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Easy Prey

Easy Prey

Written by: Chris Parker
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Chris Parker, the founder of WhatIsMyIPAddress.com, interviews guests and tells real-life stories about topics to open your eyes to the danger and traps lurking in the real world, ranging from online scams and frauds to everyday situations where people are trying to take advantage of you—for their gain and your loss. Our goal is to educate and equip you, so you learn how to spot the warning signs of trouble, take quick action, and lower the risk of becoming a victim. Politics & Government True Crime
Episodes
  • Ransomware Evolution

    Ransomware Evolution
    Sep 16 2026
    Ransomware has changed dramatically over the years. What started as criminals locking up individual computers and demanding relatively small payments has grown into a much larger operation involving stolen data, entire networks, third-party vendors, and increasingly sophisticated ways of pressuring victims to pay. Now AI is adding another wrinkle, giving criminals new tools while also creating some unexpected problems for them. Joining me to talk about how ransomware has evolved is Allan Liska, a ransomware researcher and Field CISO at Recorded Future. Allan has more than 30 years of experience in information security and has spent the last 12 years researching ransomware. He has advised major corporations and government agencies, served on national ransomware task forces, and written extensively about ransomware and threat intelligence. We talk about how ransomware became the business it is today, why small businesses can be just as vulnerable as larger organizations, and how attackers are increasingly going after trusted vendors instead of their intended targets directly. We also discuss what happens inside an organization after an attack, why disrupting ransomware groups really can make a difference, how AI is being used by criminals, and some of the mistakes ransomware operators make that ultimately work against them. Show Notes: [01:06] Allan Liska introduces himself and shares how his work at FireEye led him to begin researching ransomware more than a decade ago.[03:10] Growing ransomware problems pushed Allan and other researchers to begin developing better detections for attacks that many security teams were overlooking.[05:22] Ransomware evolved from attacks on individual computers to taking down entire networks and later stealing data to pressure victims into paying.[06:30] Publicly naming victims gave ransomware groups their own form of publicity and made it much harder for organizations to quietly deny an attack.[08:05] Encryption creates technical challenges for criminals, and stealing valuable data can sometimes be just as effective as encrypting an organization's systems.[09:28] Attackers increasingly target vendors and partners, while some groups are now using AI to create fake stolen data and falsely claim organizations as victims.[13:05] Chris and Allan discuss how transparency and regular communication can help organizations manage public trust after a security incident.[14:35] Ransomware response can quickly lead to employee burnout, making outside coordination and basic needs like sleep, food, and scheduling an important part of incident management.[16:14] A major breach may temporarily open security budgets, so organizations should already know which improvements they would prioritize after an incident.[23:29] International law enforcement agencies have become increasingly creative about tracking ransomware operators and waiting for them to make mistakes.[25:48] Being skilled at hacking does not necessarily mean criminals are equally skilled at protecting their identities or activities from intelligence agencies.[28:21] Ransomware groups frequently make technical and strategic mistakes, including faulty AI-generated tools, reused encryption keys, and stealing data nobody considers valuable.[29:36] Fewer ransomware victims are paying, but average payments are increasing, and ransomware remains profitable enough to attract new threat actors.[33:09] Allan explains why simply banning ransom payments may not work and discusses approaches that could give governments better intelligence about where payments go.[39:33] Collaboration remains an important part of ransomware research, and Allan encourages people entering the field to learn from other researchers and security communities. 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 PageFacebook Pagewhatismyipaddress.comEasy Prey on InstagramEasy Prey on TwitterEasy Prey on LinkedInEasy Prey on YouTubeEasy Prey on PinterestAllan Liska - SANSBooks by Allan LiskaRecorded FutureRansomware Live Europol AlertsCISA Alerts
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    41 mins
  • The Counterfeit Economy

    The Counterfeit Economy
    Sep 9 2026

    A counterfeit handbag may leave someone disappointed. A counterfeit medication, airbag, or child's car seat can do far more damage. Fake products now reach into nearly every part of daily life, and many of them arrive through online stores that look completely legitimate.

    Kari Kammel saw the danger firsthand when a pharmacist overseas offered her several versions of the same medication. Some were authentic, while others were openly described as counterfeit. That experience stayed with her. She now directs the Center for Anti-Counterfeiting and Product Protection at Michigan State University, where she works with consumers, brands, researchers, and law enforcement.

    Kari talks about how counterfeit goods enter the marketplace and why they have become so difficult to recognize. She explains what shoppers should examine before placing an order and what to check when the package arrives. The conversation also looks at the health risks behind fake products, the criminal activity they may fund, and the real reason an unbelievable deal can be so cheap.

