The Epstein Files didn’t hide this hacker very well
Smashing Security
Graham Cluley
4.7 • 579 Ratings
🗓️ 5 February 2026
⏱️ 37 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Supposedly redacted Jeffrey Epstein files can still reveal exactly who they’re talking about - especially when AI, LinkedIn, and a few biographical breadcrumbs do the heavy lifting.
Sloppy redaction leads to explosive claims, and difficult reputational consequences for cybersecurity vendors, and we learn how trust - once cracked - can be almost impossible to fully restore.
Elsewhere, the spotlight turns to insider threat in the age of AI, after a senior US cybersecurity official uploads sensitive government material into the public version of ChatGPT. Oops.
All this, and much more, in episode 453 of Smashing Security with cybersecurity veteran Graham Cluley and special guest Tricia Howard.
EPISODE LINKS:
- Notepad++ hijacked to serve malware in targeted attacks - Notepad++.
- Porn-quitting app caught leaking users’ sexual habits - 404 Media.
- MicroWorld Technologies’ eScan anti-virus update turned into a malware delivery system - Morphisec.
- Jmail.World.
- Informant told FBI that Jeffrey Epstein had a ‘personal hacker’ - Techcrunch.
- Confidential informant statement given to FBI - US Department of Justice.
- Post by Graham Cluley - LinkedIn.
- Trump’s acting cyber chief uploaded sensitive files into a public version of ChatGPT - Politico.
- We are Lady Parts - Channel 4.
- We are Lady Parts trailer - YouTube.
- “Bashir with a good beard” by We are Lady Parts - YouTube.
- “Voldermort under my headscarf” by We are Lady Parts - YouTube.
- Doctor Who: The Shakespeare Notebooks - Penguin.
- Smashing Security merchandise (t-shirts, mugs, stickers and stuff)
SPONSORS:
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- Meter - Network infrastructure for the enterprise. Get a free personalised demo.
- Vanta - Expand the scope of your security program with market-leading compliance automation… while saving time and money. Smashing Security listeners get $1000 off!
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THANKS:
Theme tune: "Vinyl Memories" by Mikael Manvelyan.
Assorted sound effects: AudioBlocks.
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | We created the internet and told people to click on things. |
| 0:05.7 | And then we created security and said, don't click on things. |
| 0:08.6 | What? |
| 0:09.2 | Obviously people are going to click on things. |
| 0:10.7 | So it's, oh, anyway. |
| 0:30.6 | Smashing Security, Episode 453, the Epstein Files didn't hide this hacker very well, with Graham Cluley and special guest Trisha Howard. |
| 0:33.5 | Hello, hello, and welcome to Smashing Security episode 453. My name's Graham Cluley. |
| 0:38.8 | And I'm Trisha Howard. |
| 0:40.7 | Tricia, welcome back to the show. Lovely to have you here once again. |
| 0:44.6 | Oh my gosh, thanks for having me again. Are you kidding me? This is great. |
| 0:47.8 | Now, since we last spoke, you have changed jobs. You've moved from one cybersecurity firm, |
| 0:52.3 | and you're helping set up a brand new one, |
| 0:54.4 | aren't you? I am. Yes, I just joined as head of marketing at a startup focused on insider threat. |
| 1:02.5 | Oh, okay. It sounds interesting. Well, more to come, no doubt, when you unveil yourselves to the |
| 1:08.5 | world. Yes. And just to remind people, your head of marketing now, but what's |
| 1:12.7 | your background in cybersecurity? Where's your expertise been, Trisha? So I started back as a theater |
| 1:19.7 | major who ended up accidentally in sales and moved all the way through marketing and tried |
| 1:25.6 | some security research. And I've kind of dabbled any and everywhere. |
| 1:29.0 | So where my heart lies is in the technical malware analysis, your zero-day stuff, the really fun. |
| 1:36.2 | And I try and make those stories sound very interesting and creative and musical most of the time. |
| 1:41.9 | It is so fascinating how people can come from a wide variety of backgrounds and end up in this ridiculous world of cybersecurity. |
| 1:51.0 | And people can bring so many capabilities and unique talents because of that. |
... |
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