Rethinking Online Anonymity with Lance Cottrell
Easy Prey
In a world of cybersecurity and online privacy, anonymity seems to be the key. VPNs are often promoted as the cure-all to our internet needs. Let’s talk about some of those misconceptions. Today’s guest is Lance Cottrell. Lance founded Anonymizer in 1995 and is an internationally recognized expert in cryptography, online privacy, and internet security. He is the principal author on multiple internet privacy and security technology patents. Lance stayed on as Chief Scientist as Anonymizer was acquired by Intrepid, and now advises start-ups through his platform. Show Notes: [1:09] - Lance...
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AI: Double-Edged Sword for Cybersecurity with Vincent LaRocca
Easy Prey
Cybersecurity is more crucial than ever. It’s essential that we proactively safeguard our data and recognize that no one is immune to attacks. We are all vulnerable. As malicious actors continually enhance their tactics, we must stay one step ahead by consistently improving our defenses. Today’s guest is Vincent LaRocca. Vincent is the CEO of CyberSecOp with the commitment to protecting sensitive data and mitigating cyber threats. With over two decades of experience, Vincent has successfully steered CyberSecOp to become one of the world’s fastest growing managed security providers,...
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Understanding and Avoiding Triangulation Fraud with Soups Ranjan
Easy Prey
As consumers, we may realize the need to be vigilant by using two-factor authentication and password managers, but there are so many scams out there that can impersonate legitimate organizations, websites, and people. We really can’t let our guard down. Today’s guest is Soups Ranjan. Soups has over 18 years of experience in software engineering, data science, and risk management. He is the co-founder and CEO of Sardine. This behavior-infused platform offers fraud prevention, compliance, and payment solutions for various industries including banking, online marketplaces, FinTech, crypto,...
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Finding Small Business Fraud with James Ratley
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There are a shocking amount of businesses that ultimately fail because of fraud. Many managers and business owners are unaware of their losses because they do not have the systems in place to look for fraud and it may not be their primary concern. Today’s guest is James Ratley. Jim graduated from the University of Texas at Dallas with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. In 1971, he joined the Dallas Police Department as a police officer. He was on numerous task forces with a concentration on major fraud cases. He joined a major forensic accounting practice and was in charge of...
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Truth and Lies with Mark Bowden
Easy Prey
Now that so much of our communications are digital, such as texts, emails, and chats, we miss out on the tone and facial expressions to help us understand the intent and content in communication. It’s important to know ourselves well enough to know what areas we’ll be more easily influenced and are susceptible to being deceived. The greater our desire for something to be true, the easier it is for us to be scammed. Today’s guest is Mark Bowden. Mark is a world-renowned body language expert, keynote speaker, and best-selling author. He is the founder of the communication training company,...
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The Update That Broke America with Gabe Dimeglio
Easy Prey
Many industries are reliant on software and if the software becomes corrupt or an update fails, it may require hands-on support. Do you have your infrastructure set for repair and recovery? Today’s guest is Gabe Dimeglio. Gabe is a 20-year veteran of information technology and security for private and public sector organizations. He is a results-driven leader, specializing in security services and solutions for mission-critical, complex enterprise platforms. His expertise includes strategic consulting services, risk analysis/risk mitigation, and compliance. Mr. Dimeglio serves as Vice...
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A Lesson in Crisis Management with Jeremiah Grossman
Easy Prey
It’s not always easy to determine the value of digital assets. The potential of overestimating or undervaluing your data can make it difficult to establish how much protection you need for a cyber intrusion. Today’s guest is Jeremiah Grossman. Jeremiah has spent over 25 years as an InfoSec professional and hacker. He is the Managing Director of Grossman Ventures. He is an industry creator and founder of White Hat Security and Bit Discovery. He has his black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and is an avid car collector. Show Notes: [0:53] - Jeremiah shares his background and what he does...
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Pig Butchering Is Getting Worse with Erin West
Easy Prey
Pig butchering is worse than just manipulating someone and taking their money. It leaves them with emotional anguish. Once their finances have been drained, they lose their financial security and they no longer trust people. Today’s guest is Erin West. Erin has been with the County of Santa Clara for 26 years and is a Deputy District Attorney. She specializes in cryptocurrency investigations and prosecutions. Show Notes: [0:46] - Erin shares her background and what her role is as a Deputy District Attorney in Santa Clara County. [3:20] - Five years ago, Erin found herself working on...