    Show Notes:
    • [01:04] Kari Kammel explains how the Center for Anti-Counterfeiting and Product Protection works to keep fake products away from consumers.
    • [02:28] An encounter with counterfeit medication leads Kari into the field of brand protection.
    • [03:34] Why even counterfeit experts sometimes purchase fake products by mistake.
    • [06:11] The worldwide scale of counterfeiting and how online sales accelerated its growth.
    • [08:30] Small direct-to-consumer packages make counterfeit shipments harder for customs officials to detect.
    • [10:46] Why the word "dupe" can refer to either a legitimate alternative or an illegal counterfeit.
    • [13:22] Counterfeit goods extend far beyond luxury items into car parts, electronics, toys, and medical products.
    • [16:08] The health risks of fake clothing, cancer medications, and injectable weight-loss drugs.
    • [18:12] Why people become less cautious and more impulsive while shopping online.
    • [19:38] Only the brand can confirm authenticity, but consumers can still look for warning signs.
    • [20:29] Checking the seller, business address, website, and contact information before placing an order.
    • [23:30] Suspicious photographs, fake reviews, unusual prices, and shortages that attract counterfeit sellers.
    • [25:41] What packaging, shipping origin, and product differences can reveal after an order arrives.
    • [27:25] How unauthorized "third shift" manufacturing produces goods outside a brand's quality controls.
    • [28:36] Following the money from counterfeit sales to organized crime and other illegal activity.
    • [31:58] How counterfeiters divide shipments and change tactics to avoid customs inspections.
    • [35:00] The countries involved in manufacturing, transporting, and purchasing counterfeit goods.
    • [38:15] How brands search for fake products and try to remove them from online marketplaces.
    • [39:15] The whack-a-mole problem created by counterfeit listings and AI-generated advertisements.
    • [41:00] Child labor, human trafficking, unsafe factories, and the hidden costs behind cheaper products.

    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
    • Kari Kammel - A-CAPP Team - Michigan State University
    • Kari Kammel - LinkedIn
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    43 mins
  • The Internet is Playing You

    The Internet is Playing You
    Sep 2 2026

    A convincing lie no longer needs to look suspicious. It can appear in a familiar social media feed, come from someone who seems real, or arrive as a video that looks almost impossible to fake. By the time doubt sets in, the post may already have been shared thousands of times.

    Few people understand that online environment better than today's guest. Nina Jankowicz has spent more than a decade studying what she calls the bad things that happen on the internet. She is an internationally recognized expert on disinformation and online harassment. She was also named one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people in AI.

    Nina explains how disinformation spreads and why emotional content travels so quickly. She talks about online harassment, doxxing, romance scams, and AI-generated impersonation. The conversation also covers ways to check questionable information and protect your personal data. Just as important, Nina shares how to step away from trolls before they take over your time and attention.

    Show Notes:
    • [01:00] Nina Jankowicz describes her work studying disinformation, online harassment, and AI-generated harm.
    • [03:50] The important difference between misinformation and deliberate disinformation.
    • [05:09] Why an emotional reaction may be a sign that someone is trying to manipulate you.
    • [07:09] How social media platforms monetize attention and reward harmful engagement.
    • [10:05] Using lateral reading and multiple sources to evaluate questionable online content.
    • [12:27] Why slowing down matters when an image or video may have been generated by AI.
    • [14:04] How algorithmic feeds have made information consumption increasingly passive.
    • [17:01] When an aggressive disagreement crosses the line into harassment.
    • [19:34] Threats, doxxing, and the limits of platforms and law enforcement.
    • [22:18] Nina's one-reply rule and how blocking trolls removes the attention they want.
    • [24:07] Why laws and law enforcement training have not kept pace with cyberstalking.
    • [26:06] Preserving screenshots, documenting abuse, and asking employers for support.
    • [29:23] Password managers, two-factor authentication, and the personal details hidden in photos.
    • [32:34] Removing information from data brokers and making online safety more manageable.
    • [34:40] A romance scam involving stolen images and real-time AI impersonation.
    • [37:35] Why older adults need digital literacy training as much as children do.
    • [39:44] Addressing disinformation without suppressing speech or telling people what to believe.
    • [42:12] How social media incentives favor profitable engagement over trustworthy information.

    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
    • Nina Jankowicz
    • Nina Jankowicz - LinkedIn
    • How to Lose the Information War: Russia, Fake News, and the Future of Conflict
    • How to Be a Woman Online: Surviving Abuse and Harassment, and How to Fight Back
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    44 mins
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