Joe Tidy, BBC's cyber correspondent, dives into one of the most shocking cyber attacks in history, focusing on the Vastaamo breach that exposed sensitive data of over 33,000 therapy patients. He explores the ethical implications of this dark incident and the ensuing panic among victims facing extortion. The investigation into the hacker, known as Ransom Man, reveals a network of desperation and intimidation. Tidy also reflects on the broader societal implications of hacking, questioning conventional moral judgments in the realm of cybercrime.
51:06
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
menu_book Books
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
question_answer ANECDOTE
Vastaamo Therapy Data Breach
The Vastaamo hack exposed 33,000 therapy patient records, including their private therapy notes.
Ransom Man started releasing these records publicly after demanding Bitcoin ransom from the company.
insights INSIGHT
Hacker Gains No Respect
The hacker, Ransom Man, faced near-universal hatred online for his cruel actions.
Even cybercriminal forums condemned him, showing limits to acceptance in hacker culture.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Hacker's Critical Mistake
Ransom Man mistakenly uploaded his full home directory along with the stolen data.
This error gave police critical evidence including his IP address linked to a cloud provider in Helsinki.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Joe Tidy's 'Control Alt Chaos' unveils the hidden world of teenage hackers, examining their rise and impact on cybersecurity. The book delves into the motivations behind their actions, from the thrill of the challenge to the pursuit of notoriety and financial gain. It explores the evolution of hacking culture, tracing the shift from individual exploits to organized cybercrime syndicates. Tidy investigates the techniques these young hackers employ and the vulnerabilities they exploit. Through vivid storytelling and meticulous research, the book paints a chilling portrait of the digital underworld and the ever-escalating battle between hackers and those who seek to protect our data.
Joe Tidy investigates what may be the cruelest and most disturbing cyber attack in history. A breach so invasive it blurred the line between digital crime and psychological torture. This story might make your skin crawl.
Support for this show comes from ThreatLocker®. ThreatLocker® is a Zero Trust Endpoint Protection Platform that strengthens your infrastructure from the ground up. With ThreatLocker® Allowlisting and Ringfencing™, you gain a more secure approach to blocking exploits of known and unknown vulnerabilities. ThreatLocker® provides Zero Trust control at the kernel level that enables you to allow everything you need and block everything else, including ransomware! Learn more at www.threatlocker.com.
This show is sponsored by Red Canary. Red Canary is a leading provider of Managed Detection and Response (MDR), helping nearly 1,000 organizations detect and stop threats before they cause harm. With a focus on accuracy across identities, endpoints, and cloud, we deliver trusted security operations and a world-class customer experience. Learn more at redcanary.com.
Darknet Diaries 
