Shows
The Secure Family PodcastDeleting Yourself with Rob Shavell of DeleteMe Our privacy is slipping away more and more every day. On this episode, Andy welcomes back the CEO of Abine, Rob Shavell to discuss how we can DeleteMe can keep our data from being used against us! Plus, Rob shares his thoughts on the future of data privacy especially when it comes to AI. Take control of your data with DeleteMe. Get 20% off a privacy plan from DeleteMe with promo code: DAD. The Secure Dad FREE guides on protecting your home, talking with your kids about the dark web, and even how to sto...
2023-04-1232 min
Techlore TalksHow to Crush Data Brokers with Rob Shavell from DeleteMeTechlore Talks Interview: Rob Shavell, CEO of the privacy deletion service Abine DeleteMe. How do data brokers work? How do they find your data? What can you do? A super insightful interview with Rob to offer an inside look into the data industry of people-searching sites.DeleteMe Kickback LinkStandard DeleteMe Link—Timestamps:00:00 Introducing Rob01:00 Defining 'people-searching websites'04:12 Why do people-searching sites even exist?06:06 How are people-searching sites different from phone books?13:27 Where does all this data come from?18:17 Ho...
2023-03-3154 min
What the Hack?Jason Has a Dire Warning for All New GraduatesWhen he graduated from college, Jason was heading into a big career in television. He had the apartment in the big city, and a wide-open vista of opportunity–and then he got hacked. Check out this week’s episode to hear how a few pieces of purloined mail was a major detour on the way to success and fortune. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2023-03-2841 minWhat the Hack?Bryan Denny is Your All-Purpose Dating ChumYou may be surprised to hear that celebrity culture extends to catfishing profiles. We talked to the man behind the most-used face in dating scams. You’re going to want to hear what he had to say. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2023-03-2147 minWhat the Hack?Rob Shavell (Good Sport) is No Match for Adam’s ParanoiaIf you only learn one thing about cybersecurity, it should be that all new technology, in the wrong hands, is a crime waiting to happen. Rob Shavell of Delete.Me started a company based on this truth. So we decided to have a nice long conversation about it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2023-03-1349 minWhat the Hack?April’s Mom Was Addicted to Her ScammerApril’s mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer, and decided she needed to have some fun. On a dating site, she met a much younger man who owned a diamond mine. What followed was either Stockholm Syndrome or a pastiche of the sunk cost fallacy. Was she addicted to her scammer? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2023-03-0637 minWhat the Hack?Austin Federa Confirms Our Suspicions About Crypto ScamsSolana Foundation hype man Austin Federa was kind enough to join us this week to discuss one of the bedrock truths when it comes to money: People like to steal it. Seriously, listen to this one if you think cryptocurrency has its own special category of crime, because you might be missing the forest for the trees. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2023-02-2747 minWhat the Hack?Michelle Dennedy Is the Most Interesting Person in the WorldMichelle Dennedy is to privacy what Einstein is to relativity but with the addition of rules that involve proper panty protocols. If there’s a new trend in identity-related crime, she knows about it, has an opinion and can help guide you to a better place without getting got by it. A must-listen episode especially if you’ve ever researched mental health care online. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2023-02-2049 minWhat the Hack?Adam & Co Explore the Long Tail of Chinese Spy BalloonsChina’s spying via dirigible is incorrigible but in sync with its many digital deviancies. We tried to get Xi Jinping as a guest this week, but didn’t hear back so we decided to explore the news about Chinese spy balloons in context with other attacks, why it matters (or doesn’t) and why (at least one of us thinks) Mark Zuckerberg is just as bad. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2023-02-1334 minWhat the Hack?Jordan Got Scammed Selling AirPod Knockoffs OnlineJordan is a classic go-getter. At age 17, he was running a successful e-commerce site reselling knock-off consumer electronics through a website connected to a drop shipping company. Unfortunately, the tidy profit he made on a product that was perfectly legal but a wee bit questionable, put him on the radar of scammers who knew a LOT about him. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2023-02-0635 minWhat the Hack?Jill Schlesinger Hits the Reset ButtonIn the wake of the Great Reset and Covid, millions of people have pursued their dreams of a better, financially stable and less stressful life. Business analyst and author Jill Schlesinger gives us a rundown on how to distinguish these dreams from reality and how to avoid getting scammed in the process. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2023-01-3044 minWhat the Hack?Adam Bares it All in the No-Shame ZoneIf you’ve listened to the show more than once, you know Adam talks A LOT about credit freezes.This week he makes a jaw-dropping (and somewhat shameless) confession: The Great Cred-u-cator only got around to freezing his own credit last week! Hear what his no-shame zone admission can teach us all about the things we don’t do to stay safe online. