- Owner: Graham Cluley and Carole Theriault @SmashinSecurity
- Date of podcast launch: December 2016
- Average episode length: 50 minutes, weekly
- Three typical topics: Abusive corporate apps, adult website censorship, the pros and cons of 2FA
- Website: smashingsecurity.com
- Available on: RSS, iTunes, Overcast, Google, Pocket Casts, Spotify
Smashing Security describes itself as “helpful and hilarious,” which is an apt description for this lighthearted podcast on current infosec concerns, that nevertheless manages to provide expertise. Co-hosts Cluley and Theriault don’t particularly limit themselves in the topics they cover, instead casting their net over anything related to cybercrime and more.
This is one of those podcasts which you can dive right into – the presenters keep the jargon light and make a point of not patronizing the listeners. Perhaps it’s this ability to balance knowledge and approachability that earned Smashing Security the title of “Best Security Podcast” at the 2018 European Security Blogger Awards.
Every episode seeks to anchor the content in the real world, which is another huge strength. For instance, recent shows have talked about how major corporations like Office Depot have used scams to trick customers into purchasing unnecessary security tools. There have been shows on motel owners using apps to “hijack” customers devices, as well as security threats related to LinkedIn profiles. In other words, the kind of stories you wish you’d hear more about in the MSM, but tend to get lost in the churn.
As with the best cybersecurity podcasts, Smashing Security’s hosts don’t do it alone. They invite plenty of engaging guests to share their expertise (and bad jokes). And the hosts know what they are talking about. Before helming the podcast, Cluley wrote the very first iteration of “Dr. Solomon’s Anti-Virus Toolkit,” while Theriault’s Sophos Naked Security is one of the best sources of anti-virus news around.
