The 404 Media Podcast Hackers Dox ICE
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Oct 22, 2025 A hacking group has caused quite a stir by doxing officials from major U.S. agencies like DHS and ICE, claiming to have personal data on thousands. The conversation dives into their motives, ranging from financial extortion to sheer attention-seeking. Afterwards, the hosts tackle Wikipedia's troubling 8% decline in human traffic, attributing it to bot activity and AI-generated summaries interfering with direct visits. The impact on volunteer recruitment and donations raises important questions about the future of this beloved platform.
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Verifying The DHS/ICE Dox
- Joseph Cox verified leaked DHS/ICE contact lists by cross-checking phone numbers and emails with breach aggregators.
- He found many entries matched residential addresses and parking-app breaches, proving the data's legitimacy.
Young Gamers Evolved Into Major Threats
- The hackers come from a larger English‑speaking 'comm' culture of gamers and fraudsters that escalated into serious breaches.
- Groups like Scattered Spider, Lapsus, and Shiny Hunters evolved into high‑impact extortion and data theft actors.
Extortion Then Showmanship
- The group appears financially motivated, extorting Salesforce after stealing customer data from many companies.
- After failing to extort, they pivoted to posting high‑impact doxes to gain attention or cause damage.