Podcast
Hacker And The Fed
Hosted by Chris Tarbell & Hector Monsegur · EN
Former FBI Special Agent, Chris Tarbell, and ex-Anonymous/LulzSec blackhat hacker turned network penetration tester, Hector Monsegur (aka Sabu), once faced off as adversaries in cyberspace before becoming close friends and now podcast co-hosts. Whether you are a legal professional, cybersecurity practitioner, or forensic investigator, Chris and Hector will bring you their unique perspectives on the latest developments in cybersecurity.
60episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Hackers Are Using Fake LinkedIn Jobs to Break Into Companies
1w ago00:58:13Summary readyChris and Hector break down a fake LinkedIn recruiting campaign used to deploy malware, AI-generated evidence appearing in criminal investigations, Meta’s internal AI turmoil, and the escalating battle between tech giants fighting for dominance in the global AI race. They explore how AI is reshaping cybersecurity, privacy, and the future of trust online. Join our Patreon for weekly bonus episodes: https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed Send HATF your questions at questions@hackerandthefed.com
SummaryYour Smart TV Might Be Part of a Botnet
2w ago00:44:50Summary readyChris and Hector break down a shocking discovery involving smart TVs being used as residential proxy nodes, a major Meta AI support failure that enabled widespread Instagram account takeovers, and new AI systems uncovering decades-old software vulnerabilities. They also discuss AI security guardrails, consumer privacy, and the growing risks of convenience-driven technology. Join our Patreon for weekly bonus episodes: https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed Send HATF your questions at questions@hackerandthefed.com
SummaryA Single Email Took Down a Major Food Supplier
3w ago00:45:27Summary readyChris and Hector break down a phishing attack that exposed employee data at a major food supplier, Microsoft's escalating fight with a security researcher publishing zero days, and the eye watering cost of enterprise AI adoption. They also discuss insider trading on prediction markets, the takedown of a massive DDoS botnet, and why basic security failures continue to create outsized consequences. Join our Patreon for weekly bonus episodes: https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed Send HATF your questions at questions@hackerandthefed.com
SummaryTexas Just Declared War on WhatsApp
4w ago01:12:01Summary readyChris and Hector break down Texas suing WhatsApp over encryption claims, a law enforcement operation targeting a ransomware linked VPN provider, and a bizarre hack involving FBI Director Kash Patel’s apparel website. They also dive into the nonstop wave of AI driven supply chain attacks, fake OnlyFans breach panic, and how online scams continue turning ordinary people into criminal defendants. Join our Patreon for weekly bonus episodes: https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed Send HATF your questions at questions@hackerandthefed.com
SummaryMicrosoft Has a Bigger Security Problem Than Anyone Admits
May 2100:53:19Summary readyChris and Hector break down a major ransomware attack on Foxconn, the growing strain AI data centers are putting on power grids, and new allegations surrounding Microsoft security and cloud infrastructure. They also discuss insider threats, ransomware leaks, BitLocker concerns, and why cybersecurity vendors continue to overwhelm the industry with noise instead of solutions. Join our Patreon for weekly bonus episodes: https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed Send HATF your questions at questions@hackerandthefed.com
SummaryThe Student Hack That Crashed Bitcoin
May 1400:49:48Summary readyChris and Hector break down a massive cyberattack affecting thousands of schools during finals week, Russia’s reported hacker training pipeline through universities, and the growing wave of developer focused supply chain attacks. They also discuss North Korean laptop farms, SIM swap scams tied to Bitcoin manipulation, and why online privacy continues to disappear. Join our Patreon for weekly bonus episodes: https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed Send HATF your questions at questions@hackerandthefed.com
SummaryAI Deleted the Entire Database in 9 Seconds
May 700:51:31Summary readyChris and Hector break down a series of AI and cybersecurity failures, including an autonomous coding agent that deleted an entire production database, a breach exposing voice and biometric data from 40,000 AI contractors, and major GitHub and supply chain vulnerabilities. They also discuss the growing risks of AI decision making, deepfakes, and why basic security failures continue to spiral into massive incidents. Join our Patreon for weekly bonus episodes: https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed Send HATF your questions at questions@hackerandthefed.com
SummaryThe Crypto Hacks Funding North Korea
Apr 3000:47:02Summary readyChris and Hector break down a wild mix of cyber stories, including a U.S. soldier charged for betting on a classified military operation, ongoing North Korean crypto theft campaigns, and major security failures across APIs and SaaS platforms. They explore how insider threats, poor security practices, and repeated mistakes continue to drive massive breaches and real world consequences. Join our Patreon for weekly bonus episodes: https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed Send HATF your questions at questions@hackerandthefed.com
SummaryEurope Is Quietly Preparing for a Tech War
Apr 2300:51:13Summary readyChris and Hector break down a week of cybersecurity stories, from Europe’s push to move away from U.S. tech to supply chain attacks, insider threats, and SaaS compromises. They dig into why modern security tools still fail, how attackers exploit trust in third party systems, and why some breaches matter far less than headlines suggest. Join our Patreon for weekly bonus episodes: https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed Send HATF your questions at questions@hackerandthefed.com
SummaryThe Origin Story
Apr 1601:00:55Summary readyIn this episode, Chris and Hector revisit their origin story, from the investigation that led to Sabu’s identity to the night the FBI showed up at his door. They walk through the arrest, the decision to cooperate, and the months spent working side by side to dismantle major hacking operations. It is a firsthand account of how one of the most infamous hackers became an informant and how that unlikely partnership shaped both of their lives. Join our Patreon for weekly bonus episodes: https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed Send HATF your questions at questions@hackerandthefed.com
Summary