What the Hack?

Latest Episodes:

Episode 183: Ava Smithing Battles Big Tech and the Algorithm Trap Jan 07, 2025

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Ava Smithing was eleven when she saw a swimsuit on Pinterest that she liked. That innocent click turned into an eating disorder. How? This episode explores the most dangerous thing children face today: Algorithms. On a mission to hold Big Tech accountable, Ava shares her journey as an activist with us, including her recent role providing Congressional testimony in support of the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA).

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Episode 182: The Most Scary, Interesting, and Important Stories of 2024 Dec 31, 2024

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We look back at the internet’s scariest moments, the boldest defenders, and the most surprising tech twists of 2024—groundbreaking legislation, international scam-rings, and the growing fight to make the internet a safer place for everyone.

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Episode 181: Bob Sullivan Discovers a Scam That Strikes Twice Dec 24, 2024

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Chester Frilich lost everything to scammers, and he didn’t just lose his money—he lost hope, too. Bob Sullivan joins us to recount this devastating case, revealing the IRS’s unintentional role in punishing victims, and how advocacy and legislation could turn things around.

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Episode 180: Amy Neville Fights Snapchat’s Drug Dealer Problem Dec 17, 2024

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What happens when social media platforms prioritize engagement over safety? How do drug dealers exploit apps like Snapchat to target teens? Amy Neville lost her son Alex to counterfeit Oxycodone pills that were laced with Fentanyl. He bought them from a Snapchat user. She talked with us about this hidden crisis and her mission to reform social media and protect future generations.

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Episode 179: Tarah Wheeler and Deviant Ollam Reveal Security’s Weakest Link Dec 10, 2024

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Tarah Wheeler lost her security badge. Deviant Ollam picked his way into "secure" spaces. Together, they show how humans make or break security and why layering defenses is key to surviving inevitable mistakes. What happens when security fails because of us? Two experts dive into the blind spots in physical, digital, and human security—and why fixing them starts with being honest about our mistakes.

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Episode 178: Jack Rhysider Exposes Our Digital Secrets Dec 03, 2024

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What if your digital footprint made you a target? Jack Rhysider, host of "Darknet Diaries," shares how a fan turned his online presence into a personal puzzle—revealing just how easily your privacy can be pieced together and exploited.

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Episode 176: Jen Caltrider Unwraps this Season's Hidden Privacy Nightmares Nov 26, 2024

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This holiday season, privacy expert Jen Caltrider reveals how those shiny new AI gadgets under your tree with their mind-bending tech—not to mention the social media apps capturing every moment—are a privacy nightmare. Is going analog the only safe option? Learn how to protect your data, and your holidays, from the prying eyes of Big Tech.

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Episode 175: FBI Operative Eric O’Neill: Cybercriminals Are Spies—Not Hackers Nov 19, 2024

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What if the biggest threat to your privacy wasn’t some hacker in a hoodie—but a spy trained to infiltrate your life? Former FBI operative Eric O’Neill, the man who took down spy Robert Hanssen, explains how digital spies target us, offering along the way real-world tips to protect ourselves in a world where everyone’s a potential target.

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Episode 174: Dick Gephardt Wants a Safer Internet Nov 12, 2024

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Former House Democratic Leader Dick Gephardt is on a mission to kill Section 230, the legal shield that lets social media giants profit from chaos. If engagement-driven algorithms are fueling harmful content for the sake of profit, is it time for the U.S. to take bold action to rein in the Internet? (You know the answer, but this is a must listen!)

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Episode 173: CISA Director Jen Easterly Stands Watch in the Cyberwars Nov 05, 2024

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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..

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