The story of how hackers managed to compromise the US Government's official SEC Twitter account to boost the price of Bitcoins, AI isn't helping reduce the rife conspiracy theories inside classrooms, and is the funeral bell tolling for ransomware?

All this and more is discussed in episode 404 of the "Smashing Security" podcast by cybersecurity veterans Graham Cluley and Carole Theriault, joined this week by special guest Jane Wakefield.

Warning: This podcast may contain nuts, adult themes, and rude language.

Episode links:

• SEC's Twitter account hacked to say Bitcoin ETFs approved - Hot for Security.
• Twitter says it’s not its fault the SEC’s account got hacked - Graham Cluley.
• SEC Twitter hack blamed on SIM swap attack - Hot for Security.
• The SEC’s X account got hacked by a 25-year-old who went by ‘AGiantSchnauzer’ and got paid in Bitcoin, feds say - Fortune.
• Pupils share conspiracy theories for fun, with girls ‘more susceptible’ - The Times.
• AI chatbots unable to accurately summarise news, BBC finds - BBC News.
• US-led cybersecurity coalition vows to not pay hackers' ransom demands - TechCrunch.
• 35% Year-over-Year Decrease in Ransomware Payments, Less than Half of Recorded Incidents Resulted in Victim Payments - Chain Analysis.
• Ransomware: proposals to increase incident reporting and reduce payments to criminals - GOV.UK.
• The 2024 Ransomware Landscape: ‘Looking back on another painful year’ - IT Wire.
• The Space Doctor’s Big Idea by Randall Munroe - The New Yorker.
• Reading guide: Creation Lake by Rachel Kushner - Booker Prizes.
• Smashing Security merchandise (t-shirts, mugs, stickers and stuff)

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What happens when eager computer enthusiasts unknowingly download a trojanized hacking tool and find themselves on the wrong side of cybersecurity? A former employee's actions led to chaos and raise urgent questions about the security of cultural treasures. And join us as we explore the alarming trend of social media influencers staging fake kidnappings.

All this and much much more is discussed in the latest edition of the "Smashing Security" podcast by cybersecurity veterans Graham Cluley and Carole Theriault, joined this week by Lianne Potter from the "Compromising Positions" podcast.

Warning: This podcast may contain nuts, adult themes, and rude language.

Episode links:

• No Honour Among Thieves: Uncovering a Trojanized XWorm RAT Builder Propagated by Threat Actors and Disrupting Its Operations - CloudSEK.
• British Museum forced to partly close after alleged IT attack by former employee - The Guardian.
• Chart: What Do You Want to be When You Grow Up?- Statista.
• Tikked off: What happens when TikTok fame fades - Vox.
• Influencer burnout is real - Vox.
• Influencer slammed for staging fake kidnapping plot because she was ‘bored’ - Mirror Online.
• "Mom influencer" Katie Sorensen sentenced to jail for falsely claiming couple tried to kidnap her kids at a crafts store - CBS News.
• Stock market influencer on the way to Coldplay concert kidnapped by data theft gang - The New Indian Express.
• Raycast.
• “Thank Goodness You’re Here” video game.
• The We Society Podcast - Academy of Social Sciences.
• Smashing Security merchandise (t-shirts, mugs, stickers and stuff)

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• Tailscale – Tailscale is perfect for work or personal projects, making networking simple. Its free plan covers up to 100 devices and 3 users. Get started at tailscale.com and be up and running in less than 10 minutes!
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An Italian hacker makes the grade and ends up in choppy waters, and hear true stories of title deed transfer scams.

All this and more is discussed in the latest edition of the award-winning "Smashing Security" podcast by computer security veterans Graham Cluley and Carole Theriault.

Plus - don't miss our featured interview with Avery Pennarun of Tailscale.

Warning: This podcast may contain nuts, adult themes, and rude language.

Episode links:

• Report from Corriere Di Bologna newspaper.
• Caro Musk, assumi subito l’hacker quindicenne di Cesena – Il Foglio.
• 15-Year-Old Hacker Diverts Ships in Mediterranean Sea for Fun – Hot for Security.
• 90-year-old immigrant could lose Brooklyn home after deed theft scam, family says – CBS News.
• Protect your home. Spot the signs of deed theft – Better Business Bureau.
• Woman Charged for Scheme to Defraud Elvis Presley’s Family – DOJ.
• Home Title Theft: How To Protect Yourself – Forbes Advisor.
• Here’s How Scammers in America Can Take the Title to Your Home Without You Knowing It – Moneywise.
• Could a Criminal Use Deed Fraud to Steal Your Entire Home? – AARP.
• Could Fraudsters Steal Your Home From Under Your Nose? – HomeOwners Alliance.
• Wizard Zines.
• Listen for the Lie – Amazon.
• Smashing Security merchandise (t-shirts, mugs, stickers and stuff)

Sponsored by:

• Tailscale – Tailscale is perfect for work or personal projects, making networking simple. Its free plan covers up to 100 devices and 3 users. Get started at tailscale.com and be up and running in less than 10 minutes!
• 1Password – Secure every app, device, and identity – even the unmanaged ones at

The video game Path of Exile 2 suffers a security breach, we explore the issues of using predictive algorithms in travel surveillance systems, and the very worst IoT devices are put on show in Las Vegas. Oh, and has Elon Musk accidentally revealed he cheats at video games?

