Easy Prey

Publicly available data can paint a much clearer picture of our lives than most of us realize, and this episode takes a deeper look at how those tiny digital breadcrumbs like photos, records, searches, even the background of a Zoom call can be pieced together to reveal far more than we ever intended. To help break this down, I'm joined by Cynthia Hetherington, Founder and CEO of The Hetherington Group, a longtime leader in open-source intelligence. She also founded Osmosis, the global association and conference for OSINT professionals, and she oversees OSINT Academy, where her team trains investigators, analysts, and practitioners from all experience levels. Cynthia shares how she started her career as a librarian who loved solving information puzzles and eventually became one of the earliest people applying internet research to real investigative work. She talks about the first wave of cybercrime in the 1990s, how she supported law enforcement before the web was even mainstream, and why publicly accessible data today is more powerful and more revealing than ever. We get into how OSINT actually works in practice, from identifying a location based on a sweatshirt logo to examining background objects in video calls. She also explains why the U.S. has fewer privacy protections than many assume, and how property records, social media posts, and online datasets combine to expose surprising amounts of personal information. We also explore the growing role of AI in intelligence work. Cynthia breaks down how tools like ChatGPT can accelerate analysis but also produce hallucinations that investigators must rigorously verify, especially when the stakes are legal or security-related. She walks through common vulnerabilities people overlook, the low-hanging fruit you can remove online, and why your online exposure often comes from the people living in your home. Cynthia closes by offering practical advice to protect your digital footprint and resources for anyone curious about learning OSINT themselves. This is a fascinating look at how much of your life is already visible, and what you can do to safeguard the parts you'd rather keep private. Show Notes: [01:17] Cynthia Hetherington, Founder & CEO of The Hetherington Group is here to discuss OSINT or Open-Source Intelligence. [02:40] Early cyber investigators began turning to her for help long before online research tools became mainstream. [03:39] Founding The Hetherington Group marks her transition from librarian to private investigator. [04:22] Digital vulnerability takes center stage as online data becomes widely accessible and increasingly revealing. [05:22] We get a clear breakdown of what OSINT actually is and what counts as "publicly available information." [06:40] A simple trash bin in a photo becomes a lesson in how quickly locations can be narrowed down. [08:03] Cynthia shares the sweatshirt example to show how a tiny image detail can identify a school and possibly a city. [09:32] Background clues seen during COVID video calls demonstrate how unintentional information leaks became routine. [11:12] A news segment with visible passwords highlights how everyday desk clutter can expose sensitive data. [12:14] She describes old threat-assessment techniques that relied on family photos and subtle personal cues. [13:32] Cynthia analyzes the balance and lighting of a Zoom backdrop, pointing out what investigators look for. [15:12] Virtual and real backgrounds each reveal different signals about a person's environment. [16:02] Reflections on screens become unexpected sources of intelligence as she notices objects outside the camera frame. [16:37] Concerns grow around how easily someone can be profiled using only public information. [17:13] Google emerges as the fastest tool for building a quick, surface-level profile of almost anyone. [18:32] Social media takes priority in search results and becomes a major driver of self-exposed data. [19:40] Cynthia compares AI tools to the early internet, describing how transformative they feel for investigators. [20:58] A poisoning case from the early '90s demonstrates how online expert communities solved problems before search engines existed. [22:40] She recalls using early listservs to reach forensic experts long before modern digital research tools were available. [23:44] Smarter prompts become essential as AI changes how OSINT professionals gather reliable information. [24:55] Cynthia introduces her C.R.A.W.L. method and explains how it mirrors the traditional intelligence lifecycle. [26:12] Hallucinations from AI responses reinforce the need for human review and verification. [27:48] We learn why repeatable processes are crucial for building trustworthy intelligence outputs. [29:05] Elegant-sounding AI answers illustrate the danger of unverified assumptions. [30:40] An outdated email-header technique becomes a reminder of how quickly OSINT methods evolve. [32:12] Managed attribution—hiding your digital identity—is explained along with when it's appropriate to use. [33:58] Cynthia unpacks the reality that the U.S. has no constitutional right to privacy. [35:36] The 1996 case that sparked her digital-vulnerability work becomes a turning point in her career. [37:32] Practical opt-out steps give everyday people a way to remove basic personal data from public sites. [38:31] She discusses how indirect prompting of AI tools can still narrow down someone's likely neighborhood or