Lucas Ropek, Author at Gizmodo

Here’s Where Tech Won and Lost in the Midterms

The votes are (mostly) in. Republicans won some. Dems did better than expected. How did tech fare?

Tech News Lucas Ropek Nov 10

Oculus Founder Palmer Luckey Created a VR Headset That Kills You If You Die in the Game

The VR billionaire really wants you to feel like you're in the game. Like, really.

Tech News Lucas Ropek Nov 7

Greece Is Banning All Sales of Spyware After a Huge Phone-Tapping Scandal

After commercially available spyware was used to spy on droves of Greek politicians and journalists, the government is implementing a blanket prohibition.

Privacy & Security Lucas Ropek Nov 7

Researchers Spin up Terrifying Hacker Drone That Can ‘See Through Walls’ With Wifi

Drones are creepy enough already, but researchers at the University of Waterloo recently fixed one up with a scanning device that is the definition of invasive.

Privacy & Security Lucas Ropek Nov 5

Google’s Long History of Messaging App Rebrands, Pivots, and Retirements—Explained

As we bid farewell to Google Hangouts, we thought it only appropriate to look back at Google's many, many, messenger iterations.

Tech News Lucas Ropek Nov 4

You Really Don’t Want the Government to Be Your Content Moderator

New reporting reveals the Department of Homeland Security's ongoing efforts to police "dangerous" and subversive ideas on the internet. What could go wrong?

Tech News Lucas Ropek Nov 1

Instagram Confirms ‘Issues’ as Users Report Arbitrary Account Suspensions, Follower Drops

Meta is off to a rough start this week, with thousands of reports pouring in of trouble on Instagram.

Tech News Lucas Ropek Oct 31

One Year After Facebook Went Meta, It’s Built a Multiverse of Problems

A disastrous Q3 earnings report has left many wondering whether Meta's big gamble on the metaverse will ever actually pay off.

Tech News Lucas Ropek Oct 30

Ohio GOP Candidate Blames ‘Hacker’ After Liking a Bunch of MILF Porn on Twitter

According to Jarrod Golden’s campaign, he was definitely not the one who kept expressing excitement for “hot mom bods” dressed in tight lingerie.

Tech News Lucas Ropek Oct 27

New York Post Says Tweet Calling for AOC’s Assassination Was the Result of a Hack [UPDATE]

The newspaper's Twitter account came alive with links to shocking fake stories on Thursday morning.

Privacy & Security Lucas Ropek Oct 27

Tesla Faces Criminal Probe From DOJ Over Its Self-Driving Car Claims

The company has already faced similar investigations from the federal government and the state of California.

Tech News Lucas Ropek Oct 26

Feds Say They Finally Got the Operator of The Real Deal, One of the Dark Web’s Most Notorious Markets

For years, the site offered a variety of dubious services, including the sale of "zero day" exploits that could hack major corporations.

Privacy & Security Lucas Ropek Oct 26

App That Delivers Alcohol to Your Apartment Because You’re Too Damn Lazy to Go to the Corner Store Suffers Crackdown Over Data Breach

An app owned by Uber that funnels booze into your eager and waiting hands is getting its butt kicked by the FTC over serious security blunders.

Privacy & Security Lucas Ropek Oct 25

Lucas Ropek

Here’s Where Tech Won and Lost in the Midterms

Oculus Founder Palmer Luckey Created a VR Headset That Kills You If You Die in the Game

Greece Is Banning All Sales of Spyware After a Huge Phone-Tapping Scandal

Researchers Spin up Terrifying Hacker Drone That Can ‘See Through Walls’ With Wifi

Google’s Long History of Messaging App Rebrands, Pivots, and Retirements—Explained

You Really Don’t Want the Government to Be Your Content Moderator

Instagram Confirms ‘Issues’ as Users Report Arbitrary Account Suspensions, Follower Drops

One Year After Facebook Went Meta, It’s Built a Multiverse of Problems

Ohio GOP Candidate Blames ‘Hacker’ After Liking a Bunch of MILF Porn on Twitter

New York Post Says Tweet Calling for AOC’s Assassination Was the Result of a Hack [UPDATE]

Tesla Faces Criminal Probe From DOJ Over Its Self-Driving Car Claims

Feds Say They Finally Got the Operator of The Real Deal, One of the Dark Web’s Most Notorious Markets

App That Delivers Alcohol to Your Apartment Because You’re Too Damn Lazy to Go to the Corner Store Suffers Crackdown Over Data Breach

Oh Great, Britain’s New Prime Minister is a Crypto Bro

Is an Algorithm Raising Your Rent? A New Class Action Lawsuit Says Yes

If You Live in One of These Cities, There’s Probably a Security Camera Pointed at Your Face Right Now

Parler Accidentally Doxxed Its Most VIP Members When It Announced Kanye’s Acquisition

Researchers Say ‘Suspicious’ Edits on Wikipedia Reek of Pro-Russian Propaganda

Fired Wall Street Journal Reporter Alleges a Law Firm Hired Hackers to End His Career

You Can Buy Two Never Before Published Nintendo Games on eBay Right Now

FCC Exempts Netgear from Foreign-Made Router Ban for Some Reason

Jamie Dornan Is Your New Aragorn in ‘The Hunt for Gollum’

Trump’s Fed Pick Is Knee Deep in Tech and Crypto Investments

The First Trailer for ‘Godzilla Minus Zero’ Takes Terror Stateside

The Trump Phone Still Looks Like Total Trash

‘Masters of the Universe’ Really, Really Wants to Be the Next ‘Barbie’

Samsung’s Micro RGB TVs Provide So Much Color It May Be Too Much

The Crypto Bros Want to Get Their Hands on Anthropic’s ‘Super Dangerous’ Model

This Is What a Music Industry ‘Plant’ Looks Like in 2026

As Starship V3 Lags Behind, Blue Origin Prepares Third Launch of New Glenn

Sony Inzone H6 Air Review: A Perfect Case for Open-Back Gaming Headsets

Anker’s EufyMake E1 Finally Brings Printers Out of the Dark Ages

The Soundboks Mix Is Going to Make You the Most Popular Guy at the Park

Asus Zenbook A16 Review: Start Considering Snapdragon on PC, for Real

Aqara Thermostat Hub W200 Review: Almost Better than My Ecobee

HP Omen Max 45L Review: 4K60 Gaming Has Never Been So Easy

Ecovacs Winbot W3 Omni Review: Window Cleaning Robots Have a Long Way to Go

AirPods Max 2 vs. Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen): Which ANC Headphones Win?

The Best Gadgets of March 2026

AirPods Max 2 Review: Still Ridiculously Expensive and Ridiculously Nice