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Protecting Parents with Terri Proctor
Easy Prey
Sometimes people only share their stories after they’ve gone through a challenging time. But it’s also important to learn from those in the middle of a scam to learn how people are manipulated and how vulnerable our loved ones can really be. Today’s guest is Terri Proctor. Terri’s elderly mother has been scammed by romance scammers over the last three years. In trying to get help from different recommended services, she realized that no one was really interested in helping. She started the non-profit Stop Elderly Scams to educate and bring awareness to the community. Show Notes: ...
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Technology Regulation is Outdated with Bruce Schneier
Easy Prey
Regulators have to invest a considerable amount of time in keeping legislation and policy up to date regarding technology and AI, but it’s not easy. We need floor debates, not for sound bytes or for political gain, but to move policy forward. Today’s guest is Bruce Schneier. Bruce is an internationally renowned security technologist called The Security Guru by The Economist. He is the author of over a dozen books including his latest, A Hacker’s Mind. He has testified before Congress, is a frequent guest on television and radio, has served on several government committees, and is...
info_outlineIt sounds like an episode straight out of Criminal Minds. The FBI’s Highway Serial Killers initiative hunts for long-haul truckers behind at least 850 murders of mostly female sex trafficking victims along our nation’s highways.
Today’s guest is Frank Figliuzzi. Frank was the FBI’s Assistant Director over Counterintelligence. He served 25 years as an FBI Special Agent in assignments across the country. As the head of all espionage investigations, Frank frequently briefed the White House, the DNI, and the Attorney General. For the past seven years, Frank has been a national security analyst for NBC News and MSNBC. He’s the author of a national bestseller, The FBI Way: Inside the Bureau's Code of Excellence, and now Long Haul: Hunting the Highway Serial Killers.
Show Notes:
- [1:30] - Frank shares his background and what his role was in the FBI for 25 years.
- [3:52] - His most recent book is Long Haul: Hunting the Highway Serial Killers and is about the FBI’s Highway Serial Killers initiative.
- [5:57] - These cases go back several decades and remain unsolved.
- [7:13] - Trucking is a crucial part of our society, but there are different types of truckers and some are more likely to commit crime.
- [9:12] - The success of the initiative really relies on local police departments.
- [11:13] - Frank describes some of the things he learned from experts in street-level human trafficking.
- [14:27] - Frank gives examples of some of the things he did for research.
- [15:53] - The type of trucker that Frank is most concerned about are the ones with very little interaction with other people.
- [17:21] - There is more security and tracking of truckers in more corporate organizations.
- [18:44] - The corporate job is less attractive to someone who is motivated to commit crime.
- [20:03] - Frank was amazed at how high tech trucking is these days and the brains needed to understand it all.
- [23:03] - Frank describes his experience as he shadowed a trucker and immersed himself in the lifestyle.
- [26:43] - The number one profession for serial killers is a trucker. What is it about the job? Does it attract killers or make killers?
- [29:17] - Most people think that people they know would never be a victim of a crime like this.
- [31:06] - Human trafficking is most commonly initiated by someone the victim knows.
- [32:56] - Get rid of the notion that this can’t happen to your family. That’s dangerous in and of itself because you’ll never see it coming.
- [34:40] - Connecting with potential victims has moved online.
- [37:57] - Trafficking victims are often victimized more and treated like criminals themselves.
- [40:01] - What are the similarities between crime scenes in many of these cases?
- [42:42] - The 850 unsolved cases only account for the ones that are known.
- [43:46] - There is an organization called Truckers Against Trafficking (T.A.T.). Frank explains what they do and how they help.
- [46:48] - Technological advances are making a huge difference, particularly in DNA.
- [49:19] - These crime scenes are the worst Frank has ever seen even after his 25 years in law enforcement.
- [52:40] - Sometimes, a victim’s name is not known for many years if at all. It is hard to track the solve-rate of these crimes.
- [55:12] - There are DNA testing organizations that work with police departments.
Thanks for joining us on Easy Prey. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave a nice review.