Hacker And The Fed
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.
Google Is Taking Control of Your Android Phone
Chris and Hector discuss whether AI-powered vulnerability discovery is creating a new normal for cybersecurity, and why even familiar exploits are becoming harder to defend against. They break down Madison Square Garden's controversial phishing test involving free Knicks championship rings, Google's new Android developer verification requirements, and a certificate authority shutting down its SSL business after a major security failure. Plus, hackers leak 281GB of data from a German political party, Sweden restricts government access to ChatGPT and Claude, and Hector explains why the latest PHP vulnerabilities might not be quite as catastrophic as initially reported.
<...
AI Solved a 26-Year-Old NSA Mystery in 30 Minutes
Chris and Hector discuss how an internal Anthropic AI model reportedly solved a 26-year-old NSA cryptography mystery in under 30 minutes, a Meta source code theft, and an OpenAI employee accused of hiding a recording device inside an executive conference room. They also break down a sophisticated crypto hardware wallet supply-chain attack allegedly responsible for roughly $100 million in theft, zero-click spyware delivered through online advertisements, and a violent cryptocurrency robbery potentially linked to a financial data breach. Plus, Hector explains why even zoos and aquariums face serious cybersecurity risks.
Join our Patreon for weekly bonus...
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
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...
700 AI Agents Broke Through Their Guardrails
Chris and Hector break down a $350 million crypto theft suspected to involve North Korean hackers, a massive map exposing hundreds of thousands of surveillance cameras, and the arrest of an alleged Shiny Hunters associate. Then they dig into new research reconstructing how hundreds of OpenAI agents bypassed their guardrails, communicated with each other, and launched attacks across the internet. Plus, Hector predicts where autonomous AI hacking could go next.
Join our Patreon for weekly bonus episodes:
https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed
Send HATF your questions at [email protected]
Gemini Escaped Its Test and Started Hacking Real Companies
Chris and Hector break down Google's undercover infiltration of hacker group Team PCP, a bug bounty researcher gaining command execution while testing OpenAI, and attackers impersonating European law enforcement to obtain sensitive banking records. They also discuss Gemini breaking out of a cybersecurity test and accessing three real companies, CrowdSec's private source code exposure, and CISA ending its long-running weekly vulnerability bulletin. Plus, the guys discover just how much money Americans are spending on OnlyFans.
Join our Patreon for weekly bonus episodes:
https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed
Send HATF your questions at [email protected]
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]
153 Million Driver's Licenses Are for Sale
Chris and Hector discuss a service claiming to sell more than 153 million driver's licenses, malware hijacking authenticated Claude sessions to drain AI usage, and research into LG smart TVs collecting data from inside users' homes. They also revisit the controversy surrounding Flock surveillance cameras, debate privacy and law enforcement, and explain why unsupported home routers remain a serious security risk.
Join our Patreon for weekly bonus episodes:
https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed
Send HATF your questions at [email protected]
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]
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]
Someone Tried to Hack the Court With an AI Prompt
Chris and Hector break down a $34 million bank heist that looks suspiciously like an inside job, hidden AI prompts in court filings, a new government-backed cyber operations program, and hundreds of fake VPN extensions spying on users.
Join our Patreon for weekly bonus episodes:
https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed
Send HATF your questions at [email protected]
The Cybersecurity Industry Can’t Keep Up With AI
Chris and Hector break down why ransomware gangs are shifting their focus from executives to mid-level employees, another AI model escaping its cybersecurity sandbox, uncertainty surrounding CMMC requirements, the decline of HackerOne, and a new wave of critical Cisco vulnerabilities.
Join our Patreon for weekly bonus episodes:
https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed
Send HATF your questions at [email protected]
The $90 Million Crypto Wallet Disaster Nobody Saw Coming
Chris and Hector break down the massive Bitcoin wallet compromise tied to flawed hardware wallets, Android TV boxes secretly acting as residential proxies, Anthropic's AI breaking into real systems during testing, Coinbase scaling back bug bounties, and a Firefox vulnerability that could expose Tor users.
