BRO, even before it got to the part mentioning the CIA, NSA and Snowden, the entire time, I was thinking to myself, "yup, sounds like CIA/NSA to me."

$95 Million fine for Ericsson, $50k "fine" for the botched murder investigation... sounds about right.

As a former UK Ericsson AXE (it's pronounced A..X..E not axe) and Nortel DMS switch Engineer at the time these events occured I can tell you that listening to phone calls was routine for Switch Engineers. Our AXE switches were indeed housed in large 6 foot metal cabinets layed out in long rows. Except for one standing alone in a corner of one of the switch rooms. We called it the "secret squirrel" cage after a 70s cartoon of the same name. A few times a week 2 British police officers, in full uniform, would access the "cage" to download phone taps onto a laptop. No fuss, no waving of court orders. And this had been going on since the mid 90s rollouts of mobile networks. I can't speak for Greece operations but Vodafone probably operated as it did in Britain. I therefore highly doubt a back office "network planner" would have the direct switch access and expertise necessary to covertly load '"malware". Ericsson had extremely strict rules about who was allowed to mess with their kit if you wanted to keep your warranty intact and pretty much only highly trained switch Engineers and their own installers were allowed that access. Also the reason a reboot does not affect call operations is because the entire switch exchange is duplicated for redundancy. So while maintenance is happening (software installed?) on one side the other side is capable of handling the full load.

I worked for a government organisation that wanted me to select a VOIP provider. I refused as I couldn't do background checks on the owners of the VOIP companies. I couldn't ensure that comms between the CEO and the Government Minister would be secure.

this story was so nuts, I left a squirrel. What an adventure. I loved this tale. I mean it was also very tragic but wow what a piece of history!

I’ve slowly become convinced my government is just plain evil.

The episodes just get better and better Jack. Thanks for making my morning.

Have binged on all of Jack's pods for the last two weeks. This guy is the best. Are there any other pod casts of the same quality? I need more of this...

If someone reports "sensative" information on the NSA and lives, then you can assume they are an asset.

Yes, Athens 2004. I was there. The surveillance and security measure were INSANE. Busses full of soldiers on standby all over the olympic village. Two surveillance “snooper” blimps hovering at all times and all the stuff you reported on. Pretty amazing.

You drop videos at 5am in my timezone 😵

Their first and final mistake was trusting the US gov/NSA in any capacity.

Extremely sophisticated hack + people dying + cell towers near US embassy. NSA owes the Costas family.

I love when you post right at the times when I wake up too early from back pain. It's like a predictor to go to your channel lol

Man, that theme song always gets me excited. That like standing bass is just chefs kiss. Edit: Might even be a tubulum, either way. Love it. Always a great way to start my work day while going through trouble tickets.

So many peoples lives were damaged by this event. I know some of the people involved in this tragedy. The US Embassy sits under a mountain near the Hilton Hotel, in a poor position for radio communications.

It was first Europolitan, then Vodafone and now it is Telenor..

I'd say for other podcasts, try SpyCast. The older episodes : - Cuba Libre- Felix Rodriguez - Castro's Secrets: The CIA and Cuba's Intelligence Machine - Spy in the Sky - the KH9 Hexagon - the episode abotu catching Osama Bin laden. I can't recall the name. maybe Stuff they dont' want you to know - the episode about Sports Conspiracies (just a casual podcast though). Ponzi Supernova was alright. I've seen Business Wars recommended. These aren't really the same thing as Darknet Diaries. The Operations Room, Montemayor, 10 percent true- tales from the cockpit, Plainly Difficult, Perun, are others of good quality (but again, not really the same subject).

No judge approval is needed if it falls under national security

I have no idea why this was added to my feed. I don't usually listen to this kind of podcast or watch videos similar to this. However, I did enjoy it and knew after the mysterious hanging that the US was involved. Good storytelling here.

