Operation Firewall Podcast with Michal Lev-Ram cover art

Operation Firewall

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About this listen

 A Secret Service agent and a hacker-turned-informant join forces to take down a global cybercriminal ring, back when there were barely laws in place to prohibit what the cyber criminals were up to. It’s the early 2000s. The Internet is still a novelty. Twitter, Facebook, and Apple’s iPhones have yet to be invented. Terms like “cyberterrorism” and “ransomware” are not yet part of the mainstream lexicon. But the information superhighway already presents an attractive route for criminals—one with infinite lanes. While his colleagues were still focused on crimes committed IRL (in real life), Steve Ward, a Special Agent with the United States Secret Service, talks his superiors into letting him embark on an unprecedented covert operation designed to discover and stop shadowy operations made possible by the Internet. Steve’s not making much headway when through a lucky break he finds himself partnered with an unlikely ally: a 20-something, Miami-born hacker named Albert Gonzalez. Albert turns informant after he’s popped for a slew of infractions that include computer crimes and possession of ecstasy and cocaine. The two prove to be radically successful in a colossal sting operation—to everyone’s surprise, including their own. But success doesn’t remain sweet. When Albert is accused of spearheading the biggest theft of credit card data at that time, he turns on Steve, attempting to implicate him in criminal malfeasance. Veteran technology journalist and Fortune writer Michal Lev-Ram, tells the gripping story of Operation Firewall, giving a rare look into the murky world of hackers and the heroes who try to catch them. Told through the eyes of Steve, other Secret Service agents, analysts, prosecutors, and former hackers and their families, Operation Firewall takes listeners through the twists and turns of this historic investigation. But Operation Firewall is much more than a tale about good versus evil—duking it out in the cyber-world. It is also the story of a friendship between two men, the partnership that unfolds, and later implodes, with high-stakes consequences.©2021 Audible Originals, LLC (P)2021 Audible Originals, LLC True Crime
Episodes
  • Episode 1: On the Internet, Nobody Knows You’re a Dog

    Episode 1: On the Internet, Nobody Knows You’re a Dog
    Apr 28 2022
    It’s the early 2000s, and law enforcement is focused on counterterrorism, not computer crimes. But Secret Service Special Agent Steve Ward is eager to prove that cybercrime should be a top priority for his agency. He meets Albert Gonzalez, a young hacker, who has just been arrested in Manhattan and is facing multiple charges—he had been stealing money from ATMs using hacked debit card data. Steve quickly realizes that Albert isn’t just a one-man operation; he’s part of a global ring of cybercriminals called Shadowcrew.
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    39 mins
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  • Episode 2: The Cave

    Episode 2: The Cave
    Apr 28 2022
    Steve is determined to take down the cybercriminal ring his young hacker-turned-informant, Albert, belongs to: Shadowcrew. But first, he needs an off-the-books base of operations, and equipment, and… a team. The problem is, no one wants anything to do with Operation Firewall, the investigation Steve is trying to spearhead.
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    28 mins
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  • Episode 3: Master Helmsman

    Episode 3: Master Helmsman
    Apr 28 2022
    Steve struggles to get the Secret Service to properly fund Operation Firewall. So he comes up with an unconventional plan to visit Albert’s family in Miami and ask for their help. His whole life has led to this moment.
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    33 mins
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All stars
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I love myself a good hacker story and this one is one of the best ones I’ve heard probably since Kevin Mitnick. Good production too, recommend!

Great story

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The story is told very well, from several angles. I could see this being made into a crime drama movie/series.

Excellent insight into the world of cyber crime

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an amazing podcast that painted a story of making history towards the dot com bubble

the pacing

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This is a really interesting and well presented podcast. If you are interested in stories around police investigations and/or hacking, this is really worth a listen. I'm hoping for a follow up to this podcast!

Superb....

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A very well-researched, fascinating, surprising, insightful, thought-provoking podcast which I would thoroughly recommend!

A fascinating tale

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