Cyber Uncut

In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, co-host Steve Kuper and returning co-host Liam Garman unpack the fallout of the American special forces raid in Venezuela. The pair also discuss the broader global ramifications emerging as a result of the American direct action in Latin America, including:  The real motivations behind America's raid and why simple claims of regime change or pursuit of oil may not be as clear-cut as some would have us believe. Ongoing concerns about security and stability in the Middle East following revelations of significant strategic military deployments from the US to Europe and the region.  The sociopolitical challenges facing Australia and allied nations as protests unfold in cities across the world, with political discourse shifting from the Middle East to Venezuela and claims of American imperialism. The ramifications of fraying, sectarian political debates and echo chambers that undermine social cohesion and national stability. Enjoy the podcast,  The Contested Ground team

This week, for the last Cyber Uncut of 2025, David Hollingworth and Daniel Croft talk about Grok's spreading of misinformation regarding the tragic Bondi terror attack, OpenAI's admission of "high cyber risk", the re-emergence of ShinyHunters with a string of possible extortion attempts, ransomware attacks on medical centres, and important tips for using public Wi-Fi over the holidays. The pair kick things off with reports of how Grok utterly failed to deliver accurate information regarding the 14 December shootings targeting the Jewish community in Sydney. The chatbot utterly failed to meet the moment, leading to multiple instances of incorrect information circulating on X. In cyber security news, ShinyHunters is engaging in a string of extortion attempts that may – or may not be – linked to its breach of data analytics firm Mixpanel. It's a bit of a ride and a fascinating example of how quickly things can change in the cyber crime landscape. Plus, two more Aussie healthcare centres fall victim to ransomware attacks. And finally, some helpful travel advice, a wrap-up of our big moments from 2025, and some things to look forward to in 2026. See you next year The Cyber Uncut team

In this solemn episode of the Contested Ground podcast, hosts Phil Tarrant, Major General (Ret'd) Dr Marcus Thompson and Steve Kuper discuss the immediate aftermath of the Bondi Beach terror attack. The trio discuss the terrorist shooting at a Hanukkah celebration on Bondi Beach, Sydney, which resulted in at least 15 deaths and over 40 injuries. They also tackle the implications of the targeted anti-Semitic attack on Australia's intelligence and law enforcement community. The conversation then shifts to the beginning of the broader national conversations that will now be taking place in Canberra and capital cities around the nation, as the nation and Sydney grieve the loss of national innocence. We would also like to pass on our sincere condolences, thoughts and prayers to those impacted by the tragic events. Enjoy the podcast, The Contested Ground team

This episode discusses the US Department of War's AI "Manifest Destiny", hackers going hard on Aussie victims, and Australia bringing in its brand new social media ban. Hosts David Hollingworth and Daniel Croft kick things off with artificial intelligence, with CommBank trialling a new DevOps agent and the Pentagon launching its new GenAI.mil platform to "dominate" its adversaries. The pair move on to cyber crime, and the SafePay ransomware gang strikes at three Australian victims in a single week. Hollingworth and Croft also discuss the social media ban, which came into effect this week. Finally, the pair look at the Privacy Commissioner's new compliance crusade and a warning that scammers are posing as charities this Christmas season. Enjoy, The Cyber Uncut team

In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, hosts Phil Tarrant and Major General (Ret'd) Dr Marcus Thompson are joined by special guest Dr Ross Babbage, chief executive officer of Strategic Forum and Non-Resident Senior Fellow at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments in Washington DC. Together, the trio dive into Australia's rapidly shifting strategic landscape, the pressures shaping the US–Australia relationship, and the risks emerging across the Indo-Pacific as 2026 approaches. The team also tackles the return of a Trump administration in the US government amid rising uncertainty surrounding the People's Republic of China's internal trajectory. A central theme of the discussion is Australia's struggle to prioritise national security in line with allied expectations. The conversation then shifts to the composition of Australia's political leadership and its effect on national preparedness. Finally, the podcast ends with a discussion on military deterrence and insight into needed improvements in national resilience, industrial mobilisation and defence capability in Australia. Enjoy the podcast, The Contested Ground team