Cyber Distortion Podcast Series

About Cyber Distortion Podcast Series

Jason and Kevin, seasoned Cyber Security professionals, explain cyber security concepts that everyone needs to know in simple terms. They will leave you with practical takeaways you can use to keep yourself and your organizations safe. Jason Popillion is a CISSP and serves as a CIO/CTO of a SaaS company and Kevin Pentecost is a CISSP, CISM, CEH, CPT, MPCS, MCSE, CCA, ITIL-F and serves as a Information Security Manager for a Manufacturing company.

Publisher

Jason Popillion and Kevin Pentecost

Category

news · technology

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

14 Jan 2022

Latest episode

29 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

68 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   29 Oct 2026

   S5 – Episode 011 – Shadow Brokers: America's Cyber Arsenal Exposed

   What happens when some of the most sophisticated cyber weapons on Earth escape the intelligence organization that created them? In Episode 011 of the Cyber Distortion Podcast, we uncover the chilling story of the Shadow Brokers, the mysterious group that appeared in 2016 claiming to possess stolen hacking tools linked to Equation Group, an operation widely associated with the NSA. What began as an unbelievable claim quickly became one of the most consequential leaks in the history of cyber warfare. We explore the stolen exploits, implants, and tools designed to compromise computer networks, including two names that would become infamous: EternalBlue and DoublePulsar. When these weapons were released publicly, the consequences extended far beyond intelligence agencies. In May 2017, WannaCry used EternalBlue to spread ransomware across the globe, disrupting hospitals, businesses, and organizations worldwide. The episode examines how classified cyber capabilities became weapons available to criminals, why unpatched systems remained vulnerable, and how a secret arsenal helped fuel a global cyber crisis. But the biggest mystery remains: who were the Shadow Brokers, how did they obtain these tools, and what really happened behind the scenes? Join Kevin Pentecost and Jason Popillion as they investigate the theft, the weaponization, and the unanswered questions surrounding one of cybersecurity's most extraordinary stories. The lesson is as unsettling today as it was then: once a cyber weapon escapes, nobody can guarantee where it will strike next. And in an era of artificial intelligence, the consequences could be even more dangerous. Resources: Kaspersky – The Equation Giveaway: Technical analysis of the Shadow Brokers leak https://securelist.com/the-equation-giveaway/75812/ Microsoft – Protecting Customers and Evaluating Risk: Analysis of leaked exploits and security updates https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/msrc/blog/2017/04/protecting-customers-and-evaluating-risk/ Microsoft – Security Bulletin MS17-010: Windows SMB vulnerabilities and security updates https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2017/ms17-010 Europol – WannaCry Ransomware: Global impact and investigation https://www.europol.europa.eu/wannacry-ransomware CERT-EU – WannaCry Ransomware Campaign Exploiting SMB Vulnerability https://cert.europa.eu/publications/security-advisories/2017-012/ Ars Technica – Confirmed: Hacking Tool Leak Came from "Omnipotent" NSA-Tied Group https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2016/08/code-dumped-online-came-from-omnipotent-nsa-tied-hacking-group/ Research: Check Point Research – The Story of Jian: How APT31 Stole and Used an Equation Group Zero-Day https://research.checkpoint.com/2021/the-story-of-jian/ Check Point Research – A Deep Dive into DoubleFeature, Equation Group's Post-Exploitation Dashboard https://research.checkpoint.com/2021/a-deep-dive-into-doublefeature-equation-groups-post-exploitation-dashboard/ Kaspersky Securelist – The Equation Giveaway: Evidence Connecting the Leaked Tools to Equation Group https://securelist.com/the-equation-giveaway/75812/ Music Used: Cinematic Movie Trailer Obscure Movements Mercurious 110S Encrypted Files Music Sources: Filmora Audiostock Universal Music for Creators 🎧

2. 

