In the Shell

In this episode, we’ll talk about the differences between hard drives, SSDs, and NVMe storage, and how technologies like RAID and file systems keep information reliable. We’ll also discuss different file system types and full disk encryption.Don't just host your podcast, own it🟡 Yellowball is a podcast hosting service I built to give podcasters more control and less nonsense. Whether you’re starting fresh, moving your show over, or just curious, check it out at https://yellowball.fm.Referenceshttps://www.corsair.com/us/en/explorer/diy-builder/storage/raid-0-raid-1-and-raid-5-explained/https://klarasystems.com/articles/openzfs-understanding-zfs-vdev-types/https://www.open-e.com/blog/introduction-to-zfs/https://www.kingston.com/en/blog/personal-storage/understanding-file-systemshttps://freebsdfoundation.org/resource/an-introduction-to-the-z-file-system/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_RAID_levels

This episode is all about RAM. The part of your computer that holds everything it’s working on right now. What it is, how it works, and why more of it can mean the difference between smooth operation and constant lag. Plus a look at DDR4 vs DDR5, memory speeds, and why RAM is still way faster than your SSD.Don't just host your podcast, own it🟡 Yellowball is a podcast hosting service I built to give podcasters more control and less nonsense. Whether you’re starting fresh, moving your show over, or just curious, check it out at https://yellowball.fm.Referenceshttps://www.crucial.com/articles/about-memory/support-what-does-computer-memory-dohttps://www.kingston.com/unitedkingdom/en/blog/pc-performance/memory-assessorhttps://www.crucial.com/articles/about-memory/what-is-the-difference-between-memory-and-storagehttps://www.tomshardware.com/features/ddr5-vs-ddr4-is-it-time-to-upgrade-your-ramhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetic-core_memoryhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dynamic_random-access_memoryhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Random-access_memory

Ever wonder what’s really doing the thinking inside your computer or phone? Let's talk about the CPU.Don't just host your podcast, own it🟡 Yellowball is a podcast hosting service I built to give podcasters more control and less nonsense. Whether you’re starting fresh, moving your show over, or just curious, check it out at https://yellowball.fm.Referenceshttps://newsroom.intel.com/tech101/the-transistor-explainedhttps://www.computerhistory.org/revolution/digital-logic/12/285https://www.computerhistory.org/revolution/digital-logic/12/284https://www.computerhistory.org/siliconengine/microprocessor-integrates-cpu-function-onto-a-single-chip/https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/history/virtual-vault/articles/the-intel-4004.htmlhttps://ieeemilestones.ethw.org/Milestone-Proposal%3AIntel_4004_Microprocessorhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_processing_unithttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ARM_architecture_familyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CPU_sockethttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Instruction_cycle

Margaret Hamilton may not have stepped on the Moon, but her code helped get us there. From stacks of code taller than she was to a Medal of Freedom decades later, Hamilton’s story is one of intellect, innovation, and true engineering brilliance.Don't just host your podcast, own it🟡 Yellowball is a podcast hosting service I built to give podcasters more control and less nonsense. Whether you’re starting fresh, moving your show over, or just curious, check it out at https://yellowball.fm.Referenceshttps://science.nasa.gov/people/margaret-hamilton/https://www.wired.com/2015/10/margaret-hamilton-nasa-apollo/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/margaret-hamilton-led-nasa-software-team-landed-astronauts-moon-180971575/https://news.mit.edu/2009/apollo-vign-0717https://www.theguardian.com/global/2019/jul/19/apollo-women-man-walk-on-the-moonhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_Hamilton_(software_engineer)https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2016/11/16/president-obama-names-recipients-presidential-medal-freedom

Long before Linux, there was Unix — and Ken Thompson was at the center of it. The quiet legacy of a developer who shaped how computers, code, and operating systems work today.Don't just host your podcast, own it🟡 Yellowball is a podcast hosting service I built to give podcasters more control and less nonsense. Whether you’re starting fresh, moving your show over, or just curious, check it out at https://yellowball.fm.Referenceshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Thompsonhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unixhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Go_(programming_language)https://www.britannica.com/biography/Kenneth-Lane-Thompsonhttps://amturing.acm.org/award_winners/thompson_4588371.cfmhttps://catonmat.net/unix-philosophyhttps://research.swtch.com/utf8

