Hacking Humans

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Device trust (noun) [Word Notes] Jun 16, 2026

Show notes

The process of verifying that a device is known, secure, and uncompromised before allowing it to connect to a network or access resources.

CyberWire Glossary link: ⁠https://thecyberwire.com/glossary/device-trust⁠

Audio reference link: “Favorite Scene of Alan Rickman from Die Hard.” YouTube, YouTube, 14 Jan. 2016, ⁠https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mklnXM3LIXo.⁠

WhatsAppening here? Jun 11, 2026

Show notes

This week, hosts of N2K CyberWire ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Maria Varmazis⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dave Bittner⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ alongside ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Joe Carrigan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ are discussing the latest in social engineering scams, phishing schemes, and criminal exploits that are making headlines. This week's follow-up stories involve a puppy scam, a memorable road trip, fresh eggs, chickens, and an unexpected rat encounter. Joe examines two cases highlighting the real-world financial impact of fraud, including a vendor payment scam that cost a Maine town nearly $190,000 and a report on growing state-level fraud losses. Maria discusses a highly targeted espionage campaign that maintained access to a stock exchange executive's Outlook account, while quietly exfiltrating sensitive information. Dave explores how criminals are using AI-generated deepfakes of executives to convince employees to authorize fraudulent payments. Our Catch of the Day comes from listener Piet-Auke Boekema, who uncovered a LinkedIn scammer offering to sell cybersecurity certifications without requiring the exams.

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ZTNA (noun) [Word Notes] Jun 09, 2026

Show notes

Please enjoy this encore of Word Notes.

A technology set design to support the cybersecurity first principle strategy of zero trust, that limits device people and software component access to only designated authorized resources and nothing more.

CyberWire Glossary link: ⁠https://thecyberwire.com/glossary/zero-trust-network-access⁠

Audio reference link: “Zero Trust Explained by John Kindervag.” YouTube, YouTube, 2 Oct. 2022, ⁠https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LZe4Vn-eEo⁠.

Hearing Is no longer believing. Jun 04, 2026

Show notes

This week, hosts of N2K CyberWire ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Maria Varmazis⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dave Bittner⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ alongside ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Joe Carrigan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ are discussing the latest in social engineering scams, phishing schemes, and criminal exploits that are making headlines. They’re also joined by special guest Kieran Human, Lead Cybersecurity Engineer at ThreatLocker . Dave’s story is on an FBI warning that the Silent Ransom Group is escalating its extortion tactics by combining phishing and fake IT support calls with in-person visits, where attackers may physically enter offices to plug malicious devices into company computers. Joe’s story is on a listener-submitted case from Australia where attackers used a phishing email to silently install legitimate remote-access software, hijack a dental practice’s email system, and launch a large-scale phishing campaign that bypassed many traditional security controls. Maria’s story is on a California mother who lost $5,000 after scammers used what appeared to be her daughter’s voice in a fake kidnapping call, highlighting the growing threat of AI-powered voice cloning scams. Our Catch of the Day comes from a text scam that took an unexpected turn when the recipient fired back with a response the scammer definitely wasn't prepared for.

Resources and links to stories:

GDPR (noun) [Word Notes] Jun 02, 2026

Show notes

A data privacy legal framework that applies to all countries in the European Union, regulating the transmission, storage, and use of personal data associated with residents of the EU.

CyberWire Glossary link: ⁠https://thecyberwire.com/glossary/general-data-protection-regulation⁠

Audio reference link: “Mr. Robot Predicts JPM Coin!” YouTube, YouTube, 14 Feb. 2019, ⁠https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ee-cHbCI0s.

Trusting the wrong package. [Only Malware in the Building] Jun 02, 2026

Show notes

Being a security researcher is a bit like being a detective: you gather clues, analyze the evidence, and consult the experts to solve the cyber puzzle. This week, our hosts dive into the evolving threat of software supply chain attacks and the growing risks facing the open-source ecosystem. As developers increasingly rely on third-party packages and AI-powered coding tools, attackers are finding new ways to abuse trusted software to reach a wider range of targets. The discussion explores why these attacks are becoming more common, what recent incidents reveal about the state of software security, and what organizations can do to better protect themselves.

Sources: ⁠

Shai-Hulud worm returns stronger and more automated than ever before ⁠

‘Mini Shai-Hulud’ malware compromises hundreds of open-source packages in sprawling supply-chain attack ⁠

What We Learned: Axios NPM Supply Chain Compromise Emergency Briefing

Your AI Gateway Was a Backdoor: Inside the LiteLLM Supply Chain Compromise

Graduation day grifts May 28, 2026

Show notes

This week, hosts of N2K CyberWire ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Maria Varmazis⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dave Bittner⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ alongside ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Joe Carrigan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ are discussing the latest in social engineering scams, phishing schemes, and criminal exploits that are making headlines. We start with some follow up on Joe’s rental scam story, as listener Ben suggests the scammers may go the extra mile because they could keep collecting rent for months before anyone realizes the property was never theirs to rent out. Also, another listener writes in with some “Chook Psychology 101." Maria’s story is on scammers targeting recent college graduates with fake student loan relief offers, job scams, and rental listings designed to steal personal information, deposits, and money through high-pressure tactics. Joe’s story is on Congress pressuring major telecom companies to do more to stop the flood of scam calls and texts still reaching Americans despite billions already being blocked every year. Dave’s story is on Android 17 adding new protections aimed at stopping banking scams, including stronger privacy controls and defenses against malicious calls during sensitive actions. Our Catch of the Day is on a text scam where scammers use scare tactics by sending fake messages about court dates and legal trouble.

Resources and links to stories:

ChatGPT (noun) [Word Notes] May 26, 2026

Show notes

Please enjoy this encore of Word Notes.

A conversational language model developed by the company OpenAI.

CyberWire Glossary link: ⁠https://thecyberwire.com/glossary/chatgpt⁠

Audio reference link: jeongphill. “Movie - Her, First Meet OS1 (Operation System One, Os One, OS1).” YouTube, YouTube, 29 June 2014, ⁠https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GV01B5kVsC0⁠.

The friendly skies aren’t friendly. May 21, 2026

Show notes

This week, hosts of N2K CyberWire ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Maria Varmazis⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dave Bittner⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ alongside ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Joe Carrigan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ are discussing the latest in social engineering scams, phishing schemes, and criminal exploits that are making headlines. We start with some follow up on a phishing scam targeting people tied to Japan’s pension system, with listener Don Roley warning that martial arts communities connected to Japan may also be in scammers’ sights. Joe’s story is on two scams that actually ended well, including a Baltimore man who avoided losing millions in a sweepstakes scam thanks to help from local reporters and law enforcement. Dave’s got the story of a retired engineer who lost thousands after calling a fake airline support number he found through a Google search while trying to rebook a Lufthansa flight. Maria’s story is on suspicious “child safety kits” sent home through schools that collect deeply personal information from parents while quietly serving as lead generation for life insurance sales. From the scams subreddit comes today’s Catch of the Day, where a scammer trying to score a quick fifty bucks was met instead with a barrage of old-timey biblical insults, eventually spiraling into rage messages.

Resources and links to stories:

Man-in-the-Middle (noun) [Word Notes] May 19, 2026

Show notes

A cyber attack technique where adversaries intercept communications between two parties in order to collect useful information or to sabotage or corrupt the communication in some manner.

CyberWire Glossary link: ⁠https://thecyberwire.com/glossary/man-in-the-middle-attack⁠

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