In this episode of the Cyber Uncut podcast, Daniel Croft and David Hollingworth touch on the latest in AI news, concerning developments in the world of cyber crime, and recommendations by the Law Council of Australia regarding the next phase of the nation’s Cyber Security Strategy.

• Croft and Hollingworth begin by discussing eSafety and changes made to the Online Safety Act to ensure that young children are less vulnerable to the dangers of sexually explicit and other AI chatbots.
• The pair then discuss the dramatic increase in ransomware attacks worldwide and in Australia, as well as the Australian Cyber Security Centre’s alarm over a year-old vulnerability being exploited against Australian organisations.
• Croft and Hollingworth then discuss the ongoing Jaguar Land Rover cyber attack, with data now confirmed compromised and an impact that could last until at least next month.
• Finally, the two discuss the Law Council of Australia’s recommendations for Horizon 2 of the Australian Cyber Security Strategy, which suggest that small businesses should have their cyber security subsidised.

Enjoy the episode,
The Cyber Uncut team

In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, Phil Tarrant, Major General (Ret’d) Dr Marcus Thompson and Liam Garman unpack the escalating role of information warfare in today’s conflicts.

From the mobile phone’s transformation into a weapon to the blurred lines between propaganda and “information operations”, the team dissects how truth itself has become contested ground.

The conversation explores the challenges of navigating a “post-truth” world dominated by political tribalism, misinformation, and the weaponisation of narratives. The hosts reflect on conflicts such as Gaza, where competing lobbies and real-time social media footage shape global perceptions.

They also examine Australia’s role within the Five Eyes alliance, including revelations of restricted intelligence sharing around the Ukraine peace talks – a development that could reshape international cooperation and Canberra’s strategic outlook.

The team rounds out the discussion with broader geopolitical and domestic challenges, from US talk of military action in Latin America to Australia’s housing affordability crisis – all underlining the reality that contestation extends far beyond the battlefield.

Enjoy the podcast,
The Contested Ground team

In this episode of the Cyber Uncut podcast, David Hollingworth and Daniel Croft discuss the latest AI news, some worrying trends in cyber crime, and this year’s largest supply chain hack, impacting hundreds of companies worldwide.

Hollingworth and Croft kick things off by looking at the NSW government embracing AI and the federal government’s timely move to ban deepfake “nudify” apps that are being used to bully and harrass.

The pair then catch up with the latest cyber crime news, from the wide-ranging Salesloft Drift hacks that have impacted companies like Zscaler and Palo Alto Networks, to a brazen local hack that’s seen delicate health data published online by unscrupulous ransomware operators.

Hollingworth and Croft wind things up with some mostly good news, with an AI stethoscope potentially a game changer for heart health, and an international operation to take down a fake ID marketplace.

Enjoy the episode,
The Cyber Uncut team

In this episode of the Cyber Uncut podcast, David Hollingworth and Daniel Croft discuss a pair of lawsuits targeting ChatGPT’s maker, cyber crime news, and one US politician’s novel solution to combat hackers.

Hollingworth and Croft kick things off by addressing a pair of lawsuits targeting OpenAI and the tragic case of a teenager who was allegedly aided in their suicide by ChatGPT’s advice.

The pair then catch up with the latest news: from a string of cyber attacks that targeted Western Sydney University to Google’s warning of increased Iranian cyber attacks and a round-up of this week’s local ransomware attacks targeting Aussie businesses.

Hollingworth and Croft end the podcast discussing Australia’s “right to disconnect” laws and the bold plan of one American politician to bring back the Age of Sail’s letters of marque to recruit cyber privateers.

Enjoy the episode,
The Cyber Uncut team

In this episode of the Cyber Uncut podcast, David Hollingworth and Daniel Croft discuss CommBank’s use of AI to stop scams, local hacks and international cyber news, creepy AI toys for kids, and the alarming fact that what we know about ransomware attacks is just the tip of the iceberg.