Steve Jobs is often hailed as a visionary who reshaped the technology and entertainment industries—from humble beginnings and Apple’s meteoric rise, to the creation of Pixar, and the legacy he left behind.Don't just host your podcast, own it🟡 Yellowball is a podcast hosting service I built to give podcasters more control and less nonsense. Whether you’re starting fresh, moving your show over, or just curious, check it out at https://yellowball.fm.Referenceshttps://www.biography.com/business-leaders/steve-jobshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Jobshttps://www.investopedia.com/articles/fundamental-analysis/12/steve-jobs-apple-story.asphttps://www.cultofmac.com/apple-historyhttps://www.leadershipstorybank.com/steve-jobs-death-and-legacy/https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/steve-jobs-technology-alone-is-not-enoughhttps://www.apple.com/stevejobs/Applehttps://www.apple.com/stevejobs/https://pixar.fandom.com/wiki/Steve_Jobshttps://www.biography.com/business-leaders/steve-jobs-pixar-animation-historyhttps://www.vanityfair.com/news/2019/09/bob-iger-remembers-steve-jobshttps://www.forbes.com/sites/timbajarin/2019/10/07/steve-jobs-legacy-still-drives-apples-current-and-future-products/https://time.com/3466506/apple-steve-jobs-tim-cook/https://masonbates.com/2022/02/04/blog-the-legacy-of-steve-jobs/https://goodwhale.com/how-steve-jobs-saved-disney-from-bankruptcy-and-made-it-a-global-leader/https://commoncog.com/c/cases/jobs-second-act-apple/

From his childhood fascination with electronics to co-founding Apple Computer and helping ignite the personal computing revolution. A story of quiet genius, loyalty, and a lasting legacy in technology.Don't just host your podcast, own it🟡 Yellowball is a podcast hosting service I built to give podcasters more control and less nonsense. Whether you’re starting fresh, moving your show over, or just curious, check it out at https://yellowball.fm.Referenceshttps://www.biography.com/inventors/steve-wozniakhttps://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/steve-wozniak-on-apple-steve-jobs-and-the-value-of-a-good-prank/https://woz.org/https://agentpalmer.com/secret-files/steve-jobs/https://www.museumofplay.org/blog/steve-jobs-breakout-pioneer/https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aso/databank/entries/btwozn.htmhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Wozniakhttps://www.invent.org/inductees/steve-wozniakhttps://www.businessinsider.com/steve-wozniak-gave-early-apple-employees-10-million-in-stock-2014-9

From Harvard dropout to tech titan, Bill Gates helped ignite the personal computing revolution and built Microsoft into a global powerhouse.Don't just host your podcast, own it🟡 Yellowball is a podcast hosting service I built to give podcasters more control and less nonsense. Whether you’re starting fresh, moving your show over, or just curious, check it out at https://yellowball.fm.Referenceshttps://www.gatesnotes.com/https://www.gatesfoundation.org/https://forum.beyond3d.com/threads/microsoft-50th-anniversary-from-gates-days-to-dark-ages-ballmer-to-embracing-open-source-loving-linux-nadella-to-saving-open-ai-worlds-1st.64009/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Microsofthttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Gateshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altair_8800https://youtu.be/5J3FUOCRXPohttps://youtu.be/lahX_ARGTqAhttps://youtu.be/zZrgVG2k8vUhttps://youtu.be/I3fBW6XkL34

Steve Ballmer is often remembered for his wild stage antics and the infamous “Developers!” chant—but there’s so much more to the man behind the memes. Passionate, bold, and endlessly energetic, Ballmer’s journey from Detroit math whiz to Microsoft CEO is anything but typical.Don't just host your podcast, own it🟡 Yellowball is a podcast hosting service I built to give podcasters more control and less nonsense. Whether you’re starting fresh, moving your show over, or just curious, check it out at https://yellowball.fm.Referenceshttps://youtu.be/8fcSviC7cRM — “Developers, Developers, Developers, Developers”https://youtu.be/lAkuJXGldrM — Windows 95 Launchhttps://youtu.be/f__n8084YAE — “I LOVE THIS COMPANY”https://youtu.be/eywi0h_Y5_U — Ballmer laughs at iPhonehttps://youtu.be/xqmj-9XlDzY — Ballmer farewell speechhttps://youtu.be/5woKTCFXems — Ballmer at LA Clippers Conferencehttps://www.pcworld.com/article/434836/in-his-own-words-best-quotes-of-steve-ballmer.htmlhttps://www.britannica.com/money/Steve-Ballmerhttps://www.entrepreneur.com/business-news/bill-gates-got-steve-ballmer-to-quit-school-join/486932https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Ballmerhttps://www.cbsnews.com/news/how-steve-and-connie-ballmer-give-away-billions-60-minutes/https://www.macrumors.com/2016/11/07/former-microsoft-ceo-steve-ballmer-wrong-iphone/https://www.businessinsider.com/steve-ballmer-microsoft-zaniest-moments-chanting-dancing-la-clippers-2023-11https://www.geekwire.com/2014/real-reason-ballmer-left-board-battles-growing-tension-gates-difference-hardware-strategy/

