Episodes

  • OWASP server-side request forgery (noun) [Word Notes]

    OWASP server-side request forgery (noun) [Word Notes]
    Jun 3 2025
    Please enjoy this encore of Word Notes. An attack technique that leverages an unprotected web server as a proxy for attackers to send commands through to other computers.
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    8 mins
  • The great CoGUI caper. [OMITB]

    The great CoGUI caper. [OMITB]
    Jun 3 2025
    Welcome 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 researcher is a bit like being a detective: you gather clues, analyze the evidence, and consult the experts to solve the cyber puzzle. On this episode, our hosts discuss Chinese-speaking threat actors are targeting Japan with a massive phishing campaign using a sneaky new kit called CoGUI, which has hit organizations with over 170 million messages in a single month. The campaign mimics trusted brands like Amazon, PayPay, and Rakuten to steal login and payment info—lining up with warnings from Japan’s Financial Services Agency about attackers cashing out and buying Chinese stocks. While the CoGUI kit is slick with its evasion tricks and browser profiling, your hosts are hot on its trail with new detections to help stop the phishing frenzy.
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    36 mins
  • Lights, camera, scam!

    Lights, camera, scam!
    May 29 2025
    This week, our three hosts ⁠⁠⁠Dave Bittner⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Joe Carrigan⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠Maria Varmazis⁠⁠⁠ (also host of the ⁠⁠⁠T-Minus⁠⁠⁠ Space Daily show) are sharing the latest in social engineering scams, phishing schemes, and criminal exploits that are making headlines. We start with a bit of follow up, one from listener Aaron, who shares some safety tips for chickens, and from listener Shannon, who writes in with a new fashion statement. Maria’s got the story on how Trump’s sweeping new tariffs are creating the “perfect storm” for scams, as cybercriminals exploit consumer confusion with fake fee requests, shady links, and urgent messages—three red flags experts say to watch for. Joe shares the story of a new FBI warning about an AI-driven phone scam targeting iPhone and Android users, where scammers impersonate senior U.S. officials through fake texts and voice messages to steal personal information via malicious links. Dave shares the story of a classic Hollywood pitch deck scam, where fake agents from bogus production companies like "Hollywood Talent Agency" and "Writer’s Edge Production" lure authors into paying for useless film services with promises of big-screen adaptations. We have our new Cluck of the Day, and this week, Jonathan Webster shares a classic scam attempt: a fake PayPal invoice PDF designed to trick recipients into calling a fraudulent support number or paying a bogus charge. Resources and links to stories: Trump tariffs create the ‘perfect storm’ for scams, cybersecurity expert says — 3 red flags to watch out for FBI warns of new phone scam targeting iPhone, Android users, advises not to answer these messages Senior US Officials Impersonated in Malicious Messaging Campaign The Hollywood Talent Agency / Writers Edge Production Scam Have a Catch of the Day you'd like to share? Email it to us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hackinghumans@n2k.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
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    42 mins
  • OWASP security logging and monitoring failures (noun) [Word Notes]

    OWASP security logging and monitoring failures (noun) [Word Notes]
    May 27 2025
    Please enjoy this encore of Word Notes. The absence of telemetry that could help network defenders detect and respond to hostile attempts to compromise a system.
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    6 mins
  • Scam me once.

    Scam me once.
    May 22 2025
    This week, our three hosts ⁠⁠Dave Bittner⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Joe Carrigan⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠Maria Varmazis⁠⁠ (also host of the ⁠⁠T-Minus⁠⁠ Space Daily show) are sharing the latest in social engineering scams, phishing schemes, and criminal exploits that are making headlines. Listener Jim notes that money launderers and couriers mentioned in recent episodes are often scam victims themselves, unknowingly processing fraudulent payments or delivering items, sometimes with tragic consequences like an innocent Uber driver being shot. Dave shares two close calls with scams this week: one where a bank employee saved a 75-year-old customer from losing $9,000 to a Facebook crypto scam, and another where a scammer impersonating “Officer Shane Kitchens” nearly tricked his mom into sending $3,500 for fake bail and ankle monitor fees after a family member was arrested. Joe's got three short stories this week—one is on how someone tried scamming his wife, another about a DoorDash driver who admitted to stealing $2.5 million in a delivery scam, and the last on a warning to billions of Gmail users to remain vigilant over a terrifying new phishing scheme. Maria sits down with Alex Hall, Trust and Safety Architect at Sift, to discuss the rise of job scams. Our catch of the day comes from Jonathan who writes in with a fake PayPal invoice. Resources and links to stories: You all saved my customer today Loved one got arrested, next day got a call from a “Sergeant” at the county jail. DoorDash driver admits to stealing $2.5M in delivery scam Billions of Gmail users warned to 'remain vigilant' over terrifying scam Have a Catch of the Day you'd like to share? Email it to us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠hackinghumans@n2k.com⁠⁠⁠⁠.
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    58 mins
  • OWASP identification and authentication failures (noun) [Word Notes]

    OWASP identification and authentication failures (noun) [Word Notes]
    May 20 2025
    Please enjoy this encore of Word Notes. Ineffectual confirmation of a user's identity or authentication in session management. CyberWire Glossary link: ⁠https://thecyberwire.com/glossary/owasp-identification-and-authentication-failure⁠ Audio reference link: “⁠Mr. Robot Hack - Password Cracking - Episode 1⁠.” YouTube Video. YouTube, September 21, 2016.
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    6 mins
  • The band is finally back together.

    The band is finally back together.
    May 15 2025
    And....we're back! This week, our three hosts Dave Bittner, Joe Carrigan, and Maria Varmazis (also host of the T-Minus Space Daily show) are all back to share the latest in social engineering scams, phishing schemes, and criminal exploits that are making headlines. The team shares three bits of follow-up and then breaks into their stories. Joe starts off sharing some stories about influencer fakery on fake private jet sets and a scam taking advantage of the RealID requirements coming into effect. Maria talks about "Scam Survivor Day" (it's a real thing). She also talks about a former Facebooker's tell-all "Careless People." Dave shares a story about fake Social Security statements. Our Catch of Day comes from Richard about a truck win. Resources and links to stories: Private Executive Jet Private Jet Set for exhibitions, events and photo opportunities REAL ID scams surge with arrival of deadline Wednesday Don't Blame the Victim: 'Fraud Shame' and Cybersecurity Facebook Allegedly Detected When Teen Girls Deleted Selfies So It Could Serve Them Beauty Ads Beware of Fake Social Security Statement That Tricks Users to Install Malware Have a Catch of the Day you'd like to share? Email it to us at ⁠⁠⁠hackinghumans@n2k.com⁠⁠⁠.
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    44 mins
  • Log4j vulnerability (noun) [Word Notes]

    Log4j vulnerability (noun) [Word Notes]
    May 13 2025
    Please enjoy this encore of Word Notes. An open source Java-based software tool available from the Apache Software Foundation designed to log security and performance information. CyberWire Glossary link: ⁠https://thecyberwire.com/glossary/log4j⁠ Audio reference link: “⁠CISA Director: The LOG4J Security Flaw Is the ‘Most Serious’ She’s Seen in Her Career⁠,” by Eamon Javers (CNBC) and Jen Easterly (Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Director) YouTube, 20 December 20 2021.
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    9 mins
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