• Hollingworth and Croft begin the podcast with two Commonwealth Bank stories: CBA rolling back its job cuts after AI chatbots fail to keep up with customer demand, and the bank’s novel use of AI to stymie scammers.
• The pair move on to a story with some incredible twists and turns after an Israeli cyber security specialist working for the government was arrested in Las Vegas for a shocking alleged crime, the iiNet hack that saw more Aussie data compromised by cyber criminals, and attacks on Australian institutions by pro-Palestine hackers.
• Hollingworth and Croft round things up with a creepy tale of two AI-powered toys designed to cut down on screen time for children, but which actually sound like a nightmare in their own right.

Enjoy the episode,
The Cyber Uncut team

In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, Major General (Ret’d) Dr Marcus Thompson, Phil Tarrant and Liam Garman dissect the forces shaping Australia’s national security in an increasingly volatile world.

From the shortage of tradespeople to the sustainability of the nuclear submarine program, the team explores how domestic economic realities – including the property market – intersect with defence capability.

The conversation turns to the AUKUS arrangement, as Thompson questions whether Australia’s defence budget can support the ambitions of the trilateral pact with the United States and the United Kingdom. The hosts unpack the risks of over-prioritising certain branches of the ADF and debate whether political change would have altered the trajectory of defence spending.

The team then discusses the recognition of Palestinian statehood – with conditions excluding Hamas from governance. They assess the potential impact on relations with Israel – a nation that has long shared intelligence and counter-terrorism support with Australia – and on Canberra’s role in Middle Eastern geopolitics.

The discussion also delves into public sentiment, with Tarrant highlighting the humanitarian toll of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, and the difficulty of separating moral imperatives from strategic realities.

Enjoy the podcast,
The Contested Ground team

In this episode of the Cyber Uncut podcast, David Hollingworth and Daniel Croft continue to talk about demands that Australia loosen copyright laws protecting Aussie artists, discover a dangerous new hacking super group, and laugh at how hacking is presented in the latest adaptation of War of the Worlds.

• Hollingworth and Croft open up proceedings with more views on the Australian Productivity Commission’s suggestion that AI companies should have full access to the sum total of Australian artistic output. Both Peter Garrett and Tony Burke are against it, but there are still some Aussie executives who feel it’s a good idea. Hollingworth also brings up a couple of reasons why artificial intelligence still lacks intelligence.
• The big hacking news this week is the formation of a possible hacking super group, as the notorious ShinyHunters and Scattered Spider collectives merge. Is this the real deal, and a threat to companies around the globe, or just hacker hot air? The pair also discuss the week in Australian cyber crime, and it’s not been a great week for Aussie organisations.
• Hollingworth and Croft then catch up on the latest cyber crime statistics from the Australian Institute of Criminology, before taking a lighthearted look at the depiction of hacking in the latest streaming stinker from Amazon.

Enjoy the episode,
The Cyber Uncut team

In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, Major General (Ret’d) Dr Marcus Thompson and Phil Tarrant are joined by Simon Bergman, CEO of M+C Saatchi World Services, to unpack the evolving landscape of grey zone warfare and the role of creative industries in modern conflict.

Drawing on decades of operational and commercial experience, Bergman explores how advertising expertise is being harnessed to support government information operations: crafting narratives, influencing audiences, and shaping perceptions in the contested information environment.

Thompson and Bergman discuss the cultural and operational divide between government and industry, and how M+C Saatchi World Services is bridging this gap through a hybrid team of former military personnel and creative professionals. Together, they examine how this model can enable faster, more effective responses in the grey zone.

The conversation also turns to the impact of artificial intelligence on information warfare. While acknowledging AI’s ability to enhance speed and reach, Bergman stresses the irreplaceable value of human insight in crafting authentic, effective messaging.

Finally, the team reflects on Australia’s information warfare capability, with Thompson calling for greater investment and deeper collaboration with industry to keep pace with adversaries operating below the threshold of open conflict.

Enjoy the podcast,
The Contested Ground team