12 chapters across the catalog
The Netflix series "Zero Day" stars Robert De Niro as a former U.S. President dealing with cybersecurity threats and unconventional communication methods like ham radio. The discussion touches on De Niro's controversial history with the Tribeca Film Festival, specifically his decision to pull a documentary regarding autism and vaccines. Despite his political activism, his performance in the thriller is noted for its portrayal of high-stakes government intrigue.
Credit Union Assistance, Zero Percent Loans, Media Obfuscation
Local news reports from Ohio and San Diego confirmed that credit unions were offering zero-percent interest loans to federal employees impacted by the shutdown. These institutions matched loan amounts to previous direct deposits to help workers bridge the gap. The hosts criticize national media for "subverting and obfuscating" this information in favor of "Trump hate" narratives.
The "Zero Day" water crisis in Cape Town is investigated, with reports suggesting that government sluices have been left open to irrigate farms despite the shortage. The situation is compared to California's water management issues, where water is often diverted for environmental reasons or agriculture rather than urban consumption.
Cape Town, South Africa, is facing a severe water shortage known as "Day Zero," where the city's taps may run dry due to a three-year drought. Residents are facing strict water restrictions and queuing at collection points as dam levels fall below 20%.
Leon Panetta, Zero-Day Vulnerabilities and Intelligence Oversight
Former CIA Director Leon Panetta appeared on PBS to discuss the WikiLeaks dump and the agency's hacking operations. Panetta defended the CIA's development of tools for foreign intelligence gathering while avoiding questions about why the agency hoarded "zero-day" vulnerabilities instead of sharing them with tech companies. He emphasized the balance between national security and privacy under congressional oversight.
Zero-Day Exploits, Keyloggers and Hardware Security
The hosts define zero-day exploits as unpatched software flaws used by intelligence agencies to bypass encryption and install keyloggers. They discuss a historical case of a New Zealand company producing keyboards with built-in logging hardware. This technical context is used to explain why the FBI sought Apple's help in the San Bernardino case despite having access to various hacking tools.
NSA Director Admiral Mike Rogers claimed during a Stanford talk that the agency discovered the "Heartbleed" vulnerability and shared the patch with the private sector within 24 hours. This contradicts the public narrative that Google researcher Neel Mehta discovered the bug. The hosts suggest the NSA allowed Google to take credit to maintain a "fundamentally strong internet" while hiding the agency's involvement.
Bloomberg NSA Heartbleed Report, Michael Reilly, Zero-Day Exploits
Bloomberg News reported that the NSA was aware of the Heartbleed bug for at least two years and exploited it for intelligence gathering. The NSA and the White House issued rare, flat denials, stating their policy is to disclose major vulnerabilities to the public. The hosts analyze the conflicting reports, questioning why the NSA would need such a bug given their existing surveillance capabilities.
Industrial Espionage, Zero-Day Exploit Policy
The discussion posits that the NSA's primary function is industrial espionage to benefit American corporate interests. Contrary to Applebaum's claims about a presidential advisory board, the hosts note that the government's actual policy supports the hoarding of zero-day exploits for use without court warrants. They argue that the "Huawei taint" is being applied to American companies through these leaks.
General Keith Alexander claims that current metadata programs could have prevented 9/11 by identifying hijackers calling from California. Future recommendations include licensing system administrators and allowing the NSA to launch "zero-day" attacks to protect national security, potentially increasing government control over network infrastructure.
The Department of Homeland Security's unusual public warning to uninstall or disable Java due to a zero-day threat is analyzed. The hosts speculate on the lack of technical press coverage and suggest potential involvement from intelligence agencies, given Oracle CEO Larry Ellison's long-standing ties to the CIA.
Project 333 and Microsoft's 33 Patch Message
The hosts discuss "Project 333," a minimalist fashion movement encouraging people to live with only 33 items of clothing for three months. They also highlight a Microsoft security update that patched exactly 33 holes and 3 zero-day flaws. They interpret the repeated use of the number 33 as a coded "mission accomplished" signal to intelligence agencies like the NSA.
