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Darknet Diaries

Jack Rhysider
Cybersecurity
Social Engineering
Ransomware
Wannacry
Malware
FBI
Hieu Minh Ngo
Cybercrime
Defcon
Fake Degrees
Identity Theft
Penetration Testing
North Korea
Chris Rock
Social Media
Data Brokers
Cryptocurrency
SIM Swapping
Pen Testing
9/11

Explore true stories of the dark side of the Internet with host Jack Rhysider as he takes you on a journey through the chilling world of hacking, data breaches, and cyber crime.

¿Hablas español? Escucha en español aquí ➔ darknetdiaries.com/es/

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes198Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Technology

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Artwork for Darknet Diaries

Latest Episodes

Imagine driving down the road and your phone loses signal. Not just a lost signal, but it starts displaying SOS. Meaning no service configured at all. You can't make any calls, no data, no service. What goes through your head?

In this episode we hea... more

YouTube

The word Conti struck fear in IT departments across the world. It's a type of ransomware that you hope to never come across. Like most ransomware gangs, the Conti group fell apart. But what's special about this story is how it fell apart. Because it ... more

YouTube

After 8 years, LOW is finally here. A story about the weight of being and the wreckage of waking up. Five episodes. Five descents. LOW is an audio journey into the unlit corners of human experience. Choices we made in the dark, the silences we carry,... more

In this episode we follow up with Gabby and Justin from Episode 59 - two seasoned penetration testers who tell us a story about the time when they tried to break into a courthouse but it went all wrong, and what happened in the aftermath.

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Key Facts

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Contact Information
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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Ricky Handschumacher
Former SIM-swapper and cryptocurrency thief who now speaks at security events
Episode: 181: Ricky
Mark Kreitzman
Technology entrepreneur who founded Efani after being targeted in a SIM-swap attack
Efani
Episode: 181: Ricky
Debbie Handschumacher
Ricky Handschumacher's mother and a former nurse at the Pasco County Jail
Pasco County Jail
Episode: 181: Ricky
Alex Holden
Ukrainian cyber-security researcher, Hold Security
Hold Security (Milwaukee)
Episode: 180: Conti
Geoff White
Investigative journalist
BBC, Cyber Hack (The Conti Files)
Episode: 180: Conti
Justin Wynn
Senior security consultant with Coalfire Systems; offensive penetration tester
Coalfire Systems
Episode: 179: The Courthouse - Revisited
Gary DeMercurio
Managing senior and Bellevue office lead at Coalfire; physical pen tester
Coalfire Systems
Episode: 179: The Courthouse - Revisited
Gabby DeMercurio
Co-founder of Kaiju Security; penetration tester and civil rights advocate
Kaiju Security
Episode: 179: The Courthouse - Revisited
Nick Merrill
Former owner of Calyx, early internet entrepreneur
Calyx (privacy-focused company)
Episode: 176: NSL

Host

Jack Rhysider
Host of the show

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 44.7k ratings
  • Real world stories, thanks Jack

    Gotta say this is my favourite podcast. If you’re into IT/cyber or just want to listen to a good story then I recommend this. Nice voice, easy bed time listening

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    captain rog
    United Kingdom7 days ago
  • All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.

    Jack, you’re doing a hell of a job telling these stories that are legitimately incredible, yet get little to no mainstream coverage. People need to be more technologically aware even if they are not technologically proficient. You gotta start being safe, being media literate, and not trade information, security or freedom for convenience. Brilliant show.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Tigermask13
    Canada22 days ago
  • Thank you

    I love your stories and the way you tell them. Every episode draws me in from the very first second - it’s fascinating and entertaining throughout. A big thank-you to you and your crew for the care you put into making these stories so captivating!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MVPen
    Germanya month ago
  • Great stories about the internet, hackers, social engineers, conventions, influencial people in the hardware society, etc.The host also presents it interestingly enought, to listen to an episod in one go and not loose the audience somewhere in between. (5/7 for the meme comunity)

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Schausi
    2 months ago
  • ❤️ Darknet and Jack

    This podcast is incredible and if you listen to every episode you will practically have a masters in cyber security. Great story telling. Engaging content and always relevant to the latest in the cyber industry news.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    HonestlyBrother
    United States2 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some reviews note pacing or production quirks but still regard the content as top-tier in security storytelling.
The podcast is seen as essential listening for cybersecurity professionals and enthusiasts.
Listeners praise the host's engaging storytelling and credible guests.
The show is valued for deep, investigative security stories with practical takeaways.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

181: Ricky
Q: What would have made a difference to you as a teenager that would have stopped you going down this pathway?
Ricky said companies could have intervened earlier and offered him a legitimate job where he could use his skills to help organizations.
181: Ricky
Q: What information were you looking for when you called Amazon?
Ricky was trying to obtain a target's phone number. By posing as the account holder and verifying account details, he could get customer-service representatives to reveal the number associated with an email address.
176: NSL
Q: What were the core constitutional issues raised by the NSL case?
The case centered on potential violations of the First, Fourth, and Fifth Amendments—free speech, privacy without a warrant, and protection against compelled self-incrimination—driving arguments about prior restraint and due process.
176: NSL
Q: How did the initial NSL affect Nick Merrill and his business operations?
Nick describes receiving a supposedly routine postal-style letter with an FBI directive, followed by a severe gag order that prevented him from discussing the matter, which forced him into a civil-liberties fight that spanned years.
167: Threatlocker
Q: What is Threatlocker's mission?
Threatlocker's mission is to change security practices from allowing by default to denying by default, ensuring only trusted applications run.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Frequently Asked Questions About Darknet Diaries

What is Darknet Diaries about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show surveys true stories from the cyber world, ranging from high-profile data breaches and criminal operations to insider threats and state-backed intrusions. Episodes mix investigative reporting with accessible storytelling, spotlighting the human side of security incidents, the tactics attackers use, and the evolving landscape of digital risk. A distinctive thread is the prep and reporting rigor behind each case, often featuring a mix of practitioners, investigators, and researchers who bring practical context to complex tech topics. The format tends to blend technical detail with narrative pacing, making it engaging for listeners who want both lessons learned and compelling storytelling.

Notable strengths include a steady stream o... more

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To see how many followers or subscribers Darknet Diaries has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Darknet Diaries?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Darknet Diaries:

1. LOW
2. Hacked
3. CyberWire Daily
4. Smashing Security
5. Hacking Humans

How many episodes of Darknet Diaries are there?

Darknet Diaries launched 9 years ago and published 198 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Darknet Diaries from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on Darknet Diaries?

Recent guests on Darknet Diaries include:

1. Ricky Handschumacher
2. Mark Kreitzman
3. Debbie Handschumacher
4. Alex Holden
5. Geoff White
6. Justin Wynn
7. Gary DeMercurio
8. Gabby DeMercurio

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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