The dark side of the internet: 6 podcasts about cyber attacks and hackers

Remember when our parents used to tell us not to post too much of our personal information on the internet? Turns out, it didn’t matter. Nothing can stop a good hacker – not even U.S. Intelligence. If someone wants your information, they will get it. And these podcasts are covering that frightening side of the internet.

Hear about hackers who took down entire government programs, banks that were heisted online, security breaches and cyber crimes that leaked confidential information and stole tons of money. Here are 6 podcasts about the dark side of the internet:

Darknet Diaries

Host Jack Rhysider takes us through the chilling world cyber crime in “Darknet Diaries” and covers hacking, data breaches, election rigging, and cyber attacks. Hear about crimes like the LinkedIn data breach, the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympic digital infrastructure wiping, and the Bangladesh Bank Heist.

Tech Won’t Save Us

Paris Marx is challenging the notion that technology is the main driver behind advancing the world. Every week, he sits down with a guest to talk about radical ideas for a better technological future – one where technology is used to better humanity instead of advancing surveillance, acquisitions, and boasting stocks. The future of technology can be dark, but it doesn’t have to be.

The Lazarus Heist

In late 2014, Sony Pictures was cyber attacked by a group that called themselves The Guardians of Peace. The leaked confidential data from the film studio including personal information about employees and their families, emails between employees, information about executive salaries at the company, copies of unreleased Sony films, plans for future Sony films, and more. They then erased Sony’s computer infrastructure. Oddly enough, in the middle of this hack, the group demanded Sony withdraw its upcoming film The Interview, a film about a plan to assassinate Kim-Jong Un. US Intelligence alleged the attack was sponsored by North Korea, which the country still denies. “The Lazarus Heist” tells the story of a billion dollar hack, putting two countries on the brink of war, and a very stupid movie.

Hacking Humans

Surprisingly light-hearted, “Hacking Humans” is a podcast about the world of cyber crime. From romance scams to cyber security training, to lottery scams and phishing, the amount of crimes committed through the internet is unfathomable. But, it is also preventable, and “Hacking Humans” is explaining how to keep your data safe in this deep dark web.

Malicious Life

From Cybereason, “Malicious Life” is telling the unknown stories of the history of cybersecurity, from the RSA Breach to NotPetya to the use of facial recognition by law enforcement. With comments from real hackers, security experts, journalists, and politicians, “Malicious Life” is one of the most interesting technology podcasts you will come across.

Headlong: Surviving Y2K

Raise your hand if you survived Y2K! As it is always weird to think about, plenty of people on this planet did not, because they simply had not been born yet. And now they can legally drink. But, that’s beside the point, in “Surviving Y2K” host Dan Taberski takes us back to 1999 when computer coders, conspiracy theorists, and survivalists believed the apocalypse was upon us. It’s an overlooked period of time, now a punch-line, but for some people it was very real. A computer bug would bring down Earth’s infrastructures for industries ranging from banking to air travel, essentially shooting us back to the year 1900. So, it’s loosely technology rated but mainly just a really good podcast.