PODCAST · technology
Hacker And The Fed
by Chris Tarbell & Hector Monsegur
Former FBI Special Agent, Chris Tarbell, and ex-Anonymous/LulzSec blackhat hacker turned network penetration tester, Hector Monsegur (aka Sabu), once faced off as adversaries in cyberspace before becoming close friends and now podcast co-hosts. Whether you are a legal professional, cybersecurity practitioner, or forensic investigator, Chris and Hector will bring you their unique perspectives on the latest developments in cybersecurity.
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130
AI Deleted the Entire Database in 9 Seconds
Chris and Hector break down a series of AI and cybersecurity failures, including an autonomous coding agent that deleted an entire production database, a breach exposing voice and biometric data from 40,000 AI contractors, and major GitHub and supply chain vulnerabilities. They also discuss the growing risks of AI decision making, deepfakes, and why basic security failures continue to spiral into massive incidents. Join our Patreon for weekly bonus episodes: https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed Send HATF your questions at [email protected]
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129
The Crypto Hacks Funding North Korea
Chris and Hector break down a wild mix of cyber stories, including a U.S. soldier charged for betting on a classified military operation, ongoing North Korean crypto theft campaigns, and major security failures across APIs and SaaS platforms. They explore how insider threats, poor security practices, and repeated mistakes continue to drive massive breaches and real world consequences. Join our Patreon for weekly bonus episodes: https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed Send HATF your questions at [email protected]
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128
Europe Is Quietly Preparing for a Tech War
Chris and Hector break down a week of cybersecurity stories, from Europe’s push to move away from U.S. tech to supply chain attacks, insider threats, and SaaS compromises. They dig into why modern security tools still fail, how attackers exploit trust in third party systems, and why some breaches matter far less than headlines suggest. Join our Patreon for weekly bonus episodes: https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed Send HATF your questions at [email protected]
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127
The Origin Story
In this episode, Chris and Hector revisit their origin story, from the investigation that led to Sabu’s identity to the night the FBI showed up at his door. They walk through the arrest, the decision to cooperate, and the months spent working side by side to dismantle major hacking operations. It is a firsthand account of how one of the most infamous hackers became an informant and how that unlikely partnership shaped both of their lives. Join our Patreon for weekly bonus episodes: https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed Send HATF your questions at [email protected]
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126
How One Developer Took Down the Supply Chain
Chris and Hector break down a highly effective North Korean supply chain attack that started with a fake Microsoft Teams update and escalated into full developer compromise. They explore how modern attackers combine social engineering, open source manipulation, and long term access to infiltrate software pipelines. The episode also covers GitHub based attacks, compromised routers at scale, and why simple human pressure remains one of the most powerful tools in cybercrime. Join our Patreon for weekly bonus episodes: https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed Send HATF your questions at [email protected]
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125
What CISOs Actually Worry About
Chris and Hector are joined again by an anonymous CISO for a candid follow up conversation on the realities of modern cybersecurity. They explore why compliance often turns into security theater, how geopolitical conflict is shaping defensive strategy, and what actually keeps security leaders up at night. The discussion cuts through dashboards and certifications to focus on risk, trends, and the uncomfortable truth that many organizations look secure on paper while remaining deeply vulnerable in practice. Join our Patreon for weekly bonus episodes: https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed Send HATF your questions at [email protected]
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124
The Biggest Cybersecurity Grift in Years
Chris and Hector break down a major compliance scandal where a startup allegedly sold fake SOC 2 certifications using templated reports and questionable auditing practices. They explore how the breach exposed sensitive internal documents, why companies may have knowingly gone along with it, and what it says about trust in the cybersecurity industry. The episode also covers a massive GPU smuggling case tied to China, the collapse of a major cybercrime forum, and a real-world prompt injection attack that compromised thousands of developer environments. Join our Patreon for weekly bonus episodes: https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed Send HATF your questions at [email protected]
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123
A Petabyte of Data Stolen and Nobody Noticed
Chris and Hector break down a massive breach involving claims of a petabyte of stolen data and question how something that large could go unnoticed. They also dive into a critical vulnerability in McKinsey’s internal AI platform that exposed millions of records through basic API and SQL flaws, along with ongoing credential theft campaigns targeting VPN users Join our Patreon for weekly bonus episodes: https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed Send HATF your questions at [email protected]
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122
iPhone Zero Days Are Now Fueling Crypto Crime
