So you’ve discovered Darknet Diaries and now you’re staring at a back catalog that’s longer than your last relationship and infinitely more rewarding, but where the hell do you even start? With over 160 episodes of digital mayhem, corporate espionage, and “wait, someone actually fell for that?” moments, diving into Jack Rhysider’s cybersecurity storytelling empire can feel more overwhelming than trying to create a secure password that you’ll actually remember.
Fear not, fellow digital paranoia enthusiasts: I’ve done the hard work of sifting through years of hacker tales, ransomware nightmares, and social engineering masterclasses to bring you the absolute best. These episodes will have you simultaneously installing seventeen new security apps and questioning every click you’ve ever made, all while being thoroughly entertained by humanity’s endless capacity for spectacular technological face-plants.
Black Duck Eggs
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Ira Winkler focuses on building elite squads composed of former military special operations personnel and intelligence agency veterans to conduct penetration tests against corporations. In one particular narrative, Ira Winkler recounts an operation where he and his operatives successfully infiltrated a Fortune 5 corporation. The target organization was of such massive scale that any compromise of proprietary information could have generated financial losses reaching into the billions of dollars.
No Parking
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Join the journey alongside a red team operative. Follow a physical security assessor as he attempts to gain access to restricted zones, obtain confidential materials, compromise computer systems, and depart with corporate assets.
The Pirate Bay
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The Pirate Bay operates as a platform and indexing service that catalogs torrent files. While numerous copyrighted works appear listed on the platform, the site itself doesn’t house any protected content. Instead, it directs users to alternative download sources. For an extended period, The Pirate Bay has served as one of the most prominent destinations for accessing pirated films, audio recordings, software, and applications. However, this platform initially launched in 2003 and continues functioning today, nearly two decades later! One might expect authorities to have dismantled such an operation by this point. How does this major hub for protected intellectual property maintain its presence and remain accessible for such an extended duration? This episode explores the answer
NotPetya
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The NotPetya incident appears to represent the initial glimpse of digital warfare in action. During the summer of 2017, Ukraine experienced a devastating and widespread cyber assault targeting the entire nation. This episode examines how the attack unfolded, which systems were compromised, and identifies the perpetrators behind the operation.
Unit 8200
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Israel operates its equivalent to the NSA known as Unit 8200. The host became intrigued by this organization’s activities and attempted to examine its inner workings. Discover what was uncovered by following along with this episode.
FDFF / Information Monopoly
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This episode ventures deep into North Korea to explore one of history’s most significant cyber operations. The story reveals methods for infiltrating information into a nation controlled by an authoritarian government.
Xbox Underground (Part 1)
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This narrative explores the Xbox modification community and chronicles how a collective of individuals took their exploits beyond acceptable limits.
Stuxnet
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Stuxnet represented the most advanced malware ever identified. Its objective was a nuclear processing facility in Iran. This malicious code managed to successfully sabotage multiple centrifuge units. Learn about the perpetrators and their motivations.
Revenge Bytes
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Madison’s intimate photographs were published on the internet. Her twin sibling Christine arrived to provide assistance. This marks the beginning of a strange and disturbing narrative.
Shadow Brokers
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The NSA possesses highly sophisticated, classified cyber exploitation capabilities. What would occur if these confidential digital weapons were to fall into malicious actors’ possession? This scenario became reality.
Jeremy from Marketing
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A corporation employs a security assessor to impersonate a fresh employee, Jeremy from Marketing, to determine what systems he could compromise during his initial week of employment. The operation encounters unexpected complications.
Dirty Coms
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This episode features a conversation with an individual called Drew who provides an uncommon glimpse into contemporary activities of emerging hackers. Through Drew’s insights, it becomes evident that the underlying motivations for hacking have evolved over time. During the 1990s and 2000s, these activities were primarily driven by entertainment and exploration. The 2010s witnessed Anonymous demonstrating the concept of digital activism. Currently, in the 2020s, younger cybercriminals appear to be primarily motivated by financial gain.
The Pizza Problem
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What would happen if an individual desired to possess another person’s Instagram profile? Not merely manage it, but claim complete ownership. This episode recounts the narrative of how a perpetrator attempted to hijack an Instagram profile from its legitimate owner.
Daniel the Paladin
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Daniel Kelley possessed an equal balance of cunning and intelligence when working with computers. However, there came a moment when his reckless behavior surpassed his intellectual abilities.
The Beirut Bank Job
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Jayson E. Street recounts a narrative about an occasion when he infiltrated a financial institution in Beirut Lebanon.
The Spy
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Igor operates as a private detective in NYC. He frequently spends time stationed in vehicles conducting remote surveillance of targets using field glasses. Alternatively, he trails individuals through the crowded avenues of New York. This episode explores an incident when Igor was working an assignment but detected that circumstances seemed suspicious.
Ghost Exodus
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Ghost Exodus operates as a cybercriminal. He carried out multiple unlawful digital operations. Several of these activities are recorded on YouTube. He also possesses exceptional musical talent. His hacking pursuits led to legal complications. This episode presents his narrative.
Welcome to Video
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Andy Greenberg delivers a harrowing account of how law enforcement investigators employed cryptocurrency tracking methods to attempt identifying the individual operating a child exploitation darknet platform. This narrative forms part of Andy’s recent publication “Tracers in the Dark: The Global Hunt for the Crime Lords of Cryptocurrency”.
NSO
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The NSO Group develops surveillance software named Pegasus that enables unauthorized access to information stored on mobile devices. They market this surveillance technology to governmental organizations worldwide. The episode examines its applications and explores the nature of the NSO Group as an organization.
MalwareTech
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MalwareTech operated as an unidentified cybersecurity analyst, until he inadvertently halted WannaCry, among the most devastating ransomware campaigns in recorded history. That singular heroic action destroyed his concealed identity and thrust him into circumstances he had never anticipated.
Arya
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Arya Ebrahami has maintained an intimate connection with underground digital marketplaces. This episode chronicles his experiences navigating the tor network.
Zero Day Brokers
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Zero day brokers are individuals who create or distribute malicious software that’s marketed to clients who will deploy that code to compromise victims. It represents an enigmatic and secretive industry that remains largely unknown to most people. Nicole Perlroth, a cybersecurity journalist for the NY Times, immersed herself completely in this world, ultimately producing an entire publication about the subject.
Spam Botnets
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This episode chronicles the narratives of several of the globe’s most massive email spam networks. The discussion covers the networks Rustock, Waledac, and Cutwail. The episode reveals the identities of their operators, examines their goals, and explores their ultimate downfall.
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