Brett Johnson: US Most Wanted Cybercriminal | Lex Fridman Podcast #272

Here are the timestamps. Please check out our sponsors to support this podcast. 0:00 - Introduction & sponsor mentions: - Public Goods: publicgoods.com/lex and use code LEX to get $15 off - NetSuite: netsuite.com/lex to get free product tour - Blinkist: blinkist.com/lex and use code LEX to get 25% off premium - MasterClass: masterclass.com/lex to get 15% off - Onnit: lexfridman.com/onnit to get up to 10% off 3:15 - Early years 37:32 - Phishing and social engineering 55:36 - SolarWinds cyberattack 1:01:23 - Future social engineering fears 1:04:04 - Early cybercrimes 1:16:38 - Cybercrime entrepreneurship 1:20:06 - ShadowCrew 1:51:10 - Dark web 1:59:56 - ShadowCrew arrested 2:11:55 - Cybercrime 2:17:02 - Love 2:49:06 - Prison 3:17:18 - Life after prison 3:39:06 - Advice for young people 3:40:30 - Hope for the future 3:43:59 - Meaning of life

I'm glad he's seen the error of his ways, but I keep coming back to the people whose retirement accounts he robbed. Think about that. Working your entire life towards this goal and having it stolen from you. And then the guy who does it gets to act like a hero for turning his life around and yucking it up with Lex for 4 hours. Something about that just bothers me.

It’s rare u can listen to someone you’ve never heard of for nearly 4 hours and immediately want another 4. This was off the charts

When you grow up in a cycle of dysfunction, drugs, and crime, your thinking and behavior will always be colored by this. Unless you’ve experienced it firsthand, it’s hard to grasp how difficult it is to break these norms. Congrats to this man for changing his life. These stories need to be told so those of us that have experienced it see examples of ones that make it out.

So, as the owner of a Cybersecurity Provider firm that works to ensure guys like this aren't successful, I deal with guys like Brett daily. Ask him this... .did he go back and pay back ANY of his victims? NOPE. He's still bragging. The answer here is this.... If they sound like a used car salesman, walk away.

This guest came out of left field, Lex. Great job. People need to know that this type of story is a real thing in the US, the richest country on Earth. It's a surreal world we live in.

Oh man, the diversity of interviewees, this is such a special channel!

I am a therapist. I have worked in private practice and with people getting out of prison. I did CBT both types of spaces. I believe it makes a difference. I have listened to this 2 times. I find it fascinating. I have been a therapist for 25 years.

Lex is really good at asking the questions that will get interesting philosophical and/or emotional answers.

I can relate to his childhood. I was selling drugs at 12 to pay all the bills for my mom and moved out to live on my own at 14 and continued to selling massive amounts until I turned 18 and could get a job without a parent's signature. I took a huge pay cut but was able to get a license and buy a house and move to the county, start a landscaping business and I'm still in that house 22 years later. Now I have a metal fabrication shop.

textbook narcissism, psycopathy and antisocial personality disorder. the glibness, charm, recklessness, disregard for authority, manipulation of every character in his story. amazing interview - Lex just allowed him to speak

Of all the interviews Lex has done (that I’ve watched) I remember this one more than any.

This guy is getting a lot of pleasure telling his stories... I get the sense he still doesn't care about the hurt & trauma he has caused. I would believe he understands the gravity of his choices if he spent the rest of his life working to pay those poor people back. I appreciate the calm & quiet Lex maintains. He let's the guy spill & spill & spill.

I woke up listening to this podcast, dreaming about Prisons, and I learned 2 main things: 1. Listening to Lex Fridman's podcast's while sleeping makes you go trippin' 2. Never ever tell a prison inmate or guard or anybody that you're in there for "some computer crimes" even if you're a cybercriminal xD

It is terrifying that such a compelling and articulate person could be so casually evil.

I can imagine a lot of people will think he’s cool while he’s laughing and joking like he doesn’t care what he’s done, he doesn’t seem sorry, he’s never to be trusted, but people will still fall for his bs, he’ll still manipulate people in a different way. He really is a narcissistic psychopath

Hard to believe he became a criminal having such a fine upstanding mother in his life.

Seriously sat here and watched entire 3 hours and 47 minutes of this epicness ♾☀️🖤 thanks lex appreciate your time and consideration!!!

Best Lex Fridman episode ever. This guy could carry 8 hours of material. Well done. Esp staying out of his way and letting him talk.

Brett has such an interesting story man. A good example of how all of us can turn things around in a positive way, no matter what <3.