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How Hacks Happen

Many Worlds Productions
Cybersecurity
Scams
Identity Theft
Artificial Intelligence
Catfishing
Random Number Generators
Romance Scams
Chatgpt
Data Mining
Bitcoin
Job Scams
Silk Road
Ross Ulbricht
Data Breaches
Equifax
Facebook
Fraud
Instagram
Cryptography
Tor Browser

Hacks, scams, cyber crimes, and other shenanigans explored and explained. Presented by your friendly neighborhood cybersecurity gal Michele Bousquet.

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes86Founded6 years ago
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Artwork for How Hacks Happen

Latest Episodes

The promise of Hollywood stardom leads some to fraud and scams. In this episode, we talk about three scammers from the land of the silver screen: Alison Gu, a convicted fraudster who tried to hire Chinese-speaking actors as witnesses for her case; Za... more

When musician Michael Smith couldn't find an audience for his music, he manufactured it. By unleashing thousands of bots to listen to thousands of fake AI-generated songs on Spotify and other platforms, Smith earned millions in royalties before getti... more

Voiceprint ID is the latest virtual gadget for banks and financial institutions. But how secure is it, really? Let's look at the pros and cons of voice recognition, facial ID, and the AI systems they work with, and look back at the 1992 film Sneakers... more

Glitch or fraud? Let's explore "money glitches" popularized on social media, and the consequences faced by people who used them. 

Resources:

• The Chase Money 'Glitch': How a Viral Fraud Scheme Backfired

• What you need to know about "Klarna method... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Su Falcon
Author and professional writer; researching natural disasters for a board game project.
Episode: Wildfire Clickbait: Milking a Disaster on Social Media

Host

Michele Bousquet
Host of How Hacks Happen

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 38 ratings
  • Ditch the music

    I really enjoyed the few episodes I listened to. Great info presented in an entertaining manner

    But OMG that music is SO intrusive! I couldn’t take the irritation factor any more!

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    janirsp
    United States5 years ago
  • Love it

    Really enjoyed this podcast and listening to Michele!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    UltraHellesAnt
    United States5 years ago
  • Reaaally interesting stuff

    I was a student of Michele’s, and I found this podcast after taking one of her classes. After listening to a few episodes, I was intrigued. The part that I find the best is that it explains cybersecurity history through an intense and thrilling storytelling style. Thanks for the great content!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    jamesxgood
    United States6 years ago
  • True Crime Cyber Geeks is delicious and digestible!

    I love love love this show. Michele Bousquet has a talent for taking very obscure and weighty subjects and translating them into explanations that are not only comprehensible, but also entertaining. Short version: laugh while you learn. But don’t take my word for it—listen to an ep and see for yourself, and make your cyber world a safer place while you’re doing so!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Virginia Fair
    United States6 years ago

Listeners Say

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

The host makes cybersecurity history approachable with engaging stories.
Charming storytelling and practical security tips, though the music can be distracting for some listeners.
Listeners praise the host's expertise and clear explanations, calling episodes insightful and actionable.
Highly informative and entertaining; great for fans of cybercrime case studies and defense strategies.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#112
New Zealand/Technology

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Personal Pest Control: Cybersecurity Awareness Month
Q: What are you going to do to make yourself safer during Cybersecurity Awareness Month?
Make a pinky promise to check your passwords and ensure they are long enough, at least 15 to 18 characters, and inspect and question wire transfer information.
Identity Theft: Three Stories | Replay
Q: What actions have you taken to protect yourself now?
Astrid now freezes her credit and ensures her purchases are made with a credit card to facilitate easy disputes.
Identity Theft: Three Stories | Replay
Q: How did you find out about the fraudulent unemployment claim?
Astrid was contacted by her employer regarding a false unemployment claim made in her name.
Identity Theft: Three Stories | Replay
Q: How does someone withdraw money without being you?
Pete learned the bank required only a driver's license or photo ID, which was enough for fraudsters.
Identity Theft: Three Stories | Replay
Q: How did you first notice that this had happened?
Tiffany discovered her credit score was severely impacted when trying to purchase a car.

Audience Metrics

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

Frequently Asked Questions About How Hacks Happen

What is How Hacks Happen about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A seasoned cybersecurity host guides listeners through hacks, scams, and cybercrime with a storytelling mindset. Episodes cover everything from AI-driven scams and streaming fraud to bug bounties, red teaming, and practical security hygiene, often tying real-world incidents to broader security lessons. The show blends historical context, case studies, and actionable tips, making complex topics accessible for technical and non-technical audiences alike. Noteworthy is the host's knack for clarity, engaging narratives, and timely focus on emerging threats and defense strategies, plus a willingness to critique platforms and policies when consumer security is at stake.

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How many listeners does How Hacks Happen get?

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How many subscribers and views does How Hacks Happen have?

To see how many followers or subscribers How Hacks Happen 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 How Hacks Happen?

These podcasts share a similar audience with How Hacks Happen:

1. Darknet Diaries
2. Cybersecurity Headlines

How many episodes of How Hacks Happen are there?

How Hacks Happen launched 6 years ago and published 86 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 How Hacks Happen?

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What guests have appeared on How Hacks Happen?

Recent guests on How Hacks Happen include:

1. Su Falcon

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