From Instagram panic to Grok gone wild
Smashing Security
Graham Cluley
4.7 • 579 Ratings
🗓️ 15 January 2026
⏱️ 37 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Confusion reigns after claims that data linked to 17.5 million Instagram accounts is up for sale - sparked by a vague post, contradictory statements, and a flood of password reset emails nobody asked for.
And we dig into Grok, Elon Musk’s AI chatbot, after it started generating sexualised images of women and children - raising uncomfortable questions about guardrails, accountability, and why playing the censorship card doesn’t make the problem go away.
All this, and much more, in this episode of the "Smashing Security" podcast with Graham Cluley, and special guest Monica Verma.
EPISODE LINKS:
- Free Speech Union website down after alleged funders exposed by trans hackers - Pink News.
- Illinois Man Charged in Snapchat Hacking Investigation - US Dept of Justice.
- Hackers get hacked, as BreachForums database is leaked - Hot for Security.
- Post by Malwarebytes - Bluesky.
- Post by Instagram - Twitter.
- Instagram denies breach amid claims of 17 million account data leak - Bleeping Computer.
- Ofcom asks X about reports its Grok AI makes sexualised images of children - BBC News.
- Musk’s Grok blocked by Indonesia, Malaysia over sexualized images in world first - CNN.
- Elon Musk shares AI images of Starmer in bikini in row over grim Grok deepfakes - Mirror.
- Soul Music - BBC Sounds.
- Smashing Security merchandise (t-shirts, mugs, stickers and stuff)
SPONSORS:
- Vanta - Expand the scope of your security program with market-leading compliance automation… while saving time and money. Smashing Security listeners get $1000 off!
- Meter - Network infrastructure for the enterprise. Get a free personalised demo.
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Become a supporter! Join Smashing Security PLUS via Patreon or Apple Podcasts for ad-free episodes on our early-release feed!
FOLLOW THE SHOW:
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THANKS:
Theme tune: "Vinyl Memories" by Mikael Manvelyan.
Assorted sound effects: AudioBlocks.
ENJOYED THE SHOW?
Make sure to check out our sister podcast, "The AI Fix".
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | But you know what, Monica, they don't care. |
| 0:07.4 | I know, and that's the problem, but we have to. |
| 0:10.7 | There's only one thing that they care about. |
| 0:13.6 | Profit. |
| 0:14.6 | And therefore, we should be putting pressure on the companies which advertise on these services |
| 0:20.3 | and saying, do you really want to be there? |
| 0:22.7 | With Smashing Security, episode 450, from Instagram Panic to Grock Gone Wild, with Graham Cluley and special guest Monica Verma. |
| 0:42.1 | Hello, hello, and welcome to Smash Insecurity episode 450. |
| 0:45.6 | My name is Graham Cluley. |
| 0:47.2 | And I'm Monica Verme. |
| 0:48.6 | Hi, Monica, first time on the show. |
| 0:51.2 | Thank you so much for joining us today. |
| 0:53.7 | Monica, if there's anyone listening to |
| 0:55.8 | Smash Insecurity who hasn't encountered you before, can you quickly sum up who you are and what you do? |
| 1:02.4 | Yeah, absolutely. I'm a former CISO. I've been in this industry for more than 20 years. I started |
| 1:09.1 | my journey as a hacker and then went into risk management and then became a C. |
| 1:14.5 | So I am still a hacker because it's a mindset more than just absolutely is. |
| 1:20.8 | I truly believe that. |
| 1:22.0 | A good hacker, right? |
| 1:23.9 | You're not one of those badie hackers. |
| 1:25.3 | No, absolutely. |
| 1:26.3 | A white hat hacker. |
... |
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