Smashing Security

I hacked the government, and your headphones are next

Jan 22, 2026
Ray Redacted, a cybersecurity expert known for his analysis on vulnerabilities, talks about the shocking exploits of a hacker who breached the US Supreme Court and other agencies, leaking sensitive personal data, including a blood type. They also dive into the eerie flaws of wireless headphones, detailing how attackers can hijack devices to eavesdrop on calls or even stalk users. With insights on security risks and legal outcomes, Ray paints a chilling picture of today’s digital vulnerabilities.
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INSIGHT

Security Questions Are Poor Fallbacks

  • Knowledge-based security questions are often public or guessable, making them weak fallback authentication.
  • Ray Redacted and Graham warn that lying on KBAs helps but creates memorability problems unless stored securely.
ADVICE

Treat KBA Answers Like Passwords

  • Store security-question answers in your password manager and treat them like separate secrets.
  • Use memorable but non-obvious answers if you must lie, and never broadcast them publicly.
INSIGHT

Publicizing Stolen Data Amplifies Charges

  • Posting stolen personally identifiable info (PHI) multiplies legal exposure because each data field can be charged separately.
  • Choosing an incriminating username like "I hacked the government" removes plausible deniability.
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