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Easy Prey

Easy Prey

Di: Chris Parker
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 Chris Parker, the founder of WhatIsMyIPAddress.com, interviews guests and tells real-life stories about topics to open your eyes to the danger and traps lurking in the real world, ranging from online scams and frauds to everyday situations where people are trying to take advantage of you—for their gain and your loss. Our goal is to educate and equip you, so you learn how to spot the warning signs of trouble, take quick action, and lower the risk of becoming a victim. Crimini reali Politica e governo
Episodi
  • Exploiting Trust (Part 1)

    Exploiting Trust (Part 1)
    Jan 21 2026
    Most security failures don't start with a dramatic breach or a mysterious hacker sitting in a dark room. They usually start quietly. Someone assumes a system is locked down. Someone trusts that a door shouldn't open, or that a machine "just works," or that no one would ever think to look there. Over time, those small assumptions stack up, and that's where things tend to go wrong. Today's guest is FC Barker, a renowned ethical hacker, social engineer, and global keynote speaker with more than three decades of experience legally breaking into organizations to expose their blind spots. Formerly the head of offensive cybersecurity research at Raytheon and now co-founder of cybersecurity firm Cygenta, FC is also the author of How I Robbed Banks, a book packed with true stories from the field. In this conversation, FC shares what he's learned from decades of breaking into places he was hired to protect. The stories range from funny to unsettling, but they all point to the same pattern: technology usually isn't the weakest link. People are. From outdated systems that can't be replaced to everyday workplace habits that quietly invite risk, this episode offers a grounded look at how intrusions really happen and what actually makes environments safer. Show Notes: [03:06] FC grew up before cybersecurity existed and learned computers when manuals were thicker than the machines themselves.[05:27] How early internet culture shifted from curiosity-driven exploration to the rise of malicious actors.[07:15] Why inviting external testers to break into your systems was once an unthinkable idea and how that changed.[09:35] The danger of internal blind spots and why external validation is often more valuable than internal confidence.[10:46] Unexpected discoveries during penetration tests, including systems no one remembered were even running.[12:23] Choosing unusual, esoteric security projects and why unconventional systems often hide the biggest risks.[12:50] A real-world operation that involved reverse-engineering hardware to shut down power infrastructure in seconds.[16:29] One of the easiest break-ins ever happens accidentally, proving how fragile some systems really are.[17:21] The most common technical failure seen across organizations: poor network segmentation.[18:36] How a routine internal scan accidentally knocked an entire country's banking connection offline.[20:04] A bank unknowingly runs its internal network on an IP range owned by the U.S. Department of Defense.[21:43] A mysterious daily network outage turns out to be caused by a single employee's music collection.[23:07] Plugging into a forgotten network switch triggers a fire during a government penetration test.[25:15] Why penetration testers are often blamed first even when nothing has been touched yet.[26:25] Discovering malicious insider code planted by coordinated nation-state actors.[29:41] Why some outdated systems must remain untouched and why "just update everything" isn't realistic.[33:15] Implanting covert hardware inside everyday office devices to gain persistent network access.[35:01] How avoiding people altogether is often the most effective form of social engineering.[37:10] Why attackers move from the top floors down and how authority bias works without a single word spoken.[38:35] Clothing, context, and small visual cues that instantly make people assume you belong.[42:26] A penetration test derailed by an unexpected office costume day—and why randomness can be a defense.[44:33] A simple exercise anyone can use to start thinking like an attacker by examining their own home. Thanks for joining us on Easy Prey. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave a nice review. Links and Resources: Podcast Web PageFacebook Pagewhatismyipaddress.comEasy Prey on InstagramEasy Prey on TwitterEasy Prey on LinkedInEasy Prey on YouTubeEasy Prey on PinterestCygentaDr. Jessica BarkerFC aka Freakyclown - LinkedIn How I Rob Banks: And Other Such Places
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    48 min
  • Surviving a Ransomware Attack