lifestyle. [39:58] Property and asset records emerge as unavoidable exposure points tied to government databases. [40:52] A high-risk client's situation shows how family members often create digital vulnerabilities without realizing it. [42:44] Threats that surface too late demonstrate why proactive intelligence work is essential. [44:01] Concerns about government surveillance are contrasted with the broader access private investigators actually have. [45:12] Train tracks become an example of how physical infrastructure now doubles as a modern data network. [46:03] She explains how audio signatures and forensic clues could theoretically identify a train's path. [47:58] Asset tracking becomes a global operation as valuable cargo moves between ships, trucks, and rail systems. [49:48] Satellite imagery makes monitoring even remote or underwater locations almost effortless. [51:12] Everyday applications of geospatial analysis include environmental changes and shifts within local communities. [52:19] Surveillance is compared to gravity; it's constant, invisible, and always exerting pressure. [52:44] Cynthia shares practical strategies for controlling your environment and keeping conversations private. [54:01] Resources like OSINT Academy, Information Exposed, and the Osmosis Association offer pathways for learning and strengthening personal privacy. [55:32] The episode closes with encouragement to stay aware of what you share and how easily digital clues can be connected. 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 Page Facebook Page whatismyipaddress.com Easy Prey on Instagram Easy Prey on Twitter Easy Prey on LinkedIn Easy Prey on YouTube Easy Prey on Pinterest Hetherington Group OSMOSIS OSINT Academy Cynthia Hetherington - LinkedIn OSINT: The Authoritative Guide to Due Diligence Business Background Investigations: Tools and Techniques for Solution Driven Due Diligence

Sometimes we forget how much trust we place in the little things around us like a lock on a door or a badge on someone's shirt. We see those symbols and assume everything behind them is safe, but it doesn't always work that way. A person with enough confidence, or the right story, can slip through places we think are locked down tight, and most of us never notice it's happening. My guest today is Deviant Ollam, and he's one of the rare people who gets invited to break into buildings on purpose. He talks about how he fell into this unusual line of work, the odd moments that shaped his career, and why understanding human behavior matters just as much as understanding locks or alarms. Listening to him describe these situations, where he's walking through offices, popping doors, or blending in with repair crews, makes you realize how blind we can be to our own surroundings. We also get into the practical side of things: the mistakes companies make, the small fixes that go a long way, and why teaching employees to slow down and ask a few extra questions can make all the difference. It's an eye-opening conversation, especially if you've ever assumed your workplace is more secure than it really is. Show Notes: [03:24] Deviant shares how early adventures, abandoned buildings, and curiosity about locks pulled him toward physical security. [06:20] A story about a law firm reveals how an office "secure" door was bypassed instantly, exposing major hardware flaws. [09:16] Discussion shifts to how the locksmith and safe technician community reacted to his public teaching and how that's changed over time. [13:28] The topic turns to security theater and the gap between feeling safe and actually being protected. [16:18] An explanation of symbolic locks versus real security products highlights how easily people mix up the two. [19:11] Conversation moves into the lack of clear U.S. lock standards and why European systems make things easier for consumers. [21:51] Layered security comes into focus, emphasizing that the goal is to delay and deter rather than stop every possible attack. [24:35] Monitoring tools, overlooked windows, and forgotten blind spots show how attackers often choose the easiest entry point. [27:38] We look at the politics of penetration tests and why coordinating with building management is essential. [31:28] Escalation testing illustrates how long suspicious behavior can go unnoticed inside an organization. [34:34] The need for simple, obvious reporting channels becomes clear when employees aren't sure who to alert. [37:00] A breakdown of common cover stories shows why attackers lean on confidence and industry jargon. [39:50] Urgency and pressure tactics surface as key components of social engineering and why "polite paranoia" helps. [41:14] A viral prank underscores how easily an unverified person can be escorted into restricted areas. 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 Page Facebook Page whatismyipaddress.com Easy Prey on Instagram Easy Prey on Twitter Easy Prey on LinkedIn Easy Prey on YouTube Easy Prey on Pinterest Deviant Ollam Deviant Ollam - You Tube Deviant Ollam - Instagram Practical Lock Picking: A Physical Penetration Tester's Training Guide

