Best Botnet Podcasts (2025)

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Ho-Ho-Hold Up—Is That Message Real? Bad Santas Are Sending Seasonal Scams 33:54

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17d ago33:54

33:54

Send us fan mail! Happy Holidays to all our Cyber Pals! Host Selena Larson, and co-guest ho-ho-ho hosts, Tim Kromphardt & Sarah Sabotka unwrap the surprising (and sometimes clever) ways cybercriminals use seasonal themes to trick both consumers and enterprises. From fake party invites and too-good-to-be-true discounts to holiday-flavored malware an…

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From Toasters to Botnets: Securing Everyday IoT 37:40

1M ago37:40

37:40

Send us fan mail! Hello to all our Cyber Squirrels! Host Selena Larson, and guest host, Tim Kromphardt sit down with Tony Robinson — Senior Security Research Engineer and “rule magician” from Proofpoint’s Emerging Threats team. Tony shares the story behind IoT Hunter, an open-source tool he created to automate writing detection rules for Internet o…

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Episode 214 - Bitcoin's Relevance, Cybersecurity's Future in Private Sector, and Innovation Outpacing Adoption 30:51

1M ago30:51

30:51

Topic 1: Is there a valid reason for Bitcoin to exist? You can now use Venmo (a subsidiary of PayPal) to pay for your tacos at Taco Bell. This is just the latest addition (see Apple Pay and Google Pay). Cash App is available indirectly as a card through Apple Pay and Google Pay. E-payments are expanding all the time. We can move money to relatives …

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Elect More Hackers: Tech Skills for Real-World Change 54:41

2M ago54:41

54:41

Send us fan mail! Hello to all our Cyber Squirrels! Can hackers make great public servants? Host Selena Larson, and co-guest hosts, Sarah Sabotka and Tim Kromphardt sit down with Andrew Brandt, Founder and Executive Director of Elect More Hackers — a nonprofit on a mission to get more cybersecurity and tech-minded thinkers into elected office. Toge…

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From Web Injects to Info Stealers: How Cybercriminals Stay Ahead 1:00:53

2M ago1:00:53

1:00:53

Send us fan mail! Hello to all our Cyber Sleuths! Host Selena Larson, and guest host, Sarah Sabotka take you behind the scenes of the ever-changing world of cybercrime—where attackers innovate, scams evolve, and staying one step ahead is a constant challenge. From remote monitoring and management (RMM) abuse to adversary-in-the-middle (AiTM) phishi…

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When Being Aware of Cybersecurity Means Knowing You're Human 48:24

3M ago48:24

48:24

Send us fan mail! Hello to all our Pumpkin Spice Cyber Friends! It’s Cybersecurity Awareness Month — and what better way to kick it off than with a deep dive into the human side of cyber threats? In this episode host Selena Larson welcomes back guest and part-time co-host Sarah Sabotka, our “Cybersecurity Awareness Month Queen” and Staff Threat Res…

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Hot sauce and hot takes: An Only Malware in the Building special 34:45

3M ago34:45

34:45

Send us fan mail! Welcome in! You’ve entered, Only Malware in the Building — but this time, it’s not just another episode. This is a special edition you won’t want to miss. For the first time, our hosts are together in-studio — and they’re turning up the heat. Literally. Join ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Selena Larson⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Proofpoint⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ intelligence analyst an…

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Freighty Cats: RFQ Phishing Comes to A Warehouse Near You 35:44

4M ago35:44

35:44

Send us fan mail! Hello to all our Cyber Stars! In this episode host Selena Larson welcomes back guest and part-time co-host Tim Kromphardt, fresh from DEFCON, to explore the world of request-for-quote (RFQ) fraud—a growing scam targeting small- to medium-sized businesses with fake purchase requests and net financing schemes. Tim explains how cyber…

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Direct Send Exploitation & URL Rewrite Attacks: What Security Teams Must Know 43:05

4M ago43:05

43:05

Send us fan mail! Hello to all our Cyber Squirrels! In this extra-packed episode of Discarded, host Selena Larson welcomes Proofpoint Principal Research Engineer Jason Ford for his first appearance on the show. Together, they dive into two resurging email attack techniques—Microsoft 365 Direct Send abuse and URL rewrite abuse—and why defending agai…

