Hacking Humans
Deception, influence, and social engineering in the world of cybercrime.
Episodes
October 15, 2026 • 51 mins
This week, N2K CyberWire hosts Maria Varmazis and Joe Carrigan are joined by Kieran Human while Dave Bittner is out. Together, they discuss the latest in social engineering scams, phishing schemes, and criminal exploits making headlines. We start with some follow up on Daejon Love’s story, but we’ll save that for next week. Plus, Joe has a chicken update. Maria explores reporting that TikTok relaxed its advertising enfo...
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October 13, 2026 • 6 mins
Please enjoy this encore of Word Notes.
A cloud based sensitive information management system that allows users access across multiple devices.
CyberWire Glossary link: https://thecyberwire.com/glossary/icloud-keychain
Audio reference link: Ellen’s Tips For iOS, 2022. How To Master iCloud Keychain to Keep Your Passwords Safe and Secure [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tl3E29iUvgE
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October 8, 2026 • 60 mins
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 from Maria on ACATS fraud, including a reminder that protecting your accounts starts with the basics: strong passwords and multifactor authentication. Joe also has a follow-up inspired ...
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October 6, 2026 • 7 mins
Please enjoy this encore of Word Notes.
Unsolicited, unwanted, and sometimes malicious electronic messages indiscriminately transmitted to a large number of people.
CyberWire Glossary link: https://thecyberwire.com/glossary/spam
Audio reference link: zumpzump, 2007. Monty Python - Spam [Video]. YouTube. URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anwy2MPT5RE.
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October 6, 2026 • 46 mins
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 Bittn...
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October 1, 2026 • 43 mins
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 from Crowchild Bob, who questions Joe’s math from the Xinbi story—and Joe has an explanation for that billion-dollar mix-up. Dave covers a new twist on business email compro...
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September 29, 2026 • 7 mins
Please enjoy this encore of Word Notes.
A US Department of Homeland Security agency tasked with supporting cyber and physical security for US critical infrastructure.
CyberWire Glossary link: https://thecyberwire.com/glossary/cybersecurity-and-infrastructure-security-agency
Audio reference link: CISA, 2021. CISA Director Jen Easterly’s Keynote at Black Hat USA 2021 [Video]. YouTube. URL ...
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September 24, 2026 • 50 mins
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 from Robert, who wonders why he’s never received a scam call in nearly 20 years of having the same Swedish phone number. Maria covers ACATS fraud, a little-known scam that can mo...
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September 22, 2026 • 7 mins
Please enjoy this encore of Word Notes.
The act of searching through an organization's trash for discarded sensitive material.
CyberWire Glossary link: https://thecyberwire.com/glossary/dumpster-diving
Audio reference link: “Better Call Saul jimmy digs in the Sandpiper trash scene,” uploaded by Robert Bowersock, 18 September 2022.
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September 17, 2026 • 57 mins
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 from Gordy, who has questions about a fairground contest collecting personal information, plus an update on Joe’s backpack. Joe covers the takedown of Xinbi Guarantee, an illicit ...
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September 15, 2026 • 6 mins
Please enjoy this encore of Word Notes.
The manipulation of search engine optimization, SEO, to promote malicious sites in search engine results.
CyberWire Glossary link: https://thecyberwire.com/glossary/search-engine-optimization-poisoning
Audio reference link: Brown, B.E., 2021. The Ending Of The Waldo Moment Explained [Video]. YouTube. URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsWja44-EMg.
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September 10, 2026 • 53 mins
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, which apparently looks amazing—and we may even get a little into the mechanics behind it. Dave looks at the growing scam crisis in the U.S., including...
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September 8, 2026 • 46 mins
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 Bittn...
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September 8, 2026 • 7 mins
Please enjoy this encore of Word Notes.
The practice of crafting a fake online persona for malicious purposes.
CyberWire Glossary link: https://thecyberwire.com/glossary/catfish
Audio reference link: netbunny, 2013. Catfish - The Movie - Ending Scene [Movie Scene]. YouTube. URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qR_NIN6zy0U
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September 3, 2026 • 44 mins
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 from Anne, who writes in to share how much she enjoys the show, how she used the “Shields Up” message with her coworkers, and—most importantly another chicken update! ...
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September 1, 2026 • 7 mins
Please enjoy this encore of Word Notes.
A passwordless authentication protocol based on the FIDO2 standard.
CyberWire Glossary link: https://thecyberwire.com/glossary/passkey
Audio reference link: Summers, J., 2023. Google Passkeys Have Arrived (here’s how to use them) [All Things Secured Channel]. YouTube. URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFO7JgUx-bU.
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August 27, 2026 • 57 mins
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 y...
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August 20, 2026 • 59 mins
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 What...
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August 18, 2026 • 11 mins
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=...
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August 13, 2026 • 49 mins
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 ...
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