🕵️‍♂️ The $330M Bitcoin Heist That Pumped Monero 50%+

An elderly citizen lost 3,520 BTC in one of the biggest crypto heists ever - Hakeem breaks it down in this video from #TBOT Show Episode 3.

The scammer? Allegedly a Somali operator running a UK call center.

Within 12 hours they:
→ Peeled the BTC off to dozens of exchanges
→ Swapped half of it to Monero, pumping the price 50%

But when I dug into the wallet myself, things didn’t add up. The BTC was moving *before* the reported hack. Custodial exchange behavior? Or something deeper?

Takeaways:
– Don’t trust CEXs
– Hold Monero for private deals
– Use non-custodial tools like StackWallet
-Check out Unstoppable Swap for BTC/XMR swaps

Want solutions? Read the full article on Substack

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Reading about Trump's new mobile phone service and I see this in the privacy policy. I guess Trump really is embracing AI - if you use his service then you'll be enrolled into AI monitoring.

Should I even bother covering the Trump phone in this weeks show? Let me know on @takebackourtech_chat

If nature has made any one thing less susceptible than all others of exclusive property, it is the action of the thinking power called an idea, which an individual may exclusively possess as long as he keeps it to himself; but the moment it is divulged, it forces itself into the possession of every one, and the receiver cannot dispossess himself of it. Its peculiar character, too, is that no one possesses the less, because every other possesses the whole of it. He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.
- Thomas Jefferson, Letter to Isaac McPherson 1813

Pulled from the Catskull blog

I've been thinking about 'originality' over the past few days, as 90% of the web these days is content ripped from other channels. People are content with copying content - and they actually get results / views. One example of this is the TikTok trend where someone is like:

"This is so on point" - and then proceeds to project their face ontop of someone else's video, which is totally not needed. (your face isn't that interesting my guy) Rarely do they credit the original creator.

Its like the person who tells the joke you told once more - but gets people to laugh.

There are some who say you can't 'own' an idea, or intellectual property. Then there are those who freely give their ideas away. In software, using the MIT license is akin to this - very permissible, but requires anyone working with the software to grant others the same license, in some cases - passing on the copyright of the creator.

What do you think? Can one own an idea? Should one protect it with a license? Does it matter if you get credit? Or is the idea having an impact the most important thing?

⚡ What Meta & Apple Really Think of “Decentralized” Messaging

On The Corbett Report’s #Solutions Watch, I told James Corbett about how Apple and Meta were fined €700M for blocking interoperability on their messaging apps. They’re turning “decentralization” into a pay-to-play scheme—forcing you to see ads or pay to remove them, while locking out third-party access.

All this while ignoring that their tech is built on XMPP, a 25+ year-old open messaging protocol. Wild, right?

🔗 Catch the full convo here!

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🚨 CEO of Telegram Tells All for the First Time After French Arrest

Pavel Durov just spoke publicly for the first time since his surprise arrest in France last year on Tucker Carlson.

He got jumped by the police at the airport, authorities tried to charge him for crimes allegedly committed by users on Telegram including drug trafficking, and distributing child abuse material.

French officials reportedly sent requests directly to Telegram instead of going through proper legal channels—possibly to an address no one monitors. With no response, they moved to detain Pavel.

Durov says Telegram has always complied with lawful data requests and shared info like IPs + phone numbers when required under the Digital Services Act.

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Why Do You Need Telegram Premium To Prevent Strangers From Messaging You?

From my latest article on Telegram's CEO Pave Durov.

One thing bothered me about the interview. We do need ask Pavel some hard questions. Why do you have to pay for the ability to prevent spammers from contacting you? Yes - that’s right, you need to pay for Telegram premium to prevent unknown people from sending you messages. 99% of the time - these are scammers preying on people. And most of the spammers use Telegram premium to improve their deliverability. Is Telegram making money of scammers and their victims?

On one hand, I am thankful that Telegram kept a place for dissident voices while most platforms were censoring over the past 4 years. On the other hand, we should demand more from a company that supposedly champions their user’s privacy and freedom.