You report something to the authorities and they take 0 actions. Then you don't report anything and they have the audacity to be shocked about it

thanks for including your list of sources for this story. i remember when this happened but never heard the full story before. take care and looking fwd to more from darknet diaries.

Oh Vodafone? My aunt left there after over 20 years. Apparently Tesla and Vodafone got alot of dirty secrets.

well boy, what even about the 2023 Govt phone taps conducted by the Greek PM himself

Well, there you go! I'm glad the story isn't sanitised to occlude the NSA! I wasn't sure if this channel was prepared to "call out" *_three-letter-agencies_* from the U.S.

Great content 👌 no ads interrupting the story ♥️ you deserve more subs!

Absolutely love your Podcast. It's my go-to whenever I'm not studying for my OSCP! Hope you're well, Jack!

Man your research is so next level. Big things ahead 4u in futr! 👍

We love you! Thank you so much for your content!

We all know who killed those men. Great story Jack!

This is beyond the best podcast, I hang onto your every word Jack

They should have figured out the numbers that were regular people I bet his X wife is also being tapped and also that suicide was definitely a murder and whoever made that 6 months deletion policy needs to be looked at

oh joy a new episode. This and casefile are two of the best channels on youtube

Thanks again for the content jack!

Damn, this was GREAT!!!! Thank you!!!

Great episode like always jack , keep it coming love your videos

This is a proper history lesson.

This kind of story is so fascinating from a technical aspect. I've always looked at devices like switches and even the VOIP phone sitting on my desk, and I thought to myself, man, someone could easily write malware that could send call audio to a clandestine destination, or someone could create a trigger to activate the microphone on any VoIP Phone and they could surveil entire buildings without anyone noticing. I wish I was smarter when it comes to programming. I have SO many great ideas.

Interesting glimpse into a world we'll never be fully aware of :/ Thanks as always for the episode

Just discovered this channel / podcast. Its fucking amazing, big ups Jack.

Amazing, loved the episode, learned a lot. Cheers from Nicaragua

Certain senior former Vodaphone people in Greece are STILL receiving protection at government cost, as are their families.

Awesome channel! 🎉💯🕵🏻‍♂️🧑‍💻

Why this episode youtube reach such low??? Algorithm might prevent it to sprade

Great episode. I've worked with quite a few of the systems named here so it brought back memories.

I bought one of those fm transmitter bugs at a local hobby store.. blew my mind and next thing ya know, I was alligator clipping any green box I could find.. needles soldered to clips, was a game changer

so amazing story, this should become a movie or a TV-series

yooo i remember checking this one out on your site cuz someone said it was their favorite episode and requested for you to post it on YT soon. I hope they're happy now.

Wow America really like the comical villain of the world pretending to be the hero

Incredible story, thank you!

Wow by far this has been your best, Well honestly I love all of your work. At 1st your voice sounded familiar and I didn't connect you to NPR directly. I just thought you sounded like Someone i've heard on NPR before. I've been sharing your videos with all my friends and I truly feel like you're the next channel to blow up in popularity!!! I'll keep giving your videos of thumbs up.

He’s said the legal way like how the government does 🤦🏽‍♂️

Good morning ☕️ I love your content!

I think your intro is a little bit on the longer side, but it's fantastic, sound and animation, flow, rhythm!!! I LIKE IT VERY MUCH!

Truly a fantastic episode 👏

Great pod - never heard about this before somehow

Crazy good as always!

Love the podcasts. Images and/or videos would be somewhat helpful. Even just images at the least. But overall a great job!!

1:10:19 - You should really listen this back and then Ockham’s razor why the Vodafone management let every bit of evidence perish as soon as possible… Ockham would tell you they were in on it. Kiriakou already teaches you there’s no end to the budget.

Wow this was amazing! Super interesting story

Great story that got no play here in the US.

Great investigative reporting. Keep up the good work. ❤

This was a good episode. I feel like it could have been a lot longer.

