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Smashing Security

Smashing Security

By: Graham Cluley
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About this listen

Smashing Security isn’t your typical tech podcast. Hosted by cybersecurity veteran Graham Cluley, it serves up weekly tales of cybercrime, hacking horror stories, privacy blunders, and tech mishaps - all with sharp insight, a sense of humour, and zero tolerance for tech waffle.


Winner of the best and most entertaining cybersecurity podcast awards in 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023, and 2024, Smashing Security has had over ten million downloads. Past guests include Garry Kasparov, Mikko Hyppönen, and Jack Rhysider. Follow the podcast on Bluesky at @smashingsecurity.com, and subscribe for free in your favourite podcast app.


New episodes released at 7pm EST every Wednesday (midnight UK).

Graham Cluley Politics & Government
Episodes
  • Inside the mob's million-dollar poker hack, and a Formula 1 fumble

    Inside the mob's million-dollar poker hack, and a Formula 1 fumble
    Oct 30 2025
    Basketball stars have allegedly joined forces with the mafia to fleece high-rollers in a poker scam involving hacked shufflers, covert cameras, and an X-ray card table.Meanwhile, researchers have found they could poke around an FIA driver portal to pull up the personal details of Formula 1 megastars.Plus: Graham’s “Pick of the Week” turns CAPTCHA hell into a delightfully deranged browser game that will make you question vegetables, geometry, and your life choices, while Danny takes a trip to ancient Africa.All this and more is discussed in episode 441 of "Smashing Security" podcast with cybersecurity veteran Graham Cluley, and special guest Danny Palmer.EPISODE LINKS:Baohuo, the gray eminence. Android backdoor hijacks Telegram accounts, gaining complete control over them - Dr Web.Cyberattack on Russia’s food safety agency reportedly disrupts product shipments - The Record.Dissecting YouTube's malware distribution network - Check Point.31 Defendants, Including Members and Associates of Organized Crime Families and National Basketball Association Coach Chauncey Billups, Charged in Schemes to Rig Illegal Poker Games - US Department of Justice.How Hacked Card Shufflers Allegedly Enabled a Mob-Fueled Poker Scam That Rocked the NBA - Wired.Every Formula 1 driver on the grid just had their passport and license details leaked - but it could have been so much worse - TechRadar.I’m not a robot - Neal.fun.Can I Beat The CAPTCHA Game? - YouTube.An African History of Africa by Zeinab Badawi - Penguin.Smashing Security merchandise (t-shirts, mugs, stickers and stuff)SPONSORS:Action1 - Keep your systems safe (and your sanity intact) with the patch management platform that just works. The best part? Your first 200 endpoints are free, forever, with no functional limits.SecAlerts - SecAlerts makes your job easier by matching vulnerabilities to your software, using information as soon as it’s released. Use code SMASHING for 50% off a year subscription.Vanta - Expand the scope of your security program with market-leading compliance automation… while saving time and money. Smashing Security listeners get $1000 off!SUPPORT THE SHOW:Tell your friends and colleagues about “Smashing Security”, and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser.Become a supporter! Join Smashing Security PLUS via Patreon or Apple Podcasts for ad-free episodes on our early-release feed!FOLLOW THE SHOW:Follow us on Bluesky or Mastodon, or on the Smashing Security subreddit, and visit our website for more episodes.THANKS:Theme tune: "Vinyl Memories" by Mikael Manvelyan.Assorted sound effects: AudioBlocks.ENJOYED THE SHOW?Make sure to check out our sister podcast, "The AI Fix".Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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    41 mins
  • How to hack a prison, and the hidden threat of online checkouts

    How to hack a prison, and the hidden threat of online checkouts
    Oct 22 2025

    A literal insider threat: we head to a Romanian prison where “self-service” web kiosks allowed inmates to run wild. Then we head to the checkout aisle to ask why JavaScript on payment pages went feral, and how new PCI DSS rules are finally muzzling Magecart-style skimmers.

    Plus: Graham reveals his new-found superpower with Keyboard Maestro, and Scott describes a slick new way to whip up beautiful how-to videos with Screen Studio.

    All this and more is discussed in episode 440 of "Smashing Security" podcast with cybersecurity veteran Graham Cluley, and special guest Scott Helme.

