Episode Summary:

Ransomware has evolved from one-off attacks to a fully operational criminal economy. Today, cybercrime groups operate with defined roles, shared infrastructure, and a growing reliance on AI to speed up intrusion, encryption, and extortion. Our guest this episode unveils insights from tracking the fraudulent side of the internet.

Dr. Diane Janosek, CEO of Janos LLC and former senior executive at the National Security Agency (NSA), joins Gianna to unpack the structure and strategy behind ransomware-as-a-service. Drawing on her background in law, compliance, and national security, including her leadership at the National Cryptologic School, she breaks down how these syndicates function, what most companies get wrong in their response, and why even well-maintained backups aren’t the safety net they once were.

We also explore how AI is accelerating the criminal kill chain, the real stats behind ransom payments (and regrets), and why ransomware is increasingly a tool of geopolitical disruption, not just financial gain. 

🎬 The trailer for the film is included in this episode with permission. Courtesy of the Bold Stroke. All rights reserved. Dawn of Cyberwarfare – Produced by the Bold Stroke – Directed by Alisha Merkle & Fabrizio Dublino

🔗 Links & Resources:

The Cyber Effect by Dr. Mary Aiken

Chip War by Chris Miller

Elon Musk by Walter Isaacson

Darknet Diaries podcast: darknetdiaries.com Recommended episode: Episode 24 – Operation BayonetArticle on King Charles’ Canada visit

More about the film here!

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About Dr. Diane: 

Dr. Diane Janosek is a national security leader, cybersecurity compliance expert, and CEO of Janos LLC. With over a decade at the National Security Agency, she served as Deputy Director of Compliance, Commandant of the National Cryptologic School, and senior legal and policy advisor across the intelligence community.

She holds a Ph.D. in cybersecurity law, a J.D., and a master’s in strategic intelligence, and has worked at the intersection of law, cyber, privacy, and geopolitics throughout her career. Diane has trained thousands of cyber professionals globally, written extensively on cyber ethics and space security, and remains a leading voice on the risks posed by AI-accelerated threats and criminal enterprise models like ransomware-as-a-service.

Learn more at dianejanosek.com

Follow her on LinkedIn

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