Hacking HumansRanked number 9 in the Top 15
N2K Networks
Show details
- Cadence
- Weekly
- Typical episode
- ~40 min
- Established
- Since 2018
- Latest episode
- Oct 22, 2026
Deception, influence, and social engineering in the world of cybercrime.
Classification
Level
IntroductorylevelLatest episodes
- To octopi, or not to octopi.Oct 22, 2026Episode length: · 41:28This 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, including a chicken update and a little Greek vocabulary. Dave explores new tools from FINRA designed to help investors research the markets, assess their vulnerability to financial fraud, and practice recognizing common scam tactics before real money is at…
- two-factor authentication (noun) [Word Notes]Oct 20, 2026Episode length: · 9:07Please enjoy this encore of Word Notes. An authentication process that requires two different factors before granting access. CyberWire Glossary link:
- Buy, buy, bye.Oct 15, 2026Episode length: · 51:32This week, N2K CyberWire hosts Maria Varmazis and Joe Carrigan are joined by Kieran Human from ThreatLocker 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 enforcement rules, coinciding with a sharp increase in scams…
- iCloud keychain (noun) [Word Notes]Oct 13, 2026Episode length: · 6:28Please enjoy this encore of Word Notes. A cloud based sensitive information management system that allows users access across multiple devices. CyberWire Glossary link:
- No such thing as a free parking spot.Oct 8, 2026Episode length: · 1:00:40This 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 by 2001: A Space Odyssey and an experiment with AI. Joe covers a New York…
- Loose lips sink AI ships. [OMITB]Oct 6, 2026Episode length: · 46:35Welcome 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 Bittner and Keith Mularski, former FBI cybercrime investigator and now Chief Global Ambassador at Qintel. Being a security…
- spam (noun) [Word Notes]Oct 6, 2026Episode length: · 7:49Please enjoy this encore of Word Notes. Unsolicited, unwanted, and sometimes malicious electronic messages indiscriminately transmitted to a large number of people. CyberWire Glossary link:
- App-arently it's legit.Oct 1, 2026Episode length: · 43:25This 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 compromise, where scammers use AI-assisted messages, fake invoices, and fabricated email…
- CISA (noun) [Word Notes]Sep 29, 2026Episode length: · 7:28Please 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:
- 404: scam not found.Sep 24, 2026Episode length: · 50:28This 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 move stocks and retirement assets into fraudulent brokerage accounts without the…
- dumpster diving (noun) [Word Notes]Sep 22, 2026Episode length: · 7:08Please enjoy this encore of Word Notes. The act of searching through an organization's trash for discarded sensitive material. CyberWire Glossary link:
- Scamazon prime.Sep 17, 2026Episode length: · 57:18This 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 marketplace allegedly providing services to scam centers, including money…
- SEO poisoning (noun) [Word Notes]Sep 15, 2026Episode length: · 6:19Please enjoy this encore of Word Notes. The manipulation of search engine optimization, SEO, to promote malicious sites in search engine results. CyberWire Glossary link:
- Love, lies, and a fake 49er.Sep 10, 2026Episode length: · 53:07This 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 how victims are often targeted a second time by recovery scammers after losing money…
- catfish (noun) [Word Notes]Sep 8, 2026Episode length: · 7:03Please enjoy this encore of Word Notes. The practice of crafting a fake online persona for malicious purposes. CyberWire Glossary link:
- Hackers gonna hack back. [OMITB]Sep 8, 2026Episode length: · 46:27Welcome 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 Bittner and Keith Mularski, former FBI cybercrime investigator and now Chief Global Ambassador at Qintel. Being a security…
- I just want to give you $25 million!Sep 3, 2026Episode length: · 44:17This 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! Maria covers a pair of MyChart scams that use fake medical results and bogus Medicare…
- passkey (noun) [Word Notes]Sep 1, 2026Episode length: · 7:28Please enjoy this encore of Word Notes. A passwordless authentication protocol based on the FIDO2 standard. CyberWire Glossary link:
- 400 episodes and we still have trust issues.Aug 27, 2026Episode length: · 57:51This 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 you for being part of 400 episodes of Hacking Humans. We’re glad you’re here to celebrate…
- Objection! That's a scam.Aug 20, 2026Episode length: · 59:13This 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 WhatsApp's new on-device scam detection feature and whether it can…
- attribution (noun) [Word Notes]Aug 18, 2026Episode length: · 11:34Please 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:
- A golden opportunity...for fraud.Aug 13, 2026Episode length: · 49:46This 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 in Africa as scammers use increasingly sophisticated digital tools to…
- spearphishing (noun) [Word Notes]Aug 11, 2026Episode length: · 9:20Please enjoy this encore of Word Notes. A type of cyber attack where an attacker sends a targeted and personalized email or other form of communication to a specific individual or a small group of individuals with the intention of tricking them into divulging sensitive information, such as a password, or convincing them to click a malicious link that will enable the attacker to take control of the victim's machine. CyberWire Glossary link:
- Cosmic brownie crimes.Aug 6, 2026Episode length: · 51:23This 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 after a listener asks Joe to finally reveal the backpack that's become a recurring character on the show—and whether it's really as airport-infeding as everyone says. Joe covers Myanmar's approval of the death penalty for convicted scammers and shares a…
- resiliency (noun) [Word Notes]Aug 4, 2026Episode length: · 9:15Please enjoy this encore of Word Notes. The ability to continuously deliver the intended outcome despite adverse cyber events. CyberWire Glossary link:
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