Free Daily Podcast Summary
Hacking Humans: Daily Summaries Delivered
by N2K Networks
Deception, influence, and social engineering in the world of cyber crime.
Latest Episodes
The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- Yesterday43 min
Hearing Is no longer believing.
This week, hosts of N2K CyberWire Maria Varmazis and Dave Bittner alongside Joe Carrigan are discussing the latest in social engineering scams, phishing schemes, and criminal exploits that are making headlines. They’re also joined by special guest Kieran Human, Lead Cybersecurity Engineer at ThreatLocker . Dave’s story is on an FBI warning that the Silent Ransom Group is escalating its extortion tactics by combining phishing and fake IT support calls with in-person visits, where attackers may physically enter offices to plug malicious devices into company computers. Joe’s story is on a listener-submitted case from Australia where attackers used a phishing email to silently install legitimate remote-access software, hijack a dental practice’s email system, and launch a large-scale phishing campaign that bypassed many traditional security controls. Maria’s story is on a California mother who lost $5,000 after scammers used what appeared to be her daughter’s voice in a fake kidnapping call, highlighting the growing threat of AI-powered voice cloning scams. Our Catch of the Day comes from a text scam that took an unexpected turn when the recipient fired back with a response the scammer definitely wasn't prepared for. Resources and links to stories: FBI warns of in-person data theft attacks from extortion gang California Mom Loses More Than $5,000 in Voice Scam After Receiving Fake Call from Her Daughter Alleging She Was Kidnapped Have a Catch of the Day you'd like to share? Email it to us at hackinghumans@n2k.com.
- 3 days ago6 min
GDPR (noun) [Word Notes]
A data privacy legal framework that applies to all countries in the European Union, regulating the transmission, storage, and use of personal data associated with residents of the EU. CyberWire Glossary link: https://thecyberwire.com/glossary/general-data-protection-regulation Audio reference link: “Mr. Robot Predicts JPM Coin!” YouTube, YouTube, 14 Feb. 2019, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ee-cHbCI0s.
- 3 days ago46 min
Trusting the wrong package. [Only Malware in the Building]
Welcome in! You’ve entered, Only Malware in the Building. Join us each month to sip tea and solve mysteries about today’s most interesting threats. Your host is Selena Larson, Proofpoint intelligence analyst and host of their podcast DISCARDED. Inspired by the residents of a building in New York’s exclusive upper west side, Selena is joined by her co-hosts N2K Networks Dave Bittner and Keith Mularski, former FBI cybercrime investigator and now Chief Global Ambassador at Qintel. Being a security researcher is a bit like being a detective: you gather clues, analyze the evidence, and consult the experts to solve the cyber puzzle. This week, our hosts dive into the evolving threat of software supply chain attacks and the growing risks facing the open-source ecosystem. As developers increasingly rely on third-party packages and AI-powered coding tools, attackers are finding new ways to abuse trusted software to reach a wider range of targets. The discussion explores why these attacks are becoming more common, what recent incidents reveal about the state of software security, and what organizations can do to better protect themselves. Sources: Shai-Hulud worm returns stronger and more automated than ever before ‘Mini Shai-Hulud’ malware compromises hundreds of open-source packages in sprawling supply-chain attack What We Learned: Axios NPM Supply Chain Compromise Emergency Briefing Your AI Gateway Was a Backdoor: Inside the LiteLLM Supply Chain Compromise
- 1 weeks ago46 min
Graduation day grifts
This week, hosts of N2K CyberWire Maria Varmazis and Dave Bittner alongside Joe Carrigan are discussing the latest in social engineering scams, phishing schemes, and criminal exploits that are making headlines. We start with some follow up on Joe’s rental scam story, as listener Ben suggests the scammers may go the extra mile because they could keep collecting rent for months before anyone realizes the property was never theirs to rent out. Also, another listener writes in with some “Chook Psychology 101." Maria’s story is on scammers targeting recent college graduates with fake student loan relief offers, job scams, and rental listings designed to steal personal information, deposits, and money through high-pressure tactics. Joe’s story is on Congress pressuring major telecom companies to do more to stop the flood of scam calls and texts still reaching Americans despite billions already being blocked every year. Dave’s story is on Android 17 adding new protections aimed at stopping banking scams, including stronger privacy controls and defenses against malicious calls during sensitive actions. Our Catch of the Day is on a text scam where scammers use scare tactics by sending fake messages about court dates and legal trouble. Resources and links to stories: BBB warns of scams targeting new graduates Congressional committee asks telecoms to do more to prevent scams as losses surge Android 17 to expand banking scam call and privacy protections Have a Catch of the Day you'd like to share? Email it to us at hackinghumans@n2k.com.
- 1 weeks ago8 min
ChatGPT (noun) [Word Notes]
Please enjoy this encore of Word Notes. A conversational language model developed by the company OpenAI. CyberWire Glossary link: https://thecyberwire.com/glossary/chatgpt Audio reference link: jeongphill. “Movie - Her, First Meet OS1 (Operation System One, Os One, OS1).” YouTube, YouTube, 29 June 2014, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GV01B5kVsC0.
- 2 weeks ago43 min
The friendly skies aren’t friendly.
