Lost In Cyberia
Cybersecurity doesn't have to be boring or a tick-box exercise. Annie-Mei Forster and Anika Guenov sit down with the people shaping the world of cyber: founders, researchers, and the occasional DEFCON after-party regular for honest, jargon-free conversations about what's actually going on in the industry. Because behind every threat, tool, and policy, there's a human story worth telling.
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Lost In Cyberia
Ep. 36 How a Former Cybercriminal is Disrupting the Pipeline into Cybercrime with Sammy Chuks
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What is it actually like to be a cybercriminal?
Well, you're about to find out. We spoke to Sammy Chuks, a cybersecurity leader, vCISO, and founder of Hck4G.
Sammy grew up in Lagos in Nigeria. A country where youth unemployment sits close to 80% and the paths available to young people is limited.
He became the neighbourhood's go-to computer repair guy, but inadvertently became the IT support for local cybercriminals, learning the mechanics of business email compromise, romance scams, and money laundering.
But at one point he asked himself, 'What am I doing? What do I want to do with my life?' After coming to Australia, Sammy's future was looking bright. He started getting good jobs and was creating a better life for himself.
He kept thinking though about the thousands of teenagers who are lured into cybercrime. And it's not just a problem in Africa, it's happening in other parts of the world too.
In this episode you'll hear how cybercrime in Nigeria has shifted from taboo to culture. Parents are now buying laptops for their kids to participate, which is crazy.
We also discuss Hck4G. Why it exists and how it's helping to provide pathways for people outside of cybercrime, victim support and community education.
If you'd like to check out Hck4G, head to their website: https://hck4g.org/
Find us on Instagram, YouTube or LinkedIn @thecybersecuritygals