Smashing Security

Problèmes de Weefeee, AI artists, and Web 3.0

23 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Ooh la la! Horreur Wi-Fi en France! Some folks have experienced the drawbacks of Web 3.0 as their NFTs are stolen, and should computers own the copyri...

Macro progress, eyeball-tracking ads, and encryption backdoors

16 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

How does Microsoft hope to defeat the macro terror? How is the UK Government trying to influence the public's opinion on end-to-end encryption? An...

North Korea hacked, DEA cosplay, and Horizon Worlds drama

09 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Who's wearing the pyjamas while they take down North Korea's internet? Is it a case of cop or cosplay in Oregon? And what's to fear abou...

New hire mystery, hacktivist ransomware, and digi-dating

02 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Who's that new guy working at your company, and why don't you recognise him from the interview? How are hacktivists raising the heat in Belaru...

Techquilibrium and mediocre linguistic escapades

26 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Wordle - good or bad for the world? Whatever your opinion, at least someone wants to spoil players' fun. Meanwhile, we take a look at the threat ...

Tesla remote hijacks and revolting YouTubers

19 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Carole's still on jury service, but the show must go on! We take a look at how some Tesla owners are at risk of having their expensive cars remot...

Pokemon-hunting cops and the Spine Collector scammer

12 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Who has been playing video games rather than hunting down criminals? How is a man alleged to have stolen manuscripts of unpublished books from celebr...

Virgin Media just won't take no for an answer, NFT apes, and bad optics

15 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

After a brief discussion of the Log4Shell vulnerability panic, we chat about how Virgin Media has got itself into hot water, a fat-fingered fumble at ...

Revolting receipts, a Twitter fandango, and shopkeeper cyber tips

08 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

"Demonically" possessed devices print out antiwork propaganda, advice on how to secure your store, and is Twitter's new photo privacy poli...

A dead hamster, a brass pen, and The Beatles

01 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Cryptocurrency traders suffer a hamster-related loss, beware of charity scammers this holiday season, and do you have the patience to sit through Pete...

Cybercrime unicorns, HVAC hacks, and NFT piracy - with Mikko Hyppönen

24 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Heating systems are left vulnerable to attack in the high courts, cybercrime unicorns have become a reality (but what are they?), over 15 Terabytes of...

Hotel hacks, workplace spies, and the FBI

17 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Booking.com got hacked five years ago, and didn't tell its customers... but now we know who might have been behind it. Bossware rears its ugly he...

PrawnHub, Tesla recall, and IoT luggage

10 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Fishing fanatics find themselves in deep water, Teslas go haywire after an update, and is there actually some good news about IoT?All this and much mu...

Yes, you heard that correctly. Two hundred and fifty

03 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A game about Squid Game pulls the rug from under cryptocurrency investors in what appears to be a scam, PayPal hackers use a devious trick to break in...

Devious licks, Netflix, and sensitive hackers

27 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Ransomware attackers have got hurt feelings, what does Netflix know about you, and why are schoolkids stealing lavatory seats?All this and much much m...

Press F12 to hack

20 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A journalist is threatened with prosecution after choosing to "View Source" on a public webpage, Amazon Ring owners might be in line for a hef...

Rickrolling submarine secrets

13 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A married couple are accused of selling nuclear sub secrets, Facebook continues to make young lives a misery, and a school hacker lets loose one heck ...

Facebook has fallen

06 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Facebook suffers a massive (and very public) failure, Britain announces plans for counter-attacking nation states in cyberspace, and there's a tra...

The Julian Assange assassination plot, and IoT toilets

29 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

While Julian Assange was killing time in the Ecuador's embassy in London, the CIA were trying to dream up ways to kill him, and urine trouble if y...

Facebook Ray-Bans, VPN spies, and AI camouflage

22 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

How much do you trust the people who work at your VPN provider? How are folks fighting facial recognition? And what on earth is Ray-Ban thinking getti...

