Smashing Security podcast #464: Rockstar got hacked. The data was junk. The secrets it revealed were not

Graham Cluley @ 11:20 pm, April 22, 2026  @grahamcluley.com  / grahamcluley A company that ran anonymous tip lines for 35,000 American schools – handling reports of bullying, weapons, and self-harm – boasted on its website that it had suffered zero security breaches in over 20 years. A hacker called Internet Yiff Machine thought that sounded like a challenge, with predictable results… Meanwhile, Rockstar Games gets hacked again – and the stolen data turns out to be less embarrassing than the financial secrets it accidentally revealed. GTA Online is still making half a billion dollars a year. Red Dead Redemption is not. All this and more in episode 464 of the “Smashing Security” podcast with cybersecurity keynote speaker and industry veteran Graham Cluley, joined this week by special guest BBC cybersecurity correspondent Joe Tidy. Plus! Don’t miss our featured interview with Ryan Benson of Meter. Smashing Security #464 Rockstar got hacked. The data was junk. The secrets it revealed were not ↺ 15 ↻ 30 0:00 0:00 0:00 0:00 1× Show full transcript ▼ Host: Graham Cluley:  @grahamcluley.com  @gcluley@mastodon.green  / grahamcluley Guest: Joe Tidy:  @joetidy.bsky.social‬  / joe-tidy-1932764 Episode links: Grinex exchange blames “Western intelligence” for $13.7M crypto hack – Bleeping Computer. Are Former Black Basta Affiliates Automating Executive Targeting? – Reliaquest. Apple is working on passcode bug locking out iPhone users – The Register. Hackers who stole crime tip records offering data cache for $10k – San. P3 Advertised 20+ Years and 0 Security Breaches. You Can Guess What Happened Next – Databreaches.net. Portland police urge residents to avoid Crime Stoppers following hack – San. GTA-maker Rockstar Games hacked again but downplays impact – BBC News. Rockstar hackers release their stolen data, reveal that Rockstar was right to not pay them anything for it – PC Gamer. XCancel. ”We Are Anonymous” by Parmy Olson – Penguin. Smashing Security merchandise (t-shirts, mugs, stickers and stuff) Sponsored by: Elastic – AI is transforming security operations, but security is still a data problem. Learn how context-rich data drives faster, more reliable defence. Meter – Network infrastructure for the enterprise. Get a free personalised demo. Vanta – Expand the scope of your security program with market-leading compliance automation… while saving time and money. Smashing Security listeners get $1000 off! Support the show: You can help the podcast by telling your friends and colleagues about “Smashing Security”, and leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser. Join Smashing Security PLUS for ad-free episodes and our early-release feed! Follow us: Follow the show on Bluesky, or join us on the Smashing Security subreddit, or visit our website for more episodes. Thanks: Theme tune: “Vinyl Memories” by Mikael Manvelyan. Assorted sound effects: AudioBlocks. Found this article interesting? Follow Graham Cluley on LinkedIn, Bluesky, or Mastodon to read more of the exclusive content we post. Data loss Podcast Privacy Vulnerability #data breach #GTA #Podcast #police #Rockstar #Smashing Security #video game #vulnerability Graham Cluley Graham Cluley is an award-winning keynote speaker who has given presentations around the world about cybersecurity, hackers, and online privacy. A veteran of the computer security industry since the early 1990s, he wrote the first ever version of Dr Solomon's Anti-Virus Toolkit for Windows, makes regular media appearances, and hosts the popular "Smashing Security" podcast. Follow him on TikTok, LinkedIn, Bluesky and Mastodon, or drop him an email.