Episode 17
Revenge Hacking: Justice or Just Illegal?
August 11th, 2025
59 mins 36 secs
Season 2
About this Episode
Welcome to the Scinary Information Nexus! This week, the team tackles a controversial and ethically murky corner of the cyber world: Offensive Security and the temptation to "hack back"
When an attacker breaches your network, is fighting back a righteous act of justice or a dangerous form of vigilantism? Join Richard Martin, Joseph Hamilton, Brazos Wortham, and Director of Cybersecurity Operations Tye Valdis as they break down the minefield of digital retaliation.
In this episode, we expose:
- The "Burn the House Down" Dilemma
- Offensive Security vs. Revenge Hacking: What's the difference?
- The Attribution Problem: Who are you really attacking?
- Collateral Damage & Poking the Nation-State Bear
- Why Hacking Back is ILLEGAL (Computer Fraud and Abuse Act)
- Real-World Examples: Stuxnet, Microsoft, and the Government
- Why "Cyber-Batman" Has No Jurisdiction
Is taking the fight to the enemy a smart strategy, or will you just end up interfering with an FBI operation and getting yourself in legal trouble? Let's discuss.
Connect with Scinary Cybersecurity:
https://www.scinary.com
https://x.com/scinarycyber