Breaking news, Apple zero-clicks, and bad blood

15 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A Walmart press release says it's jumping aboard the cryptocurrency bus - but is it true? Theranos's Elizabeth Holmes goes on trial, and have ...

ProtonMail privacy questioned, and Banksy blunder

08 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

ProtonMail finds itself in a privacy pickle, the big problem with Facebook's algorithmic amplification, and strange things are happening on Banksy...

Flipping dating apps, and crypto rewards for criminals

01 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

How to find your match on the Bumble dating app, convicted criminals make money out of cryptocurrency, and there are concerns about data in Afghanista...

3D printer hijacks, crypto fails, and a tech billionaire’s revenge

25 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A bug unravels 3D printer security, cryptocurrency sites can't stop getting hacked, and hear our special guest spill a cup of tea while inhabiting...

TikTok vigilantes, sloppy IoT, and Wikipedia woe

18 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The Great Londini has gathered a two million strong army to out TikTok trolls, there's a bad supply chain vulnerability in many IoT devices, and h...

Fashion captain, fraud family, and DEF CON. D'oh!

28 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Pygmy hippopotamus bugs, DEF CON's data slip-up, and phishing fraudsters have their collars felt.All this and much much more is discussed in the l...

NuNa, NuNu, NaNa

21 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Spy software known as Pegasus has been used to carry out surveillance on the smartphones of journalists, activists, and political leaders. Can a "...

Stingrays, soccer, and smart homes

14 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

How did investigators ask a romance scammer out on a date, smart homes continue to play dumb, and is it time for social media sites to do more about r...

REvil returns, TikTok grows, and Gettr defaced

07 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A ransomware gang has exploited a security hole in software used by many businesses, and are demanding $70 million for a decryption tool. Plus we tak...

Cozy Bear, dildo scams, and robo hires and fires

30 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Microsoft warns about a hacking gang that is far from cuddly, algorithms rather than managers are firing people, and our guest receives a surprising e...

Peloton problems, romance regret, and Weiner woes

23 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We take a look at why Peloton is being accused of ransomware-like behaviour, how one man lost $250,000 in a romance scam, and how a chap called Weiner...

Zoomolympics and language matters

16 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Video gaming giant Electronic Arts suffers a hack following slack security, the Japanese Olympics are proving unpopular with everyone apart from cyber...

Sexy snaps and encrypted chat traps

09 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Criminals are caught in a encrypted chat trap, should you trust Apple's repair team with your sexy snaps, and do you think the FBI should be able ...

Flash card f-up and energy pipe pilfering

02 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The US military has been caught exposing its nuclear weapons secrets, and we explore the world of nerdy miners.All this and much much more is discusse...

Dating leaks, right to repair, and a stinky bishop

26 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A big cheese ends up in jail, a Japanese dating site spills the dirt after a hack, and we learn all about the right to repair.All this and much much m...

Pipeline pickle, Blockchain bollocks, and Eufy SNAFU - with Rory Cellan-Jones

19 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The Colonial Pipeline attack has shone light on the activities of the Darkside ransomware gang, we take a skeptical look at cryptocurrencies and the b...

Phishing foul-up, Twitter tip jars, and Facebook's Apple fury

12 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Facebook says it's sticking up for the little guys as it picks a fight with Apple, there are testing times on the trains, and Twitter takes a tip....

Cryptocrazies and NFTs

05 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

How did the SCAM cryptocurrency become a success? Why is Google allowing government rip-off ads to still appear on search results? And why on earth is...

Master of your domain, gripe sites, and John Deere Farmergeddon

28 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Google loses its domain in Argentina, how do gripe sites make their dough, and has John Deere solved the cybersecurity problem?All this and much much ...

The Lazarus Heist, Facebook faux pas, and no-cost security

21 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Facebook has managed to do the seemingly impossible - and had a data breach about its handling of a data breach. Meanwhile, we chat to the host of th...