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2023-01-2337 minWhat the Hack?Media Matters CEO Angelo Carusone Gives Us a Master Class in MisinformationMisinformation is almost always born in the primordial slime of the internet, that swamp of blogs, newsletters, and other private discussion groups that most of us never read. Unless most of you happen to be Media Matters. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2023-01-1649 minWhat the Hack?Britt Ignored Her Bank Account and It Went AwayBritt was starting a new career and between jobs, so there was no money coming in and she stopped checking her bank balances for a while. When she finally did take a look, a substantial piece of her nest egg had vanished. We find out where it went and how the theft may have gone down. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2023-01-0933 minWhat the Hack?Adam, Beau and Travis Ring in the New YearOnline scams, hacks and the cybersecurity fails that feed them don’t stop for the holidays, and neither do we! That said, a lot of people do take a break this time a year, which is why we’re guest-less this week. But hey, you’ve still got us and there’s plenty of news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2023-01-0222 minWhat the Hack?Our Annual Look Back at the Year that Was: 2022 EditionAs 2022 draws to a close, it’s time for our annual look back at all the guests who made 2022 a special year. Adam, Beau, Travis and Andrew Steven, the man with two first names who’s usually busy producing the show, talked about our favorite moments with Al Franken, Malcolm Nance, Roy Wood, Jr., Deviant Ollam, Dan Ahdoot and others. Thanks to all of our listeners for a great 2022. We hope you’ve had as much fun listening to the show as we’ve had making it. And if you really like us, please take a moment to tell u...
2022-12-2627 minWhat the Hack?Kate Meets a Stress Scammer on RedditKate is a reservation school teacher in South Dakota. She’s financially responsible, and understands a thing or two about cybersecurity. Unfortunately, everything she knew flew out the window when her car got repossessed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2022-12-1933 minWhat the Hack?Roy Wood, Jr. Exposes the Loch Ness Monster Gun Lobby ConspiracyAs a Daily Show correspondent, comedian Roy Wood, Jr. knows a thing or two about fake news and truthiness as well as the truth-and-a-half that is comedy. By skewering the media and the people in the news, he has special insight into how misinformation affects the way we think about the world and what we know. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2022-12-1237 minWhat the Hack?Bob Sullivan’s Dog Needs Tech SupportBob Sullivan does a lot for his trusty golden retriever Rusty, including the maintenance of a busy social media presence. So, you can imagine his horror after losing his phone and with that his access to Rusty’s account. How’d it happen? Cyber! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2022-12-0531 minWhat the Hack?Jessica Roy Was *That* Close to Stopping Her Identity ThiefJessica Roy’s wallet was stolen in a bar and soon her identity was stolen, too. Listen to this cyber-savvy reporter’s saga about doing everything right to protect herself while crime after crime was being committed in her name. And that was before things took a turn for the worse. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2022-11-2830 minWhat the Hack?Malcolm Nance Saw the Signals of his TyposquattersQuestion: What happens when you try to make money off an international crisis by posing as a former Navy signals intelligence guy? Answer: Not much. Just back from Ukraine, Malcolm Nance is a high profile legionnaire, which made him a target for scammers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2022-11-2136 minWhat the Hack?Al Franken Holds a Mock Senate Hearing on Privacy with Siri and AlexaNo deep fake here. This week, Al Franken does his own impersonations of Bernie Sanders, Mitch McConnell, Chuck Grassley, Sherrod Brown and Susan Collins in this mock Senate Hearing featuring Siri (played by the actual voice-over talent Susan Bennett) and Al’s fellow SNL alum Laraine Newman playing the part of Alexa. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2022-11-1426 minWhat the Hack?Jennifer Kraus Gets a Call from her MomJennifer Kraus knows her way around the world, and is not an easy target for scammers, which is why they targeted her mother. Scams these days slip and slide from analog to digital. The one that we’re talking about today cost about $1000. It arrived via snail mail and email to the same home. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2022-11-0734 minWhat the Hack?Adam Burley Discovers a Serious Hack Disguised as Something AvoidableYou have heard us talk about two-factor authentication, and if you’re not using it wherever possible you should be. Having said that, hackers know how to get around it these days. In this episode, cybersecurity professional Adam Burley is back to tell us the story of a hacked C-suite client whose situation was more sophisticated than it seemed at first. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2022-10-3142 minWhat the Hack?Philippa Ward’s Support Call Ransacks Her ComputerPhilippa’s business software wasn’t working right, so she Googled for tech support and called the first number listed. Almost immediately, hackers were in her computer looking for sensitive data. This week we explore a new attack vector: online ads and business listings used as lures for unsuspecting victims, and how to avoid getting “got” by them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2022-10-2433 minWhat the Hack?Fumiko Talks Poison Cheesecake and Toxic BoyfriendsWTH superfan Fumiko dated a sniper she met on the triathlon circuit who was not awesome and left her with questions that Oprah could have answered with great aplomb, but she asked us because, well… We don’t know. But we’re super grateful to have a superfan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2022-10-1742 minWhat the Hack?Deviant Ollam Picks the Lock to Adam’s HeartPenetration testing may sound a little skeevy, but it is a term of art in the security business. Physical penetration testing….well. Deviant Ollam is a big name in that world with well-documented adventures in getting into places that are supposed to be, well, impenetrable. