''Darknet Diaries'' is an investigative

podcast A podcast is a Radio program, program made available in digital format for download over the Internet. Typically, a podcast is an Episode, episodic series of digital audio Computer file, files that users can download to a personal device or str ...

created by Jack Rhysider (), chronicling true stories about crackers,

malware Malware (a portmanteau of ''malicious software'')Tahir, R. (2018)A study on malware and malware detection techniques . ''International Journal of Education and Management Engineering'', ''8''(2), 20. is any software intentionally designed to caus ...

, botnets,

cryptography Cryptography, or cryptology (from "hidden, secret"; and ''graphein'', "to write", or ''-logy, -logia'', "study", respectively), is the practice and study of techniques for secure communication in the presence of Adversary (cryptography), ...

cryptocurrency A cryptocurrency (colloquially crypto) is a digital currency designed to work through a computer network that is not reliant on any central authority, such as a government or bank, to uphold or maintain it. Individual coin ownership record ...

cybercrime Cybercrime encompasses a wide range of criminal activities that are carried out using digital devices and/or Computer network, networks. It has been variously defined as "a crime committed on a computer network, especially the Internet"; Cyberc ...

, and

Internet privacy Internet privacy involves the right or mandate of personal privacy concerning the storage, re-purposing, provision to third parties, and display of information pertaining to oneself via the Internet. Internet privacy is a subset of data privacy. P ...

, all subjects falling under the umbrella of "tales from the dark side of the Internet". Launched in October 2017, episodes average around 30 minutes to an hour, each covering a single topic through original interviews, audio footage, and Rhysider's narration. The show's journalistic style has received widespread acclaim.

Production

For the first 40 episodes, Rhysider was responsible for all of the research, writing, narrating, editing, sound design, publishing, marketing, and logistics. Later on, due to a passionate

cult following A cult following is a group of fans who are highly dedicated to a person, idea, object, movement, or work, often an artist, in particular a performing artist, or an artwork in some medium. The latter is often called a cult classic. A film, boo ...

, Rhysider was able to enlist the help of additional writers, researchers, editors, and graphic designers. By December 31, 2018, ''Darknet Diaries'' had amassed more than 1.2 million downloads. In 2019 alone, it had more than 8.2 million downloads.

Impact and real-life influences

Episode 17 ("Finn") was adapted and featured on the WNYC Studios podcast '' Snap Judgment''. Episode 32 ("The Carder") uncovered information about the criminal actions and subsequent investigation of Roman Seleznev. Episode 27 ("Chartbreakers") was highlighted for its investigation into the manipulation of the Apple Podcasts Top Charts through a vast industry termed as "dark podcast marketing". Rhysider received and then subsequently released photos of the promoters themselves.

Crossovers and appearances

Rhysider has made appearances on a variety of other programs, the most notable being '' Snap Judgment'' and the Lit Hub/Podglomerate '' Storybound''. Other podcast appearances include ''Smashing Security'', ''The Many Hats Club'', ''Brakeing Down Security'', ''The Word From Mouth'', ''InfoSec ICU'', ''The Cyberwire'', ''Podcast Business Journal Spotlight'', ''Overnight America'', ''Aidan Wheller Podcast and Audio Reviews'', ''Getting into InfoSec'', ''Grimerica'', ''Cyber Speaks Live'', and ''Chartable Radio''.

Episodes

Reception

When describing the show's style and presentation, various media outlets have drawn comparisons between '' Reply All'' and ''

This American Life ''This American Life'' is a weekly hour-long American radio program produced in collaboration with Chicago Public Media and hosted by Ira Glass. It is broadcast on numerous public radio stations in the United States and internationally, and is ...

'', with ''

The Irish Times ''The Irish Times'' is an Irish daily broadsheet newspaper and online digital publication. It was launched on 29 March 1859. The editor is Ruadhán Mac Cormaic. It is published every day except Sundays. ''The Irish Times'' is Ireland's leading n ...

'' writing, "''Darknet Diaries'' is...where storytelling is mixed with investigative techniques to provide a strong narrative with real people at its core." ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

'' wrote, "Though the episodes are often startlingly short, condensing stories into 30 minutes that could easily justify a full hour, Rhysider’s hypnotic narration and deep expertise creates results that are never less than gripping." ''

The Boston Globe ''The Boston Globe,'' also known locally as ''the Globe'', is an American daily newspaper founded and based in Boston, Massachusetts. The newspaper has won a total of 27 Pulitzer Prizes. ''The Boston Globe'' is the oldest and largest daily new ...

'' called ''Darknet Diaries'' "a true-crime podcast with no blood ndno bodies... eavingyou wondering why there aren't more hacks, breaches, and cyber-crime."

Miranda Sawyer Miranda Caroline Sawyer (born 7 January 1967) is an English author, journalist and broadcaster. Education and early life Sawyer was born in Bristol and grew up in Wilmslow, Cheshire with her brother Toby, who is an actor. Sawyer was educated ...

of ''

The Observer ''The Observer'' is a British newspaper published on Sundays. First published in 1791, it is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper. In 1993 it was acquired by Guardian Media Group Limited, and operated as a sister paper to ''The Guardian'' ...

'' highlighted the podcast's reported "small disasters" of online life, writing: "Neatly edited and charmingly presented by Jack Rhysider, the podcast does occasionally stray into nerdiness, but it’s chock-full of real-life examples of when our virtual lives fail." Vulture magazine listed ''Darknet Diaries'' among its list of "52 of the Best True-Crime Podcasts", following what they deemed as "the post- Serial boom", citing how "some of these ybercrimesmay hit a little too close to home" while also advising listeners: "Cover your laptop camera, throw that iPhone in the river, and hang out in that weird no-reception corner of your home."

Awards

* Runner-up in the 2018 Discover Pods Award for Best Technology Podcast * Winner of the 2018 Quartz Casties for Best Technology Episode * Winner of the 2019 European Security Blogger Awards for Best New Cybersecurity Podcast

References

External links

*
Official DiscordSubreddit
{{DEFAULTSORT:Darknet Diaries Audio podcasts 2017 podcast debuts Crime podcasts Technology podcasts Works about cybercrime