Caught in the Digital Trap

In our latest episode we discuss how a woman hid under the bed after scammers told her she was under "digital arrest", how hackers are hijacking YouTube channels through malicious sponsorship deals, and how one phone company is turning the tables on fraudsters through deepfake AI.

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 special guest Maria Varmazis.

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

Episode links:

• 'You are under digital arrest': Inside a scam looting millions from Indians - BBC News.
• Digital Arrest Scam: How You Can Stay Safe - YouTube.
• Tamil Nadu Professor Placed Under Digital Arrest, Duped of Rs 10 Lakh - YouTube.
• 'Mann Ki Baat' episode 115 - India Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
• “My YouTube Channel Got Deleted Last Night..” - Bitz on YouTube.
• NCA shuts down major fraud platform responsible for 1.8 million scam calls - National Crime Agency.
• O2 launches free anti-scam caller identification for millions of customers - O2. 
• AI Scambaiters: O2 creates AI Granny to waste scammers’ time - YouTube.
• “StreamJacking” - Hijacking Hundreds of YouTube Channels Per Day Propagating Elon Musk Branded Crypto Giveaway Scams - Guardio.
• Graham Cluley on Bluesky.
• Maria Varmazis on Bluesky.
• Dan Da Dan - Netflix.
• Butter by Asako Yuzuki - Harper Collins.
• 'Butter' book review: Meditations on murders - The Guardian.
• 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.
• Vanta – Expand the scope of your security program with market-leading compliance automation… while saving time and money. Smashing Security listeners get $1000 off!
• ThreatLocker - the Zero Trust endpoint protection platform that provides enterprise-level cybersecurity to organizations globally. Start your 30-day free trial today!

SUPPORT THE SHOW:

Tell your friends and colleagues about “Smashing Security”, and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser.

Become a supporter via Patreon or Apple Podcasts for ad-free episodes and our early-release feed!

FOLLOW US:

Follow us on Bluesky, or Mastodon, or on the Smashing Security subreddit, and visit our website for more episodes.

THANKS:

Theme tune: "Vinyl Memories" by Mikael Manvelyan.

Assorted sound effects: AudioBlocks.