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Artwork for Hacker And The Fed
Cybersecurity
Ransomware
China
Data Breaches
Cryptocurrency
Artificial Intelligence
Supply Chain Attacks
CISO
North Korea
Cybersecurity Scams
Data Breach
Social Engineering
Zero Trust
Cyber Attacks
Whatsapp
Phishing
FBI
Coinbase
Microsoft
Scattered Spiders

Former FBI Special Agent, Chris Tarbell, and ex-Anonymous/LulzSec blackhat hacker turned network penetration tester, Hector Monsegur (aka Sabu), once faced off as adversaries in cyberspace before becoming close friends and now podcast co-hosts. Whether you are a legal professional, cybersecurity practitioner, or forensic investigator, Chris and Hector will bring you their unique perspectives on th... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes143Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
GovernmentTechnology

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Artwork for Hacker And The Fed

Latest Episodes

Chris and Hector discuss the ransomware attack that disrupted Coca-Cola's Fairlife dairy operations, a phishing campaign that stole hundreds of private Snapchat accounts, Romania's crippled land registry after a destructive cyberattack, LG's decision... more

Chris and Hector break down a critical WordPress vulnerability discovered with AI, the Steam malware campaign that stole cryptocurrency from gamers, Madison Square Garden's secret facial recognition database, AI voice cloning scams targeting families... more

Chris and Hector cover the FBI's takedown of the NetNut residential proxy network, Microsoft's role in identifying a Scattered Spider suspect, a ransomware negotiator who secretly worked with criminals, a controversial Windows zero-day disclosure, a ... more

Chris and Hector break down Canada's offensive cyber campaign against fentanyl traffickers, the arrest of an alleged Scattered Spider member, a new wave of AI infrastructure hijacking, growing privacy protections in Virginia, and why the U.S. still s... more

Key Facts

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Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Anonymous CISO
Anonymous Chief Information Security Officer joining for part two
Anonymous CISO (guest)
Episode: What CISOs Actually Worry About
Aron Mann
Special Agent with the Homeland Security Investigation Cybercrime Unit
Department of Homeland Security
Episode: The Colonial Pipeline Hack, the SEC's X Account, and Special Agent Aron Mann on Homeland Security and Cyber
Greg Van Houten
Attorney specializing in insurance recovery and cybersecurity.
Haynes Boone
Episode: A Train Hack, $80M Pig Butchering Scheme, and Greg Van Houten of Haynes Boone on the SEC's New Cybersecurity Disclosure Rules
Lance Taubin
Attorney with a focus on cybersecurity law at Alston Bird
Alston Bird
Episode: The FBI Shares Tactics of a Ransomware Gang, a Ransom Payment Fail, and Cyber Law with Lance Taubin

Hosts

Chris Tarbell
Host of the show, former FBI Special Agent; cybersecurity expert with extensive public-sector background.
Hector Monsegur
Co-host; ex-hacker (Sabu) turned security practitioner with deep experience in red team and cybercrime lore.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 544 ratings
  • The juvenile jokes gets old really fast

    Hector has some great insights, that makes the show somewhat interesting. But the FBI dude’s constant juvenile Bro joke attempts are more annoying than they are funny.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    plawer88
    United States3 months ago
  • You are what you do

    Crappie people do crappie things. You are what you do so there for you are what you do.

    Criminal cowards of chaos.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Dunka Dude
    United Statesa year ago
  • Listen to their Patreon

    Long time listener of the pod and I have zero IT background. That’s how amazing this podcast is. Then when they came out with a paid Patreon subscription pod, it exceeded my expectations. The stuff they talk about on Patreon is hilarious lol

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Qallen2013
    United Statesa year ago
  • Love and Respect!

    Great show with awesome dynamic between the hosts. Up to date industry news, funny stories and loads of banter!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    NonRelativist
    United Kingdoma year ago
  • Really enjoyable, but…

    They make cyber security entertaining and informative for normal people. I would suggest any executive or business owner listen regularly to keep such things top of mind. I hesitate to recommend it to friends and family because they just can’t resist the occasional F bomb.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Clintonrebel
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

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

Shows strong technical credibility with real-world incident insight.
Dynamic duo delivers accessible security stories with humor.
Listener feedback highlights useful takeaways for executives and practitioners.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#194
United States/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#43
Ireland/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#125
Colombia/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#162
United Arab Emirates/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#196
India/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#202
Poland/Technology

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

FIFA Left the Front Door Wide Open
Q: In many mid-sized companies, breaches seem to come from non-public facing vectors. How do attackers gain initial access if the public website isn't the primary attack surface?
Attackers exploit social engineering, phishing, and credential theft to gain access to endpoints, then move laterally, often abusing VPNs or login portals; they also target developers through supply chain weaknesses and insecure API use, especially when apps have API keys or inadequate access controls that expose internal systems.
What CISOs Actually Worry About
Q: How has the rise of ransomware and supply chains changed the day-to-day reality of being a CISO compared to five or ten years ago?
The evolution has shifted how incidents are managed, increasing reliance on cyber-insurance, external counsel, and continuous preparedness exercises; the core requirement is to be ready for inevitable incidents with practiced response and routine tabletop exercises.
What CISOs Actually Worry About
Q: Why do CISOs so often end up as the fall guy after a major breach, even when the problem started years before they were hired?
Responsibility often rests with the highest-paid risk owners in the organization; if the board and executive team push risky initiatives or fail to provide adequate resources, the CISO becomes the convenient target when failures occur.
What CISOs Actually Worry About
Q: What's the big example of cyber security theater you've seen in a large organization that everyone knows doesn't actually improve security, but leadership still pushes forward anyways?
Mobile security is highlighted as a classic theater example where significant resources are spent on perceived protections while real, substantive risk reduction remains lagging behind, underscoring the need for measurable, ongoing improvements.
What CISOs Actually Worry About
Q: If you could tell your CEO one thing about cybersecurity that they probably don't want to hear, what would it be?
AI is not the universal answer;security must be grounded in practical, verifiable controls and ongoing risk management rather than hype, and leadership should acknowledge real limitations and invest accordingly.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Hacker And The Fed

What is Hacker And The Fed about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Two seasoned cybersecurity practitioners lead a candid, high-energy dialogue that blends real-world incident analysis with personal history. Episodes frequently cover governance, third‑party risk, AI governance and policy, supply chains, and the tension between innovation and security, all tempered by sharp banter and hands-on expertise. Notable strengths include a rare blend of offensive and defensive perspectives, practical security hygiene takeaways, and a willingness to critique government, corporate, and industry practices with humor. The format is accessible to executives and practitioners alike, making complex topics relatable without sacrificing technical insight. A standout aspect is the hosts' long-running collaboration, which add... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Hacker And The Fed?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Hacker And The Fed:

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

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Hacker And The Fed launched 4 years ago and published 143 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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What guests have appeared on Hacker And The Fed?

Recent guests on Hacker And The Fed include:

1. Anonymous CISO
2. Aron Mann
3. Greg Van Houten
4. Lance Taubin

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