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2022-10-1051 minWhat the Hack?Beau Gets Hacked on the Way to the Big HouseThis week Beau goes on a road trip to the Big House in Michigan where he ran afoul of a parking scam outside the third-largest sports arena in the world. We’re going to have to call this one a limited bandwidth / zero available parking scam. Check it out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2022-10-0335 minWhat the Hack?Chris Hutchins’s Travel Hacking Gets HackedIf you have never listened to Chris Hutchins explain how to get free travel, you’ve probably been paying too much for your vacations. Turns out, a threat actor was listening to him and stole his miles. Download this week’s episode to hear how he hacked the situation to score even more points. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2022-09-2642 minWhat the Hack?Freewheeling with Cyber Red Queen Tarah WheelerRed Queen Dynamics founder Tarah Wheeler knows a thing or two about smashing norms in the cybersecurity industry. But as a human being, she also has some experience being compromised. You’ll definitely want to tune in as she tells us about her own goal as a cybersecurity executive, and how she practices cybersecurity in her own life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2022-09-1945 minWhat the Hack?Joelle’s Identity Thief Almost Stumps the ChumpsJoelle was on the launch team for the What the Hack podcast, so she knows a thing or two about scams. But when her credit card was hit for thousands of dollars, even we didn’t know what happened–that is, until Travis figured it out (sort of). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2022-09-1239 minWhat the Hack?Andrew Gold Investigates A Dark Corner of the Internet Investigative journalist and podcaster Andrew Gold talked to us before about the way magicians work. His second appearance on the show explores a more serious topic. This is not an easy listen, but Germany’s controversial approach to potential sex offenders raises some privacy and ethics issues that are central to the topics we discuss on WTH. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2022-09-0540 minWhat the Hack?Caitlin Brodnick Sees Pro Wrestlers on Her Reality TVCaitlin Brodnick hosts the ScamWow podcast where she talks about what we talk about, and she has a must-listen podcast. When she’s not in front of a microphone, she spends a lot of time trying to figure out if Reality TV is actually real. Here’s what we found out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2022-08-2945 minWhat the Hack?Dara Starr Tucker Sees Right Through a Scam All Dara Starr Tucker wanted was an affordable place to live not quite in the center of things–a place to breathe easy. When she found what looked to be a dream rental for a third of her budget, she was excited, but when she got there her Spidey-sense told her to run. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2022-08-2242 minWhat the Hack?Ann Cavoukian Fights For Your Right to PrivacyWhen it comes to privacy, Ann Cavoukian is a legend. She created Privacy by Design during her tenure as Privacy Commissioner of Ontario, which landed her in the upper echelon of cybersecurity peeps. And she’s Raffi’s sister! Check it out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2022-08-1543 minWhat the Hack?Brett Johnson is the Bad-Guy-Turned-Good-Guy We’ve Been Wanting to MeetIf you followed the news in the early 2000s, you probably remember the ShadowCrew cybercrime group. Brett Johnson rolled with them. These days he’s on the right side of the law, helping people avoid getting hacked, scammed and otherwise crimed… You don’t want to miss this one. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2022-08-0858 minWhat the Hack?Michelle Tea’s Tarot Business Draws a FoolLooking for the blue checkmark on Instagram is the easiest way for consumers to tell if they are dealing with a cloned account, but it’s not so easy to get. The site provides crucial exposure to creatives of all stripe. The problem is scammers are everywhere. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2022-08-0151 minWhat the Hack?Rudy Shepherd’s Money Goes to Zelle and BackRudy Shepherd was not used to selling his own work online. He had a gallery for that. But when the relationship with that gallery ended, he had to fend for himself, giving new meaning to the phrase, “learning on the job.” Listen in as he takes us on a tour of the Zelle hell with a scammer who knew just what to say. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2022-07-2552 minWhat the Hack?Andy Pham Claws Back a Multi-Million Dollar HeistThere are tens of millions of small and medium-size businesses in the United States alone, and depending on their state incorporation, many are in danger of business identity theft. Andy Pham is an American hero by many standards, for sure with regard to the right to become wildly successful. He’s truly living the American Dream. Having grown up in Communist Vietnam for the first ten years of his life, his mom sent him to the United States where she believed he would have a better life and avoid being drafted into the war in Cambodia. She was...
