Online Growth: Posting online can invite criticism but also friendships and growth. Seeking the truth, especially in tech stories, is essential as it shapes understanding and community trust.
Sharing experiences online can lead to unexpected growth and connections. Initially, facing criticism for a wrong video game guide taught me humility but also helped me improve. Similarly, my podcast episode about Mob Man revealed ongoing debates about authenticity in tech communities, emphasizing the importance of thorough fact-checking and the impact of public perception. Over time, I aim to address these misunderstandings and engage with listeners, turning doubts into collaborative exploration. This journey reminds us that the internet can be both a source of knowledge and a space for scrutiny, encouraging us to seek clarity and build trust. In a world where stories can diverge, finding the truth becomes an essential quest, ultimately fostering a richer understanding of technological history and community dynamics.
Creator's Journey: Mob Man created Sub-7 for fun, but as it was misused for malicious purposes, he left hacking. Later, he sought to reclaim his name as the original creator after someone else took credit, highlighting the importance of recognizing original creators in cybersecurity.
Mob Man, a programmer from Romania, created Sub-7, a remote access Trojan, influenced by earlier software like Netbus. Initially, his intent was to develop fun pranks, but as Sub-7 gained popularity, it was misused for malicious reasons. This led him to step away from the hacking scene, despite struggles with being recognized for his work. Years later, he discovered someone else was using his name to take credit for Sub-7, prompting him to reclaim it. He acknowledges that while his software was intended for light-hearted fun, the consequences of its misuse led him on a different path in programming, emphasizing the importance of recognizing original creators in cybersecurity.
Cybersecurity Identities: In cybersecurity, identities often blur. Greg claims to be the creator of Sub 7, despite another named Mom Man asserting the same. This reveals the tension between past actions, current fears, and the desire to protect personal lives in a complex digital world.
In the world of cybersecurity, there are often hidden stories behind famous tools like Sub 7. A conversation reveals uncertainty about the actual creator, Greg, and another individual, Mom Man. Greg wants to remain hidden due to past controversies and potential legal issues. Both claim ownership to the same tool and are reluctant to share more, hinting at a complex web of identity and reputation in the hacking community. As the investigation deepens, the narrative suggests that real identities may be obscured by past actions and the fear of repercussions. It’s a reminder that the digital landscape holds many secrets, where perceptions of truth can vary significantly, and some prefer to keep their stories untold to protect their current lives.
Sub-7 Ownership: Two individuals with the same name engage in a heated discussion on the creation of Sub-7, addressing claims of ownership and the complexities of authorship amid cultural references and skepticism about attached identities.
In a podcast conversation, two individuals named Marban discuss the controversial creation and ownership of a tool known as Sub-7. Confusion arises as both assert their influence over its development, yet neither wants full credit due to its questionable uses. One claims responsibility for all versions, revealing that the original programming was done alone and unshared because it was complex, learned during the creation process. The dialogue showcases their struggle to establish rightful authorship amidst skepticism, evidence like personal birthdays, and cultural references that hint at a Romanian background. This conversation highlights the intricacies of authorship in digital tools, especially those with darker implications, and reflects on the nature of identity and recognition in programming.
Sub-7 Debate: An argument unfolds over who truly created the Sub-7 software, with assertions of proof and ownership leading to skepticism about the validity of these claims.
A conversation reveals a debate about programming and the validity of claims regarding the creation of Sub-7 software. One participant, Greg, insists he has proof of his involvement, like source codes and backup CDs, yet struggles to demonstrate this live. His assertions about owning the Sub-7 domain are contested, as others point out inconsistencies, such as the use of Gmail that didn't exist in earlier versions of the software. They also note that Greg frequently claims credit for Sub-7 at various conferences, creating confusion about his true level of involvement. Overall, the discourse exposes a clash between personal pride and verification in the coding community, highlighting issues of authenticity and the challenges of claiming ownership in programming.
Sub-7 Dispute: A debate over the true authorship of Sub-7 reveals tensions and misrepresentations in the hacking community, with one person finally agreeing to stop claiming authorship to settle disputes.
In a heated exchange, two individuals debate the authorship of Sub-7, a hacking tool. One claims to be the original creator, while the other accuses him of lying. They discuss past events, such as arrests and media coverage, revealing the frustration over misrepresentations in the hacking community. Both have a history in the hacker scene and reflect on their experiences. As tensions rise, one participant suggests stopping the claims of authorship to move on. It highlights how reputations in the tech world can become tangled in myths and misunderstandings over time, impacting personal credibility and community dynamics. This situation shows the importance of honesty and clarity regarding one's contributions in any field.
Misinformation Culture: Hackers manipulate media with false claims, illustrating how misinformation spreads easily. It's crucial to remain skeptical and verify information to avoid falling for elaborate deceptions, especially in a culture where pranks and conspiracy theories often thrive.
Hackers often take advantage of the media's gullibility by spreading wild claims about their exploits. Groups like the Cult of the Dead Cow have shown how easily misinformation can spread and how the media will publish these sensational claims. This trend isn't just for mischief; it's also a commentary on how conspiracy theories and fake news proliferate. The podcast explores the consequences of such deception, highlighting the need for critical thinking when consuming information. Despite being tricked, the speaker reflects on the cleverness of the deception while advising listeners to stay grounded and not fall into similar traps. The experience serves as a lesson on the importance of verifying information and understanding the culture surrounding these hackers, encouraging an awareness of their motivations and methods as essential for navigating this digital age.