Booze, nudes, and insurance dudes

14 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Should insurance companies be banned from helping companies pay ransomware demands? How has malware messed with motorcars in the United States? And ...

Facebook, deepfakes, and April Fools scandals - with Nina Schick

07 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Deepfake expert Nina Schick joins us as we discuss synthetic media, Facebook's latest data fiasco, and some less-than-brilliant April Fool's t...

God bless his hairy palms

31 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

FatFace stumps up $2 million to its ransomware extortionists, an IT administrator is caught with his pants down, Mobikwik blames its users for a data ...

Ransoms, scandals, and glitter bombs

24 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

PC manufacturer Acer might have received a $50 million ransom demand, a warning spreads on Facebook about a trick being used by hackers, and why are t...

Cheerleaders, dating apps, and crisis PR

17 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

How are cheerleaders being creeped out by deepfakes? What might Tinder tell potential dates about your murky past? And how should companies respond to...

Microsoft, McAfee, and mayhem

10 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Is it the end of the road for John McAfee? Is PornHub more legitimate than Facebook? And do you know as much as you think you do about the Microsoft E...

Would you cuddle this revolting robot? - with Robert Llewellyn

03 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Actor, presenter and writer Robert Llewellyn, famous for playing the part of Kryten in the science-fiction comedy "Red Dwarf," joins us as we ...

Playboy, prison, and digital ploys - with Garry Kasparov

24 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

World-chess-champion-turned-activist Garry Kasparov returns to the show as we discuss a romance scammer with plenty of time on his hands, the surge in...

Sexy cows banned on Facebook

17 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The FBI is hoping that its hunt for Capitol rioters will go viral, a cryptocurrency con lets its perpetrator live the high life... for a while, and ju...

Lockdown love scams, SolarWinds, and a data deletion bungle

10 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Fingerprints and DNA records have been deleted from the UK's police database, the SolarWinds hack continues to wreak havoc and raise questions, an...

No security smarts at Mensa, long-term identity theft, and GameStop's share frenzy

03 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Mensa - the social club for people with high IQs - is accused of not being so smart about security, an Indian TV journalist gets an unbelievable job o...

Dutch leaks, Peeping Toms, and researchers under fire

27 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Google warns security researchers that North Korean hackers are pretending to be their buddies, sensitive information connected to Coronavirus testing...

Fleeking, COVID-19 hacking, and Bitcoin balls-ups

20 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Your privacy may be at risk if you're on Fleek, hackers not only steal COVID-19 vaccine data but then tamper with it to spread mistrust, and the B...

DC rioters ID'd, Energydots, and ransomware gets you in a pickle

13 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Penile penal problems, identifying rioters in Washington DC, and can a sticker protect you from radiation? All this and much much more is discussed i...

Vengeful ex-staff, bad Santas, and iOS app nutrition facts

16 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Watch out for Santas wearing hoodies! A rogue employee takes down WebEx for thousands of people, and Apple forces apps to show a privacy health warnin...

Hidden treasure, COVID tracker trauma, and happy holidays with IoT

09 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Was hidden treasure found with help from a hack? What security lessons can be learnt from a controversial police raid in Florida? And are you ready fo...

Cyber biowarfare, giant ladybugs, and strippers

02 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Fears are raised about cyber bioterrorists, there's a widespread blackout for IoT devices caused by a cloud cock-up, and what role do strippers pl...

Robo dogs, deepfakes and dirty deceptions - with Tim Harford

25 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Author and broadcaster Tim Harford joins us as we discuss the merits of robotic canine security guards, deepfakes, and the curious tale of an art forg...

Zoom password pinching and Parler problems

18 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Watch out for a whole different type of shoulder-surfing, researchers uncover the CostaRicto hackers-for-hire gang, and we take a peek at who is behin...

