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-up after a listener asks Joe to…
Podcast
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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S9 · E400 · 27 Aug 2026 · 58 min
400 episodes and we still have trust issues.
This week, we’re celebrating a pretty big milestone: 400 episodes of Hacking Humans! Along the way, we’ve shared hundreds of stories, scams, lessons, and plenty of memorable Catch of the Days—and we couldn’t have made it this far without you. To everyone who has listened, written in with a story, sent us a Catch of the Day, or simply learned to be a little more suspicious of that weird text message: thank you for being part of 400 episodes of Hacking Humans. We’re glad you’re here to celebrate with us. And now, after 400 episodes, there’s really only one thing left to do: get back to the…
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S9 · E399 · 20 Aug 2026 · 59 min
Objection! That's a scam.
This week, while Dave is out, hosts Maria Varmazis and Joe Carrigan are discussing the latest in social engineering scams, phishing schemes, and criminal exploits that are making headlines. Maria and Joe are joined by friend of the show Michele Kellerman. We start with some follow-up from Michele on efforts in the Philippines to crack down on online fraud centers and the ongoing fight against scam operations. Joe explores…
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S3 · E147 · 18 Aug 2026 · 12 min
attribution (noun) [Word Notes]
Please enjoy this encore of Word Notes. Definition one: The recognition of a set of repeatable attack patterns across the intrusion kill chain. Definition two: Determining the responsibility for offensive cyber operations. CyberWire Glossary link: https://thecyberwire.com/glossary/attribution Audio reference link: Nunnikhoven, M., 2018. Cybersecurity Basics #9 - Attack Attribution [Video]. YouTube. URL www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlyMz5jN_Vs
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S9 · E398 · 13 Aug 2026 · 50 min
A golden opportunity...for fraud.
This week, while Dave is out, hosts Maria Varmazis and Joe Carrigan are discussing the latest in social engineering scams, phishing schemes, and criminal exploits that are making headlines. Maria and Joe are joined by friend of the show Michele Kellerman. We start with some follow-up on the chicken coop, where the big news is that the chicks have officially hatched. Maria covers how AI is fueling a growing share of cybercrime in…
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S3 · E146 · 11 Aug 2026 · 9 min
spearphishing (noun) [Word Notes]
Please enjoy this encore of Word Notes. A type of cyber attack where an attacker sends a targeted and personalized email or other form of communication to a specific individual or a small group of individuals with the intention of tricking them into divulging sensitive information, such as a password, or convincing them to click a malicious link that will enable the attacker to take control of the victim's machine. CyberWire Glossary link: https://thecyberwire.com/glossary/spearphishing Audio reference link: Richardson, T., 2014. What is the difference between phishing and spear-phishing?…
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S3 · E145 · 4 Aug 2026 · 9 min
resiliency (noun) [Word Notes]
Please enjoy this encore of Word Notes. The ability to continuously deliver the intended outcome despite adverse cyber events. CyberWire Glossary link: https://thecyberwire.com/glossary/resiliency Audio reference link: Cameron, J., 1984. The Terminator [Movie]. IMDb. URL www.imdb.com/title/tt0088247/. Clip Nation, 2012. The Arnold Schwarzenegger “I’ll Be Back” Supercut [Video]. YouTube. URL www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YEG9DgRHhA. Coops, C., 2013. Terminator 2 Theme [Video]. YouTube. URL www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVZ2NShfCE8.
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S1 · E26 · 4 Aug 2026 · 50 min
Class is in session—for cybercriminals. [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…
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S9 · E396 · 30 Jul 2026 · 39 min
Nothing but the spoof.
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 chicken coop project. Dave…
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S3 · E144 · 28 Jul 2026 · 10 min
Security Operations Center (SOC) (noun) [Word Notes]
Please enjoy this encore of Word Notes. A centralized facility or team responsible for monitoring, detecting, analyzing, and responding to cybersecurity incidents within an organization. CyberWire Glossary link: https://thecyberwire.com/glossary/security-operations-center Audio reference link: AT&T Tech Channel, 2012. A tour of AT&T’s Network Operations Center (1979) [Video]. YouTube. URL www.youtube.com/watch?v=cigc3hvMyWw.
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S9 · E395 · 23 Jul 2026 · 49 min
Red flags ahead.
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 as Joe corrects the record on router…
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