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Episode 213 - AI Conspiracy Theories, GTIA's ChannelCon Insights, and US-China Chip Trade Dynamics 30:58

4M ago30:58

30:58

The episode delves into the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence (AI) and its implications for businesses, particularly in the IT sector. The hosts discuss the current state of AI, emphasizing the need for IT professionals to understand and implement AI solutions effectively. They highlight the importance of training staff on AI technologi…

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Phish, Chips & Voldemort: Inside China’s Cyber Targeting of Taiwan 42:53

5M ago42:53

42:53

Send us fan mail! Hello to all our Cyber Panda Bears! In this extra-packed episode of Discarded, host Selena Larson and guest host, Sarah Sabotka reunite with Staff Threat Researcher Mark Kelly to dive deep into China-aligned espionage activity—this time with a focus on Taiwan’s semiconductor ecosystem and the strange, stealthy tools threat actors …

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Threat Actor Theater: TA2541, TA558, and the Cyber Heist Crew TA582 37:54

5M ago37:54

37:54

Send us fan mail! Hello to all our cyber pals! In this episode of Discarded, host Selena Larson and co-host, Tim Kromphardt, are joined by Joe Wise, Senior Threat Researcher at Proofpoint for a deep dive into the chaotic brilliance of mid-tier eCrime actors—including the elusive TA582. We explore recent activity from TA2541 and TA558—two groups kno…

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10 Things I Hate About Attribution: A Clustering Conundrum 56:24

5M ago56:24

56:24

Send us fan mail! Hello to all our cyber detectives and pedantic CTI friends! In this episode of Discarded, host Selena Larson is joined by Greg Lesnewich, Staff Threat Researcher at Proofpoint for a behind-the-scenes look at one of the most frustratingly fascinating attribution cases yet. What begins as a lighthearted rant: “10 Things I Hate About…

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Comic Sans and Cybercrime: Inside North Korea’s Global Cyber Playbook 52:49

6M ago52:49

52:49

Send us fan mail! Hello to all our Cyber Pals! In this episode of Discarded, host Selena Larson and co-host Sara Sabotka are joined by Saher Naumaan and Greg Lesnewich, teammates on the espionage threat research team at Proofpoint to unravel the multifaceted—and often bizarre—world of North Korean cyber operations. The team explores: What sets DPRK…

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Signatures and Surprises: Inside the Emerging Threats Team 43:55

6M ago43:55

43:55

Send us fan mail! Hello to all our Cyber Masked Vigilantes! In this episode of Discarded, host Selena Larson and co-host Tim Kromhardt are joined by James Emery-Callcott, a Security Researcher on Proofpoint’s Emerging Threats team, for an insider’s look at the technical, tactical, and collaborative forces shaping modern network detection. James tak…

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DBIR Deep Dive: Identity, Access, and the Expanding Attack Surface 51:41

7M ago51:41

51:41

Send us fan mail! Hello to all our Cyber Stars! Join host Selena Larson, and guest host, Sarah Sabotka, as they sit down with Alex Pinto, Associate Director of Threat Intelligence at Verizon Business and the lead author behind the industry-defining Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report (DBIR). Together, they unpack the most pressing findings fr…

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Episode 212 - CISA updates, taxing IT professionals, and standing by generative AI 32:13

7M ago32:13

32:13

Welcome to Episode 212 At 212 degrees fahrenheit, water becomes steam. At 211 it’s hot. At 212 you can move a locomotive or make electricity. We are happy to bring you episode 212 of the Killing IT Podcast! Please share this podcast on Apple, iHeart, or wherever you listen. Sponsored by… The Small Biz Thoughts Technology Community. The best deal in…

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The ClickFix Convergence: How Threat Actors Blur the Lines 35:49

8M ago35:49

35:49

Send us fan mail! Hello to all our Cyber Spring Chickens! Join host Selena Larson, and guest host, Sarah Sabotka, as they chat with Saher Naumaan, Senior Threat Researcher at Proofpoint, for a deep dive into how modern espionage and cybercrime are increasingly blurring lines. At the center of the conversation is ClickFix—a fast-evolving social engi…

