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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
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)

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes261Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
True CrimeTechnology

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Artwork for What the Hack?

Latest Episodes

Ethan Merritt is an WTH alum, but the last time he was on the pod he was the target. This time, he asked for it: Find four flags using only publicly viewable data. Social media posts, podcasts, leaked passwords, a cat-tree video. Listen to hear how w... more

A teenager rage-hacks a Tetris leaderboard and becomes a millionaire by 18. Now Tal Kollender breaks into companies for a living—and fixes whatever made that possible. We talk about that and Anthropic's Mythos, which is a cyber idyll for our time.

Ma... more

Marketing visionary Seth Godin explains how the Internet got hijacked by an attention-stealing spam economy that keeps us in an endless loop of badly targeted marketing. Godin's anti-spam playbook: demand companies earn your attention with awesomenes... more

A retired Army Colonel becomes the unwitting face of thousands of romance scams. Bryan Denny has been breaking the hearts of people he's never met for years. What do you do when hundreds of crime rings are using your face?

Make yourself harder to fi... more

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Recent Guests

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
Bryan Denny
Former US Army Officer featured in romance scam cases
Advocating Against Romance Scammers (AARS)
Episode: Episode 256: The Colonel & the Catfish
Brian Ward
Resident of Redding, Connecticut; father of the guest
Episode: Episode 255: How Kindness Works in The Scammer's Playbook
Nathan Freed Wessler
Deputy Director with the ACLU Speech Privacy and Technology Project
ACLU
Episode: Episode 251: Surveillance In America, Pt 3: Just Say No
Jason Koebler
Co-founder of 404 Media, investigative journalist
404 Media
Episode: Episode 251: Surveillance In America, Pt 3: Just Say No
Benn Jordan
Founder of Flock Safety, subject of discussion
Flock Safety
Episode: Episode 251: Surveillance In America, Pt 3: Just Say No
Garrett Langley
CEO of Flock Safety
Flock Safety
Episode: Episode 251: Surveillance In America, Pt 3: Just Say No

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 623 ratings
  • 99 night in the forest

    Kallbear

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Christie Bowman
    United States2 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 States2 months ago
  • I looooooveee thissssssss

    Hm

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Pheandparkercrashmoe
    United States5 months ago
  • Nice popcast

    Great value

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Kael2809
    United States5 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 States5 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
#176
Israel/True Crime

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode 259: Capture The Flag!
Q: What is the core idea behind Capture The Flag in this context?
It's a controlled exercise to uncover four specific personal flags by using OSINT techniques, showing how publicly available data can reveal intimate details about someone's life and how attackers might exploit those clues.
Episode 252: Surveillance In America, Pt 4: No Warrant Required
Q: How do private data brokers affect the warrant landscape for surveillance?
Data brokers can aggregate and sell location data, enabling law enforcement to access detailed movement information without a traditional warrant, complicating privacy protections.
Episode 252: Surveillance In America, Pt 4: No Warrant Required
Q: What was Carpenter v. United States about and why is it significant for digital privacy?
It established that obtaining a comprehensive record of a person's past movements from a cell phone provider requires a warrant, reshaping how the Fourth Amendment protects digital data stored by third parties.
Episode 253: When the Bait Bites Back
Q: What happened after you found multiple fake profiles and began investigating?
He investigated profiles, traced origins to Germany and Europe, and started coordinating with authorities while continuing to document the scam's reach and impact.
Episode 253: When the Bait Bites Back
Q: How did they know that the images were being used without your permission?
They contacted him directly via Instagram Messenger, claiming his photos were being used, which prompted him to verify how his images were being repurposed.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
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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?

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

How many episodes of What the Hack? are there?

What the Hack? launched 5 years ago and published 261 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. Ethan Merritt
2. Tal Kollender
3. Seth Godin
4. Bryan Denny
5. Brian Ward
6. Nathan Freed Wessler
7. Jason Koebler
8. Benn Jordan

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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