Fraud today doesn't feel anything like it used to. It's not just about somebody skimming a credit card at a gas pump or stealing a check out of the mail. It has gotten personal, messy, emotional. Scammers are building relationships, earning trust, and studying the little details of our lives so they can strike when we're tired, distracted, or dealing with something big. And honestly, most people have no idea how far it's gone. My guest, Ian Mitchell, has spent more than 25 years fighting fraud around the world and leading teams in the financial sector. He's the founder of The Knoble, a nonprofit bringing banks and industry leaders together to protect vulnerable people from scams, human trafficking, and exploitation. Ian has seen the evolution of fraud firsthand, from the old-school days of stolen cards to the organized global crime networks using technology, AI, and human manipulation to scale at a pace we've never experienced before. What stood out to me is Ian's belief that the strongest defense doesn't start with fancy tools or tighter security. It starts at home. Real conversations with our kids about safety online. Checking in on aging parents. Talking openly with people we trust so scammers can't isolate us and break us down. It's serious work, but Ian is hopeful. He believes there are far more good people than bad, and when we look out for each other, we're a lot harder to exploit. Show Notes: [00:58] Ian unexpectedly shifted from music and modeling into the world of fraud prevention. [01:19] Founding The Knoble and building a global network to fight human crimes and protect vulnerable populations. [01:49] A look at Follow the Money, the documentary project raising awareness about exploitation and financial crime. [02:19] Why Ian believes crimes of exploitation have moved directly into our homes and daily lives. [03:08] The early moment when Ian uncovered a major fraud ring while working at an internet company. [06:44] How canceling $300,000 in fraudulent orders changed the direction of his career. [08:11] Reflections on the "wild west" early days of online fraud and security. [11:01] How fraud evolved from stolen cards into emotional manipulation and trust-based scams. [12:49] The post-COVID surge in scams and the shift toward targeting individuals instead of systems. [14:03] Why fighting fraud today requires global coordination and an army of trained professionals. [16:38] Scammers coaching victims to distrust banks, friends, and even family members. [17:05] The longest romance-style scam Ian has seen — an eight-year manipulation before money was ever requested. [18:25] Discussion on timing, trust, and why even smart people can be caught off guard. [22:05] Ian shares his own experience dealing with identity theft and the complexity of proving it wasn't him. [23:22] AI and big data transforming broad scam attempts into precise, personalized attacks. [25:31] The alarming rise of sextortion schemes targeting kids ages 13–16 and why awareness is critical. [26:40] The urgent need for uncomfortable safety conversations within families. [28:09] Why Ian believes the first line of defense isn't technology — it's communication at home. [29:30] The emotional impact on scam victims: shame, isolation, and loss of confidence in judgment. [31:13] How AI can be used for good and why the industry must move quickly to fight back. [40:40] Three essential conversations families should start having right now. [41:21] Protecting children through parental controls, boundaries, and digital safety. [42:42] Encouraging open dialogue with aging parents about financial protection and autonomy. [44:19] Finding balance: staying vigilant without living in fear. [47:57] A hopeful reminder that there are far more good people than bad — and collective action matters. [48:30] Where to find Ian, learn more about The Knoble, and connect with his work. 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 Page Facebook Page whatismyipaddress.com Easy Prey on Instagram Easy Prey on Twitter Easy Prey on LinkedIn Easy Prey on YouTube Easy Prey on Pinterest The Knoble Ian Mitchell - LinkedIn

AI has brought incredible new capabilities into everyday technology, but it's also creating security challenges that most people haven't fully wrapped their heads around yet. As these systems become more capable and more deeply connected to the tools and data we rely on, the risks become harder to predict and much more complicated to manage. My guest today is Rich Smith, who leads offensive research at MindGard and has spent more than twenty years working on the front lines of cybersecurity. Rich has held leadership roles at organizations like Crash Override, Gemini, Duo Security, Cisco, and Etsy, and he's spent most of his career trying to understand how real attackers think and where systems break under pressure. We talk about how AI is changing the way attacks happen, why the old methods of testing security don't translate well anymore, and what happens when models behave in ways no one expected. Rich also explains why psychology now plays a surprising role in hacking AI systems, where companies are accidentally creating new openings for exploitation, and what everyday users should keep in mind when trusting AI with personal information. It's a fascinating look behind the curtain at what's really going on in AI security right now. Show Notes: [01:00] Rich describes getting into hacking as a kid and bypassing his brother's disk password. [03:38] He talks about discovering Linux and teaching himself through early online systems. [05:07] Rich explains how offensive security became his career and passion. [08:00] Discussion of curiosity, challenge, and the appeal of breaking systems others built. [09:45] Rich shares surprising