Green buttons, Olympic attacks, and... an apology

11 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Darknet Diaries host Jack Rhysider joins us to discuss a cybersecurity goof in the wake of the US presidential elections, the US finally fingering the...

Testing times, naming names, and the bald truth about AI

04 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Students are being spied on as they do online exams, how did a televised football match reveal the truth about artificial intelligence, and what on ea...

The Wu-Tang Clan are Among Us

28 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Voting machines are under the microscope, scammers are posing as rap stars, and American politician AOC isn't the only one who's been getting ...

Robin Hood, Flippy, and the web ad bubble

21 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The Darkside ransomware gang thinks it's a modern-day Robin Hood when it donates extorted Bitcoins to charity, the micro-targeted ad industry coul...

Two flipping hundred

14 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

We're in celebratory mood as we celebrate our 200th episode, but there's still time to discuss Fatima the ballerina who the UK government want...

A few tech cock-ups, and one cock lock-up

07 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

An internet-connected adult toy could leave its users encaged, the official NHS COVID-19 contact-tracing app alarms users, and would you be happy if a...

Chucky the coffee maker

30 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Coffee machines catching ransomware, Blacklight shines a torch on website tracking, and a woman is freaked out that a complete stranger can turn off h...

Greedy bosses, game cheats, and virtual beheadings

23 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Why are Zoom and Twitter making some people disappear? How are Counter-Strike: Global Offensive cheats getting their just desserts? And the founder of...

Smart guns, smart cars, and smart street lights - oh my!

16 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Kalashnikov unveils its "smart" shotgun, San Diego struggles with its street lights, and a researcher reveals how he found a way to hack every...

Selene Delgado Lopez is not your friend - with Jon Bentley

09 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The Gadget Show's Jon Bentley joins us to discuss the mystery of a Facebook friend you never requested, software updates for the Mercedes S-Class,...

Carry on droning

02 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

A Bitcoin bungle causes one user to lose millions, hackers attempt to bribe a Tesla employee into infecting the company's network, and are we read...

Hacking the CIA, Bridgefy, and college lockdowns

26 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Whatever happened to Crackas with Attitude, perfidious Albion College's approach to locking down Coronavirus, and the Bridgefy mesh messaging app ...

Ritz and robocalls - with Rory Cellan-Jones

19 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

A scam involving restaurant bookings at The Ritz is suitably sophisticated, the second wave of UK coronavirus testing apps, and we take a look at one ...

We are on the bird

12 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Can a video game help your company's staff choose stronger passwords? Why might satellite-based internet communications be bad for security? And w...

Twitter hack arrests, email bad behaviour, and Fawkes vs facial recognition

05 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Special guest Geoff White can't resist using the podcast to promote his new book, "Crime Dot Com", but other than that we also discuss the...

DNA cock-up, Garmin hack, and virtual kidnappings

29 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Why are students faking their own kidnappings? What's the story behind Garmin's ransomware attack? And a genetic genealogy website suffers a h...

Dinner with Elon Musk and Kris Jenner

22 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Who stopped Twitter's hackers from stealing more money? Why are Covid-19 researchers being told to ramp up their cybersecurity? How can you find o...

Huawei ban, MGM hack, and a contact-tracing cock-up

15 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Login chaos for England's contact tracing service, our drill-down on the Britain's Huawei 5G ban, MGM's blockbuster breach, and how to pro...

This one's for all the Karens!

08 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

A high-rolling Hushpuppi gets extradited to the United States, Carole details her problems with clipboards and Disposophobia, and our guest becomes th...

Bieber fever, Roblox, and ransomware

01 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Who's been dressing Robox players up in red baseball caps? Which ransomware victim's negotations got spied on by the media? And should Jason B...

Vanity Bitcoin wallets, BlueLeaks, and a Coronavirus app conspiracy

24 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

A conspiracy spreads on social media about Coronavirus tracing apps, US police find decades' worth of sensitive data leaked online, and is there a...