Join our Patreon for weekly bonus episodes:
https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed
Send HATF your questions at [email protected]
The Snapchat Phishing Scam That Stole Hundreds of Private Photos
Chris and Hector discuss the ransomware attack that disrupted Coca-Cola's Fairlife dairy operations, a phishing campaign that stole hundreds of private Snapchat accounts, Romania's crippled land registry after a destructive cyberattack, LG's decision to shut down controversial smart TV proxy software, the growing debate over automated surveillance cameras, and the latest AI security vulnerabilities affecting developers.
Join our Patreon for weekly bonus episodes:
https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed
Send HATF your questions at [email protected]
The Steam Malware That Stole Crypto From Thousands
Chris and Hector break down a critical WordPress vulnerability discovered with AI, the Steam malware campaign that stole cryptocurrency from gamers, Madison Square Garden's secret facial recognition database, AI voice cloning scams targeting families, leaked evidence of AI music training on copyrighted songs, and the White House employee accused of profiting from prediction markets. They also discuss SafeHill's latest work, insider threats, and why today's biggest cyber risks often begin with simple social engineering.
Join our Patreon for weekly bonus episodes:
https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed
Send HATF your questions at [email protected]
Japan's First ChatGPT-Powered Hacker Arrest
Chris and Hector cover the FBI's takedown of the NetNut residential proxy network, Microsoft's role in identifying a Scattered Spider suspect, a ransomware negotiator who secretly worked with criminals, a controversial Windows zero-day disclosure, a HackerOne data exposure, and a Japanese teenager arrested after using ChatGPT to automate a cyberattack.
Join our Patreon for weekly bonus episodes:
https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed
Send HATF your questions at [email protected]
Canada Just Hacked the Drug Cartels
Chris and Hector break down Canada's offensive cyber campaign against fentanyl traffickers, the arrest of an alleged Scattered Spider member, a new wave of AI infrastructure hijacking, growing privacy protections in Virginia, and why the U.S. still struggles to deliver high-speed internet while other countries race ahead
Join our Patreon for weekly bonus episodes:
https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed
Send HATF your questions at [email protected]
They Mocked the Hackers... Then Lost $3 Million
Chris and Hector break down Polymarket's $3 million supply chain attack, a wave of physical intrusions targeting U.S. law firms, a major breach at the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, and Ford's costly attempt to replace veteran engineers with AI. They also dive into the growing controversy over AI export controls and what they mean for cybersecurity researchers.
Join our Patreon for weekly bonus episodes:
https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed
Send HATF your questions at [email protected]
FIFA Left the Front Door Wide Open
Chris and Hector break down a defense contractor caught faking cybersecurity compliance, Germany's growing push away from U.S. cloud providers, the ongoing Anthropic AI controversy, and a FIFA vulnerability that could have exposed critical World Cup systems. Plus, they answer listener questions on how modern hackers actually gain access to corporate networks.
Join our Patreon for weekly bonus episodes:
https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed
Send HATF your questions at [email protected]
Hackers Are Using Fake LinkedIn Jobs to Break Into Companies
Chris and Hector break down a fake LinkedIn recruiting campaign used to deploy malware, AI-generated evidence appearing in criminal investigations, Meta’s internal AI turmoil, and the escalating battle between tech giants fighting for dominance in the global AI race. They explore how AI is reshaping cybersecurity, privacy, and the future of trust online.
Join our Patreon for weekly bonus episodes:
https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed
Send HATF your questions at [email protected]
Your Smart TV Might Be Part of a Botnet
Chris and Hector break down a shocking discovery involving smart TVs being used as residential proxy nodes, a major Meta AI support failure that enabled widespread Instagram account takeovers, and new AI systems uncovering decades-old software vulnerabilities. They also discuss AI security guardrails, consumer privacy, and the growing risks of convenience-driven technology.
Join our Patreon for weekly bonus episodes:
https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed
Send HATF your questions at [email protected]
A Single Email Took Down a Major Food Supplier
Chris and Hector break down a phishing attack that exposed employee data at a major food supplier, Microsoft's escalating fight with a security researcher publishing zero days, and the eye watering cost of enterprise AI adoption. They also discuss insider trading on prediction markets, the takedown of a massive DDoS botnet, and why basic security failures continue to create outsized consequences.
