What the Hack? Episode 204: Nicole Perlroth Says All the Things that Keep Adam Up at Night
Jun 17, 2025
Nicole Perlroth, a cybersecurity journalist and author, dives deep into the shadowy world of cyberwarfare and zero-day exploits. She shares insights on surprising attack vectors like USBs and printers, highlighting their unexpected risks. Perlroth discusses the ramifications of zero-days and the intelligence trade-offs seen with leaks such as EternalBlue. With AI accelerating exploit creation, she stresses the urgent need for public discourse on security practices. Her gripping narrative weaves the complex landscape of cyber threats into relatable conversations.
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Zero-Day Market Fuels Invisible Surveillance
- Zero-day exploits let attackers invisibly control devices and harvest data before vendors can patch them.
- Brokers sell these exploits for millions, creating a lucrative gray market that fuels nation-state spying.
Hoarding Exploits Creates Boomerang Risk
- Intelligence agencies hoard powerful exploits because they deliver unique intelligence and are costly to develop.
- That hoarding risks a boomerang effect when tools leak and cause widespread damage.
Stuxnet’s Unintended Global Lesson
- Stuxnet was a joint U.S.–Israeli cyber weapon that damaged Iranian centrifuges and influenced diplomacy.
- Its escape showed code's destructive power and set new norms for cyber operations.