Chris and Hector break down a new US cyber strategy calling for a more aggressive posture against hackers, then dive into a bizarre case where a sophisticated iPhone exploit kit meant for espionage ended up powering crypto theft. They also revisit the arrest of a contractor’s son accused of stealing $46 million in seized cryptocurrency and discuss how bragging on Discord brought the whole scheme crashing down. Join our Patreon for weekly bonus episodes: https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed Send HATF your questions at [email protected]
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121
When AI Makes Hacking Easier Than Ever
Chris and Hector discuss an AI assisted hacking campaign that compromised more than 600 Fortinet firewalls and what it reveals about persistent security failures. They also cover cyber operations tied to geopolitical conflict, leadership turmoil at CISA, and new research showing how AI can expose supposedly anonymous online identities Join our Patreon for weekly bonus episodes: https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed Send HATF your questions at [email protected]
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120
The FBI Drug Market Rumor, Blue Checkmarks, and Government Backdoors
Chris and Hector break down a headline that made it sound like the FBI was running a dark web drug market and separate rumor from reality. They revisit how confidential sources actually work, the fallout from past undercover operations, and why media framing matters. The conversation then shifts to zero click exploits sold to foreign actors, the risks behind LinkedIn identity verification, and a security researcher who found a simple but devastating vulnerability only to be threatened by lawyers. Join our Patreon for weekly bonus episodes: https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed Send HATF your questions at [email protected]
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119
What CISOs Won’t Say in Public
Chris and Hector sit down with an anonymous CISO who pulls back the curtain on how cybersecurity actually works inside large organizations. From security theater and boardroom politics to AI risk, bug bounties, and why CISOs are often the fall guy during major incidents, the conversation gets candid fast. Join our Patreon for weekly bonus episodes: https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed Send HATF your questions at [email protected]
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118
One Stolen Password Can Take Down a Nation
Chris and Hector break down how familiar security failures continue to fuel major cyber incidents. They explore a large scale cloud worm campaign, a ransomware attack that disrupted a national oil pipeline operator, and a payment processor outage that impacted businesses across the United States. Join our Patreon for weekly bonus episodes: https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed Send HATF your questions at [email protected]
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117
The Moment AI Stopped Waiting for Humans
Chris and Hector dive into the sudden rise of AI-only social networks where autonomous agents communicate, collaborate, and sometimes spiral into unexpected behavior. They explore MoltBook, the appearance of AI-driven black markets, and the real world risks of giving autonomous systems access to personal devices and data. Join our Patreon for weekly bonus episodes: https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed Send HATF your questions at [email protected]
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116
From Doorbell Cameras to Seized Crypto
Chris and Hector take on the uneasy space where privacy, technology, and law enforcement overlap. They break down how encrypted data was accessed through BitLocker recovery keys, how doorbell cameras are quietly becoming part of policing and immigration enforcement, and how an alleged insider siphoned millions in seized cryptocurrency from government controlled wallets. Join our Patreon for weekly bonus episodes: https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed Send HATF your questions at [email protected]
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115
Inside China’s Leaking Cyber Machine
Chris and Hector unpack new signs of internal strain inside China’s cyber ecosystem. From leaked intelligence and exposed tools to China cutting off Western security technology, they explore what happens when a tightly controlled cyber machine starts showing cracks. Join our Patreon for weekly bonus episodes: https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed Send HATF your questions at [email protected]
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114
Cyber Attacks Without a Declaration of War
In this episode, Chris and Hector dig into how cyber operations are no longer a background activity but a core part of modern conflict. They break down reported US cyber actions tied to operations in Venezuela, Chinese state sponsored email intrusions targeting congressional staff, and the global scam economy built on human trafficking and crypto fraud. Join our new Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed Send HATF your questions at [email protected]
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113
Everyone Has Your Data and Nobody Is Accountable
In the first days of 2026, the line between reality and fiction is already collapsing. From massive data thefts and cloud misconfigurations to deepfakes, AI hype, and executives openly calling for limits on free speech, the guys break down how cybersecurity, media, and power are colliding. Join our new Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed Send HATF your questions at [email protected]
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112
We Gave AI the Keys and It Learned to Steal
Chris and Hector look back at a year where AI quietly reshaped the threat landscape and look ahead to what 2026 may bring. From zero click AI browser attacks and runaway automation to insider threats, mass breaches, and the growing tension between security and convenience, they break down how small design decisions are creating big risks. Join our new Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed Send HATF your questions at [email protected]
