What the Hack?

Charity Clark, Vermont's Attorney General, champions data privacy and consumer protection as she unpacks the sneaky world of digital surveillance. She discusses the real threats posed by AI scams and how companies harvest your data without you knowing. Listeners learn about the urgent need for regulations to safeguard personal privacy, particularly for children in schools. Clark emphasizes the importance of engaging with legislators to fight back against big tech and protect our online rights.

Ken Westbrook, CEO of Stop Scams Alliance and former CIA analyst, shares his harrowing experience of how a scam drained his mother's life savings. He reveals the alarming sophistication of scamming tactics, including smishing and scareware, and their ties to transnational crime. Westbrook emphasizes the urgent need for financial literacy among youth and coordinated government action to combat these threats. He calls for awareness to protect vulnerable individuals and suggests strategies for safeguarding personal data.

Rachel Tobac, CEO of SocialProof Security and a social engineering expert, dives into the often-overlooked vulnerabilities of human behavior in cybersecurity. She shares how becoming a harder target can deter attackers. From the fascinating art of social engineering to the ethical dilemmas of penetration testing, Rachel discusses modern threats like AI voice cloning. Learn practical strategies to minimize your digital footprint and safeguard your personal information from savvy cyber threats.

Dive into the thrilling atmosphere of DEF CON’s Social Engineering Village, where contestants master the art of persuasion to extract information from unwitting employees. Explore how tactics of manipulation blend with psychology, as participants face challenges under pressure. Discover the ethical dilemmas of social engineering and the real-world implications for cybersecurity. The conversation also touches on combating cryptocurrency scams, shedding light on the psychological strategies employed by scammers in today's digital landscape.

Kurtis Minder knows the dark web better than most—and he’s not just watching from the sidelines. As a ransomware negotiator, he’s helped victims talk their way out of seemingly impossible situations. This week, we explore how cybercriminals operate, what makes them tick, and what you need to know to avoid becoming their next target. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A not-entirely innocent moment at a concert set the internet on fire. But what if that was just a symptom of a bigger problem? New York Times journalist Kashmir Hill, author of Your Face Belongs to Us, helps us explore the chilling reality of ambient surveillance, and how facial recognition could be the end privacy as we know it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Online fraud isn't just annoying; it's a national crisis. Last year alone, it may have siphoned $158 billion from the U.S. economy. This episode features AARP's Kathy Stokes, who reveals how fraud has morphed into a sophisticated, global operation and what's being done to fight back against this evolving threat. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this discussion, Amanda Gerut, West Coast editor for Fortune magazine and author of a revealing piece on North Korean operatives, dives into the chilling world of remote IT scams funding North Korea's nuclear ambitions. She uncovers the shocking operations of laptop farms and identity theft targeting Western companies. With insight into the harrowing conditions faced by coerced North Korean IT workers, the conversation highlights law enforcement's challenges and essential tips for freelancers on safeguarding against scams and identity theft.

Join Ben Winters, director of AI and Privacy at the Consumer Federation of America, for a front-row seat to the chaotic world of AI regulation where dirty data, aggressive lobbying, and public confusion drive a "winner takes all" vibe. From shady therapy bots to data-fueled discrimination, Ben reveals the urgent need to create guardrails for AI before it jumps the tracks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kristin got scammed because she didn't want to give a puppy mill her business. This classic digital scam has it all: fake breeders, phony shipping agents, and a non-existent air-conditioned crate. Kristen reveals how her scammers used trust, urgency and emotion, to close the deal. Listen to her story and what you can do to avoid getting duped yourself. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices