Topic: Hacker

ABC News reports that hackers linked to Chinese intelligence breached the phone of Donald Trump's attorney, Todd Blanche. The breach allegedly allowed the recording of calls and the theft of text messages. The discussion questions the attribution of the hack, noting that sophisticated actors can easily spoof origins and phone numbers.

A Washington Post report details how Chinese military hackers gained access to two dozen American infrastructure facilities, including a water utility in Hawaii and a West Coast port. National security officials warn that these breaches are intended to cause societal panic and chaos rather than immediate military disruption.

Australian researchers identified a massive pro-Ukraine bot army that emerged immediately following the Russian invasion, accounting for over 90% of related tweets. The report highlights the sophisticated hacking and "black hat" capabilities of both Ukrainian and Russian software developers. This prevalence of state-sponsored or organized bot activity is cited as a primary reason for Musk's push toward user authentication.

The show concludes with a recording of a mysterious "moaning" sound heard over the intercom of an American Airlines flight, which the crew was unable to stop. The hosts speculate it was a sophisticated hack. The episode ends with a "Robot Doobie-Doobie" mix featuring clips of Joe Biden, Donald Trump, and various COVID-era news soundbites.

Three top Democratic National Committee officials, including CEO Amy Dacey, resigned following the leak of emails showing favoritism for Hillary Clinton over Bernie Sanders. While U.S. authorities blame Russian hackers for the breach, the discussion notes that mainstream media coverage of the actual resignations has been relatively sparse compared to the focus on the hacking source.

Analysts predict the most expensive Thanksgiving on record due to record-high turkey prices and general inflation. Meanwhile, Microsoft alleges that Russian hackers are targeting the global technology supply chain, specifically cloud service providers. In the automotive sector, Ford and GM warn that part shortages and shipping delays could linger until 2023.

The SolarWinds cyberattack, attributed to Russian military hackers, reportedly compromised 18,000 government and private networks, including the U.S. Department of Justice. Microsoft President Brad Smith revealed that the intruders also stole proprietary source code. The attack exploited a routine software update in the Orion platform, allowing for nine months of undetected access to top-level communications.

The assassination of Fakhrizadeh is analyzed in the context of recent peace deals between Israel and the UAE. A host recalls a lecture from the CEO of Cloudflare regarding Iranian state-sponsored hackers, who are considered some of the most prolific in the world for distributed attacks.

The release of iOS 14 introduces new privacy notifications, such as a red light when the camera is active and alerts when apps access the clipboard. While the hosts see this as a positive step toward "Off The Grid" (OTG) status, they warn that sophisticated hackers can still bypass these indicators. They recommend using firewalls and VPNs for better security.

Corey Feldman's latest attempt to release a documentary exposing Hollywood abusers was reportedly marred by technical glitches and claims of "hackers" sabotaging the stream. The hosts compared Feldman's recurring promises to the "flying car" gimmicks of the 1970s, where inventors would periodically resurface with the same unfulfilled technology to generate money. They expressed skepticism toward Feldman's claims, noting that his list of names often only grows after the accused individuals have died.

An NPR special on the late hacker Adrian Lamo, who turned in Chelsea Manning, featured a clip of tech host Leo Laporte from "The Screen Savers." The program's framing was criticized for treating Laporte as an obscure figure from the past rather than an active leader in the podcasting industry. The segment also touched on Laporte's recent comments regarding the Green New Deal.

A report from Consumer Watchdog warns that new car models with internet-connected vital systems are vulnerable to remote hacking. Demonstrations show hackers taking control of steering and braking, leading to calls for a physical "kill switch" to disconnect vehicle computers from the internet.

A discussion on the global landscape of software development evaluates the perceived strengths of coders from different regions. Claims are made regarding the superiority of Western, Eastern European, and Israeli hackers over Chinese counterparts. The conversation references a thesis suggesting that Muslim coders often demonstrate high technical proficiency compared to other groups, while dismissing fears of Russian or North Korean cyber threats as exaggerated.

Michael Halby completes his knighthood, citing his long-term listenership since the "Daily Source Code" era. In honor of the donation, a vintage 1980s clip is played featuring John C. Dvorak describing the psychological profile of computer hackers as young, pizza-loving teenagers motivated by boredom and peer pressure.

Microsoft claimed to have foiled Russian hacking attempts targeting the U.S. Senate and conservative think tanks. The hosts analyze a cybersecurity promo featuring Debra Plunkett, formerly of the NSA, which encourages the use of encrypted messaging. They question the authenticity of the "hacking" claims, noting that many were later downgraded to simple phishing attempts.

Former White House Communications Director Hope Hicks testified to the House Intelligence Committee that one of her email accounts was hacked during the 2016 campaign. While the FBI previously warned the Trump Organization about overseas hacking attempts, the source of the Hicks leak is suspected to be within the committee. Media coverage has emphasized the "foreign hacker" narrative, implying Russian involvement without definitive proof.

The distinction between "hackers" (those who code) and "crackers" (those who penetrate systems for malicious intent) is explored, referencing Steven Levy's 1984 book *Hackers*. The hosts argue that the mainstream media has conflated the terms, often avoiding the word "cracker" due to potential racial connotations. They criticize modern news outlets for failing to use precise terminology when reporting on cybercrime.

A bizarre story involving a Russian scammer allegedly offering to return stolen NSA hacking tools in exchange for $1 million has surfaced. Reports suggest the CIA paid $100,000 as an advance, but instead of tools, the individual provided unverified "dirt" on Donald Trump. Critics argue the story makes little sense as software tools can be infinitely copied, suggesting the entire operation may have been a cover for acquiring political opposition research.

Speculation arises regarding the timing of the Hawaii alert, noting that NBC News had been filming inside the Diamond Head Crater bunker just one day prior. The discussion explores the "strategy of tension" and whether the event was a distraction or a result of North Korean hacking. Experts on CNN debate the technical redundancies of the system while the hosts question the official "wrong button" narrative.

The mix features a "Drunken Donor" sea shanty to thank contributors. It transitions into a segment about a "super secret group inside the CIA" and "Langley super hackers," followed by Donald Trump's comments on "nasty women."