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The Art of the Innocent Ask: How Threat Actors Use Benign Conversations 58:09

8M ago58:09

58:09

Send us fan mail! Hello to all our Cyber Spring Chickens! Join host Selena Larson and guest hosts, Tim Kromphardt and Sarah Sabotka, both Senior Threat Researchers at Proofpoint. These top sleuths crack open Proofpoint’s new Human Factor series and explore one of the most deceptively dangerous tactics in a threat actor’s playbook: the benign conver…

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Diving Into Cyber Journalism: FOIA, Fraud, and the Fight Against Online Threats 46:35

9M ago46:35

46:35

Send us fan mail! Hello to all our Cyber Cherry Blossoms! Join host Selena Larson and guest host, Tim Kromphardt, a Senior Threat Researcher, as they chat with Andrew Couts, Senior Editor, Security and Investigations at WIRED. Andrew shares insights into his work overseeing cybersecurity coverage and investigative reporting, collaborating with news…

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HN59 - Microsoft AI Discovers 20 Zero-Day Vulnerabilities in Bootloaders! 19:22

9M ago19:22

19:22

# Title * HN59 - Microsoft AI Discovers 20 Zero-Day Vulnerabilities in Bootloaders! ## Description 🔍 Microsoft's AI Uncovers 20 Zero-Day Threats | CoffeeLoader Malware Gets Smarter In this episode of Exploit Brokers, Cipherceval dives into how Microsoft Security Copilot, powered by AI, discovered over 20 previously unknown vulnerabilities in popula…

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RMM Tools: The New Cybercrime Trick? 37:38

9M ago37:38

37:38

Send us fan mail! Hello to all our Remote Cyber Pals! Join host Selena Larson and guest host, Tim Kromphardt, a Senior Threat Researcher, as they chat with Staff Threat Researcher, Ole Villadsen, from Proofpoint. They explore the broader shift from traditional malware to commercially available tools that fly under the radar and how cybercriminals a…

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Your Best Defense against Social Engineering: The Gray-Matter Firewall 51:06

10M ago51:06

51:06

Send us fan mail! Hello to all our Cyber Pals! Join host Selena Larson and guest hosts, Sarah Sabotka and Tim Kromphardt, both Senior Threat Researchers from Proofpoint, as they dive into the realities of current social engineering schemes —especially during high-risk times like tax season. Cybercriminals exploit fear, urgency, and excitement to ma…

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HN58 - Havoc in the Cloud: The Shocking Click Fix Exploit Revealed 24:22

10M ago24:22

24:22

Welcome to Exploit Brokers with your host Cipherceval! In this deep dive, we uncover a sophisticated cyber assault where hackers exploited Microsoft SharePoint to launch the Havoc C2 via a stealthy click fix attack. Learn how a single click can trigger malicious PowerShell commands, turning everyday corporate tools into gateways for cybercrime. In …

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HN57 - Unmasking SpyLoan: The Android Malware Preying on Loan Seekers 20:32

10M ago20:32

20:32

In this episode of Exploit Brokers, we dive into the dark world of cybercrime, exploring two alarming topics: a malicious Android loan app masquerading as a financial tool and Xerox printer vulnerabilities that could be leaking your credentials. Learn how loan sharks have moved from traditional methods to sophisticated digital predation, exploiting…

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Hiding in Plain Sight: How Defenders Get Creative with Image Detection 45:52

10M ago45:52

45:52

Send us fan mail! Hello to all our Cyber Pals! Join host Selena Larson and guest host, Sarah Sabotka, as they speak with Kyle Eaton, Senior Security Research Engineer at Proofpoint. They explore the evolving world of image-based threat detection and the deceptive tactics cybercriminals use to evade defenses. From image lures embedded in emails, PDF…

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Episode 211 - CISA, DeepSeek, and Competing with Microsoft 31:07

10M ago31:07

31:07

Topic 1: CISA Under the Microscope CISA was called out in the Project 2025 document as a left-wing organization inside the government due to their warning about election interference. It is now subject to cuts and scrutiny. In the mass firings at DHS on February 14th, 130 employees at CISA were fired as they were “probationary” employees. Many MSPs…