   18 Sept 2026

   S5 – Episode 010 – Carbanak: The Billion-Dollar Bank Heist

   What happens when cybercriminals stop targeting bank customers—and start targeting the bank itself? In Episode 010 of the Cyber Distortion Podcast, we examine Carbanak, the malware-driven campaign that turned financial institutions into the targets of a massive digital bank robbery. Beginning with ATMs mysteriously dispensing cash, investigators eventually uncovered attackers who had infiltrated bank networks through employees and quietly learned how the institutions actually moved money. We unpack how the attackers used access, surveillance, lateral movement, legitimate credentials, and knowledge of bank processes to manipulate financial systems, transfer funds, alter account balances, and remotely command ATMs to dispense cash. With Kaspersky estimating that up to 100 financial institutions in around 30 countries were targeted and losses could reach $1 billion, Carbanak demonstrated that attackers did not necessarily need to break through every security control—they needed to understand the organization well enough to make it work for them. More than a decade later, the lessons from Carbanak remain deeply relevant. The attack showed how dangerous legitimate access can become when an attacker can observe employees, move through trusted systems, and blend into normal business activity. Join Kevin and Jason as they explore the hunt for the Carbanak criminal operation, the evolution from Anunak to Carbanak and Cobalt, and the unsettling question raised by the episode: what happens when the next Carbanak is faster, smarter, and powered by artificial intelligence? Resources: Kaspersky – The Great Bank Robbery: Carbanak cybergang steals $1bn from 100 financial institutions worldwide https://www.kaspersky.com/about/press-releases/the-great-bank-robbery-carbanak-cybergang-steals-1bn-from-100-financial-institutions-worldwide Kaspersky – The Great Bank Robbery: Carbanak APT https://www.kaspersky.com/blog/the-great-bank-robbery-carbanak-apt/3598/ Kaspersky – The Carbanak hacker group stole $1 billion USD https://www.kaspersky.com/blog/billion-dollar-apt-carbanak/7519/ Europol – Mastermind behind EUR 1 billion cyber bank robbery arrested in Spain https://www.europol.europa.eu/media-press/newsroom/news/mastermind-behind-eur-1-billion-cyber-bank-robbery-arrested-in-spain Kaspersky – Safeguarding ATMs: Carbanak technical background https://media.kaspersky.com/en/business-security/enterprise/Safeguarding-ATMs-whitepaper-en.pdf Reuters – Cybercrime ring steals up to $1 billion from banks: Kaspersky Lab https://www.reuters.com/ The New York Times – Bank hackers steal millions via malware https://www.nytimes.com/ Research: Carbanak, Anunak and Cobalt – Kaspersky threat research and historical coverage https://www.kaspersky.com/ Europol – International investigation and arrest of suspected Carbanak/Cobalt leadership https://www.europol.europa.eu/ Music Used: Future Machinery Preview Rising Tension Trailer Intro Storm's Coming Tension Point Tense Movie Serious Intent 191S End Game 131S Positive Energy Music Sources: Filmora Audiostock Universal Music for Creators 🎧

3. 

   28 Aug 2026

   S5 – Episode 009 – The Sony Hack: When Hollywood went to Cyberwar

   What happens when a film studio becomes the target of a cyberattack with geopolitical consequences? In this episode of the Cyber Distortion Podcast, we examine the 2014 Sony Pictures Entertainment hack—an incident that blurred the line between criminal extortion, destructive sabotage, and state-linked cyber operations. From the emergence of the Guardians of Peace to the deployment of destructive malware, the attack exposed employee data, internal emails, unreleased films, and the uncomfortable reality that modern entertainment companies can become frontline targets in cyber conflict. We unpack the controversy surrounding attribution to North Korea, the debate over motive and capability, and the broader significance of the breach as an act of cyber extortion and geopolitical signaling. Along the way, we look at incident response under pressure, executive decision-making, public disclosure, and the lasting lessons for Hollywood and organizations everywhere about resilience, preparedness, and accountability in the face of cyberwarfare. More than a celebrity scandal or a corporate embarrassment, the Sony hack became a watershed moment in how businesses, governments, and the public think about the strategic use of cyberattacks. It reshaped conversations about digital deterrence, information operations, and the risks of operating in an era where data leaks and destructive malware can carry global consequences. Join Kevin and Jason as they separate myth from reality and explore how one breach changed the way the world sees cyber conflict. Resources: U.S. Department of Justice – North Korea's Cyber Operations: The Sony Pictures Entertainment Hack (press releases and related materials) https://www.justice.gov/ FBI – Sony Pictures Entertainment Hack and related public statements https://www.fbi.gov/news CISA – Incident response and destructive malware guidance https://www.cisa.gov/ U.S. Department of State – Public attribution and North Korea sanctions / statements related to the Sony attack https://www.state.gov/ Reuters – Sony Pictures hack coverage and attribution reporting https://www.reuters.com/ The New York Times – Investigative coverage of the Sony hack and aftermath https://www.nytimes.com/ Wired – Technical analysis of the Sony malware and attack infrastructure https://www.wired.com/ SecureWorks / Dell – Analysis of destructive malware and the Sony attack https://www.secureworks.com/ Book: – Peter Pomerantsev and Anne Applebaum https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/ Documentary: / related documentary coverage https://www.imdb.com/ Charicature of Kim Jong Un: SlothParadise Music Used: Enigma Problem Virus Hunter 127S Break the Silence Mysterious Duduk Korean Vibe Deep Om Music Sources: Filmora Audiostock Universal Music for Creators 🎧

Who has been a guest on Cyber Distortion Podcast Series

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Paul Furtado
• Rob Allen
• Gaelle Koanda
• Len Noe
• Chris Glanden

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

28,638

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

3 ratings

Spotify

4.6 / 5

11 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 73 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

79

Social presence

0

YouTube

85

Engagement

82

Contact Cyber Distortion Podcast Series

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

Questions about Cyber Distortion Podcast Series