“I didn’t get hacked” - Olympic gymnast McKayla Maroney after posting a video of herself dancing in a thong on Instagram. That’s one way to outdo your own viral meme.

YOU'VE GOT (HACK) MAIL

The Story

Over the weekend, hackers made global computer systems WannaCry.

What are you talking about?

On Friday, unknown hackers carried out the biggest cyberattack ever. It ended up reaching hundreds of thousands of computers in over 150 countries.

How’d they pull it off?

By emailing everyone malware (computer speak for software designed to damage computers) called WannaCry. It was allegedly stolen from the National Security Agency and it only affects Microsoft Windows systems. Once WannaCry enters a PC, it locks all the files it finds. The hackers then asked users to cough up hundreds of dollars in ransom to unlock their data.

Who was affected?

One of the biggest victims was Britain’s National Health Service. Dozens of hospitals hit by the malware were forced to cancel operations and redirect ambulances to other hospitals. The malware also spread to FedEx in the US, one of Germany’s largest train operators, Russian banks, and more. But the US wasn’t as badly hit as other countries because a cybersecurity expert was able to slow the spread of the malware before it could do much damage here.

Will my computer be ok?

If you’re a Mac, you’ll be fine. Just like Justin Long. But if you’re a PC, be careful, and check that you’ve updated to the latest system. After the attack, Microsoft announced a quick fix for computers running its older operating systems. Bottom line: open your emails with a side of skepticism.

theSkimm

It’s still unclear who was behind these attacks and what their intentions were. But experts say things could get worse today as more people switch on their work computers, and because the hackers might be ready to release WannaCry 2.0…aka WannaUglyCry.

REPEAT AFTER ME...

What to say when you step in gum and your shoes are still sticky a week later…

This is not going away. And neither is North Korea. Yesterday, NK fired a ballistic missile that landed in the sea near Russia. This comes after months of missile tests and threats from North Korea that it’s building nuclear weapons that could reach the US. This also comes just a week after South Korea elected a new president who’s open to having a relationship with Kim Jong Un and North Korea. This is a BFD, because North and South Korea have technically been at war for decades. Yesterday, at a National Security Council meeting, SK’s new president said he still wants to open a dialogue with the North, but Lil’ Kim and his country are going to need a ‘change in attitude’ first. Good luck with that. Everyone and their international mother already has sanctions against North Korea, but yesterday, the US said it’s going to “tighten the screws.”

What to say to your friend who still loves “Nashville”...

RIP Powers Boothe. Yesterday morning, the actor died of natural causes at age 68. He played the complicated bad guy - as Lamar Wyatt in “Nashville,” and in “Sin City,” “Deadwood,” and “Agents of SHIELD.” Boothe was born and raised in Texas, and started out in theater before moving to movies and TV. He picked up an Emmy for Best Actor in the 1980 TV movie “Guyana Tragedy.”

What people are talking about…

West Virginia. Last week, the Supreme Court of Appeals there ruled that anti-gay assaults are not covered in the state’s hate crimes law. The ruling has do with a case from 2015, where it was argued that an alleged attack on two men kissing was not a hate crime. That’s because the definition of hate crime in West Virginia law doesn’t include sexual orientation. Yesterday, the court agreed. Civil rights activists are saying ‘this was clearly a hate crime,’ but supporters of the decision are saying the court just applied the law as it was written. Yesterday’s ruling means the man who who carried out the attack can now be tried on lesser charges. Speaking of controversial news coming out of the South, Richard Spencer - a well-known white nationalist - led a protest over the weekend against plans to remove a Confederate monument in Charlottesville, VA. Last month, New Orleans started removing Confederate monuments from the city, and now Virginia is debating doing the same. Spencer, and the protesters he led, carried torches to the statue and chanted “you will not replace us.” The Mayor of Charlottesville responded by saying “we are a welcoming city, but such intolerance is not welcome here.”

What not to say when you meet your boyfriend’s parents for the first time…

I’m kind of a big deal. So is this. Yesterday, Chinese President Xi Jinping hosted 29 heads of state for a summit on a new infrastructure initiative. Hundreds of years ago, explorers like Marco....Polo traveled the Silk Road that connected Asia to Europe. Now, China wants to re-create the Silk Road. The multi-billion dollar plan outlines a network of roads, high-speed rails, sea routes, and power plants that would increase trade between China and countries in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. Reminder: China doesn’t exactly have the best relationship with President Trump — he campaigned on a promise to re-negotiate trade deals with China to bring more jobs to the US. And some people are saying this new infrastructure could give China the geopolitical boost it needs to surpass the US as a global power. Other people are saying ‘this sounds a lot like building a colonial empire.’ Big difference.

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We have an iPhone app. It syncs with your calendar so important events are always at your fingertips. Literally. And we’re always updating it to make sure you have the latest info. Last week, we launched category specific calendars in entertainment, politics, sports, and business so you can get more of what’s important to you.

* We’re celebrating by giving away prizes just for downloading theSkimm app. Today, when you download it, you get an entry to win a fancy MacBook Air to go with your fancy new calendar. Look at you go. And if you already have the app, you’re automatically entered. Cheers.

* All you have to do is download theSkimm app on your iPhone and start your 30-day free trial, or get someone to try theSkimm app using your referral link. And your entries carry over all week.

* Your referral link: https://www.theskimm.com/?r=98d063bf

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