Cyber Uncut

• CommBank rolls out AI anti-scam measures, iiNet hacked, and AI-powered toys for your kids

  In this episode of the Cyber Uncut podcast, David Hollingworth and Daniel Croft discuss CommBank’s use of AI to stop scams, local hacks and international cyber news, creepy AI toys for kids, and the alarming fact that what we know about ransomware attacks is just the tip of the iceberg. Hollingworth and Croft begin the podcast with two Commonwealth Bank stories: CBA rolling back its job cuts after AI chatbots fail to keep up with customer demand, and the bank’s novel use of AI to stymie scammers. The pair move on to a story with some incredible twists and turns after an Israeli cyber security specialist working for the government was arrested in Las Vegas for a shocking alleged crime, the iiNet hack that saw more Aussie data compromised by cyber criminals, and attacks on Australian institutions by pro-Palestine hackers. Hollingworth and Croft round things up with a creepy tale of two AI-powered toys designed to cut down on screen time for children, but which actually sound like a nightmare in their own right. Enjoy the episode, The Cyber Uncut team

  --------  

  41:23

  --------

  41:23
• CONTESTED GROUND: From housing to subs – the economics behind military power

  In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, Major General (Ret’d) Dr Marcus Thompson, Phil Tarrant and Liam Garman dissect the forces shaping Australia’s national security in an increasingly volatile world. From the shortage of tradespeople to the sustainability of the nuclear submarine program, the team explores how domestic economic realities – including the property market – intersect with defence capability.  The conversation turns to the AUKUS arrangement, as Thompson questions whether Australia’s defence budget can support the ambitions of the trilateral pact with the United States and the United Kingdom. The hosts unpack the risks of over-prioritising certain branches of the ADF and debate whether political change would have altered the trajectory of defence spending. The team then discusses the recognition of Palestinian statehood – with conditions excluding Hamas from governance. They assess the potential impact on relations with Israel – a nation that has long shared intelligence and counter-terrorism support with Australia – and on Canberra’s role in Middle Eastern geopolitics. The discussion also delves into public sentiment, with Tarrant highlighting the humanitarian toll of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, and the difficulty of separating moral imperatives from strategic realities. Enjoy the podcast, The Contested Ground team

  --------  

  32:07

  --------

  32:07
• AI and copyright in Australia, ShinyHunters and Scattered Spider merge, and the worst hacking in cinema

  In this episode of the Cyber Uncut podcast, David Hollingworth and Daniel Croft continue to talk about demands that Australia loosen copyright laws protecting Aussie artists, discover a dangerous new hacking super group, and laugh at how hacking is presented in the latest adaptation of War of the Worlds. Hollingworth and Croft open up proceedings with more views on the Australian Productivity Commission’s suggestion that AI companies should have full access to the sum total of Australian artistic output. Both Peter Garrett and Tony Burke are against it, but there are still some Aussie executives who feel it’s a good idea. Hollingworth also brings up a couple of reasons why artificial intelligence still lacks intelligence. The big hacking news this week is the formation of a possible hacking super group, as the notorious ShinyHunters and Scattered Spider collectives merge. Is this the real deal, and a threat to companies around the globe, or just hacker hot air? The pair also discuss the week in Australian cyber crime, and it’s not been a great week for Aussie organisations. Hollingworth and Croft then catch up on the latest cyber crime statistics from the Australian Institute of Criminology, before taking a lighthearted look at the depiction of hacking in the latest streaming stinker from Amazon. Enjoy the episode, The Cyber Uncut team

  --------  

  43:12

  --------

  43:12
• CONTESTED GROUND: Inside the information battlespace – how the creative industry supports national security

  In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, Major General (Ret’d) Dr Marcus Thompson and Phil Tarrant are joined by Simon Bergman, CEO of M+C Saatchi World Services, to unpack the evolving landscape of grey zone warfare and the role of creative industries in modern conflict. Drawing on decades of operational and commercial experience, Bergman explores how advertising expertise is being harnessed to support government information operations: crafting narratives, influencing audiences, and shaping perceptions in the contested information environment. Thompson and Bergman discuss the cultural and operational divide between government and industry, and how M+C Saatchi World Services is bridging this gap through a hybrid team of former military personnel and creative professionals. Together, they examine how this model can enable faster, more effective responses in the grey zone. The conversation also turns to the impact of artificial intelligence on information warfare. While acknowledging AI’s ability to enhance speed and reach, Bergman stresses the irreplaceable value of human insight in crafting authentic, effective messaging. Finally, the team reflects on Australia’s information warfare capability, with Thompson calling for greater investment and deeper collaboration with industry to keep pace with adversaries operating below the threshold of open conflict. Enjoy the podcast, The Contested Ground team

  --------  

  48:41

  --------

  48:41
• Productivity Commission goes pro-AI, ShinyHunters continues Salesforce hacking spree, and a new ransomware operator emerges

  In this episode of the Cyber Uncut podcast, David Hollingworth and Daniel Croft discuss the future of AI and copyright in Australia, ShinyHunters and their relationship to the Scattered Spider hacking collective, and a new ransomware operator targeting small businesses in the ANZ region. Hollingworth and Croft kick open things up with a discussion on the Australian Productivity Commission’s suggestion that AI regulations in Australia should be eased, an idea that the pair are not impressed by. After a short chat on the latest developments with Elon Musk’s Grok AI, Hollingworth and Croft discuss the latest wave of Salesforce-related hacks and the possible links between two hacking groups, ShinyHunters and Scattered Spider. The pair wrap things up with the emergence of a new ransomware operation that has already targeted businesses in Australia and New Zealand. Called PEAR, the group focuses purely on data theft over encryption, which seems to be an emerging trend in ransomware operations. Enjoy the episode, The Cyber Uncut team

  --------  

  43:12

  --------

  43:12

More Business podcasts

Trending Business podcasts

About Cyber Uncut

Cyber Uncut: Podcasts in Family