2022-07-1852 minWhat the Hack?A Stroll Down Scammery Lane with Adam, Beau and TravisTime flies when you’re having fun talking to people from all walks of life about getting scammed, hacked or otherwise cyberbamboozled. It seems like yesterday that we launched What the Hack with Adam Levin, but, this week marks our first anniversary! With highlights and noteworthy moments, our anniversary show is like a chocolate sampler, minus the gross ones with orange jelly that Travis likes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2022-07-1150 minWhat the Hack?Michelle Water’s Facebook Compromise as Teachable MomentMichelle Waters was a middle school teacher before getting into the teaching tools business, so she has nerves of steel. But when her Facebook account was misappropriated and badly misused, she learned that even veteran teachers have a melting point. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2022-07-0443 minWhat the Hack?Abby’s Compromise Costs Her Big TimeThe Covid-19 pandemic put millions of people out of work and put billions of dollars in unemployment benefits up for grabs. What was a lifeline for the unemployed became a goldmine for scammers. In this episode, the scammer sometimes rings twice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2022-06-2749 minWhat the Hack?Andrew Gold Shares Some Tricks of His TradeSocial engineering is still a new term for some people. We break it down in this episode by focusing on how reporters and magicians use it. (Get it? There’s a trick involved!) Check out this wide-ranging conversation with journalist Andrew Gold that covers shamans, a classic girlfriend’s mother tale and nose picking. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2022-06-2053 min
CEOs You Should Know BostonRob Shavell, Co-Founder & CEO of DeleteMeRob Shavell is CEO of DeleteMe, The Online Privacy Company. Rob has been quoted as a privacy expert in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, The Telegraph, NPR, ABC, NBC, and Fox. Rob is a vocal proponent of privacy legislation reform, including the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA).DeleteMe (https://joindeleteme.com/) is the leading online privacy personal information removal service. In business for over 10 years, DeleteMe's privacy advisors have successfully completed over 25 million opt-outs from data brokers, ensuring consumers and businesses' online privacy.
2022-06-1701 minWhat the Hack?Beau Finally Comes CleanYou may have a little deja vu since Beau is constantly trying to get scammed, but in this episode, Adam, Beau and Travis talk about the scams they’ve stared down in the past–and of course Beau talks about the scam he fell for. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2022-06-1335 minWhat the Hack?Hope’s Hacker Husband Turns Out the Lights (Part 2)An ugly divorce becomes fertile ground for an ex’s hacking skills as Hope is persistently compromised by forgotten backdoors to old devices and even a secret dressing-room camera. Hear how he kept getting in and what you can do if you’re worried about cyberstalkers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2022-06-0659 minWhat the Hack?Hope’s Hacker Husband Turns Out the Lights (Part 1)Ever wonder if your phone was listening to you? Have you stared at one of your smart home cameras and got the vibe that you were in the first act of a horror movie? Well, this episode proves that the worst you can imagine is just one bad relationship away! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2022-05-3048 minWhat the Hack?Yue and Julie Play Relationship Chicken with Online Faux-meosAdam was a guest on the Date/Able podcast recently, and he had a lot of fun. With a head full of “The Tinder Swindler,” he invited them to be guests on What the Hack to discuss something near and dear to our hearts: Gutting faux-meo catphishers for fun and whatever the opposite of not-losing money and precious time looks like for you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2022-05-2350 minWhat the Hack?Jeff Williams Helps Rout the Rustock BotnetJeff Williams has been on the cybersecurity beat before it had a name. Currently the Global Head of Security at Avast, Jeff was working the ramparts at Microsoft in the mid-oughts when he was tasked with bombing the botnets and making spam email a thing of the past. Your inbox reveals the outcome, but the journey will make you safer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2022-05-1657 min
Data Protection Gumbo143: Modern Problems of Identity Authentication - DeleteMe by AbineJohn Gilmore, Head of Research at DeleteMe by Abine discusses why authentication is a problem right now, how big tech has changed consumer behavior in the face of major privacy problems, and how new state level regulations like CCPA and VDPA will influence how businesses will handle their data moving forward.
