Adventures of Alice & Bob Ep. 47 - The Coinbase Caper and Qatar News Agency Hack // The Grugq
Jan 26, 2024
Join The Grugq, an independent security researcher with over 20 years of expertise in cyber warfare, as he unpacks two significant hacks. He recounts the audacious phishing campaign against the Qatar News Agency, using fake academic credentials to infiltrate targets. In another twist, he discusses how the Coinbase hack faltered due to the attackers' overreliance on a flashy zero-day exploit despite simpler, effective methods. Expect insights on OPSEC, deviant security, and the evolving landscape of cyber operations!
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Cyber Trade-Offs In Prolonged War
- Cyber operations during prolonged war require balancing espionage and destructive effects.
- Russia's wartime cyber shift shows the trade-offs between long-term access and short-term shock value.
Rapid Hardening After Initial Attacks
- Russia hardened its cyber posture from 'wide open' to 'closed' in about 60 days after being targeted.
- Rapid adaptation can produce national-level resilience much faster than peacetime theories predict.
Talent vs. Institutional Will
- Some countries underperform despite abundant cyber talent due to political and institutional barriers.
- Small states like the Netherlands can punch above their weight by focusing capability and operational quality.