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111
The Supply Chain Attack Nobody Checked For
Chris and Hector break down a string of stories that show how fragile modern cyber defenses really are. From a malicious open source package quietly stealing WhatsApp messages, to a senior government official failing a counterintelligence polygraph, to nationwide ATM jackpotting tied to organized crime, the conversation moves fast and gets blunt. Join our new Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed Send HATF your questions at [email protected]
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110
Copy Pasting Commands Is the New Phishing
Chris and Hector break down how trust itself has become the attack vector. From AI powered SEO poisoning that tricks users into infecting their own machines, to a leaked GitHub token that exposed Home Depot systems for nearly a year, they unpack the latest breaches, indictments, and regulatory failures shaping the cyber landscape. They talk community, accountability, and why copying random terminal commands might be the most dangerous habit in tech right now. Join our new Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed Send HATF your questions at [email protected]
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109
When Your Smart Fridge Joins a Botnet
Chris and Hector break down North Korea’s covert push to infiltrate Western companies through fake IT recruiting, the leaked Predator spyware network targeting journalists and activists, and a record shattering DDoS attack driven by millions of compromised IoT devices. Along the way they unpack lazy opsec, hardware backdoors, and why everyday consumer tech keeps ending up in global cyber warfare. Join our new Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed Send HATF your questions at [email protected]
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108
China’s Leaked Cyber Warfare Playbook
This week on Hacker and the Fed, Chris and Hector break down a violent $11 million crypto heist tied to a fake delivery, dissect leaked documents exposing China’s internal cyber warfare training program, and examine how sloppy developer habits are feeding credential-stuffing attacks worldwide. Plus, updates on GrapheneOS, a look at rising physical threats around digital assets, and details on the first live Hacker and the Fed event. Join our new Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed Send HATF your questions at [email protected]
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107
Microsoft Admits Everything’s Broken, What Now?
Chris and Hector cover the surge in insider-driven cyber incidents, the escalating aggression of Scattered Spiders, a CrowdStrike employee caught leaking internal data, and a retaliatory attack that shut down thousands of accounts. The conversation moves through Microsoft’s admission that core Windows 11 features are failing, the FCC’s rollback of telecom security requirements, and the collapse of federal cybersecurity capacity after recent government shakeups. Join our new Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed Send HATF your questions at [email protected]
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106
The First Bitcoin Cold War
Chris and Hector break down Operation Endgame’s newest takedown of ransomware infrastructure, the surge of splinter ransomware groups, and why victim payments are dropping even as damage rises. They unpack China’s accusation that the United States stole 127,000 bitcoins, explore the emerging “Bitcoin Cold War,” and examine claims of the first AI-driven espionage campaign. Join our new Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed Send HATF your questions at [email protected]
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105
The Typo That Destroyed a Cybercrime Empire
Chris and Hector dive into the latest cybersecurity chaos, from China’s questionable routers and remotely accessible buses to ransomware groups falling apart due to sloppy mistakes. They break down new extortion tactics, government crackdowns, cybersecurity myths, and a typo that exposed an entire cybercrime crew. Join our new Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed Send HATF your questions at [email protected]
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104
How Residential Proxies Became the Dark Web’s Secret Weapon
Chris and Hector dive into one of the most shocking cybersecurity stories of the year, two U.S. security professionals charged with running ransomware attacks on American companies. The duo break down how trusted insiders became cybercriminals, why Russia is suddenly arresting its own hackers, and what new threats are emerging from massive botnets and compromised smart devices. They also discuss the NSA’s ban on Amazon’s Eero Wi-Fi over national security concerns and growing hacktivist activity targeting infrastructure in Canada. Join our new Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed Send HATF your questions at [email protected]
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103
YouTube Tutorials or Malware Traps? Don’t Click That Link”
This week, Chris and Hector dive into a wild mix of cyber chaos — from 3,000 malware-laced YouTube videos to a former L3 Harris exec accused of selling U.S. cyber weapons to Russia for crypto. They break down the “YouTube Ghost Network,” insider espionage, and why agentic AI browsers might be your next biggest threat. Join our new Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed Send HATF your questions at [email protected]
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102
The Night the Internet Broke: AWS, China, and the Quantum Hack
Chris and Hector break down the massive AWS outage that took half the internet offline, dive into China’s claim that the NSA hacked its national time servers, and explore how quantum-resistant encryption and zero-click exploits are changing cyber warfare. Plus, a wild SIM farm takedown and some Puerto Rico stories.