2022-05-1034 minWhat the Hack?They Accidentally Hacked the Presidential InaugurationRetired Secret Service Chief of Staff Brian Ebert is back to talk about the time two Romanian hackers accidentally hit security cameras with ransomware that were monitoring the inauguration of Donald Trump. Hear how a sketchy Amazon vendor selling smoking guns (the culinary kind) led the Secret Service to the hackers days before the inauguration. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2022-05-0950 minWhat the Hack?Herb Weisbaum Talks Crypto ScamsConsumerMan Herb Weisbaum is a veteran protector of all things scammable. On this week’s episode, he joined us to talk about crypto scams. If you invest in crypto you might want to check your accounts to make sure your dough's still there, because there are a lot of ways for it to go walkabout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2022-05-0246 minWhat the Hack?Daniel Arnold Is Remarkably Chill About Identity Theft Daniel Arnold is a world-famous lenser known in equal parts for fashion and street photography, which may have made him a target. Tune in to hear his remarkably laid back reaction to becoming a victim of identity theft. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2022-04-2554 minWhat the Hack?Brian Ebert Cancels a Counterfeit Credit Card RacketRetired U.S. Secret Service chief of staff Brian Ebert joined us to recount the case of an international credit card skimming operation of mind-boggling proportions. Listen in as he tells a story that will make you freeze your credit before you even finish listening. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2022-04-1853 minWhat the Hack?Bill Gets High-Sticked by His ScammerBill knows a lot about staying safe online and he still got scammed, which is what makes him the perfect guest for What the Hack. Trying to buy some last-minute tickets for a hockey game, he was in the scammer’s sweet spot–rushed and needing something specific. Listen in as he tells us the tale of how he stalked his scammers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2022-04-1141 minWhat the Hack?Dan Ahdoot Gets Hacked by a Middle-SchoolerWe like to think of our hackers (when they get you, they are yours forever) as being super STEM-smart computer lab rats, but as “Green Eggs and Dan” host Dan Ahdoot found out, sometimes they are thirteen-year-olds trying to earn some pocket money. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2022-04-0444 minWhat the Hack?Amanda, Cyber Guy, a Catfish and Mister FluffyIf you’re looking for love and companionship online, you know there are tons of jerks and rabbit boilers out there. You need to be careful. Here’s a story that will make you delete that dating app forever. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2022-03-2852 minWhat the Hack?Jack Rhysider Gets Stanned by a SuperfanDarknet Diaries host Jack Rhysider is back! This time he tells us about a superfan stalker. Ever wonder if all that personal stuff you post on social media might get you in trouble? This week’s episode features an OG cyber expert’s story about just that. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2022-03-2151 minWhat the Hack?Jordan Harbinger Goes Into Hacker ModeJordan Harbinger is no stranger to the trust triggers that make people do things online and in real life. So, we figured he had some firsthand experience based on his coverage of hacking and social engineering on The Jordan Harbinger Show, but we didn’t know how wonderfully devious his stories from the early days were going to be. Check out this must-listen episode, or be hacked immediately. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2022-03-141h 00What the Hack?Noah Gets Hacked by a Ghanaian Syndicate?Identity theft, a Ghanaian car smuggling syndicate, and a mystery insurance policy that didn’t even make it into the episode – this story has it all, and from a previous guest we never imagined would become a victim of this sort of crime. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2022-03-0746 minWhat the Hack?Adam Goes to War with the DarksideAdam Burley is a “second-generation nerd” (that’s “cybersecurity expert” to you). He makes a living protecting businesses and their networks. When the ransomware gang behind the Colonial Pipeline attack infiltrated an unprotected server, he faced a crash course in how Ransomware-as-a-Service gangs operate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2022-02-2855 minWhat the Hack?Jack Rhysider Dodges Bum NFTs on the OpenSeaDarknet Diaries host Jack Rhysider is no stranger to cybercrime, but he’s relatively new to NFTs, a digital space still in Wild West mode. Jack joined us to talk about NFT pitfalls and the pickpocket vibes he’s encountered while investing in them, some digital wallet woes and more. He also had great advice for anyone thinking about making a move in the NFT space. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2022-02-2144 minWhat the Hack?Introducing Now What's NextToday, we want to introduce you to Now, What's Next?, an original podcast from Morgan Stanley. This season of Now, What's Next looks at how the supply chain connects us all, and what happens when it breaks. The “Great Kettlebell Shortage” episode looks at why it was so hard to get kettlebells during the height of the pandemic. In this episode we meet Jay Perkins, the co-founder of Kettlebell Kings. During the beginning of the shortage, Jay sold out of two containers worth of product in about 10 minutes. While some businesses were hurting, others stepped in to fill the gap...