After stepping away from his antivirus empire in 1994, John McAfee's life spiraled into a web of intrigue, controversy, and adventure. Part 2 dives into his astonishing transformation from tech pioneer to international fugitive.This is part 2 of a two part series.Don't just host your podcast, own it🟡 Yellowball is a podcast hosting service I built to give podcasters more control and less nonsense. Whether you’re starting fresh, moving your show over, or just curious, check it out at https://yellowball.fm.Referenceshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_McAfeehttps://www.businessinsider.com/the-insane-life-of-john-mcafee-2015-7https://www.wired.com/2012/12/ff-john-mcafees-last-stand/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-06-27/john-mcafee-internet-security-virus-software-dead-crime/100244606https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-57591682https://screenrant.com/john-mcafee-2020-presidential-campaign/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKgf5PaBzyghttps://www.adweek.com/creativity/john-mcafee-goes-full-charlie-sheen-bizarre-ad-full-guns-drugs-and-women-150493/https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/technology/2013/06/john-mcafees-wild-video-how-to-uninstall-mcafee-anti-virushttps://wired.me/news/john-mcafee-found-dead-in-spanish-prison-after-extradition-order/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/john-mcafee-wife-suicide-note-b1883585.htmlhttps://firstdraftnews.org/articles/conspiracy-theories-are-spreading-about-john-mcafees-death/

John McAfee faced the Brain virus and built the world’s first commercial antivirus from his tiny California home, sparking a cybersecurity revolution. From a troubled childhood to coding for NASA, the wild early life and relentless drive of the man who shielded the digital world—until he walked away.This is part 1 of a two part series.Don't just host your podcast, own it🟡 Yellowball is a podcast hosting service I built to give podcasters more control and less nonsense. Whether you’re starting fresh, moving your show over, or just curious, check it out at https://yellowball.fm.Referenceshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_McAfeehttps://www.businessinsider.com/the-insane-life-of-john-mcafee-2015-7https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/john-mcafee-6497.phphttps://nasa.fandom.com/wiki/John_McAfeehttps://www.sportskeeda.com/pop-culture/5-lesser-known-facts-software-mogul-john-mcafeehttps://www.cybersecurityeducationguides.org/john-mcafee-godfather-of-antivirus-software/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/john-mcafee-antivirus-criminal-obituary-b1875513.htmlhttps://hive.blog/interview/%40jasonnavallo/interview-with-john-mcafee-founder-mcafee-softwarehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McAfeehttps://locall.host/where-is-mcafee-antivirus-made/https://historyofbranding.com/mcafee/https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/john-mcafee-obituary-remembrance-1188855/https://www.aarp.org/entertainment/television/info-2022/running-with-the-devil-the-wild-world-of-john-mcafee.html

Gordon Moore, the co-founder of Intel and the mind behind Moore’s Law—the prediction that has shaped the pace of technological advancement for decades. From his early fascination with chemistry to revolutionizing the semiconductor industry, let's talk about transistors.Don't just host your podcast, own it🟡 Yellowball is a podcast hosting service I built to give podcasters more control and less nonsense. Whether you’re starting fresh, moving your show over, or just curious, check it out at https://yellowball.fm.Referenceshttps://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/newsroom/resources/gordon-moore-at-intel.htmlhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gordon_Moorehttps://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/24/technology/gordon-moore-dead.htmlhttps://www.societyforscience.org/isef/awards/gordon-e-moore-awards/https://www.forbes.com/profile/gordon-moore/