The other day I took my nephew to get a smoothie. While we were checking out the lady at the counter asked for a name for the order. I responded with "David". My nephew looked at me with confusion.

As we walked away I explained that Uncle Derrick values privacy and that there's no reason restaurants need to know your name to make a smoothie for you. I told him about the world before he was born in 2012 and how people used to care about protecting their private information. I said that even though giving a name is "not a big deal" its just one way I flex my privacy muscle and encouraged him to be careful about handing over his personal data while he's playing on his phone.

He responded, "Ok Uncle David", and proceeded to tell me his favorite alias.

⚡ The Hidden Cost of Convenience

Windows is pushing users toward the cloud—without asking. Your files, your settings, your digital life moved and managed remotely, often without your explicit consent. Add to that the constant stream of forced updates, and you’ve got a system that prioritizes control over user rights. Convenience might feel smooth, but it comes with serious risks when corporations decide what happens to your data.

📺 This clip is from our webinar *What’s Your Privacy Score?* — catch the full replay here!

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This morning I rose before the sun and listened to the neighborhood wake up. There’s a wonderful lineage of birds near me, and I always appreciate their morning song. One song is peculiarly similar to a car alarm - the same types of horn patterns, repeated one after another.

An alarm brashly notifies everyone around it, getting everyone in earshot into a panic, or annoyance - its the loudest noise out there. Someone or something has crossed the machine’s line and it will not stand for it.

I took a moment to appreciate this bird’s remix, the peaceful way it sung the noises into something worth listening to, with its peaceful pauses and gentle tweets. Singing out loud and leaving space, longing for a reply from a mate?

It reminds me that no matter what humans come up with next, the inorganic, cold, artifical things we can conjure - nature can always find a way to bring us back.

For anyone out there who needs this - the OG feel good frequencies: https://invidious.nerdvpn.de/watch?v=kQbP_3YQqQw

oh and daily reminder make like a cricket and go touch grass 🦗

🚨 Texans Will Soon Be Forced to Verify Their Age To Download Apps

Starting Jan 2026, Texas will require age verification for all app store downloads - Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

This means Texans will have to upload documents or use a Digital ID. Kids under 18 need a parent-linked account to install anything.

This doesn't stop harmful content. It enrolls everyone—not just kids—into the digital ID system.

⚠️ 9+ states pushing similar laws. Think it's a coincidence?

Workarounds:
– Use F-Droid or Aurora Store (not available on iPhone)
– Download directly from developers
– Ditch Big Tech phones for privacy-respecting options

Want solutions? Read the full article on Substack

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⚡️Travel Light. Connect Instantly. Stay Private.
@abovephone

eSIM + Above DataSIM = unstoppable mobile freedom.

🌎 Download a plan instantly in 50+ countries
🛡️ No ID needed — your info stays with you
📲 Use encrypted apps with no trace
💼 Works on most modern devices

No carrier contracts. No surveillance.
Learn more & grab your Above DataSIM:

https://abovephone.com/esim-vs-physical-sim-guide/

🚨 New Interview Out Now!

I joined Dr. Trozzi to break down how Big Tech turned convenience into control—and why that should concern all of us.

We covered the illusion of safety, the systems behind your screen, and the real tools you can use to take back your digital freedom.

🎧 Watch the full interview here
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We are in the final days of fundraising for The Pyramid of Power.

We are aiming to raise $1,000 in the next couple days.

If you haven't yet invested in this project, please consider investing $25 USD. Everyone who invests at least 25 bucks will be invited to join me in a private telegram group for exclusive updates on the final chapter of the series.

This is the last time I will ask for your financial support for this project. I am so humbled and grateful to everyone who has supported and I couldn't have come this far without you.

Thanks for the support! If you can spare it, please consider investing in the FINAL days of our FINAL crowdfunding.

Invest here: https://fundrazr.com/thepopfinal

🧠 RISC-V: The Open Processor Architecture We Deserve

What’s the future for CPUs? Oregon based company AheadComputing are making a bet on RISC-V. Four of the top chip architects from Intel are now attempt to build the “biggest, baddest CPU in the world” - according to Debbie Marr, the AheadComputing’s CEO.

