Joseph Menn

It would seem that hackers today can do just about anything they want - from turning on the cellphone in your pocket to holding your life's work hostage. Cyber criminals today have more sophisticated tools, have learned to work collaboratively around the world and have found innovative ways to remain deep undercover in the internet's shadows. This episode, we shine a light into those shadows to see the world from the perspectives of both cybercrime victims and perpetrators. First we meet mother-daughter duo Alina and Inna Simone, who tell us about being held hostage by criminals who have burrowed into their lives from half a world away. Along the way we learn about the legally sticky spot that unwitting accomplices like Will Wheeler find themselves in. Then reporter and author Joseph Menn tells us about the surprisingly lucrative professional hacker structure in places throughout the former Soviet Union. Finally, the co-creator of one of the most notorious online marketplaces to ever exist speaks to us and NPR cyber-crime expert Dina Temple-Raston about how a young suburban Boy Scout can turn into a world renowned black hat hacker. Support Radiolab by becoming a member today at Radiolab.org/donate.Radiolab is on YouTube! Catch up with new episodes and hear classics from our archive. Plus, find other cool things we did in the past — like miniseries, music videos, short films and animations, behind-the-scenes features, Radiolab live shows, and more. Take a look, explore and subscribe!

Joseph Menn, a renowned cybersecurity reporter for Reuters and author of 'Cult of the Dead Cow,' dives deep into the SolarWinds hack, revealing how Russian hackers exploited supply chain vulnerabilities to breach major U.S. entities. The discussion touches on the failures of security agencies to detect the breach and the implications for national security. Menn emphasizes the need for better collaboration between the government and private sectors while exploring the evolution of hackers and the challenges of securing national elections amid rising cyber threats.

Joseph Menn, a tech reporter for the Washington Post, dives into the arrest of Telegram CEO Pavel Durov in Paris. He discusses how this situation raises significant questions about free speech versus the realities of criminal activity on digital platforms. The conversation explores Telegram's controversial content moderation policies and its role in conflict communication. Menn also examines the geopolitical implications of the arrest, hinting at connections with intelligence agencies, and the broader accountability of tech executives for third-party content.