We’ve all experienced the creepiness of modern data trafficking, but that kind of daily annoyance is the surface of a much bigger issue: Big Tech companies such as Amazon &amp; Microsoft are lobbying policymakers to veto laws that harm their business, and often hide their lobbying behind industry coalitions or organizations with names that are vague and seemingly harmless. Will current and future privacy laws actually protect your information, or will they protect the companies collecting your information?

We’ve all experienced the creepiness of modern data trafficking, but that kind of daily annoyance is the surface of a much bigger issue: Big Tech companies such as Amazon &amp; Microsoft are lobbying policymakers to veto laws that harm their business, and often hide their lobbying behind industry coalitions or organizations with names that are vague and seemingly harmless. Will current and future privacy laws actually protect your information, or will they protect the companies collecting your information?

The Reason You Don’t Have Data Privacy

Disruptions to the world’s internet cables happen more often than you think: Whether it be ship anchors or animals or saboteurs, cut a few wires in the right places and at nearly the speed of light you can disrupt or shut off the internet for broad populations of people at a time. It is an immense power that runs through these lines — a power that can be sabotaged or, in the right hands, weaponized.

Disruptions to the world’s internet cables happen more often than you think: Whether it be ship anchors or animals or saboteurs, cut a few wires in the right places and at nearly the speed of light you can disrupt or shut off the internet for broad populations of people at a time. It is an immense power that runs through these lines — a power that can be sabotaged or, in the right hands, weaponized.

How Entire Countries Can Lose the Internet

In the midst of 35,000 exhilarated spectators eagerly chanting the time-honored countdown to kick off the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, a sinister malware crept through the games’ network, threatening to disrupt the highly-anticipated event. The obvious question in everyone’s minds was – who was responsible for the attack? Who was vile enough to launch such a potentially destructive attack against an event which, more than anything, symbolizes peace and global cooperation?

In the midst of 35,000 exhilarated spectators eagerly chanting the time-honored countdown to kick off the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, a sinister malware crept through the games’ network, threatening to disrupt the highly-anticipated event. The obvious question in everyone’s minds was – who was responsible for the attack? Who was vile enough to launch such a potentially destructive attack against an event which, more than anything, symbolizes peace and global cooperation?

Olympic Destroyer

Oמ May 23rd, 1989, Karl Koch – a 23 years old West German hacker who worked for the KGB – took a drive, from which he would never return: Nine days later his charred remains were found by the police in a remote forest. Was Koch assasinated by the US or the Sovient Union, or is there another, more ‘mystical’ explanation for his death?

Oמ May 23rd, 1989, Karl Koch – a 23 years old West German hacker who worked for the KGB – took a drive, from which he would never return: Nine days later his charred remains were found by the police in a remote forest. Was Koch assasinated by the US or the Sovient Union, or is there another, more ‘mystical’ explanation for his death?

The Lawerence Berkeley Hack, Part 2

Four decades ago, three quarters would’ve gone a lot further than they do today. With that kind of loose change you could’ve picked up some milk from the grocery store, or over half a gallon of gas, or a bus ticket. But that doesn’t explain why, on one fateful day in 1986, a systems administrator at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California made such an issue over 75 missing cents.

Four decades ago, three quarters would’ve gone a lot further than they do today. With that kind of loose change you could’ve picked up some milk from the grocery store, or over half a gallon of gas, or a bus ticket. But that doesn’t explain why, on one fateful day in 1986, a systems administrator at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California made such an issue over 75 missing cents.

The Lawerence Berkeley Hack, Part 1

You may have heard of the cyber operations performed by Russia. You definitely heard about the missiles being fired by Russia at Ukraine – but how about the propaganda being distributed through the different media platforms?In this B-Side episode, our Senior Producer Nate Nelson interviewed Dr. Bilyana Lilly – CISSP, a leader in cybersecurity and information warfare with over fifteen years of managerial, technical, and research experience, and author of “Russian Information Warfare” – about the Russian use of instant messaging and social media platforms such as Telegram and Twitter in their war efforts. Dr. Lilly discusses who they are targeting and the real-world impact their propaganda has on various populations.