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HN56 - Massive Bug Puts Outlook Users at Risk | Kimsuky gets RDPWrapper 27:03

11M ago27:03

27:03

In today's episode of Exploit Brokers, we dive deep into two major security threats making waves across the digital world. A critical Remote Code Execution (RCE) vulnerability in Microsoft Outlook is putting millions of users at risk, with hackers exploiting it through spear phishing emails and malicious links. Not only that, but we're also uncover…

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HN55 - Double Zipping Danger: The 7-Zip Exploit That Could Hack Your PC 27:18

11M ago27:18

27:18

Welcome back to Exploit Brokers! In today's video, we dive deep into a critical 7‑Zip vulnerability that's being exploited by Russian cybercriminals to bypass Windows' security protections. If you've used 7‑Zip at all, you need to know how this flaw can let hackers sneak past the Mark-of-the-Web (MOTW) and deploy dangerous malware like Smoke Loader…

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Cyber Groundhog Day and romance scams, featuring Only Malware in the Building 40:48

11M ago40:48

40:48

Send us fan mail! Hey Cyber Pals! This week we are doing a very special spotlight on a recent episode from Only Malware in the Building. Our very own, Selena Larson, also co-hosts on this fabulous podcast. Be sure to check it out and enjoy! Find more OMIB: https://thecyberwire.com/podcasts/only-malware-in-the-building/9/notes —---------------------…

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HN54 - Cybersecurity Experts Reveal LAZARUS GROUP's Hidden Secrets 29:54

11M ago29:54

29:54

Lazarus Group's Secret Admin Layer EXPOSED – Major Cybersecurity Discovery! 🔥💻 Security researchers have uncovered a hidden admin layer used by North Korea's Lazarus Group to manage their Command and Control (C2) servers. This sophisticated network of VPNs and proxies allows them to execute cyberattacks worldwide—mainly targeting cryptocurrency dev…

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HN53 - AI's Dirty Little Secret: Employees Leaking Data by Accident 24:46

11M ago24:46

24:46

In this episode, we're uncovering the darker side of Generative AI and the emerging threats lurking behind everyday tools like ChatGPT and Copilot. Learn how sensitive information—ranging from customer data to employee benefits—can be leaked simply by typing it into a Gen AI prompt. We'll also expose how cybercriminals are escalating their tactics,…

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The Power of Partnerships: An Interview with the NSA’s Kristina Walter 39:30

11M ago39:30

39:30

Send us fan mail! Hello to all our Cyber Magicians! Join host Selena Larson and guest host, Joshua Miller, as they speak with Kristina Walter, the Chief of NSA’s Cybersecurity Collaboration Center. They explore the cutting-edge collaborations between the NSA and industry partners to combat cyber threats, with a deep dive into the NSA’s Cybersecurit…

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HN52 - 800K Volkswagen EVs Hacked! Massive Data Breach & Mirai Botnet Attack Explained 21:55

12M ago21:55

21:55

🔒🚗 Volkswagen's Massive 800K EV Data Breach & Mirai Botnet Threats Explained | Exploit Brokers Welcome back to Exploit Brokers! In today's episode, we dive deep into two major cybersecurity threats shaking the automotive and industrial sectors: Volkswagen's 800,000 EV Data Breach Discover how a misconfigured Amazon cloud storage led to the exposure…

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The Battle for a Safer Internet: Inside Domain Takedowns and Threat Actor Tactics 38:05

12M ago38:05

38:05

Send us fan mail! Hello to all our Cyber Magicians! Join host Selena Larson and guest host,Tim Kromphardt, as they speak with Hannah Rapetti, the Takedown Services Manager at Proofpoint. Hannah shares her fascinating journey from librarian to cybersecurity expert, detailing her path into the industry through certifications, CTFs (Capture the Flag),…

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HN51 - Chinese Hackers Breach U.S. Treasury AND 3M Fake GitHub Stars Exposed 23:16

12M ago23:16

23:16

In this episode, we dive deep into two explosive cybersecurity stories making headlines right now: a major breach at the U.S. Treasury Department allegedly carried out by Chinese state-sponsored hackers, and the discovery of over 3.1 million fake stars on GitHub used to boost malicious repositories. We'll explore how third-party vendor BeyondTrust …

