Episode notes
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, a sweeping DOJ-led crackdown and rare U.S.-China cooperation that led to hundreds of arrests and the dismantling of…
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Hacking Humans
N2K Networks · Tech & Science · English
Deception, influence, and social engineering in the world of cyber crime.
More from Hacking Humans All episodes →
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S3 · E135 · 26 May 2026 · 9 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.
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S9 · E387 · 21 May 2026 · 43 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…
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S3 · E134 · 19 May 2026 · 6 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
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S9 · E386 · 14 May 2026 · 51 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…
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S3 · E133 · 12 May 2026 · 6 min
NIST (Noun)
Please enjoy this encore of Word Notes. A branch of the US Department of Commerce whose stated mission is to “promote U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness by advancing measurement science, standards, and technology in ways that enhance economic security and improve our quality of life.” CyberWire Glossary link: https://thecyberwire.com/glossary/national-institute-of-standards-and-technology Audio reference link: Center, M.I., 2022. 2022 Meridian Summit: Cultivating Trust in Technology with NIST Director Laurie Locascio [WWW Document]. YouTube. URL…
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S3 · E132 · 5 May 2026 · 7 min
CIRT (noun) [Word Notes]
Please enjoy this encore of Word Notes. A team responsible for responding to and managing cybersecurity incidents involving computer systems and networks in order to minimize the damage and to restore normal operations as quickly as possible. CyberWire Glossary link: https://thecyberwire.com/glossary/cirt Audio reference link: Avery, B., 2017. 24 TV May 05 Season4 [WWW Document]. YouTube. URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gq_2xPuqI-E&list=PLGHedLavrFoGsea1ZCHBm9-nK5FdM3_Kd&index=10.
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S1 · E23 · 5 May 2026 · 45 min
Mythbehavior under investigation. [OMITB]
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…
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S8 · E384 · 30 Apr 2026 · 56 min
A game of loans.
This week, while Maria is on vacation, Dave Bittner and Joe Carrigan are joined by Michele Kellerman as they discuss the latest in social engineering scams, phishing schemes, and criminal exploits that are making headlines. We start with some follow up: a quick shoutout to Blood Cancer United and then we get into a listener “Chicken Chat” from Sue about handling an aggressive rooster. Joe’s got the story of how former Luther Davis allegedly teamed up with a…
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S3 · E131 · 28 Apr 2026 · 5 min
PUP (noun) [Word Notes]
Please enjoy this encore of Word Notes. A software program installed unintentionally by a user that typically performs tasks not asked for by the installer. CyberWire Glossary link: https://thecyberwire.com/glossary/potentially-unwanted-program Audio reference link: Butler, S., 2022. Potentially Unwanted Programs (PUPS) EXPLAINED [Video]. YouTube. URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5L429Iahbww (accessed 1.6.23).
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S8 · E383 · 23 Apr 2026 · 52 min
SLAM, scam, thank you ma’am.
This week, while Maria is on vacation, Dave Bittner and Joe Carrigan are joined by Michele Kellerman as they discuss the latest in social engineering scams, phishing schemes, and criminal exploits that are making headlines. Dave brings us a lively follow-up from his recent theater outing the conversation circles back to chicken talk. Michele also highlights the work of Blood Cancer United sharing insight into their mission and impact. Dave’s story is on the SLAM…
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