RISC-V is revolutionary in a few ways:

•One, any company can implement the RISC-V architecture in a processor without paying licensing fees or royalties
•Two, RISC-V is a modular architecture, meaning that there’s a base set of instructions and a number of extensions - so that a processor can be tweaked as needed

Note that RISC-V isn’t an actual processor. It’s an open spec without licensing, which means that anyone can design a processor that implements RISC-V and write software for it.

This sets the stage for an open-source processor, but ultimately depends on the company that develops the processor.

Read the full article on Substack

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⚡ Coinbase Gave Up Your Info
@takebackourtech

On a recent segment of The Daily Pulse with Zeee Media, I broke down what's been happening with Coinbase. The U.S. government approached them for user data, and Coinbase eventually complied—handing over personal info linked to wallets, transactions, and more.

After that, the IRS began contacting users directly, asking if they held crypto—because they already had access to keys and details. This is a wake-up call: if you don’t control your keys, you don’t control your crypto.

📍 Take precautions. Know where your assets are stored—and who can access them.

Watch the full show here: https://above.sh/GHXveM

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#TBOT is now part of GeopoliticsLive, a collection of channels covering geopolitics, politics, global news, economy, and more. All English speaking! Stay informed.

Whether you're seeking in-depth analysis, breaking news, or expert insights, our catalog has got you covered.

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The TBOT Show #4 - Android Open Source Still Alive, Trump Phone, XMR Based DarkNetMarket Taken Down, Big Tech Execs Now Colonels, Find Your Phone Privately

You ready for the download? Today we cover why Android Custom ROMs can push through lack of support, how Trump phone could never be made in the US, the new big tech executives sworn into the army, and how to find your phone privately.

WATCH ON SUBSTACK

🎊 *Welcome to the # Take Back Our Tech show with Hakeem Anwar. Every Friday, tune into tech news that could change your life. Well-researched and with solutions - all in 20 minutes.

⭐ PLUS - Each story comes with recommendations and there’s one cool tech trick or open-source solution every week.

Stories in this episode:

Android Open Source Is Alive - Panic this week for privacy phones, as Google stopped releasing important components of their new Android release. How will alternative operating systems cope with these changes? We’ll find out.

Trump Phone - The sitting President launches yet another company, this time a mobile service and a gold phone. Is all that glitters gold, or are you going to be tracked by AI if you use this service? Find out more.

Biggest DarkNetMarket Takedown - ArcheTyp market, one of the biggest illegal drug markets that exist on Tor was just taken down and its moderator arrested. Estimated at $300M of revenue in Monero, we’ll look at how the players got caught.

Big Tech Executives Turned Colonels? Earlier this week, big tech executives from Meta, OpenAI, and Palantir were sworn in as Lieutenant Colonels. Learn more about the acceleration of the military’s AI transformation.

Find Your Phone and Friends, Privately? Hakeem will look into a new app that lets you share your location with contacts without needing a big tech connection.

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#TBOT related news:

• Get a deep dive into SIM swapping on our Above webinar
• 5 Must-Change Privacy Settings on iPhone & Android
• Get privacy gear

The TBOT Show #4

🎙️ Every Friday, Hakeem breaks down the tech news that matters — with tools, tricks, and open-source solutions.

📺 WATCH ON SUBSTACK

You ready for the download?

Android Open Source Is Alive - Google cuts access to key components — can privacy ROMs survive?

Trump Phone - Trump launches a gold phone & mobile service. But is it private?

Biggest DarkNetMarket Takedown - $300M Monero market taken down, moderator arrested.

Big Tech Executives Turned Colonels? - Execs from Meta, Palantir, and OpenAI sworn into the U.S. military.

Find Your Phone and Friends, Privately - A new app lets you locate your people—no big tech needed.

#TBOT related news:

SIM swapping Survival Guide
5 Must Have Privacy Settings
Get privacy gear

Personal advertising in the future according to Minority report:

https://youtu.be/7bXJ_obaiYQ