Join our Patreon for weekly bonus episodes:
https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed
Send HATF your questions at [email protected]
Texas Just Declared War on WhatsApp
Chris and Hector break down Texas suing WhatsApp over encryption claims, a law enforcement operation targeting a ransomware linked VPN provider, and a bizarre hack involving FBI Director Kash Patel’s apparel website. They also dive into the nonstop wave of AI driven supply chain attacks, fake OnlyFans breach panic, and how online scams continue turning ordinary people into criminal defendants.
Join our Patreon for weekly bonus episodes:
https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed
Send HATF your questions at [email protected]
Microsoft Has a Bigger Security Problem Than Anyone Admits
Chris and Hector break down a major ransomware attack on Foxconn, the growing strain AI data centers are putting on power grids, and new allegations surrounding Microsoft security and cloud infrastructure. They also discuss insider threats, ransomware leaks, BitLocker concerns, and why cybersecurity vendors continue to overwhelm the industry with noise instead of solutions.
Join our Patreon for weekly bonus episodes:
https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed
Send HATF your questions at [email protected]
The Student Hack That Crashed Bitcoin
Chris and Hector break down a massive cyberattack affecting thousands of schools during finals week, Russia’s reported hacker training pipeline through universities, and the growing wave of developer focused supply chain attacks. They also discuss North Korean laptop farms, SIM swap scams tied to Bitcoin manipulation, and why online privacy continues to disappear.
Join our Patreon for weekly bonus episodes:
https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed
Send HATF your questions at [email protected]
AI Deleted the Entire Database in 9 Seconds
Chris and Hector break down a series of AI and cybersecurity failures, including an autonomous coding agent that deleted an entire production database, a breach exposing voice and biometric data from 40,000 AI contractors, and major GitHub and supply chain vulnerabilities. They also discuss the growing risks of AI decision making, deepfakes, and why basic security failures continue to spiral into massive incidents.
Join our Patreon for weekly bonus episodes:
https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed
Send HATF your questions at [email protected]
The Crypto Hacks Funding North Korea
Chris and Hector break down a wild mix of cyber stories, including a U.S. soldier charged for betting on a classified military operation, ongoing North Korean crypto theft campaigns, and major security failures across APIs and SaaS platforms. They explore how insider threats, poor security practices, and repeated mistakes continue to drive massive breaches and real world consequences.
Join our Patreon for weekly bonus episodes:
https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed
Send HATF your questions at [email protected]
Europe Is Quietly Preparing for a Tech War
Chris and Hector break down a week of cybersecurity stories, from Europe’s push to move away from U.S. tech to supply chain attacks, insider threats, and SaaS compromises. They dig into why modern security tools still fail, how attackers exploit trust in third party systems, and why some breaches matter far less than headlines suggest.
Join our Patreon for weekly bonus episodes:
https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed
Send HATF your questions at [email protected]
The Origin Story
In this episode, Chris and Hector revisit their origin story, from the investigation that led to Sabu’s identity to the night the FBI showed up at his door. They walk through the arrest, the decision to cooperate, and the months spent working side by side to dismantle major hacking operations. It is a firsthand account of how one of the most infamous hackers became an informant and how that unlikely partnership shaped both of their lives.
Join our Patreon for weekly bonus episodes:
https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed
Send HATF your questions at [email protected]
How One Developer Took Down the Supply Chain
Chris and Hector break down a highly effective North Korean supply chain attack that started with a fake Microsoft Teams update and escalated into full developer compromise. They explore how modern attackers combine social engineering, open source manipulation, and long term access to infiltrate software pipelines. The episode also covers GitHub based attacks, compromised routers at scale, and why simple human pressure remains one of the most powerful tools in cybercrime.
Join our Patreon for weekly bonus episodes:
https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed
Send HATF your questions at [email protected]
What CISOs Actually Worry About
Chris and Hector are joined again by an anonymous CISO for a candid follow up conversation on the realities of modern cybersecurity. They explore why compliance often turns into security theater, how geopolitical conflict is shaping defensive strategy, and what actually keeps security leaders up at night. The discussion cuts through dashboards and certifications to focus on risk, trends, and the uncomfortable truth that many organizations look secure on paper while remaining deeply vulnerable in practice.