All this and much much more is discussed in the latest edition of the "Smashing Security" podcast by cybersecurity veterans Graham Cluley and Carole Theriault, joined this week by The Cyberwire's Dave Bittner.

Warning: This podcast may contain nuts, adult themes, and rude language.

Episode links:

• Player of Games - Grimes.
• ‘Path of Exile 2’ Players Call Bulls**t on Elon Musk’s Video Game Stream - Gizmodo.
• Elon Musk "Playing" Path of Exile 2 - YouTube.
• Elon Musk is Lying About Being Good at Video Games - YouTube.
• Elon Musk Streams His ”Totally Not Boosted” ‘Path of Exile 2’ Character, Proves He Has No Idea What He’s Doing - Vice.
• Hacker Broke into ‘Path of Exile 2’ Admin Account, Hijacked Wave of Characters - 404 Media.
• Inside the Black Box of Predictive Travel Surveillance - WIRED.
• Average Number of Smart Devices in a Home 2025 - Consumer Affairs.
• Global IoT and non-IoT connections 2010-2025 - Statista.
• U.S. Cyber Trust Mark: New Label for IoT Devices - National Law Review.
• How the Internet of Things will be good for the planet - Thales Group.
• The ‘Worst in Show’ CES products put your data at risk and cause waste, privacy advocates say - AP News.
• The CES worst in show awards lampoon AI everthing - The Register.
• The Worst Devices of CES 2025!! - YouTube.
• This Could Be Your AI Robot Girlfriend - For $175,000 - Forbes.

Ever wonder how those "free" browser extensions that promise to save you money actually work? We dive deep into the controversial world of Honey, the coupon-finding tool owned by PayPal, and uncover a scheme that might be leaving you with less savings and your favorite YouTubers with empty pockets.

Plus, we take a look at Kagi, the search engine you pay not to show you adverts, and discuss what you should do with your old, no-longer-wanted technology.

All this and more is discussed in the latest edition of the "Smashing Security" podcast by cybersecurity veterans Graham Cluley and Carole Theriault.

Warning: This podcast may contain nuts, adult themes, and rude language.

Episode links:

• Exposing the Honey Influencer Scam - MegaLag on YouTube.
• The Honey Scam: Explained - Marques Brownlee on YouTube.
• 14 million people don’t know how to erase their data from an old device - ICO.
• Electronics hoarding habit among Brits and Americans - SellCell.
• Practical advice for online and electronic devices - ICO.
• How to factory reset your Google Pixel phone - Google.
• How to factory reset your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple.
• Reset your Android device to factory settings - Google.
• Erase your Mac and reset it to factory settings - Apple.
• Reset your PC - Microsoft.
• How do I perform a factory reset on my Samsung mobile device? - Samsung.
• Kagi search engine.
• Battery Heated Clothing - Fieldsheer.
• Smashing Security merchandise (t-shirts, mugs, stickers and stuff)

Sponsored by:

• 1Password Extended Access Management – Secure every sign-in for every app on every device.
• BigID - Start protecting your sensitive data wherever it lives with BigID. Get a free demo to how your organization can reduce data risk and accelerate the adoption of generative AI.

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A Canadian man is arrested in relation to the Snowflake hacks from earlier this year - after a cybersecurity researcher managed to track his identity, and a cryptocurrency-trading Instagram influencer is in trouble with the law.

All this and more is discussed in the latest edition of the "Smashing Security" podcast by cybersecurity veterans Graham Cluley and Carole Theriault.

Warning: This podcast may contain nuts, adult themes, and rude language.

Episode links:

• Accused Kitchener hacker unmasked after threatening woman online - The Waterloo Region Record.
• Canadian Man Arrested in Snowflake Data Extortions - Krebs on Security.
• Who wants to be next? - Bluesky post by Allison Nixon.
• Crypto Trader Kills His Mum For £500k After Going Into Debt To Maintain 'Perfect Lifestyle' - IB Times.
• Autopsy reveals injuries on body of Colleen Rebelo’s body after alleged murder - Australia News.
• Influencer Marketing Statistics 2024 - Artios.
• BLACKkKLANSMAN trailer - YouTube.
• A Soft Murmur.
• Smashing Security merchandise (t-shirts, mugs, stickers and stuff)

Sponsored by:

• 1Password Extended Access Management – Secure every sign-in for every app on every device.
• BigID - Start protecting your sensitive data wherever it lives with BigID. Get a free demo to how your organization can reduce data risk and accelerate the adoption of generative AI.
• ThreatLocker - the Zero Trust endpoint protection platform that provides enterprise-level cybersecurity to organizations globally. Start your 30-day free trial today!

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