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Artwork for What the Hack?

What the Hack?

DeleteMe
Identity Theft
Cybersecurity
Cryptocurrency
Cybercrime
Scams
Fraud
Romance Scams
Financial Awareness
Sextortion
Family Dynamics
Financial Literacy
Online Dating
Youth Safety Online
Emotional Trauma
Privacy
Mental Health
Artificial Intelligence
Onboarding Scams
Online Dating Scams
SIM Swapping

"What the Hack?" is the award-winning true cybercrime podcast--the place to hear memorable stories and get good advice.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes244Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
True CrimeTechnology

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Artwork for What the Hack?

Latest Episodes

Flock Safety says their cameras have never been hacked. Benn Jordan and Jason Koebler watched themselves on one from their homes. This week: a deep dive into the vulnerabilities, the no-opt-out tracking, and a simple question: Does any of it makes us... more

No deep fake here. This week, Al Franken does his own impersonations of Bernie Sanders, Mitch McConnell, Chuck Grassley, Sherrod Brown and Susan Collins in this mock Senate Hearing featuring Siri (played by the actual voice-over talent Susan Bennett)... more

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.

Le... more

Feeling watched? Join us as Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark breaks down the new reality of digital surveillance. From school apps to AI scams, we dive into how companies collect your data and how to take control of your online privacy. The war... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

John Gaines
Independent cybersecurity researcher, Red Team security specialist
Gainesec
Episode: Episode 242: Surveillance in America, Pt 2: Flock You Very Much
Al Franken
Former senator and special guest performing a political-satire sketch about privacy
Former U.S. Senator (Minnesota)
Episode: Al Franken Holds a Mock Senate Hearing on Privacy with Siri and Alexa (Bonus)
Jason Koebler
Co-founder of 404 Media and former editor-in-chief of Vice's Motherboard
404 Media
Episode: Episode 241: Surveillance in America, Pt 1: Somebody's Watching You
Benn Jordan
Musician/YouTuber known for privacy and surveillance experiments
Self/YouTube
Episode: Episode 241: Surveillance in America, Pt 1: Somebody's Watching You
Jay Stanley
Senior Policy Analyst with the ACLU's Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project
ACLU
Episode: Episode 241: Surveillance in America, Pt 1: Somebody's Watching You
Charity Clark
Vermont Attorney General involved in consumer protections and data privacy issues.
State of Vermont
Episode: Episode 240: Who’s Watching the Watchers?
Charlotte Jump
VP of Customer Success at Outthink, an AI-driven cybersecurity company focusing on human risk management.
Outthink
Episode: Episode 238: The Phone Call that Broke the Bank
Virginia Heffernan
Writer, thinker, and author of the book 'Magic and Loss, The Internet as Art'.
The New Republic
Episode: Episode 237: The Internet is Groundhog Day
Jacob Sims
Expert on transnational crime and human trafficking in Southeast Asia.
Harvard University Asia Center
Episode: Episode 235: The Machine: Part One, Asian Scam Compounds

Host

Beau Friedlander
Host and producer focusing on cybersecurity storytelling and investigative framing.

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 579 ratings
  • I looooooveee thissssssss

    Hm

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Pheandparkercrashmoe
    United Statesa month ago
  • Nice popcast

    Great value

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Kael2809
    United States2 months ago
  • Why it was so goodddd

    It was the best little story and that's why I love this app

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Coconut cococ
    United States2 months ago
  • They could make it more intriguing

    Solid topics just kinda boring

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    DJ_Fox2000
    United States2 months ago
  • Yea, im only here for the rewards

    yeaaaaa

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Harris Nguyen284
    United States2 months ago

Listeners Say

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

High excitement for real‑world security tips and investigative reporting.
Some listeners feel the show leans political; overall quality remains high.
Balanced host approach with strong expert guests.
Thoughtful deep dives into privacy and cybercrime with practical takeaways.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#111
Finland/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#114
Indonesia/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#232
Brazil/True Crime

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode 241: Surveillance in America, Pt 1: Somebody's Watching You
Q: Why is the ACLU interested in surveillance?
Because surveillance raises fundamental questions about power, freedom, and the ability to express oneself without coercion or fear, touching on First Amendment rights and the potential chilling effects of pervasive monitoring.
Episode 240: Who’s Watching the Watchers?
Q: What do parents need to understand about the choices they're making when it comes to their children's data?
Parents should check in with their feelings about privacy, opt out of unnecessary data collection, and ask for data privacy statements from schools.
Episode 238: The Phone Call that Broke the Bank
Q: What is cyber risk management and human cyber risk management in plain English?
It's about understanding and taking steps to reduce different cyber risks affecting a business, with the aim of preventing breaches.
Episode 239: Is AARP Doing More than the FBI to Stop Scams?
Q: What are some recent successes in legislation that give you hope?
Kathy mentions that there is increasing interest at the federal and state levels to address fraud, with bipartisan support for bills like the Guard Act, which aims to train local law enforcement to tackle scams.
Episode 239: Is AARP Doing More than the FBI to Stop Scams?
Q: How do you go about educating people to protect themselves and their hard-earned money?
Kathy emphasizes that fraud affects everyone and that the focus has traditionally been on older adults due to misconceptions. She states that education is essential, but a broader societal solution is required to tackle the fraud crisis effectively.

Audience Metrics

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Listeners per Episode
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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?

This show explores the high-stakes world of cybercrime, privacy, and digital risk through investigative reporting, expert commentary, and real‑world case studies. Recent episodes scrutinize mass surveillance infrastructures, data ownership, and the balance between public safety and civil liberties, often featuring policy analysts, journalists, and security researchers. The discussions frequently connect practical security lessons to broader societal impacts, from fraud and scams targeting everyday users to the design flaws in widely deployed technologies. A standout aspect is the series' willingness to challenge tech narratives with hands‑on demonstrations, legal perspectives, and actionable tips for listeners to protect themselves online.

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Which podcasts are similar to What the Hack??

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

1. Darknet Diaries
2. This Is Uncomfortable
3. Science Friday
4. Freakonomics Radio
5. Fresh Air

How many episodes of What the Hack? are there?

What the Hack? launched 5 years ago and published 244 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. John Gaines
2. Al Franken
3. Jason Koebler
4. Benn Jordan
5. Jay Stanley
6. Charity Clark
7. Charlotte Jump
8. Virginia Heffernan

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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