    Surviving a Ransomware Attack
    Jan 14 2026
    A ransomware attack doesn't always announce itself with flashing warnings and locked screens. Sometimes it starts with a quiet system outage, a few unavailable servers, and a sinking realization days later that the threat actors were already inside. This conversation pulls back the curtain on what really happens when an organization believes it's dealing with routine failures only to discover it's facing a full-scale cyber extortion event. My guest today is Zachary Lewis, CIO and CISO for a Midwest university, a 40 Under 40 Business Leader, and a former Nonprofit CISO of the Year. Zachary shares the inside story of a LockBit ransomware attack that unfolded while his team was still building foundational security controls, forcing real-time decisions about recovery, disclosure, negotiations, and whether paying a ransom was even an option. We talk about the shame that keeps many cyber incidents hidden, the emotional weight leaders carry during these moments, and the practical realities that don't show up in tabletop exercises from buying bitcoin to restoring systems when password managers are encrypted. It's an honest, grounded discussion about resilience, preparedness, and why sharing these stories openly may be one of the most important defenses organizations have. Show Notes: [04:05] Zachary Lewis explains why the absence of an immediate ransom note delayed suspicion of an attack.[06:00] The first technical indicators suggest something more serious is unfolding.[07:45] Discovering encrypted hypervisors and realizing recovery won't be straightforward.[09:30] Zachary outlines when data exfiltration became a real concern.[11:05] Receiving the LockBit ransomware note confirms the organization has been compromised.[12:55] The 4:30 a.m. phone call pushes leadership into full crisis mode.[14:40] Zachary reflects on managing fear, responsibility, and decision fatigue mid-incident.[16:20] Executive expectations collide with technical realities during the breach.[18:05] Why "doing most things right" still doesn't guarantee protection.[19:55] Cyber insurance begins shaping early response decisions.[21:35] Bringing in incident response teams and legal counsel under tight timelines.[23:20] Zachary describes working with the FBI and understanding jurisdictional limits.[25:10] What law enforcement can and cannot realistically provide during ransomware events.[26:50] Opening communication channels with the threat actors.[28:35] The psychological pressure behind ransomware negotiations.[30:10] Attacker-imposed timelines force rapid, high-stakes decisions.[31:55] Zachary walks through the practical challenges of acquiring cryptocurrency.[33:40] Why encrypted password managers created unexpected recovery barriers.[35:15] Determining which systems could be restored first—and which could not.[37:00] Lessons learned about backup integrity and offline recovery.[38:45] The importance of clear internal communication during uncertainty.[40:25] Balancing transparency with legal and reputational concerns.[42:10] How staff reactions differed from executive responses.[43:55] Zachary discusses the stigma that keeps many ransomware incidents quiet.[45:40] Why sharing breach stories can strengthen collective defenses.[47:20] MFA gaps and configuration issues exposed by the attack.[49:05] Why tabletop exercises fall short of real-world incidents.[50:50] Long-term security changes made after recovery.[52:30] Zachary offers advice for CISOs facing their first major incident.[54:10] What preparedness really means beyond compliance checklists.[56:00] Why resilience and recovery deserve equal priority.[58:30] Final reflections on leadership, accountability, and learning in public. Thanks for joining us on Easy Prey. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave a nice review. Links and Resources: Podcast Web PageFacebook Pagewhatismyipaddress.comEasy Prey on InstagramEasy Prey on TwitterEasy Prey on LinkedInEasy Prey on YouTubeEasy Prey on PinterestZachary Lewis - The Homesteading CISOZach Lewis - LinkedIn
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    48 min
  • Why You Fall For Scams

    Why You Fall For Scams
    Jan 7 2026
    Why do smart, capable people fall for scams even when the warning signs seem obvious in hindsight? In this episode, Dan Ariely joins us to examine how intuition often leads us in the wrong direction, especially under stress, uncertainty, or emotional pressure. A renowned behavioral economist, longtime professor of psychology and behavioral economics at Duke University, and bestselling author of Predictably Irrational, The Upside of Irrationality, Misbehaving, and Misbelief, Dan has spent decades studying why rational people consistently make choices that don't serve them. We talk about the deeply human forces that shape how we decide who to trust, and how easily those instincts can be exploited in high-stakes situations involving fraud, financial loss, and digital deception. Dan shares a deeply personal story about surviving severe burns and the long process of self-acceptance that followed, using his own experience to show how hiding, blending in, and social pressure quietly influence behavior in ways most of us never stop to question. We also explore why stress pushes people to search for patterns, stories, and a sense of control, even when those explanations aren't accurate. Dan explains how our minds operate like a "vintage Swiss Army knife," well suited for small, predictable communities but poorly equipped for modern risks like scams, cybersecurity threats, and low-probability, high-impact events. Topics include why near-misses teach the wrong lessons, why authority and urgency are so effective in manipulation, and why expecting people to be perfectly rational is a losing strategy. We also discuss practical ways to slow decisions down and bring in outside perspectives to help design safeguards that work with human nature. Show Notes: [01:52] Dan Ariely joins the episode to examine how human decision-making actually works under pressure.[03:41] How intuition can point us in the wrong direction during moments of stress and uncertainty.[05:26] Trust, authority, and urgency as core levers used in fraud and manipulation.[07:12] When decisions feel overwhelming, the brain's tendency to rely on shortcuts.[08:58] Dan explains why rational thinking often breaks down faster than we expect.[10:34] Near-misses and how they quietly reinforce false confidence instead of caution.[12:09] Why repeated exposure to risk doesn't necessarily make people better decision-makers.[13:55] Stress-driven pattern seeking and the human need for explanation and control.[15:32] Superstition, conspiracy thinking, and what they reveal about uncertainty tolerance.[17:18] Why modern threats like scams and cybercrime confuse brains built for simpler environments.[18:56] The "vintage Swiss Army knife" analogy and what it says about human cognition.[20:41] Authority cues and why skepticism often disappears in the presence of perceived expertise.[22:27] Slowing decisions down as one of the most reliable defenses against manipulation.[24:13] Dan reflects on how behavioral economics challenged traditional models of rational choice.[25:59] A personal story about surviving severe burns and the long path to self-acceptance.[27:44] How hiding and blending in can quietly shape behavior and self-perception.[29:31] Social pressure and its role in everyday compliance and risk-taking.[31:16] Why vulnerability doesn't look the way people expect it to.[33:02] Expecting perfect rationality and why that assumption consistently fails.[34:47] Designing systems that account for human limits instead of ignoring them.[36:33] The value of outside perspective when decisions carry real consequences.[38:19] Practical ways individuals can reduce risk by changing how they decide.[40:05] When slowing down matters more than having more information.[41:52] Applying behavioral insights to fraud prevention and digital safety.[43:38] Why better tools help, but mindset still plays a critical role.[45:24] Final thoughts on working with human nature rather than fighting it.[48:02] What listeners can take away about decision-making, risk, and self-awareness. Thanks for joining us on Easy Prey. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave a nice review. Links and Resources: Podcast Web PageFacebook Pagewhatismyipaddress.comEasy Prey on InstagramEasy Prey on TwitterEasy Prey on LinkedInEasy Prey on YouTubeEasy Prey on PinterestDan ArielyDan Ariely - LinkedIn Books by Dan ArielyDan Ariely - YouTube
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    52 min
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