Kevin Collier

@kevincollier
7.2K Followers
444 Following
650 Posts

Cyber reporter at NBC. Also privacy, elections, infrastructure, etc. I like to tell stories about the cyber affecting everyday people.

Tip me! @kevincollier.01 on signal, and please first turn on disappearing messages if it's sensitive. kevin.collier@nbcuni.com works too.

Threadshttps://www.threads.net/@kevincolliernbc
Kevin CollierMay 15
FBI warning of AI-generated SMS and MMS scams impersonating current federal officials. Anybody seen this? Any idea what this is abouyt?
https://www.ic3.gov/PSA/2025/PSA250515
Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) | Senior US Officials Impersonated in Malicious Messaging Campaign

Kevin CollierMay 1
Have any researchers taken the World system apart and looked for flaws? Would love to know what is out there.
https://www.wired.com/story/sam-altman-orb-eyeball-scan-launch-us/
Sam Altman's Eye-Scanning Orb Is Now Coming to the US

At a buzzy event in San Francisco, World announced a series of Apple-like stores, a partnership with dating giant Match Group, and a new mini gadget to scan your eyeballs.

WIRED
Kevin CollierApr 30

Kristi Noem spoke at RSA today and said she had had a "candid" conversation with tech leaders here in SF earlier in the day. My understanding is they were executives in tech, critical infrastructure, and cyber.

Do you know of anyone who attended? I'm looking for details of the guest list and what the conversation was like. Can keep your identity private. Signal is kevincollier.01, email kevin.collier@nbcuni.com.

Kevin CollierMar 8

Cyber folks, anybody reviewed this research? Presentation linked in the story, in Spanish. Very curious how people smarter than I am see it.

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/undocumented-backdoor-found-in-bluetooth-chip-used-by-a-billion-devices/

Undocumented "backdoor" found in Bluetooth chip used by a billion devices

The ubiquitous ESP32 microchip made by Chinese manufacturer Espressif and used by over 1 billion units as of 2023 contains an undocumented "backdoor" that could be leveraged for attacks.

BleepingComputer
Kevin CollierFeb 15

More than 130 CISA employees have been laid off as part of a larger government purge, DHS spokesperson tells me.

If you have firsthand knowledge of this and want the public to know, your opsec is a top priority and I promise to keep you anonymous in all our coverage. I'm kevincollier.01 on signal; please turn on disappearing messages.

Kevin CollierJan 19
Security and privacy folks: How is TikTok identifying American users? Even using Tor or VPNs with a laptop, I'm unable to load TikTok.com. Is this a cookie thing? Have they stored MAC addresses related to accounts with a US phone number and are blocking them en masse? (Actual answers only please)
Kevin CollierDec 15, 2024
I've seen a few scattered references to cybercriminals mailing people boxes with a seemingly accidental gift and a QR code that links to a malicious site. A little skeptical of how widespread this can be. Has anybody done real research here?
Kevin CollierNov 11, 2024
Anybody feel strongly that one particular tweet deleting service is better than others? Criteria: must currently work (that's a dealbreaker). Bonus points for ease of use for normies, cheap is better than expensive and free is better still, reliable/not going to suspend your account definitely preferred.
Kevin CollierNov 8, 2024
New from me: an analysis of all the known Election Day bomb threats shows they were all in battleground states and primarily targeted Dem counties. Emailed to Atlanta, Milwaukee, Detroit, Philadelphia — all Dem strongholds in purple states. Perp still unknown.
https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/security/election-day-bomb-threats-overwhelmingly-targeted-democrat-leaning-rcna179006
Election Day bomb threats largely hit Democrat-leaning counties

Bomb threats sent to polling places in at least five battleground states Tuesday targeted mostly Democratic counties, an NBC News analysis has found.

NBC News
Kevin CollierNov 8, 2024
The days after Trump's election, a nationwide campaign started texting racist messages to Black Americans. Not going to speculate on who is responsible, but it's widespread. Feds are investigating and I suspect we'll find out.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/black-people-text-messages-picking-cotton-nearest-plantation-rcna179036
Black people are receiving texts about picking cotton 'at the nearest plantation'

Dozens of Black people across the country said they have received text messages telling them they had been “selected” to pick cotton “at the nearest plantation.”

NBC News