    EPISODE LINKS:


    • What caused the AWS outage - and why did it make the internet fall apart? - BBC News.
    • China blames US for cyber break-in, claims America is world's biggest bit burglar - The Register.
    • Nintendo allegedly hacked by Crimson Collective hacking group - screenshot shows leaked folders, production assets, developer files, and backups - Tom’s Hardware.
    • Romanian inmate hacks into prison IT system, modifies sentences for others - Romania Insider.
    • New Version of PCI DSS Designed to Tackle Emerging Payment Threats - Infosecurity Magazine.
    • What is Magecart? How this hacker group steals payment card data - CSO.
    • Keyboard Maestro.
    • Screen Studio.
    • Smashing Security merchandise (t-shirts, mugs, stickers and stuff)



    SPONSORS:

    • ANON - Find, monitor and remove data about yourself online. Manage your digital footprint with ease. Use code SMASHING for a 25% discount.
    • Vanta - Expand the scope of your security program with market-leading compliance automation… while saving time and money. Smashing Security listeners get $1000 off!
    • Trelica by 1Password - Access Governance for every SaaS app. Discover, manage, and optimize access for any of your SaaS apps - whether managed or unmanaged.


    SUPPORT THE SHOW:

    Tell your friends and colleagues about “Smashing Security”, and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser.

    Become a supporter via Patreon or Apple Podcasts for ad-free episodes on our early-release feed!


    FOLLOW THE SHOW:

    Follow us on Bluesky or Mastodon, or on the Smashing Security subreddit, and visit our website for more episodes.


    THANKS:

    Theme tune: "Vinyl Memories" by Mikael Manvelyan.

    Assorted sound effects: AudioBlocks.


    ENJOYED THE SHOW?

    Make sure to check out our sister podcast, "The AI Fix".



    Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
    Show More Show Less
    44 mins
  • A breach, a burnout, and a bit of Fleetwood Mac

    A breach, a burnout, and a bit of Fleetwood Mac
    Oct 15 2025
    A critical infrastructure hack hits the headlines - involving default passwords, boasts on Telegram, and a finale that will make a few cyber-crooks wish the ground would swallow them whole. Meanwhile we dig into the bit we don't talk about enough: the human cost of defending companies from hackers - stress, burnout, and how better leadership culture can help make security teams safer and saner.Plus we say a heartfelt "la di dah" to Diane Keaton, and tune in to a freshly re-released slice of pre-Fleetwood Mac history for the music-obsessed amongst us. All this and more is discussed in episode 439 of "Smashing Security" podcast with cybersecurity veteran Graham Cluley, and his special guest Annabel Berry.EPISODE LINKS:Cyber-attacks rise by 50% in past year, UK security agency says - The Guardian.What does the end of free support for Windows 10 mean for its users? - The Guardian.Satellites found exposing unencrypted data, including phone calls and some military comms - TechCrunch.Anatomy of a Hacktivist Attack: Russian-Aligned Group Targets OT/ICS - Forescout.Caught in the act: Ransomware attack sticks to our AI-created honeypot - Forescout.Human Performance in Security Operations: A Survey on Burnout, Wellbeing and Flow State Among Practitioners - NDSS Symposium.State of the Security Profession 23/24 - Chartered Institute of Information Security.Leading Cyber.Mental Health in Cybersecurity Foundation.“Play it Again, Sam” - IMDB.“Play it Again, Sam” clip - YouTube.“Buckingham Nicks” - Spotify.Fleetwood Mac - Silver Springs (Live, 1997) - YouTube.Smashing Security merchandise (t-shirts, mugs, stickers and stuff)If anything we've discussed today has resonated with you, or if you're going through a tough time, please know you are not alone. There is always someone ready to listen, without judgment. Here are a few of the available resources:Shout - text 85258 (24x7)Samaritans - tel 116123 (24x7)Suicide prevention - tel 0800 689 5652 (6pm - 3.30am)SANEline - tel 0300 304 7000 (4.30pm - 10.30pm)SPONSORS:SecAlerts - SecAlerts makes your job easier by matching vulnerabilities to your software, using information as soon as it’s released. Use code SMASHING for 50% off a year subscription.ANON - Find, monitor and remove data about yourself online. Manage your digital footprint with ease. Use code SMASHING for a 25% discount.Vanta - Expand the scope of your security program with market-leading compliance automation… while saving time and money. Smashing Security listeners get $1000 off!SUPPORT THE SHOW:Tell your friends and colleagues about “Smashing Security”, and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser.Become a supporter via Patreon or Apple Podcasts for ad-free episodes on our early-release feed!FOLLOW THE SHOW:Follow us on Bluesky or Mastodon, or on the Smashing Security subreddit, and visit our website for more episodes.THANKS:Theme tune: "Vinyl Memories" by Mikael Manvelyan.Assorted sound effects: AudioBlocks.ENJOYED THE SHOW?Make sure to check out our sister podcast, "The AI Fix".Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
    Show More Show Less
    45 mins
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