Smashing Security Operation Endgame, deepfakes, and dead slugs
42 snips
Jun 25, 2025 
Joe Tidy, BBC cyber correspondent and author of "Ctrl-Alt-Chaos", dives into the intriguing world of teenage hackers and ransomware gangs. He discusses the stylish police initiative, Operation Endgame, aimed at dismantling cybercrime with creative strategies. The conversation also touches on the growing threat of deepfakes in hiring processes, and how a perfect LinkedIn profile could mask a North Korean hacker. Plus, there are amusing anecdotes about competitive pond husbandry and the quirky board game Hitster!
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Operation Endgame Targets Cybercrime
- Operation Endgame combines police takedowns, indictments, and disruptive tactics to hit ransomware infrastructure seriously.
- Creative efforts like AI-generated anime videos mock cybercriminals, unmask suspects, and shake underground confidence.
Teen Hacker's Dark Cybercrime Path
- Joe Tidy's interview with Julius Kivamaki, a teenage cybercriminal from Lizard Squad, revealed their motivation was fun and proving power over companies.
- Kivamaki later carried out a cruel cyberattack on psychotherapy centers, stealing and threatening to release sensitive data.
How Teens Pivot to Cybercrime
- Teen hackers often start with gaming and cheating to beat friends, then move onto hacking forums and cybercrime out of curiosity and money.
- The rise of social media fame and Bitcoin enabled teenage hacking culture to shift towards serious cybercrime.
