The hack that messed with time, and rogue ransomware negotiators

Smashing Security

Graham Cluley

News, Tech News, Technology

4.7 • 579 Ratings

🗓️ 6 November 2025

⏱️ 39 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Time itself comes under attack as a state-backed hacking gang spends two years tunnelling toward a nation’s master clock — with chaos potentially only a tick away.

Plus when ransomware negotiators turn to the dark side, what could possibly go wrong?

All this and more is discussed in episode 442 of the "Smashing Security" podcast with cybersecurity veteran Graham Cluley, and special guest Dave Bittner.

EPISODE LINKS:

Alleged Meduza Stealer malware admins arrested after hacking Russian org - Bleeping Computer.
Tap-and-Steal: The Rise of NFC Relay Malware on Mobile Devices - Zimperium.
Postcode Lottery's lucky dip turns into data slip as players draw each other's info - The Register.
Chinese Ministry of State Security MSS WeChat post - WeChat.
China blames US for cyber break-in, claims America is world's biggest bit burglar - The Register.
Chicago firm that resolves ransomware attacks had rogue workers carrying out their own hacks, FBI says - Chicago Sun Times.
MicroMacro: Crime City.
Star Wars 3.5 foot animated LED R2-D2 - Home Depot.
TrackaLacker.
Smashing Security merchandise (t-shirts, mugs, stickers and stuff)

SPONSORS:

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Material - Email security that covers the full threat landscape – stopping new flavors of phishing and pretexting attacks in their tracks, while also protecting accounts and data from exploit or exposure.
Drata - The world’s most advanced Trust Management platform – making risk and compliance management accessible, continuous, and 10x more automated than ever before.

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Theme tune: "Vinyl Memories" by Mikael Manvelyan.

Assorted sound effects: AudioBlocks.

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Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	So Bitner ransomware, as we're going to call it.
0:05.5	That's right.
0:06.2	By the way, I'd suggest a different brand name if you don't want to.
0:09.2	Well, we've already got Bittner coin, so...
0:11.3	Oh, yeah, that's true.
0:12.3	That's how you pay for your Bittner ransomware.
0:14.7	You pay for it in the different point.
0:32.6	Smashing Security, Episode 442, The Hack That Messed with Time, and Rogue Ransom were negotiators, with Graham Cluley and special guest Dave Bittner.
0:37.9	Hello, hello, and welcome to Smashing Security episode 442. My name's Graham Cluelly.
0:39.4	And I'm Dave Bittner.
0:43.8	Dave, welcome back to the show. All's fun to have you on Smash Insecurity.
0:46.2	Well, I appreciate it. I'm happy to be back.
0:50.3	Well, I'm really grateful this week in particular because I'm actually on the road right now.
0:57.6	I am at the NISC conference in Glasgow, Scotland. I'm doing some speaking here and,
1:02.2	well, I'm sort of the emcee of the event. Wow. I've got my work cut out this week. I'm going to be running here, doing this, doing that. I love doing events and things, but doing that and getting
1:06.6	a podcast out the door. It's always a bit hairy. Yeah. Who wasn't available so that they had to call you?
1:15.4	Well, there's at least one friend of the show who is showing up. Jeff White is going to be here of the Lazarus Heist fame. Oh, good. Delafant. He's doing a talk. Yeah. So he hasn't got here yet, but he will be. Oh, the other thing, which is accompanying me, is they're actually doing some roadworks just outside my hotel window.
1:30.7	So I do apologize.
1:32.0	There is a man with a pneumatic drill who's been at it for hours and is showing no signs of stopping.
1:39.1	Jack Hammers, chainsaws and leaf blowers are the natural enemies of podcasters.
1:44.3	It's true. It's true.
1:46.7	Well, before we kick off, let's thank this week's wonderful sponsors, Dantadrata and
	...

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