Darknet Diaries

96: The Police Station Incident

Jul 6, 2021

Nicole Beckwith, a dynamic programmer, police officer, and cybercrime task force member, shares her riveting journey. She dives into a mysterious router crash possibly triggered by cosmic rays, illustrating tech's unpredictability. The discussion shifts to a gripping cyber crisis at a police station, exposing unauthorized server access linked to the mayor. Nicole highlights the delicate balance of cybersecurity and law enforcement, emphasizing the need for collaboration and robust security practices in the face of rising threats.

53:26

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Episode guests

Nicole Beckwith

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Cosmic rays can cause unexpected crashes in routers, highlighting the influence of environmental factors on computer issues.

A ransomware attack on a police department revealed a major security flaw with city officials accessing the server from personal computers, leading to improved network design and security monitoring.

Deep dives

Computer problems and their causes

Computer problems often leave us wondering about the reason behind the issue. In a real-life example, a router suddenly crashed in an office, leading to a forensic analysis to determine the cause. After environmental data, memory snapshots, and manufacturer analysis, it was concluded that the crash occurred due to spurious emissions from space, highlighting the unexpected influence of cosmic rays.

Intro

5min

From Programming to Policing: A Cybercrime Journey

9min

Essential Go Bag Preparedness

11min

Cybersecurity Crisis at the Police Station

12min

Shocking Revelations in a Cyber Investigation

3min

Tangled Web of Security Breaches

13min

Security Incidents and Their Impact on Police Operations

3min

Nicole Beckwith wears a lot of hats. She’s a programmer, incident responder, but also a cop and a task force officer with the Secret Service. In this episode she tells a story which involves all of these roles.

https://twitter.com/NicoleBeckwith

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