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
North Korea
Chris Rock
Social Media
Data Brokers
Cryptocurrency
9/11
Al-Qaeda
Pen Testing

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

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Darknet Diaries

Latest Episodes

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

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.

Sponsors

more

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

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

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
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

Host

Jack Rhysider
Host of the show

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 44.6k ratings
  • 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
    Germany14 days 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
    a month 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 Statesa month ago
  • Just one note

    Subject matter and guests are phenomenal! One note - the hosts often repeats or comments on incredulously things that come up multiple times in an episode, and it feels self-referential in a way that slows down the story. The audience of a show like this is smart enough to get things the first time.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Felizabeth99
    Australiaa month ago
  • the interviews are horrible

    ignore all the shows with an interview. they lack in quality.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    laurenverde
    United Statesa month 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 198 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. Justin Wynn
2. Gary DeMercurio
3. Gabby DeMercurio
4. Nick Merrill
5. Cindy Cohn
6. Stacey Whitaker
7. Brian Levine
8. Owen Miller

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