Ransomware persistence and follow-up attacks

Think your Kindle is harmless? Think again! In this episode, Graham and special guest Danny Palmer unpack a Black Hat Europe talk revealing how a boobytrapped audiobook could exploit the Amazon eBook reader - potentially letting an attacker break into your account and seize control of your credit card.

Plus a blast from 2021's "summer of ransomware" returns to haunt Ireland's Health Service Executive, as victims are offered €750 each.

And because it's the last show before the Christmas break, there's also a Pick of the Week that veers from cosy rom-com comfort to pointy-polygon nostalgia. 

All this, and more, in episode 448 of the "Smashing Security" podcast with Graham Cluley, and special guest Danny Palmer.

🎅 🎄 Thanks to everyone for listening to "Smashing Security" during 2025 - we look forward to being back in your ear'oles in early January. Stay safe! 🎅 🎄

EPISODE LINKS:

• Password manager provider fined £1.2m by ICO for data breach affecting up to 1.6 million people in the UK - ICO.
• Trump Administration Turning to Private Firms in Cyber Offensive - Bloomberg.
• Russian ban on Roblox gaming platform sparks rare protest - Reuters.
• Once upon an exploit: how fake audiobook led to Kindle takeover - Cybernews.
• Four years later, Irish health service offers €750 to victims of ransomware attack - Bitdefender.
• When Harry Met Sally - Wikipedia.
• When Harry Met Sally trailer - YouTube.
• Tomb Raider 1-3 Remastered review - you were never going to smooth these games out - Eurogamer.
• Smashing Security merchandise (t-shirts, mugs, stickers and stuff)

SPONSORS:

• Vanta - Expand the scope of your security program with market-leading compliance automation… while saving time and money. Smashing Security listeners get $1000 off!
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THANKS:

Theme tune: "Vinyl Memories" by Mikael Manvelyan.

Assorted sound effects: AudioBlocks.

ENJOYED THE SHOW?

Make sure to check out our sister podcast, "The AI Fix".