Former FBI Special Agent Chris Tarbell and ex-Anonymous/LulzSec blackhat hacker Hector Monsegur (aka Sabu) faced off as adversaries in cyberspace before becoming close friends and podcast co-hosts. Listen to Tarbell, co-founder of the elite cybersecurity firm NAXO, and Monsegur, a top network penetration tester and security engineer, break down the must-know cybersecurity news and topics of the week. You’ll walk away from each episode with unique perspectives on keeping your family, your company, and yourself safe from cyber attacks.
Similar Podcasts
The Cynical Developer
A UK based Technology and Software Developer Podcast that helps you to improve your development knowledge and career,
through explaining the latest and greatest in development technology and providing you with what you need to succeed as a developer.
In Machines We Trust
A podcast about the automation of everything. Host Jennifer Strong and the team at MIT Technology Review look at what it means to entrust artificial intelligence with our most sensitive decisions.
Elixir Outlaws
Elixir Outlaws is an informal discussion about interesting things happening in Elixir. Our goal is to capture the spirit of a conference hallway discussion in a podcast.
We Fixed Cybersecurity (You're Welcome)
Chris and Hector unpack Trump’s new cybersecurity order, contractor reliance in government, and the looming risks of quantum computing — with some shoutouts and listener questions along the way. Join our new Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed Send HATF your questions at questions@hackerandthefed.com
The $400 Million Mistake, Router Invasions, and Crypto Chaos
This week, Chris and Hector tackle a massive breach at Coinbase, insider threats in India, and a shady delay in reporting. They also explore how state actors are silently hijacking home routers, and why LexisNexis is the latest data broker to drop the ball. Join our new Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed Send HATF your questions at questions@hackerandthefed.com
Backdoors, Breaches, and Bitcoin
Chris and Hector break down a wild crypto kidnapping, supply chain sabotage in U.S. infrastructure, and the growing cyber risks of imported tech. Plus, shoutouts and real talk from the front lines of cybersecurity. Join our new Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed Send HATF your questions at questions@hackerandthefed.com
SIM Swaps, Insider Threats & the Rise of 'Zishing'
Chris and Hector break down recent crypto security breaches, including Coinbase’s insider-driven data leak and the SEC’s SIM swap hack. They explore the rise of “Zishing” (Zoom phishing), deepfake scams, and the real-world dangers facing crypto holders. Join our new Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed Send HATF your questions at questions@hackerandthefed.com
LulzSec, LockBit & the Price of Weak Security
Chris and Hector dive into the recent breach of the LockBit ransomware gang and what it reveals about operational security failures—even among hackers. They discuss the fallout from the Pegasus spyware scandal, with NSO Group ordered to pay $168 million, and explore the troubling reliance on vulnerable federal contractors. Plus, Hector delivers one of his signature rants—this time on who’s really watching the watchers. Join our new Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed Send HATF your questions at questions@hackerandthefed.com
Joe Rogan, Ross Ulbricht, and the $1 Billion Disney Hack
Chris and Hector react to Joe Rogan’s take on the Ross Ulbricht case, break down the $1B Disney Slack data breach, and explain why passkeys are the next big thing in cybersecurity. Join our new Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed Send HATF your questions at questions@hackerandthefed.com
Credential Theft, InfoStealers, and the Rise of Cyber Snake Oil
Chris and Hector break down the 2025 Mandiant threat report, expose rising cyberattack trends, rant about bad CISOs, and discuss a wild case of a cybersecurity CEO caught installing malware in a hospital. Join our new Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed Send HATF your questions at questions@hackerandthefed.com
DOGE Drama, Digital Grit, and CVE Chaos
Chris Tarbell and Hector Monsegur dive into the near-shutdown of the CVE system, a whistleblower’s wild claims about the Doge agency and Russian logins, and why the future of cybersecurity depends on more entrepreneurs stepping up. Sharp takes, tech insights, and signature banter throughout. Join our new Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed Send HATF your questions at questions@hackerandthefed.com
Starlink Bugs, Bank Regulator Breach, and the LastPass Fallout
Hector’s back from Miami, rubber ducky giveaways in tow, and diving deep into a wild week of cyber news—from Elon Musk’s Starlink bug bounty to a stealthy year-long breach of U.S. bank regulators. The guys unpack major incidents including a Stuxnet-style espionage campaign in Ukraine, AI-powered spear phishing, and yet another haunting update in the LastPass hack saga. But the real fireworks come in Hector’s rant, where he slams the cybersecurity industry's political silence and calls out its leaders for cowardice. Join our new Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed
Oracle Breach, MGM Hacker Busted, North Korean IT Scams
This week on Hacker in the Fed, Chris Hector dive into the chaos of the last few weeks in cybersecurity. From Oracle’s alleged breach cover-up and legal trouble to the ongoing threat of North Korean IT infiltration, the guys break down the biggest stories making waves. They also reveal new details behind the infamous Caesars and MGM ransomware attacks — including how one hacker was caught — and share updates on changes coming to the podcast, including a new Patreon!