MAMILs, gameshows, and a surprise from eBay

17 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

A TV gameshow with cash prizes if you're obeying Coronavirus lockdown rules, ex-Ebay staff charged in crazy cyberstalking case, and when the wrong...

Space Force, credit card fraud, and beep-ti-beep

10 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Graham finds himself in hot water with a security firm after a data breach, Carole discusses credit card fraud, and we have a pleasant surprise for Th...

Anti-cybercrime ads, tricky tracing, and a 5G Bioshield

03 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Police are hoping to stop kids becoming cybercriminals by bombarding them with Google Ads, phishers rub their hands in glee at the NHS track and trace...

Taking care of Clare

27 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

On this special splinter episode of the podcast, we're joined by actor and comedian Clare Blackwood in the hope of convincing her that cybersecuri...

Deepfake Jay-Z, and beer apps spilling your data

20 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Apps that belch out sensitive military information, what could the world learn from South Korea's digital response to the Coronavirus pandemic, an...

Office pranks, meat dresses, and robocop dogs

13 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Graham shares stories of email storms, Carole describes the steps being taken by firms as they try to coax employees back to the office, and guest Lis...

Elon Musk, Roblox, and Love Bug author found

06 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

What can X Æ A-12 Musk teach us about passwords? How did our guest finally hunt down the man behind one of history's biggest virus outbreaks in M...

Hacking hacks and university attacks

29 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Journalists spying on their rivals, the NHS rejects Apple and Google's approach to Coronavirus-tracing, and universities are hit by an old-fashion...

Zoom deepfakes, Zardoz, and 'Rona tracing

22 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Will deepfake disguises hit a video conference near you, can Coronavirus-tracing apps be trusted, and should Facebook shut down anti-quarantine events...

Animal Crossing with Garry Kasparov

15 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

World-chess-champion-turned-activist Garry Kasparov joins us as we discuss celebrity lookalikes, smartphone fleeceware, the impact Coronavirus is havi...

5G fiascos, Zoom gloom, and butt biometrics

08 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

We take a look at the stinky backside of surveillance, gas about the latest video-conferencing threats, and jump into the murky world of 5G conspiracy...

UncleF***Face - with Mikko Hyppönen

01 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Carole details how companies are spying on their stay-at-home workers, Mikko Hyppönen discusses the trustworthiness of video chat apps, and Graham ge...

WhatsApp hoaxes, Zoombombs, and 8-bit love

25 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Blackmailers are threatening to infect your family with Coronavirus, trolls are making Zoom an unsafe place for those of a sensitive disposition, and ...

PornHub, Coronavirus apps, and remote working

18 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

It's a self-isolated Coronavirus special as we discuss with our quarantined special guest how COVID-19 is making itself felt in the world of cyber...

Burglaries, breaches, and bidets

11 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

How one guy's exercise routine made him a burglary suspect, how multi-factor authentication can cause headaches as well as stop hacks, and how Vir...

The Bitcoin fraud factory

04 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Fraudsters steal millions from those hoping to jump on the Bitcoin bandwagon, Twitter verifies a fake US politician, and it's another face palm fo...

Coronavirus scams and an exaggerated lion

26 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Scammers from Africa are preying on US businesses, a drug dealer makes a mistake when hiding his Bitcoin fortune, and the Coronavirus pandemic is caus...

What the Dickens! Ad ban thank you scam

19 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

How to stop dick pics on Twitter, and a new way bad guys are extorting money from websites earning cash from Google ads.All this and much more is disc...

Cheapfakes, deepfakes, and Ashley Madison

12 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Wi-Fi hopping malware, the return of Ashley Madison extortion scams, and should social media be doing anything about cheapfakes?All this and much much...

A bitter pill to swallow

05 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

A gallery is tricked into giving millions to a fraudster, software tells doctors to push opioids onto patients, and an artist finds a novel way to tri...