Linus Torvalds, the creator of the Linux kernel. From his early coding days on a VIC-20 to launching an open-source revolution, Linus’s journey is packed with innovation, bold decisions, and even a little penguin-inspired fun.Don't just host your podcast, own it🟡 Yellowball is a podcast hosting service I built to give podcasters more control and less nonsense. Whether you’re starting fresh, moving your show over, or just curious, check it out at https://yellowball.fm.Referenceshttps://subsurface-divelog.org/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Githttps://www.britannica.com/biography/Linus-Torvaldshttps://computerhistory.org/profile/linus-torvalds/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linus_Torvaldshttps://lemelson.mit.edu/resources/linus-torvalds

The world changed forever in 2010. Stuxnet revolutionized the way nations waged war in cyberspace, and there was no turning back. At Iran’s nuclear facility, centrifuges were mysteriously failing, leaving engineers baffled.Don't just host your podcast, own it🟡 Yellowball is a podcast hosting service I built to give podcasters more control and less nonsense. Whether you’re starting fresh, moving your show over, or just curious, check it out at https://yellowball.fm.Referenceshttps://spectrum.ieee.org/the-real-story-of-stuxnethttps://www.wired.com/2014/11/countdown-to-zero-day-stuxnet/https://www.trellix.com/security-awareness/ransomware/what-is-stuxnet/https://www.cfr.org/cyber-operations/stuxnethttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stuxnet

The infamous Conficker worm, a piece of malware that shook the cybersecurity world in 2008. Conficker exploited a vulnerability in Windows systems (MS08-067) to spread rapidly across millions of machines, from government networks to critical infrastructure.Don't just host your podcast, own it🟡 Yellowball is a podcast hosting service I built to give podcasters more control and less nonsense. Whether you’re starting fresh, moving your show over, or just curious, check it out at https://yellowball.fm.Referenceshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confickerhttps://www.csl.sri.com/users/porras/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/29/opinion/sunday/conficker-worm-ukraine.htmlhttps://www.csl.sri.com/users/vinod/https://www.csl.sri.com/users/vinod/papers/Conficker/P2P/index.htmlhttps://www.csl.sri.com/users/vinod/papers/Conficker/https://www.techtarget.com/searchnetworking/definition/NetBIOS

In this episode, we dive into the Agent.BTZ cyber incident—a sophisticated worm that penetrated U.S. military networks through a simple USB drive. Traced to Russian cyber espionage actors, this attack exposed critical vulnerabilities in military cybersecurity, leading to the creation of USCYBERCOM and fundamental changes in digital defense strategies. The episode reveals how a single piece of malware triggered a global reassessment of cyber warfare, highlighting the critical role of human behavior in technological security.Don't just host your podcast, own it🟡 Yellowball is a podcast hosting service I built to give podcasters more control and less nonsense. Whether you’re starting fresh, moving your show over, or just curious, check it out at https://yellowball.fm.Referenceshttps://www.wired.com/2008/11/army-bans-usb-d/https://www.wired.com/2010/03/ff_cyberwar/https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/08/AR2008120803722.htmlhttps://www.symantec.com/security-center/writeup/2008-071813-2408-99https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-20-241https://www.nsa.gov/news-features/speeches-testimonies/speeches/https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Dark-Territory/Fred-Kaplan/9781476763279https://www.kimzetter.com/countdown-to-zero-dayhttps://www.cfr.org/defense-and-security/cyber-operations-and-cybersecurityhttps://ndupress.ndu.edu/Media/News/News-Article-View/Article/571543/cyber-power-and-national-security/https://www.rsaconference.com/Libraryhttps://www.blackhat.com/html/archives.htmlhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7751641.stmhttps://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/29/us/politics/29cyber.htmlhttps://www.brookings.edu/experts/peter-w-singer/https://symantec-enterprise-blogs.security.com/

Let's dive deep into the shadowy world of money mules—unwitting intermediaries in online scams and cybercrime. From stolen banking credentials to elaborate parcel reshipping schemes, scammers rely on these individuals to move stolen funds and goods, leaving the mules to bear the legal and financial consequences.https://darknetdiaries.com/episode/111/ - Darknet Diaries EP 111: ZeuSDon't just host your podcast, own it🟡 Yellowball is a podcast hosting service I built to give podcasters more control and less nonsense. Whether you’re starting fresh, moving your show over, or just curious, check it out at https://yellowball.fm.Referenceshttps://www.schwab.com/schwabsafe/think-twice-before-assisting-money-movementhttps://krebsonsecurity.com/2020/04/how-cybercriminals-are-weathering-covid-19/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vthPmLORVrMhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxR4EMFH8GUhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_HFHd9E1Fkhttps://krebsonsecurity.com/2016/09/money-mule-gangs-turn-to-bitcoin-atmshttps://chargebacks911.com/reshipping-scams/https://www.ukfinance.org.uk/press/press-release/money-mule-recruiters-use-fake-online-job-adverts-to-target-generation-covidhttps://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/scams-and-safety/common-frauds-and-scams/money-mules

