Risky Business Cybersecurity

Tom Uren and Amberleigh Jack talk about new research that shows the Chinese-made DeepSeek-R1 AI model produces insecure code when prompts include topics that the Chinese Communist Party dislikes. It’s interesting research, but the CCP doesn’t have a monopoly on imposing AI bias. They also discuss the complete doxxing of the Iranian cyber espionage group known as APT35 or Charming Kitten. This episode is also available on Youtube. Show notes

In this edition of Between Two Nerds Tom Uren and The Grugq talk about the differences between telcos and cloud companies. Does the nature of the business force cloud companies to be better at security? This episode is also available on Youtube. Show notes FCC looks to torch Biden-era cyber rules sparked by Salt Typhoon mess Netflix’s Chaos Monkey Brian in Pittsburgh BTN145 Ultra

Tom Uren and Amberleigh Jack talk about Anthropic’s discovery of an “AI-orchestrated” cyber espionage campaign. To Tom, it feels a research project, but it’s pretty clear it will be really useful for threat actors that aren’t focussed on specific high-priority targets. Think ransomware, Chinese intellectual property theft and North Korean hackers. But it won’t be so good for Western intelligence agencies. They also discuss Google’s legal disruption of the China-based Lighthouse phishing as a service operation. Surprisingly, it seems to be working! Finally, they talk about why the memory safe Rust language has been a triple win for Android. This episode is also available on Youtube. Show notes

In this edition of Between Two Nerds Tom Uren and The Grugq talk about the strategic “logic” of Russian wiper attacks on the Ukrainian grain sector. This episode is also available on Youtube. Show notes ESET report Soesanto and Gajos at Lawfare

Europol takes down servers behind three malware operations, the US sanctions another Burmese military group linked to scam compounds, Google backs down from mandatory Android developer registration, and Checkout-dot-com donates its ransom to cybercrime researchers instead of paying hackers. Show notes Risky Bulletin: Europol takes down Elysium, VenomRAT, and Rhadamanthys infrastructure

Tom Uren and Amberleigh Jack talk about a new Reuters’ report that reveals how Meta is knowingly raking in cash from scam advertisements. It’s around $16 billion worth, and in documents Meta calculates that it outweighs the costs of possible regulatory action. They also discuss recent state-backed supply chain attacks that have, so far, remained targeted and responsible. Finally they look at the UK’s decision to stop sharing intelligence with the US about suspected drug boats in the Caribbean. This episode is also available on Youtube. Show notes

Internal data leaks from another Chinese security firm, a US Congressional Budget Office breach has not been contained, the Cyber infosharing act likely to be extended until January, and we have a new OWASP Top 10. Show notes Risky Bulletin: Another Chinese security firm has its data leaked

In this edition of Between Two Nerds Tom Uren and The Grugq discuss how cyber criminals and even state actors are being dumb about using AI. This episode is also available on Youtube. Show notes Google’s AI Threat Tracker Script framework

Myanmar starts demolishing the KK Park scam compound, the US Congressional Budget Office gets hacked by a foreign APT, Chrome will remove risky X-S-L-T support, and scammers in Singapore will get the cane. Show notes

In this sponsored interview Casey Ellis chats to Toni de la Fuente, founder and CEO of Prowler, an open source platform for cloud security. They chat about how and why Prowler selectively applies AI to ensure it adds value rather than just because they can. Show notes

Payment service provider executives arrested over a credit card fraud ring, Meta makes a fortune showing scam ads, South Korean telco KT tried to hide a second breach and five more scammers are sentenced to death in China. Show notes Risky Bulletin: Europol arrests payment service executives for role in credit card fraud ring

Tom Uren and Amberleigh Jack talk about aggressive US cyber operations targeting the Venezuelan government in President Trump’s first term. These were narrowly successful in that they achieved their immediate operational goals, but they didn’t achieve Trump’s broader policy goal of ousting Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. They also talk about why the adtech ecosystem is a national security problem all round the world and how cybercriminals are collaborating with organised crime to steal cargo from logistics companies. This episode is also available on Youtube. Show notes

The US indicts two cybersecurity employees over ransomware attacks, hackers extort customers of South Korean massage parlors, another crypto firm gets hacked for $128 million dollars, and cargo thieves collab with hackers to target freight companies. Show notes Risky Bulletin: US indicts two rogue cybersecurity employees for ransomware attacks

In this edition of Between Two Nerds Tom Uren and The Grugq discuss the futility of using aggressive cyber operations to send messages between states. This episode is also available on Youtube. Show notes The Record, Volt Typhoon was not successful Sand in the gears: Sabotage in world politics by Joshua Rovner, Rory Cormac and Lennart Maschmeyer

Norway finds remote control features in its Chinese electric buses, the US CyberCorps program may saddle students with debt, Edge and Chrome get AI-based scareware blockers, and a Conti member has been extradited to the US. Show notes Risky Bulletin: Norway skittish of its Chinese electric buses

In this sponsored interview, Casey Ellis chats to Sublime Security CEO and founder, Josh Kamdjou about how Sublime is seeing a massive surge in ICS or calendar invite phishing and how the email security platform can help. Show notes

Russian police arrest the Meduza-Stealer trio, a Former L-3Harris manager pleads guilty to selling exploits to Russia, the US hacked Venezuela in 2020, and Windows 11 Administrator Protection goes live. Show notes Risky Bulletin: Russia arrests Meduza Stealer group

Tom Uren and Amberleigh Jack talk about Peter Williams, the general manager of vulnerability research firm Trenchant, who has pleaded guilty to selling exploits to the Russian 0day broker Operation Zero. It’s a terrible look, but it doesn’t mean the private sector can’t be trusted to develop exploits. They also discuss a new report’s recommendations to empower the Office of the National Cyber Director. It’s a good idea, but it won’t make up for the cuts in funding and personnel across the Trump administration’s cyber portfolio. This episode is also available on Youtube. Show notes

HackingTeam’s successor is targeting Russia and Belarus, X users must re-enroll their security keys, Chrome will put HTTP behind a warning dialogue, and 15 people are expected to plead guilty in an Italian hacking scandal. Show notes Risky Bulletin: HackingTeam successor linked to recent Chrome zero-days

In this edition of Between Two Nerds Tom Uren and The Grugq dissect a recent Chinese CERT report that the NSA had hacked China’s national time keeping service. This episode is also available on Youtube. Show notes MSS Weixin post CN-CERT technical analysis Global Times on X BTN110: The NSA’s nine to five hacking campaign