Lol u know I just remember about the Chinese balloon. Imagine America being annoyed about that when they tapping other friendly governments 😂

First time catching one of these at launch! 👏

KZfaq needs a competitor

RIP Costas. This one was amazing. Edit: obviously NSA / CIA

brilliant content kudos to you my friend

Unbelievable! What an incredible story

Great podcast

I'd love to hear your take on the INSLAW Affair.

Makes one wonder that Greece more or less collapsed less than 10 years later.

1:11:08 Permit me to draw your attention to the CEO. He is described as being sloppy when he ordered the malware to be removed, thus eliminating any chance the incident response team would discover anything. Logs and sign in sheets were lost, further hindering the investigation. I submit that his sloppiness was instead a sequence of deliberate acts. The CEO, or someone from the company, begged Costas to stay when he tried to resign. Maybe they found out Costas knew something, or maybe someone told him directly. Either way, according to his notebooks and texts, he saw trouble coming, which would explain his leaving. As a result, maybe they wanted to keep an eye on him until after the Olympics, then consider how to deal with him. I try to give everyone the benefit of the doubt, and this is nothing more than speculation. Nevertheless, it seems plausible. Jack, keep up the good work, I like your show a lot! I also dig the music, keeps the story moving even if there is info the audience needs before it can really move forward. Thanks.

"yup theres the handler listening in" it was audible and especially when you are getting into a deep conversation.

The intercept has a great article on this matter.

Nice one

Im binge watching these your podcasts are great!!

Oh my...talk about being on the edge of your seat when you listen to these. I was just listening on my bluetooth headphones when I received a call, so I went to pause the video so I could listen to the call. For some spooky reason, although the video was paused, the sound continued to come out of my headphones; so I turned the bluetooth off on my laptop, and yet sound continued coming out; I even closed the lid of my laptop and still, somehow, sound was still coming out.....felt like I was subject of a hack for a moment.

Great job Mr. Rhysider

I had an O2 pre pay when I lived overseas, early 2000’s, when I came back to the states I was able to use it for about two years to make complimentary long distance calls

What makes me wonder is whether it's possible that the 3 letter agencies installed any of these malwares on other telecommunication companies and it didn't get noticed at all.

Jack, you and I both know that just because something isn't lawful doesn't rule out government responsibility 😂

We sit down and talk it because we don't see the darkness coming we follow like blind sheep to our own Slaughter. God has warrant us about the darkness to come

Got links to the old 2005 yt video you use in your video? Thanks

New darknet diaries! Let’s gooooooo

As an athlete that went to the Olympics, it is presidential security and camera systems that are in place

Not sure why but this one isnt on apple podcasts, hopefully you are still uploading there as I listen from that source while driving. YT only while home.

Now you're just making me paranoid 😅

The first coroner who made the false report should be prosecuted for being an accessory to murder.

Oh yeaaaa can't wait for this one

It always leads back to the NSA

I'm no spy-vs-spy story expert , but this one reeks of a CIA psy-op 😕

The goat is backkk

This is an absolute banger

There are many lessons to take away from this story, but I would choose: "Never take a deal with the devil and always be vigilant"

at 25:00 My Conspiracy Theory Mind is FULLY ACTIVATED!

Questions when answered, lead to more questions..

"highly sophisticated technology" just another way of saying, "another way to do things"

Feel genuinely awful for Costas Family and friends especially for his Fiancé what an absolute nightmare situation to be in. I can't imagine the turmoil within that family each time they get the investigation reopened uncover further evidence and inaccuracies only to have their hearts broken all over again as the new investigation they had all their hopes pinned on finds in favour of the original ruling but their strength and epic level resolve they keep at it never giving up despite fighting a loosing battle against a truly corrupt system. Undoubtedly in family fracturing with some accepting the final ruling and others castigated for hanging on. Can't imagine the impact on their lives and then to finally get the truth of what really happened 2 decades later, justifying those who hung on despite many turning on them, just awful beyond belief. And 50,000 euros? What an insult. Hopefully they get a movie deal or something to tell their incredible story.

Here we go !! 👌💣