2022-02-1725 minWhat the Hack?Angela Crushes Her Lip-Syncing CatfishValentine’s Day is Christmas for scammers. Millions of people looking for love make themselves vulnerable to strangers online every day. Sadly, the person pitching woo isn’t always who they claim to be. The catfish du jour was pretty brave, but the only bread he saw was for a cyber po’boy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2022-02-1439 minWhat the Hack?Brian Tells Us Something We Don’t Know (Part 2)We liked Brian so much, the conversation went on for a really long time. If you didn’t catch the last episode, we talked to Brian Fennimore about his ancient experience with a compromised Hotmail account after trying to find some fizzy candy online. This time around, we go deep and learn some security tricks we didn’t know about. Pro tip: If you want two episodes, fascinate us. (He really did tell us stuff we didn’t know.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2022-02-0738 minWhat the Hack?Brian’s Fizzy Candy Crush Sizzles His Account (Part 1)Brian Fennimore does cybersecurity for a living, but even infosec pros don’t pop out of Zeus’s head perfectly formed. Listen to the story of how nostalgia, a sugar craving and a reused password landed him in trouble back before cyber was a thing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2022-01-3138 minWhat the Hack?Whim Grace Plays a Shell Game with ScammersWhim wanted to teach overseas. While based on the coast of Portugal, she was offered a teaching position from two employers. She didn’t know that she was about to end up with no job at all, narrowly avoiding getting taken for a bundle of dough. Also in this episode: Adam continues to hack Beau in every way imaginable. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2022-01-2444 minWhat the Hack?Megan Carpentier Makes Her Trolls Cry–Buh Bye!Trolls are misunderstood creatures, but they’re so mean that it’s hard to feel for them–unless you’re sussing out their soft underbelly for a kill shot. We talked to journalist Megan Carpentier, who is no stranger to online harassment. She gave us a crash course on trolls–how to recognize them and make them go away. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2022-01-1747 minWhat the Hack?Lisa Seiffert (and Her Nude Suitors) Get HackedWe all know Instagram influencer accounts get hacked and held for ransom. And it’s no secret men send women pictures of their private parts via DM. This episode meets at the crossroads of these two open secrets. Model and writer Lisa Seiffert joined us to tell the tale. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2022-01-1043 min
Opt OutClean up your data online w/ Rob Shavell from DeleteMeWondering how to take back control of the data captured by data brokers before you started taking privacy more seriously? This episode, we're sitting down with Rob Shavell, co-founder of DeleteMe to chat about cleaning up the data about you that's been scooped up by data brokers across the internet.Note: There were a few small 1-2s segments where Rob's audio cuts out, but shouldn't be too disruptive to the listening experience! Apologies for the minor technical issues in this one.More about Rob Shavell:Rob's guest profile -- https://optoutpod...