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HN50 - IoT Webcams Hacked & 900k+ Health Records Exposed 25:36

1y ago25:36

25:36

In this eye-opening episode, we uncover the disturbing reality of IoT webcam vulnerabilities and explore how hackers are leveraging outdated firmware and previously discovered but unpatched exploits to infiltrate personal devices. From prying eyes in your own home to the colossal health data breach exposing over 900,000 patient records, the digital…

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Hackers, Heists, and Heroes: The Evolving Ransomware Game 57:06

1y ago57:06

57:06

Send us fan mail! Hello to all our Cyber Pals! Join host Selena Larson and guest, ransomware expert, Allan Liska, CSIRT at Recorded Future, drops by to share his creative take on cyber-themed graphic novels, proving there’s nothing ransomware can’t inspire—even superheroes. In this episode, we uncover the shadowy ecosystem driving ransomware attack…

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HN49 - Fortnite Refund Update: Millions Refunded + Lazarus Group's Crypto Hacks Revealed 23:15

1y ago23:15

23:15

We're diving into two major stories shaking up the gaming and cybersecurity worlds! First, we discuss the Fortnite Refund Update, where the FTC has forced Epic Games to refund millions due to their use of dark patterns. Find out if you're eligible for a refund and how to claim it. Then, we shift gears to the Lazarus Group, North Korea's infamous ha…

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HN48 - Hydra's Dark Web Empire CRUMBLES 21:26

1y ago21:26

21:26

Uncover the fascinating yet chilling story of Hydra Market, the dark web's largest illicit empire. Learn how this $1.35 billion platform operated, from smuggling narcotics and laundering money to offering hacking services. We'll explore how its leader was sentenced to life in prison, the innovative (and illegal) technologies they used, and the glob…

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Stealth, Scale, and Strategy: Exploring China’s Covert Network Tactics 49:28

1y ago49:28

49:28

Send us fan mail! Hello to all our Cyber Frogs! Join host Selena Larson and guest host, Sarah Sabotka, explore the evolving tactics of China-based nation-state threat actors with guest Mark Kelly, Staff Threat Researcher at Proofpoint. They focus on TA415 (APT41 or Brass Typhoon), examining its combination of cybercrime and state-sponsored espionag…

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HN47 - Andrew Tate's Platform Hacked by Activists + Russian Hackers Exploit Zero-Days 18:03

1y ago18:03

18:03

Andrew Tate's platform, formerly known as Hustler's University, has been hacked, exposing the data of over 800,000 users. Meanwhile, Russian hackers have exploited critical zero-day vulnerabilities in Firefox and Windows, demonstrating the growing sophistication of cyberattacks. In this video, we'll break down the Andrew Tate hack, the implications…

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KIT Episode Episode 210 - Robots, Industry Finance, and a Practical Approach to AI 32:15

1y ago32:15

32:15

The Q4 2024 Killing IT Podcast features what may be our last discussion of robots for a long time! Topic One - Where Are My Robots??? We’ve been talking about this for five years - So where are the robots? We have a massive personnel shortage on many fronts. AI is creating jobs faster and faster. So why haven’t robots evolved to serve us? We’re on …

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HN46 - Phobos' $16M Haul & Helldown's Secret Exploits – 2024's Ransomware Crisis 27:53

1y ago27:53

27:53

In this episode, we dive deep into the world of ransomware with two of 2024's most talked-about threats: Phobos and Helldown. Learn how the Phobos ransomware operation managed to dominate 11% of the market, generating $16 million in ransom payments, and the shocking details of its admin's extradition to the U.S. We also explore the rise of Helldown…

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Scams, Smishing, and Safety Nets: How Emerging Threats Catches Phish 51:07

1y ago51:07

51:07

Send us fan mail! Hello to all our Cyber Pals! Join host Selena Larson and guest, Genina Po, Threat Researcher at Emerging Threats at Proofpoint. She shares how she tackles emerging cyber threats, breaking down the process of turning data into detection signatures. Using tools like Suricata to create detections for malicious activity, she maps out …