You may have heard of the cyber operations performed by Russia. You definitely heard about the missiles being fired by Russia at Ukraine – but how about the propaganda being distributed through the different media platforms? In this B-Side episode, our Senior Producer Nate Nelson interviewed Dr. Bilyana Lilly – CISSP, a leader in cybersecurity and information warfare with over fifteen years of managerial, technical, and research experience, and author of “Russian Information Warfare” – about the Russian use of instant messaging and social media platforms such as Telegram and Twitter in their war efforts. Dr. Lilly discusses who they are targeting and the real-world impact their propaganda has on various populations.

Russian Propaganda, Explained [ML B-Side]

In the early 1970’s, US intelligance pointed at the possibility that the Russians have laid an underwater communication cable between two important naval bases in the Far East. The dangerous mission of installing a listening device on that cable was given to the navy most secretive and unusual submarine.

In the early 1970’s, US intelligance pointed at the possibility that the Russians have laid an underwater communication cable between two important naval bases in the Far East. The dangerous mission of installing a listening device on that cable was given to the navy most secretive and unusual submarine.

Operation Ivy Bells

What happens when an NFT marketplace goes under, and disappears? You would imagine that the users’ NFTs are perfectly safe: after all, the blockchain itself is still there, right? But that’s not how things work in the real world. Jason Bailey is the co-founder and CEO of ClubNFT, a company  building the next generation of tools to discover, protect, and share NFTs. Jason is an early collector and proponent of CryptoArt, and he spoke with Nate Nelson, our Sr. producer, about the risks facing sellers and buyers who are unfamiliar with this new technology.

What happens when an NFT marketplace goes under, and disappears? You would imagine that the users’ NFTs are perfectly safe: after all, the blockchain itself is still there, right? But that’s not how things work in the real world. Jason Bailey is the co-founder and CEO of ClubNFT, a company  building the next generation of tools to discover, protect, and share NFTs. Jason is an early collector and proponent of CryptoArt, and he spoke with Nate Nelson, our Sr. producer, about the risks facing sellers and buyers who are unfamiliar with this new technology.

Why Do NFTs Disappear? [ML B-Side]

Physical artworks in museums are usually well-guarded – but digital artworks are something else entirely: in 2021 alone, scammers successfully stole 100 million dollars worth of non-fungible tokens, or NFTs. Yet blockchain technology, where most NFTs live – is one of the most secure technologies in history. Why, then, are NFT collectors keep getting hacked? 

Physical artworks in museums are usually well-guarded – but digital artworks are something else entirely: in 2021 alone, scammers successfully stole 100 million dollars worth of non-fungible tokens, or NFTs. Yet blockchain technology, where most NFTs live – is one of the most secure technologies in history. Why, then, are NFT collectors keep getting hacked?

The (Other) Problem with NFTs

Today we’re bringing back Haseeb Awan, the founder of Efani Secure Mobile – a bespoke cybersecurity-focused phone service, protecting high-risk individuals against mobile hacks. Haseeb will delve into the technicalities of SIM swapping, explaining the various techniques that hackers use to carry out this fraudulent activity. He will also provide insights into what telecommunication companies can do to prevent SIM swapping and what steps individuals can take to protect themselves from falling victim to this crime. 

Today we’re bringing back Haseeb Awan, the founder of Efani Secure Mobile – a bespoke cybersecurity-focused phone service, protecting high-risk individuals against mobile hacks. Haseeb will delve into the technicalities of SIM swapping, explaining the various techniques that hackers use to carry out this fraudulent activity. He will also provide insights into what telecommunication companies can do to prevent SIM swapping and what steps individuals can take to protect themselves from falling victim to this crime.

SIM Swapping Follow Up [ML B-Side]

Malicious Life by Cybereason tells the unknown stories of the history of cybersecurity, with comments and reflections by real hackers, security experts, journalists, and politicians.

Learned a lot about information security previously unknown.

Very Informative

Informative. Insightful. Wonderful storytelling. I only wish there were more episodes

My favorite security podcast

Malicious Life

In this episode of Malicious Life, we take a look at one of the oldest forms of criminal activity on the web- the spam empires of the 90’s and 2000’s. Find out how these multi-million dollar industries operated, how they served as a half step towards the organized online crime groups of the modern age, and what price was paid by those who tried to stop them. With special guest- Stephen Cobb.

