8 months in, and the US still doesn't have a good Covid testing plan

PLUS: A thwarted ransomware plot, how to protect laptop data, and the joy of analog cooking. View this email in your browser  |  Manage newsletter subscriptions 08.30.20   GIGAFACTORY A Tesla Employee Thwarted an Alleged Ransomware Plot BY ANDY GREENBERG Elon Musk confirmed Thursday night that a ransomware gang had approached a Gigafactory employee with alleged promises of a big payout.   LOCK DOWN How to Protect the Data on Your Laptop BY DAVID NIELD Your laptop is a treasure trove of personal and sensitive information—make sure it's as secure as it can be.   RANTS AND RAVES The Joy of 'Analog' Cooking on a Green Coleman Camp Stove BY JOE RAY The best way to unplug from all your digital kitchen gadgetry is to fire up a pair of propane burners in the middle of nowhere.   PUBLIC HEALTH Can People Without Symptoms Get Tested for Covid? Who Knows BY MEGAN MOLTENI Top health officials have issued contradictory statements, and the CDC's newest guidance limiting testing comes just as the Trump Administration invests in rapid tests.   CHILL OUT These New Shape-Shifting Materials Get Super Cool, Super Fast BY MARCUS WOO Shape memory alloys and a kind of plastic crystal chill quickly under force or pressure. They could lead to eco-friendly fridges and air conditioners.   REMOTE RECS Are Your Kids Schooling From Home? This Gear May Help BY SCOTT GILBERTSON Whether your children are distance learning, in the classroom, or somewhere in between, we've got a school supplies list to make this year a little easier.   PODCASTS The Double Dragon Movie Should Be a Cult Classic BY GEEK'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY The adaptation of the 1987 arcade game didn't get the credit it deserved—and would probably fare much better with modern audiences.   THE OTHER BIG ONE The Biblical Flood That Will Drown California BY TOM PHILPOTT The Great Flood of 1861–1862 was a preview of what scientists expect to see again, and soon.   NAKED TRUTH Porn Sites Still Won't Take Down Non-Consensual Deepfakes BY MATT BURGESS, WIRED UK The videos are racking up millions of views. Meanwhile, for victims, the legal options aren't keeping up with the technology     This e-mail was sent to you by WIRED. To ensure delivery to your inbox (not bulk or junk folders), please add our e-mail address, wired@newsletters.wired.com, to your address book.   View our Privacy Policy Unsubscribe or Manage your newsletter subscriptions