the Daily Dot, O'Neill joined CyberScoop in October 2016. I am a cybersecurity journalist at CyberScoop. I cover the security industry, national security and law enforcement.