real-world vulnerabilities found in large organizations. [11:20] Story about discovering a major security flaw in a banking platform. [12:50] Example of a bot attack against an online game that used his own open-source tool. [16:26] Common security gaps caused by debugging code and staging environments. [17:43] Rich explains how AI has fundamentally changed offensive cybersecurity. [19:30] Why binary vulnerability testing no longer applies to generative AI. [21:00] The role of statistics and repeated prompts in evaluating AI risk and failure. [23:45] Base64 encoding used to bypass filters and trick models. [27:07] Differentiating between model safety and full system security. [30:41] Risks created when AI models are connected to external tools and infrastructure. [32:55] The difficulty of securing Python execution environments used by AI systems. [35:56] How social engineering and psychology are becoming new attack surfaces. [38:00] Building psychological profiles of models to manipulate behavior. [42:14] Ethical considerations and moral questions around AI exploitation. [44:05] Rich discusses consumer fears and hype around AI's future. [45:54] Advice on privacy and cautious adoption of emerging technology. 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 Page Facebook Page whatismyipaddress.com Easy Prey on Instagram Easy Prey on Twitter Easy Prey on LinkedIn Easy Prey on YouTube Easy Prey on Pinterest Mindgard [email protected]

Ransomware isn't a lone hacker in a hoodie. It's an entire criminal industry complete with developers, brokers, and money launderers working together like a dark tech startup. And while these groups constantly evolve, so do the tools and partnerships aimed at stopping them before they strike.  My guest today is Cynthia Kaiser, former Deputy Assistant Director of the FBI's Cyber Division and now the Head of the Ransomware Research Center at Halcyon. After two decades investigating global cyber threats and briefing top government leaders, she's now focused on prevention and building collaborations across government and industry to disrupt ransomware actors at their source.  We talk about how ransomware groups operate, why paying a ransom rarely solves the problem, and what layered defense really means for organizations and individuals. Cynthia also shares how AI is reshaping both sides of the cyber arms race and why she believes hope, not fear, is the most powerful tool for defenders. Show Notes: [01:04] Cynthia Kaiser had a 20-year FBI career and has now transitioned from investigation to prevention at Halcyon. [03:58] The true scale of cyber threats is far larger than most people realize, even within the government. [04:19] Nation-state and criminal activity now overlap, making attribution increasingly difficult. [06:45] Cynthia outlines how ransomware spreads through phishing, credential theft, and unpatched systems. [08:08] Ransomware is an ecosystem of specialists including developers, access brokers, money launderers, and infrastructure providers. [09:55] Discussion of how many ransomware groups exist and the estimated cost of attacks worldwide. [11:37] Ransom payments dropped in 2023, but total business recovery costs remain enormous. [12:24] Paying a ransom can mark a company as an easy target and doesn't guarantee full decryption. [13:11] Example of a decryptor that failed completely and how Halcyon helped a victim recover. [14:35] The so-called "criminal code of ethics" among ransomware gangs has largely disappeared. [16:48] Hospitals continue to be targeted despite claims of moral restraint among attackers. [18:44] Prevention basics still matter including strong passwords, multi-factor authentication, and timely patching. [19:18] Cynthia explains the value of layered defense and incident-response practice drills. [21:22] Even individuals need cyber hygiene like unique passwords, MFA, and updated antivirus protection. [23:32] Deepfakes are becoming a major threat vector, blurring trust in voice and video communications. [25:17] Always verify using a separate communication channel when asked to send money or change payment info. [27:40] Real-world example: credential-stuffing attack against MLB highlights the need for two-factor authentication. [29:55] What to do once ransomware hits includes containment, external counsel, and calling trusted law-enforcement contacts. [32:44] Cynthia recounts being impersonated online and how she responded to protect others from fraud. [34:28] Many victims feel ashamed to report cybercrime, especially among older adults. [36:45] Scams often succeed because they align with real-life timing or emotional triggers. [38:32] Children and everyday users are also at risk from deceptive links and push-fatigue attacks. [39:26] Overview of Halcyon's Ransomware Research Center and its educational, collaborative goals. [42:15] The importance of public-private partnerships in defending hospitals and critical infrastructure. [43:38] How AI-driven behavioral detection gives defenders a new advantage. [44:48] Cynthia shares optimism that technology can reduce ransomware's impact. [45:43] Closing advice includes practicing backups, building layered defenses, and staying hopeful. 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 Page Facebook Page whatismyipaddress.com Easy Prey on Instagram Easy Prey on Twitter Easy Prey on LinkedIn Easy Prey on YouTube Easy Prey on Pinterest Halcyon Cynthia Kaiser - LinkedIn