Easy Prey

Everyone’s talking about AI these days, especially in cybersecurity. Sure, artificial intelligence can boost your defenses, but cybercriminals have noticed too. Now they're crafting phishing emails so believable it’s scary and finding clever paths around spam filters while zeroing in on vulnerabilities you didn’t even realize were there.    Today, Aviad Hasnis joins the show. He's the CTO of Cynet Security and spent years running cybersecurity missions for the Israeli Defense Forces. Aviad’s here to help us figure out what the changing threat landscape really means, whether you're leading a corporate giant or just trying to keep your small business safe. From passwords getting scooped up to VPN setups from a decade ago that no one updated, Aviad’s seen just about everything go wrong. He also explains why copy-pasting AI-generated code might open you up to attacks you never saw coming. He’s big on education, common sense, and making sure you’re using multiple security layers. These days even one slip-up can give attackers exactly what they're looking for. Aviad also walks us through supply chain vulnerabilities and why they should keep you up at night. Whether you're the CISO of a Fortune 500 company or you’re running a small team with Bob, the go-to tech person juggling 18 other tasks, this episode is packed with practical insights to help you avoid the next big cybersecurity headache. While AI might be reshaping the cybersecurity landscape, staying secure still comes down to thoughtful planning, human judgment, and making sure someone you trust has your back. Show Notes: [01:08] Aviad has been Cynet's Chief Technology Officer for the past five years. Prior to that, he worked in cyber security for the Israeli Army. [02:18] He was always fascinated with computers and technology. When Iran had a technology problem, he realized that cybersecurity was what he wanted to do for the rest of his life. [03:19] Aviad shares a story about his friend's mother being exposed to a scam. She received a phone call from someone pretending to be a police officer. She even installed different executables on her laptop. She didn't realize she was being victimized until she transferred over five grand. [06:07] Social engineering is one of the most dominant ways to gain access. [08:39] The security implications of using AI. [09:30] It's important to have guardrails with how you use AI. [10:28] If you're just copying and pasting code you may copy something that could be vulnerable to exploits. [11:16] People need to be aware of the types of risk and educate themselves. [12:49] Conversations at the C-suite level for implementing AI. [13:43] The challenge is to harness AI the right way without replacing people. [15:18] It's important to use critical thinking when creating with AI. [16:04]  AI is helping security by allowing people to consult and get information. You can also introduce vulnerabilities into your application if you just copy and paste from chat GPT without knowing the context. [17:05] The bad guys can also use AI. [17:56] AI has improved the quality of phishing scams. [21:36] Where organizations are missing out when it comes to sniffing out threats. This includes VPNs and SaaS or cloud.  [22:52] Employees could be using their home computers to connect to the company VPN and then their kids might download some malware or trojan. Companies need to use two-factor authentication when it comes to VPNs. [24:11] Email phishing can be another way to steal credentials. [27:54] The most effective approach is security layers. [30:40]  Another security measure is creating profiles where we know where you're logging in from. [33:35] Is this doom and gloom for small businesses? [34:48] The best solution for small businesses would be to find a company with an all-in-one solution. [37:11] The importance of being proactive, so you can act quickly if you see something suspicious. [38:24] How the move to the cloud affects security. [39:08] Shifting to the cloud is safer. [44:20] New threats on the horizon include threat actors utilizing AI. They love to get control of remote applications. Thanks for joining us on Easy Prey. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave a nice review.  Links and Resources: Podcast Web Page Facebook Page whatismyipaddress.com Easy Prey on Instagram Easy Prey on Twitter Easy Prey on LinkedIn Easy Prey on YouTube Easy Prey on Pinterest Cynet Security Aviad Hasnis - LinkedIn Aviad Hasnis - Cynet Security

