Joe Tidy14 June 2025

Chasing The Most Hated Hacker In History - Joe Tidy - #954

0Frameworks

12Insights

Insights & moments

The myth-busts, hot takes, explainers, and tools worth keeping.

Myth Buster· 2

Myth Buster03:00

Hackers Aren't Just Explorers — They're Chasing Clout

Contrary to the stereotype of hackers as curious tinkerers, modern teenage hackers are increasingly motivated by online fame and notoriety. The rise of Twitter and platforms like Discord and Telegram has shifted hacker culture from benign exploration to criminal activity fueled by the pursuit of 'clout' and infamy.

Hackers today are less about exploration and more about gaining attention and status online.
Twitter popularized the idea of followers, likes, and retweets, which created a new incentive for hackers to show off their exploits.
Now, hackers operate in private communities like Discord and Telegram, still chasing clout but away from public scrutiny.
This shift has led to more destructive behavior, including sextortion and ransomware attacks.

“They loved the attention back then. And I think where we are now is slightly different because I think what we're seeing is they have…”
Joe Tidy · 04:30

#hacker culture#social media#cybercrime#motivation

Myth Buster84:00

Is Low Pay a Cybersecurity Risk?

A UK government job posting for a head of cybersecurity at His Majesty's Treasury offering £57,000 sparked ridicule, highlighting a systemic issue: public sector cyber roles are vastly underpaid compared to private industry. This pay gap risks creating insider threats and losing top talent to corporations.

The UK Treasury advertised a top cybersecurity role for £57,000 — far below market rate.
Private sector roles pay significantly more, making public service less attractive.
This creates a risk of insider threats or talent drain to better-paying companies.
Experts warn that underfunding cyber roles undermines national security.

“A job advertisement for the new head of cyber security at his majesty's treasury in Britain provoked derision because of its stated pay of £57,000…”
Joe Tidy · 84:00

#cybersecurity#public sector#insider threat#wages

Hot Take· 2

Hot Take46:00

Julius Kamaki: The Most Hated Hacker in History

Julius Kamaki, known for high-profile attacks on gaming networks and a devastating data breach of Finnish psychotherapy patients, is considered by the guest to be the most hated hacker ever. His actions caused real-world trauma, including suicides, and reflect a pattern of chaos-driven criminality.

Kamaki led the 2014 Lizard Squad attacks that took down Xbox and PlayStation networks.
He later breached Vastamo, a Finnish mental health provider, stealing 33,000 patient records.
He extorted victims and emailed them threats, leading to PTSD and suicides.
Despite wealth, he continued hacking, seemingly for the thrill of destruction.

“My money, Kamaki is the most hated hacker in history. Not just because of the Vastamo hack... but also there are lots of times in…”
Joe Tidy · 46:00

#Julius Kamaki#cybercrime#Vastamo#hacker psychology

Hot Take02:00

CrowdStrike's Hacker Figurine Sparks Backlash

Cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike created a collectible figurine of the hacker group 'Scattered Spider,' which critics say glamorizes cybercriminals. The guest argues this gives dangerous attention to young hackers who thrive on infamy, potentially encouraging more attacks.

CrowdStrike sells a figurine modeled after the Scattered Spider hacker group.
The guest finds it controversial, as it may glorify criminal behavior.
Young hackers crave attention, and such merchandise feeds their desire for notoriety.
The move risks normalizing and incentivizing cybercrime among impressionable teens.

“It's very controversial actually that they've done this... because the type of individuals that we think scattered spider are very young, probably teenagers in the…”
Joe Tidy · 02:30

#CrowdStrike#hacker culture#cybersecurity#publicity

Explainer· 5

Explainer00:00

How Scattered Spider Is Hacking Major UK Retailers

Scattered Spider is a loosely organized collective of young hackers using social engineering to breach major companies like M&S, Co-op, and Harrods. They gain access by impersonating employees over the phone, then deploy ransomware to cripple systems and demand Bitcoin payments. Unlike traditional cybercrime groups, they operate through Discord and Telegram, driven more by infamy than structure.

Scattered Spider is not a formal group but a decentralized network of hackers coordinating online.
They use social engineering tactics, such as calling IT help desks and pretending to be locked-out staff.
Once inside, they deploy ransomware that encrypts data and brings operations to a halt.
The group is linked to disruptions at M&S, Co-op, and Harrods, with similar attacks now spreading to US retailers.

“Scattered Spider is the name of this very loosely coordinated collective of hackers that are, we think, currently causing havoc around the UK and the…”
Joe Tidy · 00:00

#cybersecurity#hacking#ransomware#social engineering

Explainer05:30

What Sextortion Really Means in Online Crime

Sextortion is a form of online harassment where criminals trick victims into sending explicit images, then blackmail them by threatening to release the content. This tactic is commonly used by hacker groups like those in 'the Com,' who exploit emotional vulnerability for financial gain or control.

Sextortion involves tricking someone into sending nudes, then threatening to publish them unless paid.
Perpetrators often pose as romantic partners to gain trust before exploiting their victims.
This crime is prevalent in online hacker communities like 'the Com,' where psychological manipulation is routine.
Some victims are even coerced into self-harm, such as cutting hacker names into their skin, to prove submission.