2022-01-0958 minWhat the Hack?Caitlin’s Scammer Does His HomeworkCaitlin Brodnick was not the most obvious target since she’s the host of a podcast called ScamWow. Which is why we were obviously impressed by the effort of her scammer and by her ability to see it for what it is and avoid getting got. Also discussed: Why you should never answer questions on social media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2022-01-0343 minWhat the Hack?2021 in Review: They’re BaaaaackFrom QAnon to Mahjong and a parade of phishing victims, 2021 offered up a lot of teachable moments. We revisit six episodes from our first year, and invite the guests back to tell us how they improved their cyber defenses (or haven’t). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2021-12-2750 minWhat the Hack?Liza and the Phantom SwitchOne of the hottest holiday gifts of 2021 is the new Nintendo Switch. The problem is they’re sold out everywhere. When this week’s guest tried to think outside the big box stores, she ran into a classic e-commerce scam. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2021-12-2036 minWhat the Hack?Harry’s Holiday Bah HumbugWho steals a Christmas tree? Sadly, a lot of people do. Harry tells us about a scam that was way too evil for the Grinch playbook as well as the other kinds of scams he’s seen over his many years in the Christmas tree business. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2021-12-1344 minWhat the Hack?Kristine Solomon’s Low-Rent Craigslist ScammerKristine had been living la vida expatriate during Covid, when work called her back to New York City and she had to find a short-term rental. How’d a hardened reporter get sucked into a Craigslist scam? The same way we all do, and it’s a very good story.Read the transcript here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2021-12-0647 minWhat the Hack?Axton Betz-Hamilton Gets the Shock of a Lifetime (Part 2)Growing up in the shadow of child identity theft can be a struggle. For Axton Betz-Hamilton, her discovery of the culprit led to the shock of a lifetime. In the second installment of this two-part episode, we examine the massive financial and emotional toll of finding out a loved one wasn’t all that they seemed, and how to recover. Also discussed: stalkerware apps. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2021-11-2938 minWhat the Hack?Axton Betz-Hamilton Goes Looking For Her Identity Thief (Part 1)By the time most people find out that they’ve been the victim of child identity theft, their credit is trashed. That’s what happened to Axton Betz-Hamilton. And like most victims of child identity theft, she was targeted by someone she knew. In the first installment of this two-part episode, the mystery of who stole Axton’s identity unravels in a very unexpected direction. Read the transcript here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2021-11-2243 minWhat the Hack?John Juniper’s Workflow Gets HackedDoes your business depend on social media? How about your social life? Would you be willing to pay to get your account back if it got hacked? That’s this week’s dilemma for a well-known eyewear designer. Hear what he did.Read the transcript here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2021-11-1543 minWhat the Hack?Josh Gets Over the Wire ScamJosh works at a real estate company that oversees wire transfers every day. Hear the story about the time a single compromised email account almost cost his company big time.Read the transcript here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2021-11-0837 minWhat the Hack?James’s Tale from the Crypt(o)If you've waded into cryptocurrency investments, you probably know about crypto scams. But what you don’t know about crypto wallets could be exactly what a thief needs to steal all those magic gains. We also talk about bears, if you're into that sort of thing.Read the transcript here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2021-11-0138 minWhat the Hack?Ivana Miličević Rises to the BaitWhat happens when you combine an actor, a well-followed Instagram account, an early morning alert and a master cleanse with a hacker? An account takeover and ransom situation, of course! Also covered in this episode: no-click exploits.Read the transcript here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2021-10-2442 minWhat the Hack?Jennifer’s Son Takes a Bank ShotThe teenage son of this week’s guest learned a lesson we've been banging on about for years--the hard way. Don't use your debit card when a credit card will do. There is a very specific reason we say this, and you can find out what it is right here.Read the transcript here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2021-10-1844 minWhat the Hack?Emily McVicker Gets Taken for a SongThe Covid epidemic shut down music venues around the world, but with our ever more connected planet, the bands played on. Music people moved their gigs online and Twitch became a major venue for that. That’s where Emily McVicker ran into trouble with a new version of the overpayment scam. Also in this episode: Can you steal a Tesla with a Raspberry?Read the transcript here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2021-10-1133 minWhat the Hack?Loki Gets TrickedSome scams give us something to laugh about whether it's the sheer audacity or the incompetence that made them work. Loki’s story is not one of those capers. He was the victim of a catfishing scam where he figured as the catfish as the result of identity theft. But the worst part? The person who did it to him...Read the transcript here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2021-10-0437 minWhat the Hack?Larry Clicks AnywayLarry worked on the assembly line at Ford and a long list of impressive jobs to which he can now add “Scam Slayer.” Online criminals often target retirees, because they assume senior citizens are easy prey. Larry is an object lesson in how not to fall victim to the kinds of crime targeting the AARP crowd.Read the transcript here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2021-09-2734 minWhat the Hack?Mary J. White Snags a CatfishMary is a lot of things. Cannabinoid cooking maven, former radio host, and her banter could make the saltiest sailor blush. When she was angling to find love (and sex) online, a rather young-sounding catfish took the bait and what followed was pretty funny.Read the transcript here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2021-09-2135 minWhat the Hack?Joyce and a Bank Robber Play MahJongLike many of us, Joyce spent hours during the Covid lockdown connecting with friends by playing games online--in her case a MahJong app. Imagine her surprise when using a legitimate app to find a scammer trying to empty her entire bank account. The most likely culprit? You will rethink your game time when you hear what it was.Read the episode transcript here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2021-09-1327 minWhat the Hack?Ed’s Crash Facebook DietHow do you know when you’ve been hacked? What happens when you lose control of an account, but don’t see any other unusual activity? Ed found himself locked out of his Facebook account but there was no other indication of foul play. Listen in as we play a speed round of "did he or didn't he" get hacked. