Inside Morphing Meerkat and Proton66: How Cybercrime Is Getting Easier

Breaking Badness

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Grumpy helps a reader choose the best hydrangea for their hometown. Plus, Grumpy’s gripe of the week. You can find us online at southernliving.com/askgrumpy Ask Grumpy Credits: Steve Bender aka The Grumpy Gardener - Host Nellah McGough - Co-Host Krissy Tiglias - GM, Southern Living Lottie Leymarie - Executive Producer Michael Onufrak - Audio Engineer/Producer Isaac Nunn - Recording Tech Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices…

23 days ago 39:39

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In this episode of Breaking Badness, the crew investigates two escalating threats in the cybercrime ecosystem: the cleverly named phishing-as-a-service platform Morphing Meerkat, and the bulletproof hosting provider Proton66, a favorite among amateur cybercriminals. First, they dig into how Morphing Meerkat uses DNS-over-HTTPS (DoH) and clever phishing kits to evade detection. Then, they shift focus to Proton66, a Russian-based bulletproof host that shelters a new generation of low-skill attackers, including a threat actor known as "Coquettte" with ties to the Horrid Hacking group.

291 episodes

#Tech #Breaking Bad

Inside Morphing Meerkat and Proton66: How Cybercrime Is Getting Easier

Breaking Badness

published 23 days ago

MP3•Episode home

291 episodes

#Tech #Breaking Bad

All episodes

Breaking Badness

1
Building Secure Campaigns and Better Humans: A Conversation with Mick Baccio 23:03

9 days ago23:03

23:03

In this episode of Breaking Badness, Kali Fencl sits down with Mick Baccio, Global Security Advisor at Splunk and former CISO for Pete Buttigieg’s 2020 presidential campaign. Mick shares his journey from aspiring Navy nuclear engineer to leading security in some of the highest-stakes environments, including the White House. They explore how threat intelligence, storytelling, and mentorship shape the future of cybersecurity. From his early days in government to his work on the Splunk SURGe team, Mick opens up about what it takes to build secure systems, stronger teams, and more empathetic leadership in cybersecurity.…

Breaking Badness

1
Hacking the Stage: John Donovan on RSAC, BSides SF, and the Human Side of Cybersecurity 22:13

15 days ago22:13

22:13

In this episode of Breaking Badness, we sit down with John Donovan of ZEDEDA to unpack the lighter and more profound sides of cybersecurity’s biggest gatherings. From RSA’s unexpected baby goats and vendor booth antics to BSides San Francisco’s community-driven keynote stage, John shares personal stories, industry insights, and valuable advice on how newcomers and veterans alike can navigate events like RSA, BSides, and DEF CON. You’ll hear how he "hacked" his way onto the main stage, what it means to wear a “No Purchasing Authority” pin, and why protecting your mom from scams might be more urgent than defending your enterprise.…

Breaking Badness

1
Inside Morphing Meerkat and Proton66: How Cybercrime Is Getting Easier 39:39

23 days ago39:39

39:39

Breaking Badness

1
DFIR Foundations: Real-World Lessons in Containment, Eradication, and Recovery 54:45

30 days ago54:45

54:45

In this powerful continuation of our DFIR series, cybersecurity experts Daniel Schwalbe, David Bianco, Lesley Carhart, and Sarah Sabotka dissect the heart of effective incident response, containment, eradication, recovery, and lessons learned. Packed with firsthand war stories, sharp tactical advice, and honest debates, this episode is a must-listen for anyone building or refining their digital forensics and incident response capabilities. Tune in to learn why planning matters, what to do (and not do) during a breach, and how to make the adversary's job harder, one containment plan at a time.…

Breaking Badness

1
DFIRside Chat: Lessons from the Frontlines of Incident Response 42:36

5 weeks ago42:36

42:36

In Part 1 of this special two-part panel, the Breaking Badness podcast gathers leading cybersecurity experts to explore the foundations of DFIR - Digital Forensics and Incident Response. Featuring Daniel Schwalbe (DomainTools), Lesley Carhart (Dragos), David Bianco (Splunk), and Sarah Sabotka (Proofpoint), the panel dives into what makes an effective incident response program, why preparation is often overlooked, and how to bring technical and human elements together during high-stakes security events.…

Breaking Badness

1
How Russian Disinformation Campaigns Exploit Domain Registrars and AI 38:57

6 weeks ago38:57

38:57

In this episode of Breaking Badness, host Kali Fencl is joined by DomainTools' Daniel Schwabe and disinformation expert Scot Terban to uncover how modern Russian disinformation campaigns are using domain registrars, homoglyph attacks, and generative AI to mimic legitimate news outlets and manipulate public perception. From the eerie sophistication of Doppelganger operations to the exploitation of domain infrastructure, this episode sheds light on how truth is being weaponized in the digital era. We also explore how AI is accelerating the speed and scale of these attacks, and the limited levers defenders have to push back.…

Breaking Badness

1
DNS Masterclass: Attacks, Defenses, and the Day the Internet Was Saved 41:17

8 weeks ago41:17

41:17

In this special DNS Masterclass episode of Breaking Badness, hosts Kali Fencl, Tim Helming, and Taylor Wilkes-Pierce take a deep dive into the Domain Name System often dubbed the backbone and battleground of the internet. From its humble beginnings with host files to its critical role in modern security, the episode unpacks DNS’s evolution, vulnerabilities, and impact on InfoSec.…