In this episode of Malicious Life, we take a look at one of the oldest forms of criminal activity on the web- the spam empires of the 90’s and 2000’s. Find out how these multi-million dollar industries operated, how they served as a half step towards the organized online crime groups of the modern age, and what price was paid by those who tried to stop them. With special guest- Stephen Cobb.

Spam Empire

In January 2010, Google revealed in its blog that it was hacked. This attack, since known as Operation Aurora, is attributed to China. In this series of episodes, we’ll expose the complicated and often turbulent relationship between the world’s largest internet company, and the world’s most populated nation. 

In January 2010, Google revealed in its blog that it was hacked. This attack, since known as Operation Aurora, is attributed to China. In this series of episodes, we’ll expose the complicated and often turbulent relationship between the world’s largest internet company, and the world’s most populated nation.

Operation Aurora, Part 1

Nikita Kuzmin could have been a whiz programmer or a CEO of a successful startup. But as a teen in Moscow, he fell in with the wrong crowd, and his entrepreneurial skills found a different path: Gozi, the oddest and most brilliant malware operation ever conceived to that point in time.

Nikita Kuzmin could have been a whiz programmer or a CEO of a successful startup. But as a teen in Moscow, he fell in with the wrong crowd, and his entrepreneurial skills found a different path: Gozi, the oddest and most brilliant malware operation ever conceived to that point in time.

Gozi, Part 1: The Rise of Malware-as-a-Service

Over the past two years, the internet has been inundated with celebrity Deep Fake videos of all kinds: Obama, Putin, and Trump deliver speeches they never gave, Gal Gadot “stars” in a porn video, and professional comedians such as Bill Hader eerily turn into the people they impersonate, like Tom Cruise and Arnold Schwarzenegger.  What all of these videos have in common is that they were mostly created by amateur developers or small startups with tight budgets – but their quality is surprisingly good, and in some cases as good as what the biggest movie studios were able to produce with huge budgets just a few years ago.  So what happened in the last five years, that turned special effects from being the exclusive domain of industry experts – into something a 14-year-old can create more or less at the touch of a button? Like the top end of a floating glacier, Deep Fakes are by and large only the visible product of a fascinating – and much deeper – technological revolution in the field of artificial intelligence. As we shall soon see, this revolution has the potential to put some very powerful tools in the hands of both attackers and defenders in the world of cyber-security. 

Over the past two years, the internet has been inundated with celebrity Deep Fake videos of all kinds: Obama, Putin, and Trump deliver speeches they never gave, Gal Gadot “stars” in a porn video, and professional comedians such as Bill Hader eerily turn into the people they impersonate, like Tom Cruise and Arnold Schwarzenegger.  What all of these videos have in common is that they were mostly created by amateur developers or small startups with tight budgets – but their quality is surprisingly good, and in some cases as good as what the biggest movie studios were able to produce with huge budgets just a few years ago.  So what happened in the last five years, that turned special effects from being the exclusive domain of industry experts – into something a 14-year-old can create more or less at the touch of a button? Like the top end of a floating glacier, Deep Fakes are by and large only the visible product of a fascinating – and much deeper – technological revolution in the field of artificial intelligence. As we shall soon see, this revolution has the potential to put some very powerful tools in the hands of both attackers and defenders in the world of cyber-security.

GAN and Deep Fakes, Part 1

2016 is known throughout the circles of information security as “The Year of The DDoS Attacks”, and rightfully so: 5 large scale DDoS attacks – ‘Distributed Denial Of Service’ – shocked the technology world. In this episode of Malicious Life, we examine how the power of the internet itself can be harvested and deployed to take down major companies and websites. With special guests- Yossi Na’ar and Graham Cluley.

2016 is known throughout the circles of information security as “The Year of The DDoS Attacks”, and rightfully so: 5 large scale DDoS attacks – ‘Distributed Denial Of Service’ – shocked the technology world. In this episode of Malicious Life, we examine how the power of the internet itself can be harvested and deployed to take down major companies and websites. With special guests- Yossi Na’ar and Graham Cluley.