Telecom Hacks, AI Fears, and the Quantum Threat – Plus, Hector Rants!
This week on Hacker in the Fed, Hector shares his recent travels, including a trip to Chicago, while Chris discusses his AI presentation and the evolving concerns around artificial intelligence. They break down the security risks in telecom networks, the dangers of unsecured cloud storage, and the legal gray areas of independent security research. Plus, a special listener shoutout, a discussion on quantum computing’s impact on cybersecurity, and Hector’s weekly rant on the confusing jargon in the cybersecurity industry. Send HATF your questions at questions@hackerandthefed.com.
Hacks, Heists, and the Rise of Digital Deception
In this episode of Hacker in the Fed, Chris Tarbell and Hector Monsegur discuss their recent travels, major cybersecurity threats, and the dangers of disinformation. Topics include a Bluetooth backdoor affecting a billion devices, a $150M crypto heist linked to the LastPass hack, and malware spreading via GitHub. Plus, Hector’s take on propaganda and narrative warfare. Send HATF your questions at questions@hackerandthefed.com.
Smart Bed Backdoor, Crypto Heists, Router Hacks, and U.S. Cyber Command’s Stand Down
In this episode of Hacker in the Fed, former FBI special agent Chris Tarbell and ex-black hat hacker turned cybersecurity expert Hector Monsegur discuss GrayNoise’s 2025 Mass Internet Exploitation Report, revealing how attackers are exploiting vulnerabilities faster than ever, particularly targeting home routers. The two also cover a shocking backdoor discovery in the Eight Sleep smart mattress, the rising trend of violent crypto-related attacks, and the recent Bybit hack. Hector wraps up with a deep dive into the U.S. Cyber Command's recent decision to halt cyber operations against Russia and what it means for national security. Send HATF your questions at questions@hackerandthefed.com.
Inside a Ransomware Gang, Leaked Logs, a $1.4B Crypto Heist & Signal Under Attack
In this episode of Hacker in the Fed, former FBI special agent Chris Tarbell and ex-black hat hacker turned cybersecurity expert Hector Monsegur discuss the leaked Black Basta ransomware logs, a $1.4 billion crypto heist, and new threats targeting Signal Messenger. They also share insights from their latest speaking events, the role of AI in cybersecurity, and the pros and cons of IT centralization in government. Send HATF your questions at questions@hackerandthefed.com.
School Cyberattacks, Swatting as a Service, and Hector Rants on the Broken Cybersecurity Job Market
In this episode of Hacker in the Fed, former FBI special agent Chris Tarbell and ex-black hat hacker turned cybersecurity expert Hector Monsegur discuss alarming trends in school cyberattacks and the lack of transparency in reporting breaches, a disturbing case of "swatting as a service," and the ongoing challenges in the cybersecurity job market. Hector delivers a passionate rant on hiring issues in the industry, highlighting unrealistic job requirements and outsourcing concerns. Send HATF your questions at questions@hackerandthefed.com.