How a hacker could have Rickrolled the entire World Cup
About this episode
This episode discusses a potential hacking incident involving the 2026 FIFA World Cup and features an interview about ransomware attacks in Europe.
A polite caller from your bank says there is a problem with your account. Don't worry - they'll send someone round to help. They'll even take your cards away to keep them safe. The scam has run rampant, until Dutch police plastered blurred photos of 100 suspects across billboards, supermarkets, and TikTok, with a two-week ultimatum to turn themselves in... or else. Meanwhile, a security researcher called Bob DaHacker got her hands on the live broadcast controls for every match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. She could have Rickrolled the entire planet, but actually spent days trying to find anyone at FIFA who would pick up the phone. Plus! Don't miss our featured interview with Black Kite's Jeffrey Wheatman exploring ransomware and extortion attacks across Europe. All this and more in episode 473 of the "Smashing Security" podcast with cybersecurity expert and keynote speaker Graham Cluley, and special guest Danny Palmer. EPISODE LINKS: Suspected cyberattack triggers false emergency alerts across parts of Brazil - The Record. Gizmodo readers hit with ClickFix malware prompts after account compromise - The Register. Two men plead guilty over £39m Transport for London cyber attack…
More episodes of Smashing Security
- Remote-control rickshaws and rogue book marketers
- JadePuffer - the AI that ran a ransomware attack all by itself
- Polymarket can predict the future. So how did it miss this hack?
- AI gets hacked, and BitLocker gets bypassed
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