Big Cannons

Industrial Security requires a different skill set–really, an entirely different mindset than working in IT does. In this episode we dive into the story of one of the most dangerous malware ever to be discovered in the wild: Triton/Trisis. 

Industrial Security requires a different skill set–really, an entirely different mindset than working in IT does. In this episode we dive into the story of one of the most dangerous malware ever to be discovered in the wild: Triton/Trisis.

Triton: A Malware Designed To Kill Humans, Part 1

In their 120 year history, Equifax never sold anything, or provided any service to ordinary folks – except collect DATA. In 2017, that huge data repository, a 1000 times larger then the Library of Congress, got hacked. 

In their 120 year history, Equifax never sold anything, or provided any service to ordinary folks – except collect DATA. In 2017, that huge data repository, a 1000 times larger then the Library of Congress, got hacked.

The Equifax Data Breach Pt. I: A Big Data Bubble

A global FBI manhunt for the world’s most wanted cyber criminal ends in the capture of a massive criminal network, but with the escape of the man himself. Security experts who operate within the gray areas of morality develop botnets that destroy personal devices infected with malicious botnets in what they call “the chemotherapy of the internet”. Ransomware and botnets are at the center of this final episode of the first season.  With special guests: Yossi Na’ar, Uri Sternfeld, Israel Barak, and Stephen Cobb.

A global FBI manhunt for the world’s most wanted cyber criminal ends in the capture of a massive criminal network, but with the escape of the man himself. Security experts who operate within the gray areas of morality develop botnets that destroy personal devices infected with malicious botnets in what they call “the chemotherapy of the internet”. Ransomware and botnets are at the center of this final episode of the first season.  With special guests: Yossi Na’ar, Uri Sternfeld, Israel Barak, and Stephen Cobb.

Hell to Pay

Ashley Madison Hack

When Ashley Madison got hacked, it made international headlines. Why? Because it wasn’t just a major event. It demonstrated how there’s information even more sensitive, even more significant than your credit card, or your social security number: your secrets.

When Ashley Madison got hacked, it made international headlines. Why? Because it wasn’t just a major event. It demonstrated how there’s information even more sensitive, even more significant than your credit card, or your social security number: your secrets.

The Ashley Madison Hack, Part 1

The NSA has many means at its disposal. But how does it use these means, and for what goals? Discover the (literally) secret history of the NSA’s cyber activity. Travel with us to Russia and back, learn the origins of FISA, and find out more about the government agency so secret it was once dubbed “No Such Agency”.

The NSA has many means at its disposal. But how does it use these means, and for what goals? Discover the (literally) secret history of the NSA’s cyber activity. Travel with us to Russia and back, learn the origins of FISA, and find out more about the government agency so secret it was once dubbed “No Such Agency”.

Super Spies

Today’s Cyber Stalkers have free access to almost government-grade spyware software with which they can terrorize their victims. Who’s enabling the commercial spyware market?

Today’s Cyber Stalkers have free access to almost government-grade spyware software with which they can terrorize their victims. Who’s enabling the commercial spyware market?

How is Spyware Legal?

If movies have taught me anything, it’s that if you want to rob a bank, you dress as the cleaning crew. The people behind the Target hack must have seen one action film too many, because when they decided to hack one of the biggest retailers in the world, they did so via the HVAC maintenance systems.

If movies have taught me anything, it’s that if you want to rob a bank, you dress as the cleaning crew. The people behind the Target hack must have seen one action film too many, because when they decided to hack one of the biggest retailers in the world, they did so via the HVAC maintenance systems.

The Target Hack

WannaCry’s widespread cyber attack on more than 200,000 computers all over the world made headlines – but only a few people remember a similar attack, named The AIDS Trojan, almost 30 years earlier… In this episode of Malicious Life, we go deep into the world of ransomware to examine its roots, the tools used and developed for these extortions, and the methods utilized.

WannaCry’s widespread cyber attack on more than 200,000 computers all over the world made headlines – but only a few people remember a similar attack, named The AIDS Trojan, almost 30 years earlier… In this episode of Malicious Life, we go deep into the world of ransomware to examine its roots, the tools used and developed for these extortions, and the methods utilized.

