20 episodes

Is the post-Cold War era over? In this brave new world, nothing is too small, or big, to be digitalised…including acts of war. Russian ransomware attacks almost doubled last year. At this very moment, cybercriminals are crippling schools, supermarkets, dentists, kindergartens, hospitals, oil pipelines - all in the name of money. Katie Puckrik wants to know who, and why. You can listen to the previous series of dot com on this same feed. Series 1 unveils the hidden army of volunteers behind the world's biggest encyclopaedia; and series 2 explores the heat behind the headlines of the US's 5th biggest social media website, Reddit. Dot com is presented by Katie Puckrik, written and produced by Anna Staufenberg, and edited by Crawford Blair.

dot com: The Hacking Crowd Stories+

    • Technology
    • 4.8 • 9 Ratings

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Is the post-Cold War era over? In this brave new world, nothing is too small, or big, to be digitalised…including acts of war. Russian ransomware attacks almost doubled last year. At this very moment, cybercriminals are crippling schools, supermarkets, dentists, kindergartens, hospitals, oil pipelines - all in the name of money. Katie Puckrik wants to know who, and why. You can listen to the previous series of dot com on this same feed. Series 1 unveils the hidden army of volunteers behind the world's biggest encyclopaedia; and series 2 explores the heat behind the headlines of the US's 5th biggest social media website, Reddit. Dot com is presented by Katie Puckrik, written and produced by Anna Staufenberg, and edited by Crawford Blair.

Listen on Apple Podcasts
Requires subscription and macOS 11.4 or higher

    The Hacking | Ep 1 | Paper

    The Hacking | Ep 1 | Paper

    You'd think healthcare would be a no-go. You'd hope that, surely, even Russian cybercriminals have their moral boundaries. But you have no idea the lengths they'll go to for money. This is the story of how the world's oldest maternity hospital, Dublin's Rotunda Hospital, was crippled with a single email and forced to revert to pens and paper. Is the post-Cold War era over? In this brave new world, nothing is too small, or big, to be digitalised…including acts of war. Russian ransomware attacks almost doubled last year. At this very moment, cybercriminals are crippling schools, supermarkets, dentists, kindergartens, hospitals, oil pipelines - all in the name of money. Katie Puckrik wants to know who, and why. You can binge the whole series now and ad-free by subscribing to the Crowd Stories channel on Apple Podcasts.
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    • 40 min
    The Hacking | Ep 2 | Leak

    The Hacking | Ep 2 | Leak

    It's not just cybercriminals who hack. In February 2022 Russia invades Ukraine, and a few months later someone leaks 60,000 private messages from one of the world's most complex, ruthless and profitable Russian ransomware gangs, alongside a post 'Glory to Ukraine!' The findings - what they reveal about who these hackers are, how they recruit, and how they choose victims - are incendiary. Is the post-Cold War era over? In this brave new world, nothing is too small, or big, to be digitalised…including acts of war. Russian ransomware attacks almost doubled last year. At this very moment, cybercriminals are crippling schools, supermarkets, dentists, kindergartens, hospitals, oil pipelines - all in the name of money. Katie Puckrik wants to know who, and why. You can binge the whole series now and ad-free by subscribing to the Crowd Stories channel on Apple Podcasts.


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    • 45 min
    The Hacking | Ep 3 | Domino

    The Hacking | Ep 3 | Domino

    Psychological pressure...that's what ransomware is all about. Holiday weekends and Fridays are prime time for ransomware attacks, and on Friday 2nd July 2021 Robert Cioffi was looking forward to celebrating Independence Day with his family. But soon he'd be caught up in the biggest single ransomware attack to date, that would have a disastrous domino effect on up to 2000 businesses worldwide: kindergartens in New Zealand, dental practices in the US, supermarkets in Sweden. Is the post-Cold War era over? In this brave new world, nothing is too small, or big, to be digitalised…including acts of war. Russian ransomware attacks almost doubled last year. At this very moment, cybercriminals are crippling schools, supermarkets, dentists, kindergartens, hospitals, oil pipelines - all in the name of money. Katie Puckrik wants to know who, and why. You can binge the whole series now and ad-free by subscribing to the Crowd Stories channel on Apple Podcasts.
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 42 min
    The Hacking | Ep 4 | Hurricane

    The Hacking | Ep 4 | Hurricane

    Ransomware gangs don't just go for the big fish. Kareem grew up on the West Side of Chicago in a neighbourhood woven with a pattern of guns, drugs and violence; until Lincoln College - a tiny place, one of the US's only Predominantly Black Institutions - turns his life around. But in December 2021, ransomware comes to town. Plus: Katie meets Barack Obama's ex-Special Advisor for Cybersecurity, who finally untangles the question that's been bugging her...why Russia? Is the post-Cold War era over? In this brave new world, nothing is too small, or big, to be digitalised…including acts of war. Russian ransomware attacks almost doubled last year. At this very moment, cybercriminals are crippling schools, supermarkets, dentists, kindergartens, hospitals, oil pipelines - all in the name of money. Katie Puckrik wants to know who, and why. Audio credits: WLCN 96.3 FM, Lincoln, Illinois; 'Save LC Archive' Facebook group 'I Bleed Purple' videos; LCTV 'Lincoln College vs Governors State 11/13/2021'. You can binge the whole series now and ad-free by subscribing to the Crowd Stories channel on Apple Podcasts.
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    • 44 min
    Coming soon: The Hacking

    Coming soon: The Hacking

    From the makers of dot com: Redditland, this is dot com: The Hacking. Out on Tuesday 26th July.
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    • 50 sec
    The Hacking | Bonus episode | Michael Daniel

    The Hacking | Bonus episode | Michael Daniel

    "Russia is a hurricane, but China is climate change." In this bonus episode of The Hacking, you'll hear the whole mind-twisting conversation Katie had with Michael Daniel, who served as Barack Obama's Special Advisor for Cybersecurity for many years. You'll hear what it's like to walk the halls of the White House, you'll dive deep into the reasons why Russia is the main ransomware player, and you'll learn all about the cyberthreat coming from China.

Customer Reviews

4.8 out of 5
9 Ratings

9 Ratings

whynotpugs ,

Ransomeware

When last working in my own field of physical therapy in 2007, everything was still hand written in most places especially nursing homes. Only major hospital corporations had introduced computers in our area.

I’d have given anything for a computer and flow chart system for writing notes. At least my hand wouldn’t have cramped so much.

But wow. Attacking hospital computer systems that are responsible for coordinating critical care for patients? Causing colleges to go belly up? Crippling companies and services? That’s bottom-of-the-barrel-lack-of-humanity and greed at its absolute worst.

Thanks for explaining ransomeware, how it works and how real it is in the lives of average people and smaller institutions. Wow. How heartbreaking for too many people.

PW from GR ,

Katie fan here

Thoughtful writing and interviewing and Katie’s usual engrossing storytelling.

nalitabowen ,

Playing into the drama?

I am really excited about hearing more about the growth of Wikipedia and this community, but I am surprised by episode 2. I did a quick review of the story, and while I might agree with the views, I am surprised by the tone the host/series takes. I think there is a better way to honor the values of Wikipedia, neutrality & discussion, while still portraying the views of those involved. Those views look to speak for themselves, and I hope you dig into the cis/male/liberal take in the next episode (in which case, I’ll amend this review). Thanks for covering the story.

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