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

What really happens when a cyberattack becomes a criminal investigation?

In this episode of THEOS Cybernova, Paul Jackson speaks with Steve Santorelli, formerly of Scotland Yard, whose career spans Microsoft’s Internet Crimes Investigation Team and Team Cymru.

They explore how cybercrime investigations succeed in the real world: why trust and community matter as much as technical skill, how speed determines whether evidence survives, and why cyber threat intelligence only creates impact when it can be acted on. The conversation also looks at cross-border investigations, collaboration between law enforcement and industry, and the role of trusted forums like RISE in turning intelligence into outcomes.

A grounded discussion on cybercrime investigation and the human relationships behind effective action.

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

What do you do when a nation-state attack hits just days into a new CISO role and it’s already Friday?

In this episode of THEOS Cybernova, James McLeary shares real-world lessons from leading a live cyber incident response under intense pressure. From coordinating multiple DF/IR firms to fast-tracking procurement in Asia, this conversation reveals what cyber readiness really looks like when theory disappears.

A candid discussion on incident response, leadership, and resilience when it matters most.

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

What really happens when a company negotiates with ransomware groups?

In this episode of THEOS Cybernova, Paul Jackson speaks with Geert Baudewijns, founder of Secutec and a veteran ransomware negotiator with over 500 real-world cases. Geert explains how ransomware negotiations actually work, from verifying stolen data and confirming the real threat actor to understanding payment dynamics and insurance involvement.

He challenges common myths, including whether attackers remain inside networks after encryption and why some victims end up paying the wrong criminal group. A practical, experience-led look at ransomware negotiation grounded in real incidents, essential for security leaders and incident response teams.

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

Quantum computing is moving from theory to reality, and with it comes a fundamental shift in how organizations must protect long-lived and sensitive data.

In this episode, Cathy Chan from Cyberforce explains what Q-Day really means, why “harvest now, decrypt later” is already a live threat, and how enterprises can build crypto-agility before post-quantum standards fully enforce.

Clear, practical, and free from hype, this conversation gives security leaders a grounded view of quantum risk, emerging cryptographic changes, and the essential steps to begin preparing today with confidence.

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

What if stolen crypto is not gone forever? In this week's Cybernova episode, Paul Jackson speaks with Jussi Aittola, Senior Partner and Country Head at Sphere State Group in Singapore, about the real mechanics of modern crypto crime, from industrial romance-investment scams to a 20 million dollar wallet breach linked to a nation state.

Jussi explains why crypto recovery is more possible than most assume and how bridges, mixers and automated laundering scripts still leave a trail for skilled investigators.

A sharp and eye opening look at digital asset investigations for cybersecurity and DF/IR teams across APAC.

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