Writers pour their hearts into their work, but unfortunately, that passion can make them prime targets for scams. From fake agents and vanity publishers to slick marketing schemes and social media impersonators, the tactics have only gotten more sophisticated over time. In this episode, we dig into the murky world of publishing scams and how they work and who they target. Along with why even experienced authors can get caught off guard. Today’s guest is Victoria Strauss. Victoria is the author of nine fantasy and historical novels for adults and teens, and she’s also the co-founder of Writer Beware, a watchdog group sponsored by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association. Drawing from decades of experience, Victoria shares red flags to watch out for, practical steps authors can take to protect themselves, and eye-opening stories of deception that highlight just how easy it is to get pulled in. This conversation is about awareness and empowerment. Whether you’re just getting started or you’re a seasoned author, you’ll learn how to do your due diligence, where to turn for trustworthy resources, and how to avoid becoming an easy target in a complex industry. With tools like Writer Beware, Victoria equips authors to stay vigilant, protect their creative work, and steer clear of costly traps. Show Notes: [01:00] Victoria shares her background including publishing nine novels. She's a member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association, which is the sponsor of Writer Beware. [01:49] Writer Beware was formed with Victoria and a colleague when they became interested in writer scams. [03:36] When it first began, the most common scams for fee-charging literary agents and scam editing referrals. [04:25] Most current scams are digital and focus on self-publishers. [05:11] We learn what a vanity publisher is. [06:22] How self-publishers do everything a writer does and everything a publisher does. [10:34] One marker for a scam can be solicitation and out-of-the-blue emails. [12:42] A lot of people offer services like cover design when they don't really have the experience or expertise. Research anyone you're going to hire and their experience. [15:50] Look for what to cover in a contract, such as keeping your copyright. Watch out for scam registration services. [17:36] A DM scam where the scammer impersonates a writer and offers a marketing service recommendation. [22:21] Be aware and understand what the risks are and what to look for. [23:52] Evaluating opportunities.  [26:16] Use a credit card and report any problems.  [27:51] The newest scams are usually on social media. [28:40]  A crazy story about a literary agent who is charging upfront fees and even accepted fees for a conference and then faked her own death. [30:39] A cautionary tale of how a publishing marketing company from the Philippines scammed authors out of millions of dollars. Thanks for joining us on Easy Prey. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave a nice review.  Links and Resources: Podcast Web Page Facebook Page whatismyipaddress.com Easy Prey on Instagram Easy Prey on Twitter Easy Prey on LinkedIn Easy Prey on YouTube Easy Prey on Pinterest Victoria Strauss Books by Victoria Strauss Writer Beware Writer Beware Blog Beware@SFWA.org Writer Beware - Facebook Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association Self-Publishing 101 - SFWA Authors Guild

What if your social media success was built on deception, and it was working? In today’s episode, we hear from someone who knows exactly how that happens. Tim O’Hearn is a former software engineer and the author of Framed: A Villain’s Perspective on Social Media, a book that pulls back the curtain on how follower factories, automation, and persuasive technologies have shaped the online world we now take for granted. Tim doesn’t just theorize, he built these systems himself. Tim walks us through how his small side gig growing Instagram accounts evolved into a lucrative business, one that constantly navigated the blurry line between innovation and breaking platform rules. He opens up about the clever strategies he used to avoid detection and psychological hooks that made these methods so effective, as we explore the deeper consequences of social media’s addictive nature.  We’ll also explore the hidden risks businesses and individuals face when they obsess over metrics and follower counts instead of genuine connections, and why most people don’t even realize they're caught up in this trap.  