Breaking Badness

1
From ValleyRAT to Silver Fox: How Graph-Based Threat Intel is Changing the Game 57:53

9 weeks ago57:53

57:53

In this episode of Breaking Badness, host Kali Fencl welcomes Wes Young of CSIRT Gadgets and Daniel Schwalbe, CISO and head of investigations at DomainTools, dive into a recent DomainTools Investigations (DTI) analysis involving ValleyRAT and Silver Fox, and how new tools are enabling faster, more accessible analysis for junior and seasoned analysts alike. Whether you're a threat intel veteran or an aspiring analyst, this episode is packed with hard-earned lessons, technical insights, and future-forward thinking. They also unpack the evolution of threat intelligence from early higher-ed days of wiki-scraped snort rules to today’s graph-powered AI analysis. Wes shares the origin story behind his platform AlphaHunt, how it's being used to automate and enhance threat detection, and why community sharing remains essential even in an era of advanced tooling.…

Breaking Badness

1
APT 41’s VPN Exploits & The Great Firewall’s Leaky Secrets 31:17

9 weeks ago31:17

31:17

In this episode of Breaking Badness, we dive into two major cybersecurity stories: the exploitation of a VPN vulnerability by Chinese APT 41 and the newly discovered “Wall Bleed” flaw in the Great Firewall of China. APT 41 has been using a critical VPN vulnerability to infiltrate operational technology (OT) organizations, targeting industries like aerospace and defense. Meanwhile, researchers have uncovered a flaw in China's DNS injection system, which inadvertently leaks internal data—an ironic twist for a government known for its strict internet censorship. Join us as we break down these exploits, their impact on cybersecurity, and what they reveal about modern cyber espionage. We also discuss best practices for securing VPNs, firewall vulnerabilities, and the ethical implications of studying censorship technologies.…

Breaking Badness

1
Hacked Chats & Telecom Takedowns: Black Basta & Salt Typhoon 43:23

11 weeks ago43:23

43:23

Episode 202 of Breaking Badness takes a deep dive into two of the biggest cybersecurity stories of the year (so far): ● Black Basta’s Leaked Chats – A major data leak has exposed internal conversations from this notorious ransomware gang, revealing their internal struggles, ransom negotiations, and even workplace drama. ● Salt Typhoon’s Cyber Espionage – A sophisticated Chinese threat group has been caught infiltrating major U.S. telecommunications providers, raising serious concerns about national security.…

Breaking Badness

1
Building a Hacker Conference from Scratch: The Wild Origins of ShmooCon 44:32

11 weeks ago44:32

44:32

In this episode of Breaking Badness, we sit down with Bruce and Heidi Potter, two of the masterminds behind ShmooCon, the legendary cybersecurity conference that ran for 20 years. They take us behind the scenes, from its hilarious bar-napkin origins to how they built a tight-knit hacker community that thrived for two decades.…

Breaking Badness

1
Takeovers, DeepSeek Deceptions & the Cloud’s Dirty Laundry 40:14

13 weeks ago40:14

40:14

In this episode of Breaking Badness, we dive into two major cybersecurity concerns: the risks of abandoned S3 buckets and a wave of phishing attacks impersonating DeepSeek. Watchtowr Labs uncovers how forgotten AWS storage can be hijacked for malicious purposes, potentially compromising military, government, and enterprise systems. Meanwhile, attackers exploit DeepSeek’s rising popularity to create lookalike sites, tricking unsuspecting users into downloading malware or exposing credentials. Join hosts Kali Fencl, Tim Helming, and Taylor Wilkes-Pierce as they break down these findings with humor, deep insights, and even a few pop culture references. Plus, we rate the severity of these threats on our infamous Hoodie Scale and wrap up with Gold, Guidance & Grievances.…

Breaking Badness

1
Cybersecurity’s Evolution, 200 Puns Later! 44:36

14 weeks ago44:36

44:36

Welcome to the 200th episode of Breaking Badness! 🎉 In this special milestone edition, we take a nostalgic stroll down memory lane, discuss the evolution of cybersecurity, and explore how the podcast—and the security landscape—has changed since 2019. In this special milestone episode, hosts Kali Fencl, Tim Helming, and Taylor Wilkes-Pierce are joined by longtime friend of the show, Allan Liska, to reflect on how both the podcast and cybersecurity world have evolved over the past six years. Let’s take a stroll down memory lane and explore how Breaking Badness went from an experimental idea to a trusted, pun-filled source of cybersecurity insights.…

Breaking Badness

1
Zero Trust, Secure Coding & Developer Incentives: Tanya Janca on AppSec’s Biggest Challenges 36:49

15 weeks ago36:49

36:49

In this episode of Breaking Badness, we welcome back Tanya Janca, aka SheHacksPurple, to discuss her latest book, Alice and Bob Learn Secure Coding. Tanya dives deep into the fundamental principles of secure software development, the psychology behind developer incentives, and the often-overlooked importance of zero trust security.…

Breaking Badness

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DNS Errors and Malware Builders Turning on Attackers 35:10

16 weeks ago35:10