

Hacker And The Fed
Chris Tarbell & Hector Monsegur
Former FBI Special Agent, Chris Tarbell, and ex-Anonymous/LulzSec blackhat hacker turned network penetration tester, Hector Monsegur (aka Sabu), once faced off as adversaries in cyberspace before becoming close friends and now podcast co-hosts. Whether you are a legal professional, cybersecurity practitioner, or forensic investigator, Chris and Hector will bring you their unique perspectives on the latest developments in cybersecurity.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 22, 2026 • 56min
AI Solved a 26-Year-Old NSA Mystery in 30 Minutes
An AI cracks a decades-old NSA cryptography mystery in minutes, while fresh breaches expose failures at Meta and OpenAI. The discussion explores tampered hardware wallets tied to $100 million in crypto theft, zero-click spyware hidden in ads, and violent robberies fueled by leaked financial data. Even zoos and aquariums emerge as unexpected cybersecurity targets.

Oct 15, 2026 • 56min
Your Coffee Maker Might Be Spying on You
Chris and Hector discuss a smart coffee maker that generated nearly a terabyte of network traffic in just ten days, a lone hacker who reportedly used AI tools to breach South Korean financial institutions, and the latest arrests connected to Shiny Hunters. They also examine allegations against a ransomware negotiator, reports of hackers paying to use the Shiny Hunters name, a SIM-swapping criminal who spent stolen cryptocurrency on gold teeth, and the 40-year prison sentence handed down to an Empire Market operator.
Join our Patreon for weekly bonus episodes:
https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed
Send HATF your questions at [email protected]

Oct 8, 2026 • 54min
Claude Reported Her to the Police
Chris and Hector discuss the reported arrest of a Shiny Hunters figure in Jordan and an investigator who says he infiltrated a Chinese organized crime operation that laundered more than $1 billion. Then they debate the privacy implications of a woman who says she used Claude as a diary before messages were flagged and reported to police, new research showing how connected cars share sensitive data with third parties, and an alleged $300 million scheme to smuggle controlled computer servers into China. Plus, Hector reacts to Sam Altman's argument that society may have to accept some harms from AI in exchange for its benefits.
Join our Patreon for weekly bonus episodes:
https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed
Send HATF your questions at [email protected]

Oct 1, 2026 • 56min
700 AI Agents Broke Through Their Guardrails
A suspected $350 million North Korean crypto theft reveals sophisticated laundering networks. A massive map of Flock surveillance cameras sparks fresh privacy concerns, while a Shiny Hunters arrest raises questions about cybercrime investigations. Researchers also uncover hundreds of AI agents bypassing guardrails, coordinating attacks, and exfiltrating data, prompting a look at the future of autonomous hacking and AI worms.

Sep 24, 2026 • 55min
Gemini Escaped Its Test and Started Hacking Real Companies
Google infiltrates a hacker crew, while an AI system escapes a controlled test and reaches three real companies. Researchers turn an image upload into OpenAI command execution, and fake European police requests expose bank records. Plus, CrowdSec’s private code leaks, CISA drops its vulnerability bulletin, and OnlyFans spending becomes an unexpected cybersecurity concern.

Sep 17, 2026 • 49min
AI Can Clone Your Wife's Voice in Real Time
Chris and Hector break down a real-time AI voice scam that impersonated a victim's wife, the Microsoft vulnerability researcher publicly releasing exploits after his firing, and growing concerns from AI insiders about self-improving models. They also cover a crypto phishing campaign that moved from email to physical mail, backlash against an AI-powered Caltech math competition, and Anthropic's report on how its models are being misused in cyber operations, scams, surveillance, and more.
Join our Patreon for weekly bonus episodes:
https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed
Send HATF your questions at [email protected]

Sep 10, 2026 • 53min
153 Million Driver's Licenses Are for Sale
A marketplace claims to offer 153 million stolen driver’s licenses, while malware hijacks authenticated Claude sessions to burn through AI credits. Research raises alarms about LG smart TVs mapping homes and recording audio. The discussion also tackles Flock surveillance cameras, privacy and law enforcement, a contentious postpartum-depression trial, and unsupported routers becoming botnet beachheads.

Sep 3, 2026 • 52min
Your Router Might Come With a Backdoor Already Installed
Chris and Hector break down routers shipping with built-in backdoors, new details about AI agents escaping their sandboxes and attacking real infrastructure, the arrests of two young hackers in Australia, a major breach targeting Philippine nuclear and naval systems, and a vulnerability that exposed Signal users' contact data. Plus, Chris reacts to changes in the FBI's applicant vetting standards.
Join our Patreon for weekly bonus episodes:
https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed
Send HATF your questions at [email protected]

Aug 27, 2026 • 50min
AI Is Getting Access to Your Private Messages
Chris and Hector debate whether paper password books are actually safer, break down a “zombie card” attack on expired credit cards, discuss millions of allegedly stolen Microsoft records, and examine the privacy and security risks of giving AI access to messages and the open internet.
Join our Patreon for weekly bonus episodes:
https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed
Send HATF your questions at [email protected]

Aug 20, 2026 • 49min
Someone Tried to Hack the Court With an AI Prompt
They unpack a $34M bank theft that smells like an inside job. They reveal white-text AI prompt injections hidden in court filings. They cover lost public archives after a vendor collapse and practical backup tips. They debate a new federal program authorizing private cyber operations against transnational crime. They expose hundreds of fake VPN extensions that spy on users.


