What the Hack?

A listener shares her harrowing tale of being scammed while searching for a Jack Russell puppy. The scammers employed fake breeders and aggressive tactics, creating a whirlwind of red flags and emotional turmoil. Details like inflated shipping costs and suspicious photos only added to the drama. They discuss vital warning signs to identify pet scams and provide essential tips for safely purchasing pets online. From in-person meetings to verifying references, this conversation is packed with advice to protect yourself from fraud.

Chris Hutchins, a life hacker and travel expert behind the podcast All The Hacks, shares his insights on travel hacking. He reveals how clever strategies helped him and his wife enjoy luxury trips using points. Despite facing a theft of his miles by a threat actor, he found a way to work the situation to his advantage, scoring even more points. Hutchins also discusses online security improvements and tactics to safeguard against account takeovers, along with thrilling tales of scams and hardening his defenses.

Caitlin Sarian, known as Cybersecurity Girl, is an online personality dedicated to making cybersecurity accessible, particularly for women. She delves into the challenges of scrubbing personal information from the internet, emphasizing the alarming ease with which data brokers collect and sell data. Caitlin shares practical strategies for managing online privacy, the hidden dangers of sharing personal information, and the importance of understanding privacy laws. The conversation also touches on the intersection of digital privacy and democracy's integrity in today's online landscape.

Nicole Perlroth, a cybersecurity journalist and author, dives deep into the shadowy world of cyberwarfare and zero-day exploits. She shares insights on surprising attack vectors like USBs and printers, highlighting their unexpected risks. Perlroth discusses the ramifications of zero-days and the intelligence trade-offs seen with leaks such as EternalBlue. With AI accelerating exploit creation, she stresses the urgent need for public discourse on security practices. Her gripping narrative weaves the complex landscape of cyber threats into relatable conversations.

Jack Rhysider, creator of the Darknet Diaries and network security expert, explores the privacy risks tied to our digital footprints. He recounts a chilling experience where a fan re-identified him through online clues, highlighting the ease of privacy breaches. Jack discusses the delicate balance between public persona and safety, sharing tools for protecting personal information. He delves into how marketing data and social engineering target everyday users, especially in the chaotic crypto landscape. His insights stress the importance of vigilance in safeguarding one's digital identity.

As technology is integrated deeper into classrooms, the lines between education and data privacy have been destroyed by for-profit data miners. This week, privacy advocate Shannon Edwards reveals how educational apps harvest sensitive information from children, commodify their data, and what parents can do to fight it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ransomware is a type of malware that allows hackers to commandeer data on a device or an entire network. Increasingly, the threat actors behind these crimes set their sites on mission critical targets. We talked about it with renowned cybersecurity expert Keren Elazari this week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’ve all been there. You see something perfect online, you do all the clicks and then think, “Wait, was that legit?” Scam-lite transactions are the way of the web these days, whether it’s direct-from-manufacturer or super-sticky subscriptions, we have your back.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From elections to ransomware, CISA Director Jen Easterly breaks down the threats to America’s critical infrastructure and what’s being done to stop them, sharing along the way her journey from the real-life battlefield to the frontlines of cybersecurity. This is a rare glimpse into the most pressing threats America faces—and a compelling story about Director Easterly’s own experience being targeted.. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cory Doctorow, science fiction author and digital-rights activist, riffs on how everyday systems hide massive scams. He tells a personal card-fraud tale, explains why platforms and corporate collusion enable fraud, and discusses using forensic research to turn complex white-collar schemes into thriller plots.