Join our Patreon for weekly bonus episodes:
https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed
Send HATF your questions at [email protected]
The Biggest Cybersecurity Grift in Years
Chris and Hector break down a major compliance scandal where a startup allegedly sold fake SOC 2 certifications using templated reports and questionable auditing practices. They explore how the breach exposed sensitive internal documents, why companies may have knowingly gone along with it, and what it says about trust in the cybersecurity industry. The episode also covers a massive GPU smuggling case tied to China, the collapse of a major cybercrime forum, and a real-world prompt injection attack that compromised thousands of developer environments.
Join our Patreon for weekly bonus episodes:
https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed
A Petabyte of Data Stolen and Nobody Noticed
Chris and Hector break down a massive breach involving claims of a petabyte of stolen data and question how something that large could go unnoticed. They also dive into a critical vulnerability in McKinsey’s internal AI platform that exposed millions of records through basic API and SQL flaws, along with ongoing credential theft campaigns targeting VPN users
Join our Patreon for weekly bonus episodes:
https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed
Send HATF your questions at [email protected]
iPhone Zero Days Are Now Fueling Crypto Crime
Chris and Hector break down a new US cyber strategy calling for a more aggressive posture against hackers, then dive into a bizarre case where a sophisticated iPhone exploit kit meant for espionage ended up powering crypto theft. They also revisit the arrest of a contractor’s son accused of stealing $46 million in seized cryptocurrency and discuss how bragging on Discord brought the whole scheme crashing down.
Join our Patreon for weekly bonus episodes:
https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed
Send HATF your questions at [email protected]
When AI Makes Hacking Easier Than Ever
Chris and Hector discuss an AI assisted hacking campaign that compromised more than 600 Fortinet firewalls and what it reveals about persistent security failures. They also cover cyber operations tied to geopolitical conflict, leadership turmoil at CISA, and new research showing how AI can expose supposedly anonymous online identities
Join our Patreon for weekly bonus episodes:
https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed
Send HATF your questions at [email protected]
The FBI Drug Market Rumor, Blue Checkmarks, and Government Backdoors
Chris and Hector break down a headline that made it sound like the FBI was running a dark web drug market and separate rumor from reality. They revisit how confidential sources actually work, the fallout from past undercover operations, and why media framing matters. The conversation then shifts to zero click exploits sold to foreign actors, the risks behind LinkedIn identity verification, and a security researcher who found a simple but devastating vulnerability only to be threatened by lawyers.
Join our Patreon for weekly bonus episodes:
https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed
Send HATF your questions at [email protected]
What CISOs Won’t Say in Public
Chris and Hector sit down with an anonymous CISO who pulls back the curtain on how cybersecurity actually works inside large organizations. From security theater and boardroom politics to AI risk, bug bounties, and why CISOs are often the fall guy during major incidents, the conversation gets candid fast.
Join our Patreon for weekly bonus episodes:
https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed
Send HATF your questions at [email protected]
One Stolen Password Can Take Down a Nation
Chris and Hector break down how familiar security failures continue to fuel major cyber incidents. They explore a large scale cloud worm campaign, a ransomware attack that disrupted a national oil pipeline operator, and a payment processor outage that impacted businesses across the United States.
Join our Patreon for weekly bonus episodes:
https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed
Send HATF your questions at [email protected]
The Moment AI Stopped Waiting for Humans
Chris and Hector dive into the sudden rise of AI-only social networks where autonomous agents communicate, collaborate, and sometimes spiral into unexpected behavior. They explore MoltBook, the appearance of AI-driven black markets, and the real world risks of giving autonomous systems access to personal devices and data.
Join our Patreon for weekly bonus episodes:
https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed
Send HATF your questions at [email protected]
From Doorbell Cameras to Seized Crypto
Chris and Hector take on the uneasy space where privacy, technology, and law enforcement overlap. They break down how encrypted data was accessed through BitLocker recovery keys, how doorbell cameras are quietly becoming part of policing and immigration enforcement, and how an alleged insider siphoned millions in seized cryptocurrency from government controlled wallets.
Join our Patreon for weekly bonus episodes:
https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed
Send HATF your questions at [email protected]
