Part 2: The Bad Actors

The Extortion Economy

In an absurd contract, look into the criminal world where the stakes are high, but the methods are increasingly business-like and meet the people who interact with the ransomware hackers. This is part two.

We Meet:

Chester Wisniewski, Principal Research Scientist, Sophos

Allan Liska, Principal Research Scientist, Recorded Future

Fabian Wosar, CTO, Emsisoft

Kurtis Minder, CEO, GroupSense

Lisa Forte, Co-founder, Red Goat Cyber Security

Credits:

This series is hosted by Meg Marco and produced by Emma Cillekens, Tate Ryan-Mosley and Anthony Green. It’s inspired by reporting from Renee Dudley and Daniel Golden from ProPublica. We're edited by Bobbie Johnson, Michael Reilly, Mat Honan and Robin Fields. Our mix engineer is Erick Gomez with help from Rebekah Wineman. Our theme music is by Jacob Gorski. Art is from Lisa Larson-Walker and Eric Mongeon. Emma Cillekens is our voice coach. The executive producers of The Extortion Economy podcast are Meg Marco and Jennifer Strong.

Sounds From:

Video: Cyber Attack Forces Major Gas And Diesel Pipeline Shutdown, Source: NBC Nightly News, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGbSy82aZBo

Video: Here’s the hacking group responsible for the Colonial Pipeline shutdown, Source: CNBC https://www.cnbc.com/2021/05/10/hacking-group-darkside-reportedly-responsible-for-colonial-pipeline-shutdown.html

Video: Cyberattack of Colonial Pipeline drives panic buying in Tampa Bay, Source: WFLA News Channel 8, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgDyz31sIhI

Video: Colonial Pipeline paid $5 million ransom to hackers. Source: CNBC, https://www.cnbc.com/2021/05/13/colonial-pipeline-paid-ransom-to-hackers-source-says.html

Video: Colonial Pipeline CEO Joseph Blount testifies on ransomware attack before Congress, Source: CNBC, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcYePKjI_mc

Credits:

This series is hosted by Meg Marco and produced by Emma Cillekens, Tate Ryan-Mosley and Anthony Green. It’s inspired by reporting by Renee Dudley and Daniel Golden from ProPublica. We're edited by Bobbie Johnson, Michael Reilly, Mat Honan and Robin Fields. Our mix engineer is Erick Gomez with help from Rebeckah Wineman and theme music by Jacob Gorski. Emma Cillekens is our voice coach. The executive producers of The Extortion Economy podcast are Meg Marco and Jennifer Strong.