Whether you're running a business, casually browsing, or just trying to figure out the complicated world of online attention, this conversation will give you a rare peek behind the curtain. And as you’ll find out, stepping away from it all might not be as straightforward as you'd think. Show Notes: [01:12] Tim recently published Framed: A Villain's Perspective on Social Media, a book that shares his journey from breaking the rules on social media to getting millions of followers for his clients. [02:15] We learn a little bit more about the beginnings of spamming the Internet and increasing online presence, including MySpace and Instagram, which evolved into getting more followers. [04:14] This created social proof and the possibility of higher conversion rates. [05:09] Increasing followers using botnets or fake followers. Organic growth and interacting with accounts that might follow or like.  [08:35] Tim's business was Shark Social, where he bent the rules to get followers for clients.  [09:53] The technical side of his operation. Proxies were used to mask their tracks.  [12:30] Social media services have taken efforts to stop things like follower growth services. [14:54] Risks for businesses using social media growth platform services. It's against TOS, and your account can get banned. [18:36] Systems Tim built to target consumers using social media. The goal was to get users to spend more time on the app. [20:50] Thresholds for annoying users. It was shocking how many people allowed push notifications and other annoying things. [22:54] How social media affects Tim.  [26:11] We learn how he feels about the influencer culture and promoting his book on TikTok.  [27:14] Advice for business owners, including these services, may not get you more business. Pause before doing too much. [28:48] Individuals should focus on conversions.  Thanks for joining us on Easy Prey. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave a nice review.  Links and Resources: Podcast Web Page Facebook Page whatismyipaddress.com Easy Prey on Instagram Easy Prey on Twitter Easy Prey on LinkedIn Easy Prey on YouTube Easy Prey on Pinterest Tim O’Hearn Tim O’Hearn - LinkedIn Tim O’Hearn - Beehiiv Framed: A Villain's Perspective on Social Media Spam Kings

What if you could stop a scam in real-time before the damage is done? In this episode, I’m joined by Nick Stapleton, an investigative journalist and the face behind Scam Interceptors, the BAFTA award-winning BBC series that exposes online fraud and steps in to protect victims as scams unfold.  Nick brings a decade of undercover documentary experience to his current mission: fighting digital deception and empowering everyday people to stay safe. He shares jaw-dropping stories from the front lines, including the near miss that almost caught him off guard, and breaks down the complex operations behind everything from romance scams to global scam compounds.  As the author of How to Beat Scammers, Nick also gives practical advice on how to recognize red flags and build your own defense against a rising tide of fraud. Show Notes: [01:06] Nick presents a show called scam interceptors for the BBC. He also does scam advice on a chat show called Morning Live. He also wrote a self-help book about How To Beat Scammers. [01:59] We learn how Nick got into the space. He began in investigative journalism and hidden camera work and now 5 years later Scam Interceptors is his full-time job. [06:17] He came very close to becoming a victim of a scam, because a lot of scammers try to get him.  [14:30] About 300,000 accounts a day get hacked on Meta. [15:10] There are things you can enable on Meta to help protect your account. [16:43] In the UK scammers rarely go to prison. [17:18] When he first started the series the scale of some of the scam operations out there really shocked him. [18:43] There can be 200 people working in a scam call center. [20:52] A lot of the people who run pig butchering scams are indentured slaves. [24:12] They would even hire models to have video conversations with potential scam victims. [25:22] Why local governments don't break up these scam centers. [26:38] It's difficult to motivate the authorities when the victims aren't from that country. [29:21] APP refunds in the UK. In most cases we need to be aware and protect ourselves. [30:52] Assume everything out of the blue is fake. Come from a position of skepticism. [35:04] When investigations go wrong filming the show and they lose people to scams. [39:10] When the show first began, sometimes the people they were trying to stop from being scammed thought they were the scammer. Thanks for joining us on Easy Prey. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave a nice review.  Links and Resources: Podcast Web Page Facebook Page whatismyipaddress.com Easy Prey on Instagram Easy Prey on Twitter Easy Prey on LinkedIn Easy Prey on YouTube Easy Prey on Pinterest Nick Stapleton Scam Interceptors Nick Stapleton - Instagram Nick Stapleton - LinkedIn Nick Stapleton - Facebook How to Beat Scammers: The Complete Guide to Keeping Yourself Safe from Fraud Morning Live Scam Clinic Podcast