Lex Fridman Podcast

#272 – Brett Johnson: US Most Wanted Cybercriminal

Mar 27, 2022

Brett Johnson, known as the Original Internet Godfather, is a former US Most Wanted cybercriminal who founded ShadowCrew. He shares insights into his chaotic upbringing and the birth of organized cybercrime. The conversation explores the complexities of personal responsibility, motivation behind cybercrime, and the impact of familial trauma on identity. Johnson reflects on his transformation from crime to cybersecurity, emphasizing the role of education and collaboration in combating cyber threats. His journey is a captivating tale of redemption and the duality of human nature.

03:53:05

Creator website

Episode guests

Brett Johnson

Highlights

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Probation Officer Says, Mister Johnson's a Good Guy

02:12

What is the meaning of life; Lex Fridman ft Brett Johnson

00:57

The Initial Use Case of Cryptocurrency

02:03

What Changed You As A Man?

01:29

Intro

2min

The Duality of Human Nature and Personal Responsibility

2min

Balancing Innovation and Management in Business

2min

Exploring the Mind of a Cybercriminal: A Journey through Crime and Consequence

2min

Roots of Cybercrime: A Troubled Childhood

24min

Inside the Illicit World of Coal Mining and Fraud

3min

Navigating Familial Trauma

6min

Inside the Mind of a Cybercriminal

18min

The Accountability Debate in Cybercrime

6min

10.

Navigating Truth and Trust in the Digital Age

2min

11.

The Seeds of Cybercrime

13min

12.

Innovation and Ethics: Navigating Disruption and Legality

2min

13.

Inside Cybercrime: Lessons from a Former Criminal

25min

14.

From Cash to Cryptos: The Evolution of Money Laundering

17min

15.

Chaos in the Shadows: The Rise and Fall of Shadow Crew

17min

16.

Love, Betrayal, and the Law

35min

17.

The Harrowing Journey of Diesel Therapy and Manipulating the System

2min

18.

From Chaos to Change: A Journey Through Incarceration

28min

19.

From Struggles to Cybersecurity Insights

12min

20.

Privacy, Identity, and the Cyber Landscape

10min

21.

Reflections on Redemption and New Beginnings in Cybercrime

3min

Brett Johnson was a US Most Wanted cybercriminal, called the Original Internet Godfather by US Secret Service for building the the first organized cybercrime community called ShadowCrew, which was the precursor to today’s darknet and darknet markets. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:
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EPISODE LINKS:
Brett’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/GOllumfun
Brett’s Website: https://anglerphish.com

PODCAST INFO:
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SUPPORT & CONNECT:
– Check out the sponsors above, it’s the best way to support this podcast
– Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lexfridman
– Twitter: https://twitter.com/lexfridman
– Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lexfridman
– LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lexfridman
– Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lexfridman
– Medium: https://medium.com/@lexfridman

OUTLINE:
Here’s the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time.
(00:00) – Introduction
(08:47) – Early years
(43:05) – Phishing and social engineering
(1:01:09) – SolarWinds cyberattack
(1:06:56) – Future social engineering fears
(1:09:37) – Early cybercrimes
(1:22:10) – Cybercrime entrepreneurship
(1:25:39) – ShadowCrew
(1:56:42) – Dark web
(2:05:29) – ShadowCrew arrested
(2:17:28) – Cybercrime
(2:22:34) – Love
(2:54:39) – Prison
(3:22:50) – Life after prison
(3:44:39) – Advice for young people
(3:46:03) – Hope for the future
(3:49:32) – Meaning of life

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