Star Wars, the CIA, and a WhatsApp malware mirage

Why is a cute Star Wars fan website now redirecting to the CIA? How come Cambodia has become the world's hotspot for scam call centres? And can a WhatsApp image really drain your bank account with a single download, or is it just a load of hacker hokum?

All this and much more is discussed in the latest edition of the award-winning "Smashing Security" podcast by computer security veterans Graham Cluley and Carole Theriault, joined this week by Allan Liska.

Warning: This podcast may contain nuts, adult themes, and rude language.

Episode links:

• How I found a Star Wars website made by the CIA - Ciro Santilli on YouTube.
• How the CIA failed Iranian informants in its secret war with Tehran - Reuters.
• Isis and al-Qaeda sending coded messages through eBay, pornography and Reddit - Independent.
• Games Without Frontiers: Investigating Video Games as a Covert Channel - IEEE.
• General David Petraeus used clever Gmail trick during affair - Network World.
• Cambodia is home to world’s most powerful criminal network: report - SCMP.
• How to protect yourself from suspicious messages and scams- WhatsApp.
• Is WhatsApp Safe? Tips for Staying Secure - WhatsApp.
• Hacked on WhatsApp – how to stay safe when using the messaging app - BBC.
• Just a GIF Image Could Have Hacked Your Android Phone Using WhatsApp - The Hacker News.
• Kon-Tiki: The Epic Raft Journey Across the Pacific - YouTube.
• Still Standing with Jonny Harris - CBC.
• Niki de Saint Phalle & Jean Tinguely - Myths & Machines - Hauser & Wirth.
• Smashing Security merchandise (t-shirts, mugs, stickers and stuff)

Sponsored by:

• Vanta– Expand the scope of your security program with market-leading compliance automation… while saving time and money. Smashing Security listeners get $1000 off!
• 1Password Extended Access Management– Secure every sign-in for every app on every device.
• MetaCompliance - MetaCompliance's Security Awareness Planner is your free 12-month roadmap to reduce risk and build a culture of cyber awareness.

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THANKS:

Theme tune: "Vinyl Memories" by Mikael Manvelyan.

Assorted sound effects: AudioBlocks.