‘I forgot my PIN’: An epic tale of losing $30,000 in Bitcoin

PLUS: The week's most stunning space photos, and the best streaming algorithm the world has ever seen. [View this email in your browser](#SPCLICKTOVIEW) [logo]( [[WIRED Magazine]10.29.17]( Northern California's wildfires have exacted a heavy toll: on infrastructure, on livelihoods, and on lives. And they aren't done yet. Not only are they still burning, but they're also leaving another [impending disaster]( in their wake. Ash laden with heavy metals and toxins will linger, seep into the soil, and—if they can't get it cleaned up fast enough—eventually wash into the area's fragile aquatic ecosystem and the San Francisco Bay. What else is on our minds today? Well, Equifax—security-minded folks' least favorite credit reporting agency—apparently [knew they were vulnerable]( months before their 145.5 million account megabreach. And then there's passwords. Everyone's forgotten one at some point. But while your memory lapse may have been irritating and inconvenient, it probably wasn't expensive. Veteran tech journalist (and former WIRED editor) Mark Frauenfelder's bit of amnesia lost him $30,000 in Bitcoin after he forgot the PIN to open his hardware wallet. He tried everything from hypnosis to hackers [to get it back](. Or you might rather curl up with a cup of coffee and recap the week. For your coffee, we recommend the [adjustable December Dripper]( so you can get your brew just right. And as for recaps, we've rounded up all the [dreamy space photos]( [singing electric car updates]( and [bizarro political internet news]( you might have missed in this week. For more WIRED ideas, keep reading. Longform ‘I Forgot My PIN’: An Epic Tale of Losing $30,000 in Bitcoin By Mark Frauenfelder A veteran tech journalist tries everything, including hypnosis, to recover a small fortune from a locked bitcoin device. Wildfires After the Napa Fires, a Disaster-in-Waiting: Toxic Ash By Adam Rogers It turns into sediment in lakes and streams, carries heavy metals and toxins—and if it comes from buildings, no one knows what's in it. security roundup Equifax Was Warned of Vulnerability Months Before Breach By Brian Barrett Equifax was warned, a fun new WhatsApp feature, and more of the week's top security news. While You Were Offline Trump Released the JFK Files! Well, Sorta By Graeme McMillan It wasn't, like, all of them. But people sure got worked up about it. [advertisement]( [Powered by LiveIntent]( [Ad Choices]( [WIRED Magazine Subscription] Get Wired FALL SALE: Save 50%, plus get a FREE Gift. SUBSCRIBE NOW Autonomous Vehicles Prepping Self-Driving Cars for the World's Most Chaotic Cities By Kaveh Waddell If you think driving around Silicon Valley is tough, try making a robot that can navigate a Beirut traffic jam. product review Twist This Adjustable Coffee Dripper to Refine Your Brew By Joe Ray If you want total control over your morning coffee, the December Dripper is a great tool to take on the quest for perfection. Roundup This Week in the Future of Cars: The Feel Good Singalong By Alex Davies GM tests self-driving cars in NYC, Tesla's Autopilot troubles, LA asks Uber for help, and more car news from the past week. Photo Gallery Space Photos: These Are The Moons You're Looking For By Shannon Stirone Let's get lunar. Big Data Best-Ever Algorithm Found for Huge Streams of Data By Kevin Hartnett To efficiently analyze a firehose of data, scientists first have to break big numbers into bits. [advertisement]( [Powered by LiveIntent]( [AdChoices]( [WIRED Magazine]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Pinterest]( [Youtube]( [Instagram]( This email was sent to you by WIRED. To ensure delivery to your inbox (not bulk or junk folders), please add our e–mail address, newsletters@wired.com, to your address book. View our [Privacy Policy]( [Unsubscribe](#SPCUSTOMOPTOUT) Copyright © Condé Nast 2017. One World Trade Center, New York, NY 10038. All rights reserved. This email was sent to {EMAIL} [why did I get this?]( [unsubscribe from this list]( [update subscription preferences]( WIRED · 520 3rd St, Third Floor · San Francisco, CA 94107 · USA