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Catch up on coronavirus stories and special reports, curated by Mike Allen everyday

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Hackers stole $6 million from Russian bank

Hackers pilfered more than 340 million roubles from a Russian bank. (Stanislav Krasilnikov / Getty)

Hackers stole 340 million roubles ($6 million) from a Russian bank, the Russian central bank confirmed to Reuters. According to the report, the thieves hijacked a Russian bank's computer and made fraudulent transfers over the SWIFT interbank communications network, used internationally by banks to shuffle trillions of dollars a day.

Why it matters: SWIFT is an increasingly popular vector to steal money from banks. Hackers have stolen millions of dollars using the system including $81 million from the Central Bank of Bangladesh in 2016, with other incidents spanning from Ecuador to Taiwan. The security of the network depends on banks protecting their own computers, which has proven difficult.

Go deeper

Margaret Harding McGill, Ashley Gold
21 mins ago - Technology

Tech digs in for long domestic terror fight

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

With domestic extremist networks scrambling to regroup online, experts fear the next attack could come from a radicalized individual — much harder than coordinated mass events for law enforcement and platforms to detect or deter.

The big picture: Companies like Facebook and Twitter stepped up enforcement and their conversations with law enforcement ahead of Inauguration Day. But they'll be tested as the threat rises that impatient lone-wolf attackers will lash out.

Go deeper (2 min. read)Arrow
Marisa Fernandez
32 mins ago - Health

The pandemic could be worsening childhood obesity

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

The 10-month long school closures and the coronavirus pandemic are expected to have a big impact on childhood obesity rates.

Why it matters: About one in five children are obese in the U.S. — an all-time high — with worsening obesity rates across income and racial and ethnic groups, data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey show.

Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow
Dave Lawler, author of World
32 mins ago - World

Biden's Russia challenge

Illustration: Eniola Odetunde/Axios

The Biden administration has already proposed a five-year extension of the last treaty constraining the U.S. and Russian nuclear arsenals, announced an urgent investigation into a massive Russia-linked cyberattack, and demanded the release of Russia’s leading opposition figure, Alexey Navalny.

Why it matters: Those three steps in Biden's first week underscore the challenge he faces from Vladimir Putin — an authoritarian intent on weakening the U.S. and its alliances, with whom he’ll nonetheless have to engage on critical issues.

Go deeper (2 min. read)Arrow

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