“Sextortion is this horrible sort of criminal harassment campaign where you trick someone into sending you nudes... Convince them into sending me nudes. And then…”
Joe Tidy · 05:30

#sextortion#online crime#cyber harassment#psychological manipulation

Explainer08:00

Why Hacking Is More Social Than Technical

Most cyberattacks don't rely on advanced coding skills — they start with social engineering. Hackers often trick employees into giving access by pretending to be colleagues in need. Once inside, they exploit system vulnerabilities to deploy ransomware and lock down entire organizations.

Initial access is usually gained through deception, not technical prowess.
Hackers call IT help desks, pretending to be staff who forgot passwords.
This method works because people are often gullible or don't follow security protocols.
Once inside, attackers spread through the network and deploy ransomware to encrypt data.

“Normally, it starts with like an email that you can trick someone into downloading an attachment or you call up. This is what we think…”
Joe Tidy · 08:30

#social engineering#cybersecurity#hacking#ransomware

Explainer09:00

How Ransomware Can Cripple a Company

Ransomware is malicious software that encrypts a company's data, rendering it useless until a ransom is paid. It can bring entire organizations to a standstill, affecting everything from supermarket supply chains to hospital operations, making it the biggest cyber threat today.

Ransomware scrambles data so it becomes unreadable and unusable.
Victims are forced to pay in Bitcoin to regain access to their systems.
Even non-critical systems like retail logistics can collapse under such attacks.
Hospitals have been hit, with life-saving equipment taken offline during crises.

“Ransomware completely cripples an organization. It's like going back to medieval times. Your pen and paper. You really are.”
Joe Tidy · 11:30

#ransomware#cybersecurity#data encryption#critical infrastructure

Explainer82:00

How Quantum Computing Could Break All Encryption

Experts warn of 'Q Day' — when quantum computers will be powerful enough to break current encryption. This could allow adversaries to decrypt previously harvested data, threatening everything from personal privacy to national security unless post-quantum encryption is adopted now.

Quantum computers may soon crack current encryption methods by solving complex math instantly.
Spy agencies may already be harvesting encrypted data to decrypt later.
The UK's National Crime Agency advises adopting post-quantum encryption by 2030.
Without action, Bitcoin, passwords, and secure communications could become vulnerable.

“They call it Q day — the day when the quantum computers can break encryption... Grab now, decrypt later. So if I grab encrypted data…”
Joe Tidy · 82:30

#quantum computing#encryption#cybersecurity#Q Day

Story· 2

Story25:00

The Typical Path From Gaming to Cybercrime

Most teenage hackers start in online games like Minecraft or Fortnite, where they experiment with cheats and exploits. This curiosity leads them to hacking forums, where they learn to breach systems — starting as pranks but often escalating to serious cybercrime when money enters the picture.

Hackers typically begin by cheating in online games to gain an edge.
They discover hacking forums and learn to exploit game servers.
Curiosity turns into criminal behavior when they realize they can make money.
Bitcoin and cryptocurrency have accelerated this shift by enabling untraceable payments.

“It's computer games. So Minecraft or Runescape or whatever it is... Then you find yourself on a hacking forum and you find ways to become…”
Joe Tidy · 25:30

#hacker pathway#gaming#cybercrime#Bitcoin

Story34:00

How Stuxnet Sabotaged Iran's Nuclear Program

Stuxnet was a highly sophisticated cyber weapon, allegedly developed by the US and Israel, designed to sabotage Iran's uranium enrichment. It spread via USB drives and specifically targeted industrial systems, causing centrifuges to spin out of control and physically damage themselves.

Stuxnet was a precision cyber attack aimed at Iran's nuclear facilities.
It spread through USB drives left in parking lots, exploiting human curiosity.
The malware only activated on specific systems controlling centrifuges.
It caused physical destruction by making centrifuges spin too fast, potentially delaying Iran's nuclear program.

“The Stuxnet virus was so specifically and perfectly targeted that it only infected that certain system... It sped up the refinery centrifuges so fast that…”
Joe Tidy · 34:30

#cyber warfare#Stuxnet#Iran#Israel

Q&A· 1

Q&A22:00

Are Teen Hackers Like Organized Crime Cartels?

While not as structured as Russian cyber gangs, teenage hacker collectives like Scattered Spider are increasingly organized and persistent. Security experts call them 'Noob Persistent Threats' — unskilled but relentless — and warn they're underestimated despite their disruptive potential.

Modern ransomware groups operate like cartels, with specialized roles and 24/7 customer service.
Teen gangs are less technical but highly persistent, often underestimating the damage they cause.
Researcher Allison Nixon coined 'NPTs' — Noob Persistent Threats — to describe their behavior.
Despite poor operational security, their persistence makes them a serious threat.

“She calls them NPTs which stands for noob persistent threats. So they're newbies, they're noobs, but it's a play on... APS, advanced persistent threat. She…”
Joe Tidy · 23:00

#cybercrime#organized crime#teen hackers#NPT