Cyber Security the Hard Way
"Game the same, just got more fierce."
The FBI’s latest Internet Crime Report analyzed nearly 900,000 complaints and confirmed what most people already know: Cybersecurity is getting harder.
People want specifics they can recognize in their own lives.
What does it look like when a bank account gets hacked?
How can I tell if my calls are being wiretapped?
Is my phone really spying on me?
How many “Y”s are in “PROBABLY”?
Warning: Warning Ahead.
After being personally targeted in an apparent Dark Basin-linked cyberattack last summer, I began documenting several sophisticated cyber intrusions and exploits.
This series isn’t a generic overview of cybercrime. These are real-world incidents, backed by firsthand experience and practical solutions that actually worked.
Experienced readers may notice a recurring theme:
When dealing with systemic compromises, zero-days, or rogue infrastructure, the greatest security risk is often the illusion of security itself.
Let’s Start with Something Small
To begin, I’ll offer a simple example of the most basic cybercrime: identity theft.
Using real-world data and firsthand examples, I’ll show how a single piece of personal information can be enough to trigger an interstate — even transnational — surveillance operation that would make most governments.
It’s okay if you find what you’re about to experience hard to believe, just watch, listen, and learn as two AT&T employees steal my SIM card to access my online accounts.
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