Smashing Security
Hackers get hacked, the British Museum IT shutdown, and social media kidnaps
Jan 29, 2025
Lianne Potter, a cybersecurity expert and guest host from the Compromising Positions podcast, dives into the murky waters of hacking and influencer culture. She discusses how unsuspecting enthusiasts can unwittingly download harmful tools and reflects on a concerning IT incident at the British Museum. The conversation shifts to the alarming trend of social media influencers staging fake kidnappings for clout. Lianne emphasizes the pressures influencers face and the ethical dilemmas in cybersecurity, making for a thought-provoking and entertaining discussion.
47:02
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Quick takeaways
- The recent malware attack emphasized the risks of uninformed hacking attempts, leading to the widespread infection of over 18,000 computers worldwide.
- The ethical dilemmas surrounding cybersecurity interventions, particularly the cleanup of infected machines, highlight the tension between individual privacy and public safety.
Deep dives
Malware Attack on PCs
A recent malware attack has compromised 18,459 computers worldwide, infecting them with spyware that allows hackers to steal data, passwords, and system information. This botnet operates through a Telegram-based command and control server, highlighting the efficiency of modern techniques used by cybercriminals. Notably, victims primarily included individuals who had unwittingly downloaded a malicious software called Xworm Rat Builder, believing it would assist them in hacking. The attackers, operating under names like Shiny Enigma and Millennium Rat, have thus far extracted over one gigabyte of data from these compromised devices.
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