Episodes

  • BADBOX 2.0

    BADBOX 2.0
    Nov 2 2025
    Hh hey maybe don't buy that $14 projector off amazon. In this episode, we dive into the sequel nobody asked for: BADBOX 2.0 — the return of last year’s botnet built out of bargain-bin Android gadgets. Google just filed a lawsuit in federal court alleging that millions of sketchy streaming boxes, projectors, and mystery electronics were shipped pre-infected from factories overseas. The moment someone plugs one in, it joins a global botnet used for ad fraud, click fraud, and even to rent out your home internet connection to criminals. We talk to the team at HUMAN Security, the researchers credited in Google’s suit, about how they traced this thing across 222 countries, why it came back bigger than before, and how you even begin to kill a botnet that ships itself directly to people’s living rooms. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    50 mins
  • The SIM Farm

    The SIM Farm
    Oct 16 2025
    The story of a massive swatting hoax campaign across the US that helped take down a piece of cybercrime infrastructure in the heart of New York. That and a big rambling chatty chat about Tilly Norwood, AI bubbles, and somehow, very briefly, Goku. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 hr and 1 min
  • The Banxico Heist and a High Wire Act of Solo Podcasting

    The Banxico Heist and a High Wire Act of Solo Podcasting
    Oct 2 2025
    The question: can one host of a podcast that was planning to do a chatty chat episode proceed at the last minute while the other host is unfortunately out sick? Wish our dear pal Scott a speedy recovery and wish ya boy luck as he threads this needle. We discuss — I discuss? — the heist of Mexico’s financial system, the European airport hack, and a slew of other tech tales. As I say in the ep — if one guy talking into a mic telling weird tech stories alone isn’t your jam, I will not blame you for rejoining us in the next one when your TWO intrepid cohosts are back at it in what I’m assuming will be full health. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    40 mins
  • Will the Real Velvet Sundown Please Stand Up?

    Will the Real Velvet Sundown Please Stand Up?
    Sep 16 2025
    The story of a hoax within a hoax within a hoax within an AI soft rock band. That and a bunch of other stories about technology. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 hr and 10 mins
  • Gamescom 2025

    Gamescom 2025
    Sep 1 2025
    Reboundergame.com ( if you wanna wishlist our work in progress game on Steam <3 ) A weird little road episode intro, a little self promotion, and some classic chatty chat to follow. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 hr and 3 mins
  • From Street to State

    From Street to State
    Aug 16 2025
    We discuss the rise of China’s early patriotic hacking scene, and a new report that unravels how some of its most skilled members eventually found their way into more formal, state-aligned cyber operations. This episode is brought to you by Push Security. Check them out at Pushsecurity.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 hr and 3 mins
  • The Escobar Phone and Imaginary Flamethrowers

    The Escobar Phone and Imaginary Flamethrowers
    Aug 2 2025
    We unpack how a Swedish entrepreneur used Pablo Escobar’s name to sell fake phones, flamethrowers, and crypto — and how a viral scam built on influencer hype finally came crashing down. That and other stories. Hacked is brought to you by Push Security, check them out at PushSecurity.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    52 mins
  • The McDonald’s Hiring Robot Hack

    The McDonald’s Hiring Robot Hack
    Jul 16 2025
    We start with the AI hiring chatbot used by McDonald’s, and the vulnerability hiding beneath the conversation. What looked like some janky job application exchanges led two security researchers, Ian Carroll and Sam Curry, to uncover a serious flaw. That and a bunch of Grok madness. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 hr and 12 mins