Magic Cat (Part 1)
mnemonic security podcast
06/02/25
•61m
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Magic Cat (part 1) with security researchers Erlend Leiknes and Harrison Sand
Darcula is a phishing-as-a-service operation targeting victims globally. Over the past 1.5 years, mnemonic researchers and an international investigative reporting team have been looking into the technology, operations and individuals connected to this crime group.
In this episode, Robby speaks with mnemonic's Erlend Leiknes and Harrison Sand about the findings from their technical investigation, offering a rare look behind the scenes of this global phishing-as-a-service operation utilising the phishing kit Magic Cat.
The research unveils hundreds of thousands of victims spanning the globe, unique technical insight into the software enabling hundreds of criminal subscribers, and a glimpse into the flashy lifestyle of the operators.
This podcast was recorded in April, but on May 4th, Norwegian media agency NRK, together with French Le Monde and German BR released the first of their multi-part global investigation into the prominent people behind the phishing operation. The investigation brings them to Thailand, where they attempt to confront Darcula, and learn more about the inner workings of the scam central.
Listen to Part 2 to hear how this story progresses as Robby interviews investigative journalist Martin Gundersen from NRK.
mnemonic's technical blog about Magic Cat: https://www.mnemonic.io/resources/blog/exposing-darcula-a-rare-look-behind-the-scenes-of-a-global-phishing-as-a-service-operation/
Inside the Scam Network at NRK: https://www.nrk.no/dokumentar/xl/inside-the-scam-network-1.17399135
The Hunt for Darcula at NRK: https://www.nrk.no/dokumentar/xl/the-hunt-for-darcula-1.17399157
Previous Episode
Magic Cat (Part 2)
June 2, 2025
•44m
Magic Cat (part 2) with investigative journalist Martin Gundersen
This is the second part of our series about our investigation into Darcula, a phishing-as-a-service operation targeting victims globally, and the phishing kit platform Magic Cat. Over a period of 1,5 years, mnemonic researchers and an international investigative reporting team from the Norwegian media agency NRK, together with French Le Monde and German BR, looked into the technology, operations and individuals connected to this scam network.
The findings offer a rare look behind the scenes of this global phishing-as-a-service operation utilising Magic Cat. The research unveils hundreds of thousands of victims spanning the globe, unique technical insight into the software enabling hundreds of criminal subscribers, and a glimpse into the flashy lifestyle of the operators.
In this episode, Robby talks with Martin Gundersen from NRK about how they worked on this investigation, and what happened when they traveled to Thailand to confront the people behind the scam network.
If you haven’t listened to Part 1 of this series yet, check out episode 137 to hear Robby’s interview with mnemonic's security researchers Erlend Leiknes and Harrison Sand about the findings from their technical investigation into Magic Cat.
- mnemonic's technical blog about Magic Cat: https://www.mnemonic.io/resources/blog/exposing-darcula-a-rare-look-behind-the-scenes-of-a-global-phishing-as-a-service-operation/
- Inside the Scam Network at NRK: https://www.nrk.no/dokumentar/xl/inside-the-scam-network-1.17399135
- The Hunt for Darcula at NRK: https://www.nrk.no/dokumentar/xl/the-hunt-for-darcula-1.17399157
Next Episode
Proofing for Quantum
June 18, 2025
•27m
In this episode, we’ll explore what quantum computing might mean for the world of security in the future, and the concrete measures the banking sector is taking to prepare for it.
Robby is joined by Ulf Larsson, Security CTO at the SEB Group, a leading financial services group in the Nordics, to discuss the work he’s been doing on the potential impact quantum computing will have on his sector, what it can do with our ability to protect data, and preparing his bank to be quantum safe by 2030.
They discuss the concrete tasks security teams have in front of them already now, how banks are working together to secure the financial eco-system, and the ongoing development within this field by tech companies and consultancies.
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