Rephonic
Artwork for Darknet Diaries

Darknet Diaries

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

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 monthlyEpisodes197Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Technology

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Darknet Diaries

Latest Episodes

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

Nickolas Sharp worked for Ubiquiti, a company that makes networking equipment. He noticed that there were some security problems at work. He tried to point them out, but didn't feel like he was being listened to enough. What do you do when the compan... more

This is the story of the hacker known as "USDoD". When he was young he had a vengeance on the US, and this lead him down a road of continual data breaches, until he hacked into National Public Data, which is when his spree went one step too far.

Spo... more

One day Nick got a visit from the FBI demanding he give them data on one of his customers. They asked for it in the form of a National Security Letter or NSL. Something wasn’t right about this letter. It seemed to violate the constitution. So he set ... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Hacked
HackedHacked
CyberWire Daily
CyberWire DailyN2K Networks
Smashing Security
Smashing SecurityGraham Cluley
Hacking Humans
Hacking HumansN2K Networks
Risky Business
Risky BusinessRisky Business Media

Recent Guests

Nick Merrill
Former owner of Calyx, early internet entrepreneur
Calyx (privacy-focused company)
Episode: 176: NSL
Cindy Cohn
Executive Director of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, attorney
Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF)
Episode: 176: NSL
Stacey Whitaker
FBI Special Agent
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Episode: 175: Bayrob
Brian Levine
DOJ Prosecutor
Department of Justice
Episode: 175: Bayrob
Owen Miller
Director, AOL CERT team
AOL CERT
Episode: 175: Bayrob
Bogdan Nicolescu
Master Fraud
Bayrob group (defendant)
Episode: 175: Bayrob
Tiberiu Dinette
A Mighty SA
Bayrob group
Episode: 175: Bayrob
Radu Miklaus
Minolta / other aliases
Bayrob group
Episode: 175: Bayrob
Andrew Brandt
Principal researcher for Sophos, later principal threat researcher for Netcraft
Sophos / Netcraft
Episode: 174: Pacific Rim

Host

Jack Rhysider
Host of the show

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 44.4k ratings
  • Fascinating stories, every time. I can never get enough and even paid for the bonus episodes.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Rora Borealis
    a month ago
  • Scary world out there.

    Was introduced to this podcast by a friend in the cyber industry. Although some… most is above my head, host is really engaging and I like his relaxed style. Some great guests and I’m switching off my mobile after listening. lol.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Mikeypikey23
    United Kingdoma month ago
  • Infected by Darknet Diaries

    Darknet Diaries started as a recommendation from an AI, and honestly, I wasn’t sure what to expect. At first, the host’s voice felt a little corny, and I’ll admit, the whole vibe came off a bit cheesy. But like a piece of clever spyware that quietly settles in, this show worked its way into my routine over time.

    A few episodes in, I was hooked. Three weeks of binge-listening later, I can say this podcast is absolutely worth it. The storytelling is sharp, the topics are fascinating, and the mix ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    RWLZDJ
    United States2 months ago
  • Fascinating

    In depth and entertaining my personal experience is that Jack can at times sound hysterical when trying to show excitement and I find it distracting and biased. Let the listener decide. Generally really well done and this could just be my listening preference.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    mc d-ren
    United States2 months ago
  • love it

    def recommend for anyone interested in tech or hacking. my cousin recommended the show and it actually got me into programming. every friend i’ve shared the show with loved it.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    evanissleeping
    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.

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.
167: Threatlocker
Q: What happened during the ransomware attack?
In a short span, ransomware encrypted 250 servers and disrupted business operations, leading to frantic recovery efforts.
164: Oak Cliff Swipers
Q: Tell me about putting your first skimmer.
I used to put it on a gas station pump that I grew up near, because I was confident they wouldn't care about me.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

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

Where can I find podcast stats for Darknet Diaries?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Darknet Diaries. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Darknet Diaries and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Darknet Diaries get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for four million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Darknet Diaries, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Darknet Diaries?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Darknet Diaries, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Darknet Diaries have?

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. Hacked
2. CyberWire Daily
3. Smashing Security
4. Hacking Humans
5. Risky Business

How many episodes of Darknet Diaries are there?

Darknet Diaries launched 9 years ago and published 197 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Darknet Diaries?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Darknet Diaries?

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

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Darknet Diaries?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Darknet Diaries. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Darknet Diaries?

Recent guests on Darknet Diaries include:

1. Nick Merrill
2. Cindy Cohn
3. Stacey Whitaker
4. Brian Levine
5. Owen Miller
6. Bogdan Nicolescu
7. Tiberiu Dinette
8. Radu Miklaus

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days