This week’s episode takes us deeper into the shadows, where technology turns sinister and trust transforms into paranoia.

In October 2024, we discovered something lurking in plain sight on our system, known as an ESLinker. ChatGPT confirmed its purpose: to infiltrate existing programs and compete with them while remaining undetectable.

For those of you who aren’t tech-savvy, let me break it down. An ESLinker is typically used for ethical computer programming. However, in the wrong hands, it can enable real-time GPS tracking, activate your cameras and microphones, and control your devices remotely—all without your knowledge.

It bears resemblance to tools like Pegasus and, more recently, Van Helsing—not the vampire-hunting Van Helsing. Van Helsing is a ransomware tool, a type of malware that sneaks onto your computer, locks up files, and demands money to unlock them.

But here’s the twist: Van Helsing doesn't just request a ransom. It also watches, collects data, spies, and even rewrites information. It’s like a stalker disguised as software. Remarkably, it found its way into our home network, quietly operating behind the scenes, embedded within everyday devices like a Canon printer and a compromised router.

This episode is not only about what we discovered but also about what we now understand. And the individuals responsible for installing it? They may be closer than you think.

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