I Spied

Latest Episodes:

Assassins Heed Aug 07, 2022

Show notes

With the recent drone strike on Al Qaeda head Ayman al Zawahiri and the very public shooting of former Japanese PM Shinzo Ade, it seems the darkest tool of the intelligence world is coming out of the shadows. Assassination is seen by many as an act of morally repugnant barbarism, but regarded by others as the ultimate precision weapon. This week we focus our cross hairs on the application of extra-judicial killing: what actually constitutes an assassination; how and why is it used; and how is its use limited?
Target acquired, you are weapons free. Take the shot with this weeks episode

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It's a Bug(out) Life Jul 31, 2022

Show notes

After a combination of a listener asking if we were enjoying Channel Ten's Hunted and David talking at length with a contact about the 1984 levels of public surveillance growing in China, this week we're looking at how difficult (or easy) it is to make a getaway. From the confected CCTV footage of Hunted, to the frighteningly real combination of facial recognition and AI analysis combined with experiments in social credit in the Peoples Republic, what lengths would you have to go to to avoid capture in today's modern society? Can you truly disappear in the electronic age? And how can knitting needles get you out of a jam? Trust no-one after this weeks ep!

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The Tender (Honey) Trap Jul 24, 2022

Show notes

Sex. We all enjoy it but even today it is surprising how much trouble it can get us into. With reports of honey traps, the use of clandestine sexual encounters, on the rise in the intelligence world, we take a look at how people can still find themselves in the stickiest of situations. We also take a peep at some of the more infamous cases, including one extraordinary tale involving an opera singer, a French diplomat, and a very dark room. Prepare for a cold shower after this ep!

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Cloudy with a chance of Snowdon Jul 17, 2022

Show notes

In part two of our dive into at possibly the greatest intelligence heist in history, we look at what Edward Snowdon got and what it means for the US and its allies. What does it mean for the US intelligence community, what effects has it had on the US' enemies and what might it mean for Five Eyes members like Australia? And with Snowdon now living in Moscow has it helped or hindered Putin in his bid to recreate the glory of the Russian Empire? Who knew a thumb drive could cause so much damage?

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Bite Size: Spy Society Jul 13, 2022

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Who would have known that social occasions like dinners, soirees and cocktail parties were a prime place to find spies. But that's where so many initial contacts are made between the professional intelligence officer and potential agents. In this bite size we have a look at the process of recruiting an agent, as per the CIA Handbook of Recruitment. From lavish dinners to free tickets, if a diplomat is trying very hard to be your friend, chances are you have something they want. Be sure to check who you're drinking with when you listen to this one!

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Let it Snow(don) Jul 10, 2022

Show notes

Described by a CIA co-worker as a "genius among geniuses", Edward Snowdon managed to pull off the greatest intelligence heist in history. He absconded with literally millions of classified documents, and left the US and allies still unsure of exactly what secrets he took. In this first part of a two part examination we look at how Snowdon found himself at the heart of the intelligence beast, how he managed to walk out the door with a treasure trove of intel, and how that dumb terminal you're used to working on ain't so dumb.

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Bite Size: We're (Tobler)One! Jul 07, 2022

Show notes

With European governments booting Russian diplomats and intelligence assets from their countries, the question has to be asked: Where are they all going?
The answer: Switzerland.
Home of chocolate, cheese and almost every large international organisation, Switzerland is a spy's paradise, and the gateway to the rest of Europe. Keep your Swiss Army knife handy as we yodel our way through the Alps in this bite-size!

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For Whom the Ivy Bell Tolls Jul 03, 2022

Show notes

The recent attempted hacking of an undersea communications cable off Hawaii gives us the perfect chance to look beneath the surface of telecommunications security, particularly that of ocean-spanning cables. Starting with the legendary Operation Ivy Bells, we examine the how, who and why these trunk lines are hacked, how common it is, and just what it might mean for an island like Australia. Take a deep breath, this episode is going deep.

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Bite Size: Shake Your Tail Feather Jun 29, 2022

Show notes

Another listener request, this week about surveillance, how to spot it and how to avoid it. In the age of CCTV, internet tracking and electronic chicanery, the old trade craft of foot, vehicle and static surveillance is still going strong (although if you think you're being followed it probably says more about you than it does about the police state). Then again, as the old saying goes: Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get you.
And if you're looking in a shop window and notice someone behind you in the reflection touching their ear, they're probably listening to this ep!

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Proud Boys Cometh Before the Fall Jun 26, 2022

Show notes

Further damning revelations from the January 6 Committee paint a picture of a United States in crisis. From the Proud Boys running the January 6 storming of the Capitol building as an incognito military assault, to the GOP gaming the US electoral system, to Trumpist Senators, Congressmen and lawyers queueing up for pardons, could we be watching the fall of an empire in real time? And what does this mean for the security community in the US and beyond? Seriously, who would have thought a dodgy reality TV host could cause so much chaos? Keep your knitting needles close!

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