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Artwork for What the Hack?

What the Hack?

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

"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)

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes279Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
True CrimeTechnology

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Artwork for What the Hack?

Latest Episodes

Your holiday wish list has cameras, microphones, and more pointed right at you, and you might not even know it. Jen Caltrider explains why smart glasses top her do-not-buy list and why the best gift this year might come from a thrift store.

Make your... more

A mom posts a video of herself singing in the car with her daughter. Under it, Meta AI suggests a question: ‘Who’s the child passenger?’ One tap later: names, birthdays, and photos of Kalie Robins' daughter she says she’d deleted.

Make yourself harde... more

Chris Parr, A.K.A Chris the Producer, asked the five biggest data brokers for his file. They refused. So he started an LLC, built a website, and bought his own data for nine dollars, which was enough to predict the baby he and his partner are expecti... more

Rochester broker "J-Man" explains how scammers impersonate owners, why AI-made rental listings are multiplying, and one thing owners and renters can do this week to stay safe.

Make yourself harder to find, harder to hit: joindeleteme.com

Lea... more

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Recent Guests

Jen Caltrider
Consumer privacy advocate and creator of Mozilla's Privacy Not Included.
Mozilla
Episode: Episode 277: Holiday Hidden Privacy Nightmares
Kalie Robins
Travel mom creator who posts parenting and family content
Episode: Episode 276: Who's the Child Passenger?
Andrew Stephen
Producer and editor
Episode: Episode 276: Who's the Child Passenger?
Chris Parr
YouTuber and video producer who investigates data brokers and surveillance pricing.
Episode: Episode 275: What $9 Buys You from a Data Broker
Jay Jones
The profiler, a cybersecurity investigator focused on fake job scams
TheProfiler.org
Episode: Episode 273: Profiler Jay Jones Takes on Fake Job Scams
Ava Smithing
A teenage girl who testified before Congress about Instagram's impact on eating disorders
Young People's Alliance
Episode: Episode 272: You Should Be Unsettled: Meta and Teens
Daniel Boguslaw
Investigative reporter
The Intercept; American Prospect; Deeper States
Episode: Episode 271: Are You Being Watched? (You Are.)
Rob Shavell
CEO of DeleteMe
DeleteMe
Episode: Episode 270: Your Driver's License Can't Prove Who You Are Anymore
Shannon Edwards
Data privacy advocate; former eBay chief shopper; parent and advisor to education privacy initiatives
Former eBay; Data privacy advocate
Episode: Episode 269: The Student Data Free-for-All

Host

Beau Friedlander
Host of What the Hack?

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 644 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
    Germany4 months ago
  • 99 night in the forest

    Kallbear

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Christie Bowman
    United States6 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 States7 months ago
  • I looooooveee thissssssss

    Hm

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Pheandparkercrashmoe
    United States9 months ago
  • Nice popcast

    Great value

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Kael2809
    United States9 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Some listeners feel it sometimes leans into politics
Strong, accessible privacy guidance and actionable steps
Reassuring, hands-on discussions that help users protect themselves
Engaging, real-life stories with practical safety tips

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#217
Japan/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#221
Finland/True Crime

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode 277: Holiday Hidden Privacy Nightmares
Q: What are the most practical steps? What can consumers do to vet products, privacy, and security, short of reading the privacy policy?
Caltrider recommends checking whether a company has a history of fines or data breaches, removing unused apps, sharing less, and urging lawmakers to pass privacy protections.
Episode 277: Holiday Hidden Privacy Nightmares
Q: What's the worst this holiday season?
Jen Caltrider singles out smart glasses, especially AI-enabled models that can record people and potentially identify strangers without their consent.
Episode 276: Who's the Child Passenger?
Q: What do parents do now?
Robins says parents can stop posting identifiable details going forward, or make it much harder to determine their children's identities and whereabouts by avoiding clues such as school signs, sports scoreboards, and team jerseys.
Episode 276: Who's the Child Passenger?
Q: When it asked who the child was, did it already know the answer?
Robins says Meta AI identified both daughters by their full legal names and showed photos and videos, including material from relatives' accounts and an image she had deleted years earlier.
Episode 275: What $9 Buys You from a Data Broker
Q: What were you able to figure out from it?
The data file revealed inferred interests and details such as his Toyota Matrix, while an AI analysis suggested likely marketing targets. Some predictions matched his life, including an expected baby and a recent three-row vehicle purchase, while others were inaccurate.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
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Frequently Asked Questions About What the Hack?

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

A hard-hitting tech-safety show that centers on privacy, cybercrime, and digital surveillance, blending investigative reporting with practical guidance. Recent episodes spotlight real-world cases of stalking, romance scams, and state-of-the-art surveillance ecosystems, while unpacking how law, policy, and technology intersect with civil liberties. Guests range from journalists and legal experts to survivors and security practitioners, all contributing accessible, action-oriented insights for everyday online safety and for organizations seeking to understand and mitigate digital risks. Noteworthy is a consistent emphasis on empowering listeners with concrete steps, from data minimization to platform accountability, often framed through compe... more

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Which podcasts are similar to What the Hack??

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

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

How many episodes of What the Hack? are there?

What the Hack? launched 5 years ago and published 279 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. Jen Caltrider
2. Kalie Robins
3. Andrew Stephen
4. Chris Parr
5. Jay Jones
6. Ava Smithing
7. Daniel Boguslaw
8. Rob Shavell

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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