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Artwork for Hacking Humans

Hacking Humans

N2K Networks
Cybersecurity
Social Engineering
Scams
Cyber Crime
Phishing Scams
Zero Trust
OWASP
Ransomware
Phishing
Malware
Threatlocker
Network Security
Cyber Security
Cryptocurrency Scams
Multi-Factor Authentication
Artificial Intelligence
Cybercrime
Romance Scams
Data Security
Google

Deception, influence, and social engineering in the world of cyber crime.

PublishesDailyEpisodes802Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Tech NewsNewsTechnology

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Artwork for Hacking Humans

Latest Episodes

This week, while Dave is out, hosts ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Maria Varmazis⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Joe Carrigan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ are discussing t... more

Please enjoy this encore of Word Notes.

Definition one: The recognition of a set of repeatable attack patterns across the intrusion kill chain.

Definition two: Determining the responsibility for offensive cyber operations.

CyberWire Glossary link:... more

YouTube

This week, while Dave is out, hosts ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Maria Varmazis⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Joe Carrigan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ are discussing the l... more

YouTube

Please enjoy this encore of Word Notes.

A type of cyber attack where an attacker sends a targeted and personalized email or other form of communication to a specific individual or a small group of individuals with the intention of tricking them into... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Sponsors
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Recent Guests

Mallory Sefostey
Regular guest on the show
Episode: Red flags ahead.
Ryan Reynolds
Actor starring in Mint Mobile ads featured in the episode
Mint Mobile (advertiser)
Episode: hunt forward operations (noun) [Word Notes]
Arvind Nithra Kishayap
CTO and co-founder of Rubrik
Rubrik
Episode: Artificial Intelligence (AI) (noun) {word Notes]
Corey Ball
Cybersecurity educator and content creator, discussed certifications
Independent/Content Creator
Episode: Certification (noun) [Word Notes]
Simone Petrella
Join N2K's Simone Petrella
N2K
Episode: ZTNA (noun) [Word Notes]
Kim Jones
Intuit representative
Intuit
Episode: ZTNA (noun) [Word Notes]
Kieran Heumann
Lead cybersecurity engineer
ThreatLocker
Episode: Hearing Is no longer believing.
Michele Kellerman
Friend of the show
Self/Guest on show
Episode: A game of loans.
Sean Colicchio
Global CISO of Polara; cybersecurity and IT leader; psychology professor
Polara; Wilmington University
Episode: Who is winning the scam game?

Hosts

Dave Bittner
Host of Hacking Humans; cybersecurity expert and frequent co-host with N2K CyberWire involvement.
Joe Kerrigan
Co-host and cybersecurity expert; provides technical analysis and security insights.
Maria Varmazis
Co-host introducing stories and segments; engages in security and tech discussions.
Rick Howard
Host of Word Notes segment; cybersecurity writer and educator.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 581 ratings
  • The music overlay is annoying

    In the “Class is in session…” episode the music throughout the whole episode is annoying. Please don’t do that again.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Takoateli
    United States17 days ago
  • Hilarious and very informative

    I still have a lot to catch up on, but check out the early Jun 2025 episodes about the chickens and various life stuff. I could not stop laughing.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    TFWas
    United Statesa month ago
  • This is one not to miss.

    This podcast is an interesting mix of personalities and security related humor.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Takoateli
    United States4 months ago
  • Love this pod!

    You all had me dying with the Valentine’s Day episode. This show is a very entertaining way to present modern phishing practices (and chicken raising techniques!) The best part is that you all sound like you’re enjoying yourselves and each other, so please keep it up!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    SmokeStack9
    United States6 months ago
  • Interesting topics, but too much distraction and giggling

    The topics are very interesting, but unfortunately there is so much giggling and distraction amongst the hosts. If one of them is telling a story another would interrupt, make a joke and giggle around. They then continue to joke around and after a while go back to the topic. This happens numerous times during each episode. It makes it almost impossible to follow the content.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    zhdjk
    Ireland8 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise a mix of humor and security insight.
Fans call the show entertaining and informative, with practical security tips.
Some critique giggling and interruptions impacting content flow.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#19
United States/News/Tech News
Apple Podcasts
#20
United Kingdom/News/Tech News
Apple Podcasts
#32
Canada/News/Tech News
Apple Podcasts
#27
Australia/News/Tech News
Apple Podcasts
#49
Germany/News/Tech News
Apple Podcasts
#105
Italy/News/Tech News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Certification (noun) [Word Notes]
Q: Are certifications important in cybersecurity, and what value do they bring in practical terms?
Corey argues that certifications help candidates get their foot in the door and guide their study, but practical hands-on experience and labs are essential to convert certs into real job performance.
Hearing Is no longer believing.
Q: What do you suppose was going on with this original, empty email that started all of this?
The hosts discuss that such emails are designed to trigger a chain of events by convincing recipients to open a malicious link, often leveraging trusted brands or known workflows to bypass skepticism, and then rely on user action to install or enable access.
Defending against unlimited penalty shots. [Hacking Humans Live!]
Q: What role does personal branding play in security training?
Highlight how compromised personal branding or professional consequences can be more motivating for employees to report and avoid risky behaviors, rather than making it about the company alone.
Defending against unlimited penalty shots. [Hacking Humans Live!]
Q: How should organizations measure phishing resilience beyond click-through rates?
Measure changes in response time, the quality of decisions during simulations, and the rate at which employees report suspicious activity, while correlating these metrics with remediation and coaching efforts.
Defending against unlimited penalty shots. [Hacking Humans Live!]
Q: What is the biggest takeaway Rob has for phishing training in organizations?
Train for behavior, not just click-through; tailor simulations to reflect real attacker tactics, languages, and risks, and use micro-learning and gamification to keep people engaged and improving over time.

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 Hacking Humans

What is Hacking Humans about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A security-focused show that blends practical defense insights with entertainment, centering on deception, social engineering, and cyber crime trends. Episodes commonly cover phishing tactics, scams, and human-factor weaknesses, often weaving in humorous anecdotes and real-world case studies to make complex concepts accessible for a broad audience. The format frequently includes practical tips, listener stories, and sponsor messages, with an emphasis on how individuals and organizations can spot red flags and strengthen resilience. A distinctive trait is the balance between hard security knowledge and personable, relatable delivery, which tends to attract both industry professionals and curious non-experts seeking approachable cybersecurity... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Hacking Humans?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Hacking Humans:

1. CyberWire Daily
2. Smashing Security
3. Hacked
4. Cybersecurity Headlines
5. Cybersecurity Today

How many episodes of Hacking Humans are there?

Hacking Humans launched 8 years ago and published 802 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 Hacking Humans from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on Hacking Humans?

Recent guests on Hacking Humans include:

1. Mallory Sefostey
2. Ryan Reynolds
3. Arvind Nithra Kishayap
4. Corey Ball
5. Simone Petrella
6. Kim Jones
7. Kieran Heumann
8. Michele Kellerman

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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