In college, I once showed my class the reality of Remote Access Trojans (RATs) with a live demo—showing how easily someone could take over a computer with the right tool. Years later, the real-world ramifications of these tools are even more chilling. Today, we’re diving deep into Poison Ivy, a notorious RAT that took the cybersecurity world by storm in the mid-2000s, and was linked to high-profile cyberattacks on government agencies, human rights organizations, and corporate giants.Don't just host your podcast, own it🟡 Yellowball is a podcast hosting service I built to give podcasters more control and less nonsense. Whether you’re starting fresh, moving your show over, or just curious, check it out at https://yellowball.fm.Referenceshttps://www.theregister.com/2012/08/31/nitro_hackers_abuse_java_exploithttps://www.darkreading.com/cyberattacks-data-breaches/poison-ivy-trojan-just-won-t-diehttps://www.mandiant.com/sites/default/files/2021-09/rpt-poison-ivy.pdfhttps://web.archive.org/web/20080208054011/http://www.poisonivy-rat.com/https://www.trendmicro.com/vinfo/us/threat-encyclopedia/malware/poisonivy

In this episode, we dive into the chaotic rise of the Mydoom worm, one of the fastest-spreading computer worms ever recorded. From its origins in Russia to its DDoS attacks on SCO Group and Microsoft, Mydoom wreaked havoc on the internet in the early 2000s. We explore how the worm’s clever tactics—like blocking antivirus websites and spreading through email and peer-to-peer networks—made it a formidable threat. Despite the $500,000 bounty, its creator remains a mystery to this day.Don't just host your podcast, own it🟡 Yellowball is a podcast hosting service I built to give podcasters more control and less nonsense. Whether you’re starting fresh, moving your show over, or just curious, check it out at https://yellowball.fm.Referenceshttps://www.getsupport.co.uk/blog/2021-10/mydoom-the-fascinating-story-behind-the-worlds-fastest-computer-virus/https://www.mrbrown.com/blog/2004/07/google_attacked.htmlhttps://www.f-secure.com/v-descs/novarg.shtmlhttps://www.f-secure.com/v-descs/mydoom-b.shtmlhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbIkueFe8E4

In 2003, the Fizzer worm took advantage of the growing peer-to-peer file-sharing trend, spreading across Kazaa and beyond. What seemed like a harmless music download on Limewire could turn into a backdoor for hackers. In this episode of In The Shell, I share my personal experience with file sharing on my Blue Dell Inspiron 1100 and how I unknowingly encountered malware for the first time. We’ll explore the origins of the Fizzer worm, its unique ability to auto-update, disable antivirus software, and install keyloggers to steal personal information.I’ll explain how Fizzer spread through file-sharing platforms and network shares, how it spoofed emails, and the sophisticated techniques it used to stay one step ahead of antivirus programs. From peer-to-peer networks to corporate environments, Fizzer’s reach was global—and the impact on users was profound.Don't just host your podcast, own it🟡 Yellowball is a podcast hosting service I built to give podcasters more control and less nonsense. Whether you’re starting fresh, moving your show over, or just curious, check it out at https://yellowball.fm.Referenceshttps://www.f-secure.com/v-descs/fizzer.shtmlhttps://www.microsoft.com/en-us/wdsi/threats/malware-encyclopedia-description?Name=Win32%2fFizzerhttps://www.kaspersky.com/about/press-releases/fizzer-a-multi-threat-worm-that-attacks-via-e-mail-and-kazaahttps://www.infoworld.com/article/2234751/fizzer-worm-spreading.htmlhttps://threats.kaspersky.com/en/threat/Email-Worm.Win32.Fizzer/https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2003/05/13/fizzer-e-mail-worm-is-spreading-at-an-alarming-rate/http://virus.wikidot.com/fizzerhttps://www.giac.org/paper/gcih/450/w32-fizzera-analysis-infection-prevention-handling/103564