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101
Insiders for Sale: The Hackers Recruiting Your Employees
A $4.6 million fine, a whistleblower payday, and a fake water plant hacked by mistake — this week, Chris and Hector dive into the DOJ’s first major cyber enforcement case against a defense contractor that lied about its security, the rise of insider recruitment by ransomware crews, and how Russian hacktivists got trolled by a honeypot. Plus, travel chaos, flu season, and the return of Puerto Rico challenge coins. Join our new Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed Send HATF your questions at [email protected]
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100
Click, Jack, and Roll: The Rise of AI-Powered Cybercrime
Chris and Hector kick off Cybersecurity Awareness Month with stories of phishing gone wrong, data privacy disasters, and a new wave of AI-powered attacks. From “comment jacking” and vanishing government backups to China’s one-hour breach rule and a Florida kid flagged by ChatGPT, the guys break down what’s real, what’s ridiculous, and what it means for your security. Join our new Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed Send HATF your questions at [email protected]
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99
The Phantom Extension: Backdooring Your Browser
Chris and Hector kick off Cybersecurity Awareness Month with big news—Hector announces the launch of his new company, SafeHill. The guys dig into continuous threat exposure management, the dangers of malicious Chrome extensions, why ransomware claims are dropping, and how free tools from CISA can strengthen defenses. Join our new Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed Send HATF your questions at [email protected]
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98
Bitcoin, Vegas, and the Feds
Chris and Hector break down the coming CMMC crackdown and what it means for 220,000+ contractors, 60 days to comply or lose your government work. They debate the government's plan to cut cyber hiring timelines from 70 to 25 days, talk about the sloppy opsec that got a teen ransomware hacker arrested, and dig into the surge of supply chain attacks hammering developers worldwide. Join our new Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed Send HATF your questions at [email protected]
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97
Microsoft’s $20B Cybersecurity Scam
Chris and Hector call out Microsoft for “gross cybersecurity negligence,” explain Kerberoasting in plain English, and discuss CISA’s CVE overhaul. Plus, hackers on the battlefield, and how U.S. tech helped build China’s surveillance state. Join our new Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed Send HATF your questions at [email protected]
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96
Your WhatsApp Data Wasn’t Private After All
Chris and Hector break down the WhatsApp whistleblower lawsuit claiming 1,500 engineers had unchecked access to user data. They also cover hackers extorting Google after the Salesforce breach, OpenAI scanning ChatGPT conversations for police referrals, and a police bodycam app secretly sending data to China, and why 2.5 billion Gmail users need a password reset. Join our new Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed Send HATF your questions at [email protected]
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95
The $1 Billion Scam on Seniors
Chris and Hector recap their first live show and dig into Google’s new Cybersecurity Disruption Unit, South Korea’s $97M fine, FEMA’s IT firings, a WhatsApp zero-day, a $1B senior scam, China’s Salt Typhoon campaign, and AI tools fueling cybercrime. Join our new Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed Send HATF your questions at [email protected]
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94
AI Agents Gone Rogue: The Next Breach Waiting to Happen
Chris and Hector break down a new bill proposing U.S. “cyber privateers,” the DOJ’s takedown of the RapperBot botnet, and a zero-day flaw hitting millions of password manager users. They debate hackback authority, AI agents gone rogue, and why hoarding vulnerabilities always backfires. Join our new Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed Send HATF your questions at [email protected]
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93
Your Nudes Aren’t Private: The Meta AI Leak
Meta reportedly offered Apple’s head of AI $1.25 billion to jump ship. Chris and Hector explore the AI talent war, resource shortages, and what happens when private industry outpaces government. Join our new Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed Send HATF your questions at [email protected]
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92
Zero-Days, Cookies, and the Death of Dial-Up
Chris and Hector break down a Russian-linked zero-day exploit targeting WinRAR users, why stolen browser cookies bypass MFA, the economic motives behind security features (or lack thereof), and Hector’s nostalgic farewell to AOL dial-up. Join our new Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed Send HATF your questions at [email protected]
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91
$48 Billion and No 2FA, What Could Go Wrong?