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2021-09-0637 minWhat the Hack?Paul’s High-Touch HackerPaul Toma is in the business of making the world a greener place, which made him a target for someone looking to tap into his credit at a local bank. A stroke of luck was all that stood between him and economic ruin. Find out in the latest episode how Paul was compromised and why you should never reuse your passwords.See the transcript here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2021-08-3029 minWhat the Hack?Dan Beeler Stops a Slow-Roll Ransomware AttackDan Beeler of Boyne Resorts protects fans of the great outdoors from prying eyes and other online threats. Fending off the assortment of cyber attacks that come his way is all in a day’s work, which is why Dan was the first to know when his company got hit by ransomware. Hear what happened, and how Dan saved the day.See the transcript here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2021-08-2331 minWhat the Hack?Noah Doesn’t Buy the ArkNoah’s son had a boat coming to him, but finding one to buy during the pandemic was like trying to raise the Titanic. This episode focuses on that classic moment when Noah found a deal too good to be true. Boat-selling skullduggery ahead, as we learn how be like Noah when it comes to online scams.See the episode transcript here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2021-08-1630 minWhat the Hack?Cristian Walks the Plank in Pirate BayDigital pirates pick up all sorts of viruses and bugs while downloading their treasures. Episode Five features a savvy digital native who picked up a nasty bug during a digital stroll down the gamer’s version of Memory Lane. Whether you think you’re immune to online contagion, or you just need a little pirate humor, we got it here.See the episode transcript here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2021-08-0930 minWhat the Hack?Sally Gets Taken for a RideAunt Sally was happy to spend her time birdwatching and hanging out with her family. Then one day, a single typo put her in the crosshairs of a hacker who was intent on stealing all her money, rifling through her personal data and stealing her identity. Also: Don't post pictures of your vaccination card!Read the episode transcript. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2021-08-0223 minWhat the Hack?Jake’s Dirty Little SecretAs a journalist, he’s traveled to some of the most dangerous places in the world and managed to not get hacked. But the moment he gets some down time at home: O, the shame. Also covered: smishing, social engineering, 419 scams and once again, why you should never re-use your passwords.Read the episode transcript here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2021-07-2630 minWhat the Hack?Christen’s Enemy with BenefitsThe Covid-19 pandemic created massive unemployment and with that, a shadow pandemic of unemployment scams. In our second episode, Adam’s sister-in-law was targeted in two different states and tells us the tale. Also discussed: are biometrics better than passwords?Read the episode transcript here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2021-07-1929 minWhat the Hack?Roy Gets Hacked by an Evil ClownDid you know that you can activate malware on your computer just by looking at an image posted in the comments of an online discussion? We're big on good cyber hygiene. Our first episode provides an important life lesson: Always use a burner computer to troll your enemies. And of course beware of evil clowns. Check out Roy’s story about the time he got hacked while trolling QAnon followers. Read the episode transcript here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2021-07-1231 min
Tech It OutProtect Yourself Online with NordVPN, DeleteMe, and Stash Password Manager* Not all ‘Virtual Private Networks’ are created equal. We talk with NordVPN about its competitive advantages* DeleteMe stops by to talk about how (and why) they remove your personal information online* We also talk with Stash Password Manager, on its new security app and optional hardware solution
2021-05-1439 minWhat the Hack?What the Hack with Adam Levin TrailerThe award-winning true cybercrime podcast is back with new stories and actually helpful advice. Every week, we dive into scams, hacks, and digital disasters with real people who’ve been there and security pros who know how to help.
What the Hack is a production of DeleteMe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2021-05-1403 minWhat the Hack?What the Hack with Adam Levin TrailerThe award-winning true cybercrime podcast is back with new stories and actually helpful advice. Every week, we dive into scams, hacks, and digital disasters with real people who’ve been there and security pros who know how to help.
What the Hack is a production of DeleteMe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2021-05-1403 min
under CTRLDeleteMe: Disappearing from data brokers’ radar – an interview with Rob ShavellIn our highly interconnected world, data is the fuel that keeps the digital economy up and running. Companies and platforms of all shapes and sizes are collecting, sharing and selling the personal information of their users without explicit consent to do so. We believe it’s time to regain ownership of your data by removing your private information from search results.This is a sentiment shared by fellow privacy advocate and DeleteMe founder Rob Shavell, who helps us shed light on the complexities of data collection & brokerage in the latest episode of under CTRL. We also explore ho...
2021-02-1133 min