150: mobman 2
Darknet Diaries
150 Episodes
Recent Episodes from Darknet Diaries
150: mobman 2
In Episode 20 of Darknet Diaries, we heard from Greg aka “mobman” who said he created the sub7 malware. Something didn’t sit right with a lot of people about that episode. It’s time to revisit that episode and get to the bottom of things.
Sponsors
This show is sponsored by Shopify. Shopify is the best place to go to start or grow your online retail business. And running a growing business means getting the insights you need wherever you are. With Shopify’s single dashboard, you can manage orders, shipping, and payments from anywhere. Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at https://shopify.com/darknet.
Support for this show comes from Axonius. The Axonius solution correlates asset data from your existing IT and security solutions to provide an always up-to-date inventory of all devices, users, cloud instances, and SaaS apps, so you can easily identify coverage gaps and automate response actions. Axonius gives IT and security teams the confidence to control complexity by mitigating threats, navigating risk, decreasing incidents, and informing business-level strategy — all while eliminating manual, repetitive tasks. Visit axonius.com/darknet to learn more and try it free.
Support for this show comes from ThreatLocker®. ThreatLocker® is a Zero Trust Endpoint Protection Platform that strengthens your infrastructure from the ground up. With ThreatLocker® Allowlisting and Ringfencing™, you gain a more secure approach to blocking exploits of known and unknown vulnerabilities. ThreatLocker® provides Zero Trust control at the kernel level that enables you to allow everything you need and block everything else, including ransomware! Learn more at www.threatlocker.com.
Sources
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDMc2PZM4V4
https://www.illmob.org/notmymobman/
https://darknetdiaries.com/episode/20
149: Mini-Stories: Vol 3
In this episode we hear EvilMog (https://x.com/Evil_Mog) tell us a story about when he had to troubleshoot networks in Afghanistan. We also get Joe (http://x.com/gonzosec) to tell us a penetration test story.
Sponsors
Support for this show comes from Varonis. Do you wonder what your company’s ransomware blast radius is? Varonis does a free cyber resilience assessment that tells you how many important files a compromised user could steal, whether anything would beep if they did, and a whole lot more. They actually do all the work – show you where your data is too open, if anyone is using it, and what you can lock down before attackers get inside. They also can detect behavior that looks like ransomware and stop it automatically. To learn more visit www.varonis.com/darknet.
Support for this show comes from Axonius. The Axonius solution correlates asset data from your existing IT and security solutions to provide an always up-to-date inventory of all devices, users, cloud instances, and SaaS apps, so you can easily identify coverage gaps and automate response actions. Axonius gives IT and security teams the confidence to control complexity by mitigating threats, navigating risk, decreasing incidents, and informing business-level strategy — all while eliminating manual, repetitive tasks. Visit axonius.com/darknet to learn more and try it free.
Support for this show comes from ThreatLocker®. ThreatLocker® is a Zero Trust Endpoint Protection Platform that strengthens your infrastructure from the ground up. With ThreatLocker® Allowlisting and Ringfencing™, you gain a more secure approach to blocking exploits of known and unknown vulnerabilities. ThreatLocker® provides Zero Trust control at the kernel level that enables you to allow everything you need and block everything else, including ransomware! Learn more at www.threatlocker.com.
148: Dubsnatch
Ever wondered how far a fan would go to get a sneak peek of their favorite artist’s unreleased tracks? In this episode, we uncover the audacious story of some teens bent on getting their hands on the newest dubstep music before anyone else.
Sponsors
Support for this show comes from Varonis. Do you wonder what your company’s ransomware blast radius is? Varonis does a free cyber resilience assessment that tells you how many important files a compromised user could steal, whether anything would beep if they did, and a whole lot more. They actually do all the work – show you where your data is too open, if anyone is using it, and what you can lock down before attackers get inside. They also can detect behavior that looks like ransomware and stop it automatically. To learn more visit www.varonis.com/darknet.
Support for this show comes from Axonius. The Axonius solution correlates asset data from your existing IT and security solutions to provide an always up-to-date inventory of all devices, users, cloud instances, and SaaS apps, so you can easily identify coverage gaps and automate response actions. Axonius gives IT and security teams the confidence to control complexity by mitigating threats, navigating risk, decreasing incidents, and informing business-level strategy — all while eliminating manual, repetitive tasks. Visit axonius.com/darknet to learn more and try it free.
Support for this show comes from ThreatLocker®. ThreatLocker® is a Zero Trust Endpoint Protection Platform that strengthens your infrastructure from the ground up. With ThreatLocker® Allowlisting and Ringfencing™, you gain a more secure approach to blocking exploits of known and unknown vulnerabilities. ThreatLocker® provides Zero Trust control at the kernel level that enables you to allow everything you need and block everything else, including ransomware! Learn more at www.threatlocker.com.
147: Tornado
In this episode, Geoff White (https://x.com/geoffwhite247) tells us what happened to Axie Infinity and Tornado cash. It’s a digital heist of epic proportions that changes everything.
This story comes from part of Geoff’s book “Rinsed” which goes into the world of money laundering. Get yours here https://amzn.to/3VJs7pb.
146: ANOM
In this episode, Joseph Cox (https://x.com/josephfcox) tells us the story of anom. A secure phone made by criminals, for criminals.
This story comes from part of Joseph’s book “Dark Wire” which you should definitely read. Get yours here https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/joseph-cox/dark-wire/9781541702691.
145: Shannen
144: Rachel
143: Jim Hates Scams
142: Axact
141: The Pig Butcher