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Artwork for What the Hack?

What the Hack?

DeleteMe
Cybersecurity
Cybercrime
Scams
Identity Theft
Data Privacy
Privacy
Data Brokers
Cryptocurrency
Social Engineering
Sextortion
Romance Scams
Artificial Intelligence
Ransomware
Consumer Protection
Cyberbullying
Kids Online Safety Act
Mental Health
Fraud Prevention
Real Estate Scams
Fraud

"What the Hack?" is the award-winning true cybercrime podcast--the place to hear memorable stories and get good advice. Make yourself harder to find, harder to hit: [DeleteMe ](joindeleteme.com)

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes267Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
True CrimeTechnology

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Artwork for What the Hack?

Latest Episodes

Benn Jordan—musician, acoustic scientist, and one of the sharpest minds on surveillance technology—joins 404 Media’s Jason Koebler and the ACLU’s Jay Stanley to trace how surveillance went ambient— and what it means when everyone’s being watched.

Ma... more

A stranger showed up at Anna Nasset's art gallery with a painting called "Marry Me." She said no. He did not get the message — for 15 years. Now Anna trains law enforcement on stalking, because someone has to explain that "she should be killed" is a ... more

Coco Berthmann sold a survival story. Amanda Riley sold a cancer battle. Both were lies that raided communities, wallets, and trust. Journalists Sarah Ganim, Karen Given, and Charlie Webster tell the stories; cognitive scientist Daniel Simons explain... more

Fake screenshots. Burner numbers. Forged emails. A stalker who somehow always knew what a 15-year-old was wearing. Blogger Cathy Holman thought she knew everyone in her tiny Wyoming town—so who's been terrorizing her family?

Make yourself harder to f... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Anna Nasset
Trauma-informed graphic design for victim service agencies; author; stalking survivor
Independent consultant / founder of her design practice
Episode: Episode 264: 15 Years of Fear: A Stalking Story
Daniel Simons
Cognitive scientist
California Institute of Technology (based on known affiliation of coauthor)
Episode: Episode 263: The Affinity Scam Playbook
Sarah Ganim
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist
Reuters/Associated with investigative reporting on Coco Berthmann
Episode: Episode 263: The Affinity Scam Playbook
Karen Given
Edward R. Murrow Award-winning cohost
Journalist
Episode: Episode 263: The Affinity Scam Playbook
Cathy Holman
Mother and advocate whose daughter was involved in a high-profile online stalking case in Wyoming
Prairie Wife and Heels (blog)
Episode: Episode 262: The Mystery that Changed Wyoming's Stalking Law
Aaron Parnas
A lawyer and journalist known for daily news updates and a Substack presence
Parnas Perspective / Substack
Episode: Episode 261: Aaron Parnas on the Firehose of Our Digital Here-and-Now
Ethan Merritt
OSINT researcher and guest on What the Hack
DeleteMe
Episode: Episode 259: Capture The Flag!
Tal Kollender
Co-founder, CEO of Remedio; former hacker and Israeli security veteran
Remedio
Episode: Episode 258: Fighter Pilot Cadet Turned Hacker, She Keeps Us Safe
Seth Godin
Best-selling author, entrepreneur, marketing visionary
Episode: Episode 257: Seth Godin's Anti-Spam Playbook: Be Awesome

Hosts

Beau Friedlander
Host of What the Hack; Deep-dives into cybercrime, privacy, and surveillance with a focus on actionable privacy practices.
Glenn Sorensen
Co-host and privacy/security expert providing technical and policy perspectives.

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 635 ratings
  • Fascinating real-life stories

    Incredible and valuable insights into the topic of „safety in the online world“, all thanks to the show’s easy-going conversations with guests who have „been there“.

    Highly recommended for everyone who’s online.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    bek--bek
    Germany24 days ago
  • 99 night in the forest

    Kallbear

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Christie Bowman
    United States4 months ago
  • Cybercrime or Cyberpolitics?

    The podcast claims to be about Cybercrime but than delves into US social-political issues, and is predictably one-sided.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    ThemePro
    United States4 months ago
  • I looooooveee thissssssss

    Hm

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Pheandparkercrashmoe
    United States6 months ago
  • Nice popcast

    Great value

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Kael2809
    United States7 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise clear, practical privacy tips and the host duo's dynamic.
Some reviews note perceived political slant and call for deeper episode detail.
Audience appreciates investigative angles and guest diversity but desires less repetition and more in-depth analysis.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#240
Poland/True Crime

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode 264: 15 Years of Fear: A Stalking Story
Q: How did your personal experience influence your current work with victims and law enforcement?
Experiencing stalking firsthand motivated me to train professionals and advocate for victims, focusing on accessibility, trauma-informed communication, and practical resources that can help people document, report, and seek protection more effectively.
Episode 264: 15 Years of Fear: A Stalking Story
Q: What were the most challenging parts of engaging with law enforcement and the legal system?
Understanding the complexity of stalking law, the difficulty in proving ongoing fear, and the slow pace of legal processes were tough; the police and prosecutors gradually built a case once the behavior escalated and a pattern emerged.
Episode 264: 15 Years of Fear: A Stalking Story
Q: Can you walk us through how the stalking began and what initial steps you took to protect yourself?
The encounter started with unusual messages and a creeping sense that something was off; I disabled direct communication, limited contact, and moved toward involving law enforcement to set boundaries, which gradually led to a protection order after escalating behavior.
Episode 263: The Affinity Scam Playbook
Q: Sarah, you've won a Pulitzer Prize, Karen you have an Edward R. Murrow award. How has this work affected you personally?
The guests describe how personal trust in survivors and shared identities can be manipulated, and how their investigations confront the human impact of affinity scams beyond financial loss.
Episode 263: The Affinity Scam Playbook
Q: Let's start with the phrase itself. What is an affinity scam?
Affinity scams exploit belonging to a group by leveraging shared identity and trust to convince people to invest or donate under false pretenses; the scam uses familiarity with an identifiable group to appear legitimate.

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 What the Hack?

What is What the Hack? about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show frequently covers privacy, surveillance, and cybercrime, with episodes ranging from romance scams and fraud to Fourth Amendment protections and law-enforcement data practices. Conversations often feature researchers, journalists, policymakers, and privacy advocates who dissect how data collection, surveillance technologies, and online safety intersect with public policy, ethics, and personal security. The format blends investigative storytelling with practical tips for listeners to reduce exposure and defend digital footprints. A standout throughline is a critical eye on corporate data practices, government overreach, and the balance between safety and civil liberties, making it useful for listeners who want clear takeaways for pe... more

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Which podcasts are similar to What the Hack??

These podcasts share a similar audience with What the Hack?:

1. Hacked
2. Click Here
3. Hacker And The Fed
4. Hacking Humans
5. Darknet Diaries

How many episodes of What the Hack? are there?

What the Hack? launched 5 years ago and published 267 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 What the Hack??

Recent guests on What the Hack? include:

1. Anna Nasset
2. Daniel Simons
3. Sarah Ganim
4. Karen Given
5. Cathy Holman
6. Aaron Parnas
7. Ethan Merritt
8. Tal Kollender

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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