Chris and Hector break down the ransomware attack on Ingram Micro, exposing how a missing MFA on a VPN led to a massive breach. They also dig into the Department of Defense’s new CMMC rules and sound off on Microsoft’s $30 charge for Windows 10 security updates. Join our new Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed Send HATF your questions at [email protected]
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90
Your Favorite Game Just Stole Your Crypto
Chris and Hector unpack a big week, they dive into the info-stealing malware hidden inside Steam games, break down how it works, who it targets, and why you should care. Also on the docket, the Pentagon’s rush to secure IT supply chains, and a California broadband subsidy clash that sparks a classic Hector rant. Join our new Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed Send HATF your questions at [email protected]
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89
Zero Trust, Many Fails: Government Cybersecurity Exposed
Chris and Hector dive into alarming cyber incidents shaking the U.S. government and military. They break down the massive National Guard network compromise by Chinese-linked group Salt Typhoon and the shocking revelation that Microsoft allowed Chinese engineers indirect access to Defense Department systems. Plus, they preview their upcoming Patreon series on the top 10 hacks of all time. Join our new Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed Send HATF your questions at [email protected]
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88
McDonald’s Has Been Compromised
Chris and Hector then discuss the McDonald’s AI hiring bot breach caused by a weak password, the risks of AI in HR, and why cybersecurity basics still matter. They also touch on hacker penalties in the UK, a hack targeting a security researcher, and answer a listener’s email about a dam breach in Norway. Join our new Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed Send HATF your questions at [email protected]
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87
Are We Losing the Cyber War?
Chris and Hector break down the massive Qantas Airlines data breach, expose the growing threat of ransomware negotiation scams, and discuss a dam hack in Norway that had potentially disastrous consequences. They get into real-world advice on 2FA bypass scams, the importance of network segmentation, and a candid look at why critical infrastructure hacks are so dangerous. Join our new Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed Send HATF your questions at [email protected]
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86
Arrests, Airline Breaches, and the Human Side of Hacking
Chris and Hector dive deep into the latest waves of cybercrime, from the FBI’s battle with the Scattered Spider group targeting airlines, to takedowns of notorious data breach forums. The duo break down government responses, the real risks for average people, and share honest, hard-won advice for young hackers. Join our new Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed Send HATF your questions at [email protected]
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85
Burning Millions and Breaking MFA
Chris and Hector break down major cyber attacks, from SIM swaps to insider breaches. They expose weak MFA, vendor failures, and the real cost of outdated systems. They also highlight how even small actions (like a single employee recognizing a phishing attempt) can prevent disaster. Join our new Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed Send HATF your questions at [email protected]
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84
Your AI Assistant Just Betrayed You
Chris and Hector dive into Europe's move to take back digital control with DNS4EU, questions the integrity of Telegram amid Russian FSB connections, and reflect on turning points in their own journeys. Join our new Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed Send HATF your questions at [email protected]
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83
We Fixed Cybersecurity (You're Welcome)
Chris and Hector unpack Trump’s new cybersecurity order, contractor reliance in government, and the looming risks of quantum computing — with some shoutouts and listener questions along the way. Join our new Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed Send HATF your questions at [email protected]
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82
The $400 Million Mistake, Router Invasions, and Crypto Chaos
This week, Chris and Hector tackle a massive breach at Coinbase, insider threats in India, and a shady delay in reporting. They also explore how state actors are silently hijacking home routers, and why LexisNexis is the latest data broker to drop the ball. Join our new Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed Send HATF your questions at [email protected]
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81
Backdoors, Breaches, and Bitcoin
Chris and Hector break down a wild crypto kidnapping, supply chain sabotage in U.S. infrastructure, and the growing cyber risks of imported tech. Plus, shoutouts and real talk from the front lines of cybersecurity. Join our new Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed Send HATF your questions at [email protected]
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Former FBI Special Agent, Chris Tarbell, and ex-Anonymous/LulzSec blackhat hacker turned network penetration tester, Hector Monsegur (aka Sabu), once faced off as adversaries in cyberspace before becoming close friends and now podcast co-hosts. Whether you are a legal professional, cybersecurity practitioner, or forensic investigator, Chris and Hector will bring you their unique perspectives on the latest developments in cybersecurity.
HOSTED BY
Chris Tarbell & Hector Monsegur
CATEGORIES
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