The Roots of Evil

Twenty years ago, a 15-years old Norwegian kid was put on trial for breaking the DVD Copy Prevention system. His case spawned a whole new “artistic” movement…

Twenty years ago, a 15-years old Norwegian kid was put on trial for breaking the DVD Copy Prevention system. His case spawned a whole new “artistic” movement…

DeCSS: Hackers Vs Hollywood

In its prime, Mt. Gox was essentially the place where Bitcoin happened. But for two years, Mt. Gox was imploding from the inside – while soaring to unprecedented success on the outside. NOTE: Our first Listener Survey is Up! Please support the show by telling us more about yourselves, and get a special extra bonus episodes in return  Thanks, Ran.

In its prime, Mt. Gox was essentially the place where Bitcoin happened. But for two years, Mt. Gox was imploding from the inside – while soaring to unprecedented success on the outside. NOTE: Our first <a href="https://malicious.life/survey/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Listener Survey</a> is Up! Please support the show by telling us more about yourselves, and get a special extra bonus episodes in return Thanks, Ran.

The Fall Of Mt. Gox – Part 1

Thousands of companies are losing millions of dollars to cyber attacks. An insurance seems an ideal solution to their woes – yet this kind of insurance is much less common today, than it should be. What’s the problem with Cyber insurance?

Thousands of companies are losing millions of dollars to cyber attacks. An insurance seems an ideal solution to their woes – yet this kind of insurance is much less common today, than it should be. What’s the problem with Cyber insurance?

What’s the problem with Cyber Insurance?

Where armies once fought with bullets and bombs, they now engage in clandestine, invisible warfare. In 2010 a virus was discovered that would change the world’s perception of cyber warfare forever. Dubbed Stuxnet, this malicious piece of code has a single focus- to stop to development of Iran’s nuclear program. Part one of this three part series sets us off in exploring the first major battle of the cyberwar- the Stuxnet worm. With special guests: Andrew Ginter, and Blake Sobczak.

Where armies once fought with bullets and bombs, they now engage in clandestine, invisible warfare. In 2010 a virus was discovered that would change the world’s perception of cyber warfare forever. Dubbed Stuxnet, this malicious piece of code has a single focus- to stop to development of Iran’s nuclear program. Part one of this three part series sets us off in exploring the first major battle of the cyberwar- the Stuxnet worm. With special guests: Andrew Ginter, and Blake Sobczak.

Stuxnet, part 1

On the second installment of our Ashely Madison hack retelling, we look at the fallout of one of the hack, and the people who’ve suffered from it.

On the second installment of our Ashely Madison hack retelling, we look at the fallout of one of the hack, and the people who’ve suffered from it.

The Ashley Madison Hack, Part 2

Even the best hackers are human, and humans are inescapably unique. Forensic Linguistics, Behavioral Signatures and Cultural Captchas can help defenders identify and (maybe) catch even the best of hackers.  

Even the best hackers are human, and humans are inescapably unique. Forensic Linguistics, Behavioral Signatures and Cultural Captchas can help defenders identify and (maybe) catch even the best of hackers.

Human Side Channels

Deep Fakes are set to revolutionize content creation, but alongside this technology’s benefits, it also has the potential two sow havoc, fear, and distrust via Social Networks. Just this week, Facebook disclosed a network of fake users it found, whose profile images were all deep faked. So, how can we identify deep fakes – even before they go online? 

Deep Fakes are set to revolutionize content creation, but alongside this technology’s benefits, it also has the potential two sow havoc, fear, and distrust via Social Networks. Just this week, Facebook disclosed a network of fake users it found, whose profile images were all deep faked. So, how can we identify deep fakes – even before they go online?

Deep Fakes, Part 2: Man Vs. Machine

The best podcast episodes of anyone with an interesting story. With famous guests like Obama, LeBron James, Drake, Oprah Winfrey, Richard Branson, Michelle Obama, Serena Williams, to anyone who has a unique and interesting story to tell. Add episodes you're interested into your queue below!

Best Episodes: Personal Stories & Great Interviews

The best philosophy podcast episodes. Asking questions about how to live a better life, what it means to be and do good, to the idea of God. This topic includes episodes that bring about important questions that everyone should be asking themselves. Add episodes you're interested into your queue below!