SN 1076: FAST16.SYS - Unmasking the NSA's Most Diabolical Digital Sabotage

SN 1076: FAST16.SYS - Unmasking the NSA's Most Diabolical Digital Sabotage

Author: TWiT April 29, 2026 Duration: 2:35:19

What if your engineering calculations secretly sabotaged your nation's best efforts? This week, we reveal how a newly uncovered 21-year-old NSA rootkit quietly corrupted scientific research in hostile states and why it changes everything you think you know about cyberwarfare.

  • Bitwarden's CLI hit with a supply-chain attack.
  • Commercial routers in Iran fail shortly before the war.
  • Meta logging all employee activity to train replacement AI.
  • GRC's DNS Benchmark Release 5.
  • Two miscellaneous AI thoughts.
  • A bunch of terrific listener feedback.
  • Unraveling the diabolical history of "fast16.sys"

Show Notes - https://www.grc.com/sn/SN-1076-Notes.pdf

Hosts: Steve Gibson and Leo Laporte

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For 16kbps versions, transcripts, and notes (including fixes), visit Steve's site: grc.com, also the home of the best disk maintenance and recovery utility ever written Spinrite 6.

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Every Tuesday, cybersecurity expert Steve Gibson sits down with Leo Laporte to dissect the week's most pressing digital threats. This isn't just a news recap; it's a detailed analysis where complex topics like emerging malware, data breaches, and software vulnerabilities are explained with clarity. The conversation in Security Now (Video) provides actionable insights, whether you're safeguarding a home network or responsible for enterprise infrastructure. As a production of TWiT, this video podcast delivers both visual aids and in-depth discussion, translating technical jargon into practical knowledge. Regular listeners gain a deeper understanding of the threat landscape and the evolving tools for defense. For those who want an enhanced experience, Club TWiT membership offers ad-free access to this and other shows. Tune in weekly to stay informed and build a more resilient digital life, as Steve and Leo unpack the stories that define our security reality.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 33

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