What happens when global systems are misused at massive scale?

In Part 2 of the two-part Season 2 finale of THEOS Cybernova, host Paul Jackson continues his conversation with investigative journalist Tom Wright, co-author of The Billion Dollar Whale.

This episode looks at how financial and digital systems are exploited to enable modern corruption. Wright explains how crypto crime has changed the mechanics of fraud, allowing Southeast Asia scams to scale through weak controls and fragile on- and off-ramps.

The conversation also covers Havana Syndrome, the challenge of reporting on investigations that are still unfolding, and the pressure that comes with scrutinizing powerful people and institutions.

A strong close to Season 2—and a reminder that many of today’s cyber risks are rooted in systems that outpace accountability.

Production Credits:

Presented by: Paul Jackson
Studio Engineer & Editor: Manny Peñamora
Executive Producers: Paul Jackson and Ian Carless
Co-produced by: Theos Cyber and W4 Podcast Studio

How do you investigate people protected by money, power and political influence?

In this Season 2 finale of THEOS Cybernova, Paul Jackson speaks with Tom Wright, co-author of The Billion Dollar Whale, about the investigative journalism behind one of the largest financial fraud cases in history.

Tom explains how major fraud investigations are built, from following complex money flows to documenting evidence, managing operational security, and protecting sources under real risk. The conversation explores why powerful institutions often look the other way, how investigators validate information, and why attention spans shape what the public remembers.

Production Credits:

Presented by: Paul Jackson
Studio Engineer & Editor: Manny Peñamora
Executive Producers: Paul Jackson and Ian Carless
Co-produced by: Theos Cyber and W4 Podcast Studio

f your phone were compromised, would you even know?

Most cybersecurity defenses are built to stop loud, disruptive attacks like ransomware. But the most serious threats to mobile devices often look very different. They are expensive, targeted, and designed for espionage rather than disruption.

In this episode of THEOS Cybernova, host Paul Jackson speaks with Bill Marczak, a senior cybersecurity researcher at the University of Toronto’s Citizen Lab, about the realities of mobile phone espionage. They explore why smartphones have become a platform of choice for spying, how attacks can remain invisible to the user, and what makes mobile threats fundamentally different from traditional cybercrime.

Production Credits:

Presented by: Paul Jackson
Studio Engineer & Editor: Manny Peñamora
Executive Producers: Paul Jackson and Ian Carless
Co-produced by: Theos Cyber and W4 Podcast Studio