This week, hosts of N2K CyberWire Maria Varmazis and Dave Bittner alongside Joe Carrigan are discussing the latest in social engineering scams, phishing schemes, and criminal exploits that are making headlines. We start with some follow up on a phishing scam targeting people tied to Japan’s pension system, with listener Don Roley warning that martial arts communities connected to Japan may also be in scammers’ sights. Joe’s story is on two scams that actually ended well, including a Baltimore man who avoided losing millions in a sweepstakes scam thanks to help from local reporters and law enforcement. Dave’s got the story of a retired engineer who lost thousands after calling a fake airline support number he found through a Google search while trying to rebook a Lufthansa flight. Maria’s story is on suspicious “child safety kits” sent home through schools that collect deeply personal information from parents while quietly serving as lead generation for life insurance sales. From the scams subreddit comes today’s Catch of the Day, where a scammer trying to score a quick fifty bucks was met instead with a barrage of old-timey biblical insults, eventually spiraling into rage messages. Resources and links to stories: Springfield Child Safety Kits determined not to be a scam Sweepstakes scam targets Baltimore-area man who was promised $9.4 million and a Mercedes-Benz Scam of elderly man goes so well, con artists strike again. But their timing is horrible Hearken, brethren! Behold how I did smite a worker of iniquity with the Word, and brought him unto great wrath. Have a Catch of the Day you'd like to share? Email it to us at hackinghumans@n2k.com.
- 2 weeks ago5 min
Man-in-the-Middle (noun) [Word Notes]
A cyber attack technique where adversaries intercept communications between two parties in order to collect useful information or to sabotage or corrupt the communication in some manner. CyberWire Glossary link: https://thecyberwire.com/glossary/man-in-the-middle-attack
- 3 weeks ago51 min
My relationship status is “compromised.”
This week, hosts of N2K CyberWire Maria Varmazis and Dave Bittner alongside Joe Carrigan are discussing the latest in social engineering scams, phishing schemes, and criminal exploits that are making headlines. Joe once again shares tales from his "stupid" chickens. Dave has the story on how sugar baby scams are evolving into broader cyber threats involving fake identities, financial fraud, and account compromise. Maria's got the story on a Michigan business owner whose hacked Facebook account was drained, banned, and effectively locked away by automated moderation systems. Joe has the story on a Virginia family who narrowly avoided a Facebook Marketplace rental scam after a fake landlord asked them to wire money for a home they didn’t own. Our catch of the day comes from Reddit, where a scammer was this close too fooling, not really. Resources and links to stories: Sugar Baby Scams: How to Spot and Avoid Them Hacked, robbed, then banned: Canton Township business owner’s meta AI nightmare Mother falls for apparent social media-based real estate scam So Close Have a Catch of the Day you'd like to share? Email it to us at hackinghumans@n2k.com.
Get Hacking Humans summaries in your inbox
Free AI-powered daily recaps. Key takeaways, quotes, and mentions — in a 5-minute read.
Get Free Summaries →Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.
You Might Also Like
Listeners also like.
Hacked
Stories of hacking, tech scams, and digital chaos involving AI, crypto, and internet grifters.
The Dark Web Diaries
Explores cybersecurity topics, hacker motivations, and weekly cyber news in an accessible way.
Cyber Hack
A true-crime podcast examining notorious cybercriminal groups and their global hacking sprees, from bank heists to ransomware attacks.
dot com: The Hacking
A journalist investigates the rise of cyberattacks in the post-Cold War era, exploring who is behind them and their global impact.
Cyberside Chats: Cybersecurity Insights from the Experts
Cybersecurity experts discuss emerging threats, defense strategies, and AI's role in protecting organizations.
Darknet Diaries
True stories of hacking, cybercrime, and data breaches from the dark side of the Internet.
Cyber Leaders
Explores cybersecurity trends and strategies through expert insights to help leaders navigate digital threats.
Security Now (Audio)
A weekly deep dive into cybersecurity threats, hacking trends, and practical defense strategies for individuals and businesses.
Daily Cyber Security News
Daily updates on the latest cybersecurity news.
PRETEND
Investigates real-life cons and scams, exploring the psychology of deception and manipulation behind fraud.
Everything Is Fake
Explores how fakery in modern life is often rewarded and why people remain indifferent to it.
The Neuron: AI Explained
A weekly deep dive into artificial intelligence, breaking down complex developments and research into clear, accessible insights.
About Hacking Humans
Deception, influence, and social engineering in the world of cyber crime.
Customized Recaps
AI-powered recaps with compact key takeaways, quotes, and insights.
Straight to Your Inbox
Get key takeaways from Hacking Humans in a 5-minute read.
Save Hours Every Week
Stay current on your favorite podcasts without falling behind.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Podzilla's Hacking Humans daily summary?
It's a free AI-powered email that summarizes new episodes of Hacking Humans as soon as they're published. You get the key takeaways, notable quotes, and links & mentions — all in a quick read.
How does the Hacking Humans podcast summary work?
When a new episode drops, our AI transcribes and analyzes it, then generates a personalized summary tailored to your interests and profession. It's delivered to your inbox every morning.
Is this an official Hacking Humans product?
No. Podzilla is an independent service that summarizes publicly available podcast content. We're not affiliated with or endorsed by N2K Networks.
Can I get summaries of other podcasts too?
Absolutely! The free plan covers up to 3 podcasts. Upgrade to Pro for 15, or Premium for 50. Browse our full catalog at /podcasts.
How often does Hacking Humans release new episodes?
Hacking Humans publishes every few days. Our AI generates a summary within hours of each new episode.
What topics does Hacking Humans cover?
Hacking Humans covers topics including News, Technology. Our AI identifies the specific themes in each episode and highlights what matters most to you.
Start getting Hacking Humans summaries tomorrow morning.
Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.
Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.