The Great Tech Game Podcast: Geopolitics, Technology, Business and Global Affairs, with Anirudh Suri

In this video, Geoff White, host of BBC Podcast 'Lazarus Heist', delves into the hidden world of cartels, hackers, and crypto laundering, revealing how technology is being used to move billions of dollars through secretive financial networks. He uncovers the shocking alliances between cybercriminals, money launderers, and organized crime syndicates, exposing how the tech industry has inadv...

In this video, Geoff White, host of BBC Podcast 'Lazarus Heist', exposes the hidden world of Southeast Asian cybercrime networks, where romance scams, pig butchering schemes, and crypto-driven fraud have evolved into a multi-billion-dollar global industry. These scams use emotional manipulation to trap victims, convincing them to invest in fake opportunities — only to be drained of their s...

In this video, Geoff White, host of BBC Podcast 'Lazarus Heist', dives into the shocking story of the Lazarus Heist — one of the most infamous cybercrime operations in the world. North Korea’s state-backed hackers have allegedly stolen billions of dollars through highly sophisticated attacks on banks, cryptocurrency firms, gaming platforms, and financial institutions worldwide. From the infamous 2...

Join us in this episode of The Great Tech Game Podcast as we delve into the murky world of cybercrime with investigative journalist and author, Geoff White. We discuss why few states succeed in building effective military cyber forces, the evolution of ransomware into a national security crisis, and the actors behind major cybercrime networks. Geoff maps out where these networks function geographi...

In this clip, Max Smeets unpacks the global ransomware threat landscape—mapping out where the major cybercriminal groups operate from, who they target, and how geopolitics plays into it all. While Russia remains the epicenter of many ransomware operations, these groups often have multinational member bases across Belarus, Ukraine, and beyond, operating with a tacit agreement not to target Russian...

In this clip, Max Smeets explores how governments—despite lacking the power of agencies like the FBI or NSA—are still finding smart, effective ways to push back against ransomware attacks. Whether it’s disrupting the cybercriminal ecosystem, targeting crypto wallets, or damaging the reputations of ransomware gangs, governments are learning to fight smarter, not just harder. This conversation dives...

In this clip, Max Smeets walks us through a real-world example of how a ransomware attack unfolds — from the initial phishing email to the final ransom negotiations. It usually starts with a simple hook, like a fake Amazon gift card email, designed to get someone inside the organization to click. Once inside, attackers move laterally, using everyday tools already in the system — a tactic known as...

In this clip, Max Smeets explains his PETIO framework — a practical model for how countries can build effective cyber capabilities. PETIO stands for People, Exploits, Tools, Infrastructure, and Organization, but as the guest emphasizes, it all starts with People — recruiting, training, and retaining the right talent, both technical and non-technical. Surprisingly, the most discussed element, explo...

In this clip, Max Smeets explores two lesser-known but highly significant players in the cyber domain — Cyber Partisans and Predatory Sparrow — who are reshaping the boundaries of cyber conflict beyond traditional nation-states. Cyber Partisans is a Belarusian resistance group that has conducted multiple disruptive cyberattacks against the Belarusian government. Their operations have included halt...

In this clip, Max Smeets unpacks the contrasting cyber strategies of two global superpowers: the United States and China. The U.S. operates with a centralized and aggressive approach, led by U.S. Cyber Command and the NSA. Through a strategy known as persistent engagement, it actively disrupts adversaries, even across foreign networks, demonstrating a global mindset in cyber operations. Historical...

In the latest episode of The Great Tech Game podcast, cyber conflict expert Max Smeets—senior researcher at ETH Zurich and co-director of Virtual Routes—draws on his books “No Shortcuts” and “Ransom War” to explore why most states struggle to build effective cyber forces and how ransomware has become a major national security threat. He breaks down the contrasting cyber strategies of the US, China...

In this powerful clip, Lt Gen Shukla breaks down how China’s military is deeply integrated with its tech and university ecosystems from AI and battery innovation to rocket science and shipbuilding. While India debates, China executes. He warns that unless India builds serious civil-military-tech fusion and prioritizes algorithmic innovation, we risk being outpaced in future wars—not just militaril...

In the latest episode of The Great Tech Game, retired Lt. Gen. Dr. Ravindra Singh Panwar dives into the urgent need for India to overhaul its cyber defense strategy. Drawing on real-world comparisons with U.S. and Chinese cyber commands, he explains why India continues to lag behind in developing offensive cyber capabilities and what it will take to catch up. He unpacks the critical gaps ranging f...

Drones are revolutionizing warfare, but it’s not just about the hardware — it’s about how we use it. Lt. Gen. Dr. RS Panwar explores the strategic challenge of integrating drones and autonomous systems into modern military operations. From linking sensors to shooters across branches to rethinking battlefield tactics, he argues that true innovation lies in a technological mindset. Drawing on lesson...

Lt. Gen. Raj Shukla discusses the vital role of India’s military institutions and defence startups in driving cutting-edge technology. He emphasizes the need for strong leadership, skilled talent, and clear directives to fast-track AI and defence innovation, highlighting how technology and strategic vision are essential to strengthening India’s military capabilities.

This podcast episode features a discussion between host Anirudh Suri and two distinguished Indian Army veterans, Lt. Gen. RS Panwar (Signal Corps, specializing in technology and warfare) and Lt. Gen. Raj Shukla (Infantry, focusing on military futures and force modernization). The conversation analyzes the recent India-Pakistan standoff through the lens of technology, drawing lessons from the engag...

Lt. Gen. Raj Shukla discusses how technology has increasingly become a key driver of geopolitics and national security. He calls for urgent, concrete action in critical areas like Space (LEO Constellations), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Electronic Warfare (EW), urging a shift from theoretical discussions to implementation.

This podcast episode features a discussion between host Anirudh Suri and two distinguished Indian Army veterans, Lt. Gen. RS Panwar (Signal Corps, specializing in technology and warfare) and Lt. Gen. Raj Shukla (Infantry, focusing on military futures and force modernization). The conversation analyzes the recent India-Pakistan standoff through the lens of technology, drawing lessons from the engag...

This Clip delves into the historical parallels that inform the current US-China rivalry. The discussion examines past economic and political battles with the Soviet Union and Japan, and emphasizes the internal challenges within American society, such as its transition to a plutocracy and oligarchy. These internal issues are identified as the primary obstacles to maintaining US primacy. The convers...

In this insightful discussion, Amb. Kishore Mahbubani reflects on his life journey from growing up in a British colony with a colonized mindset to studying and admiring the West, and eventually recognizing the significant shifts in global civilization. He emphasizes the ignorance in the West about the rise of other civilizations and critiques the notion of Western superiority, highlighting the nee...

In this clip, Amb. Kishore Mahbubani explores how China's peaceful economic rise contrasts sharply with the violent ascent of Western powers, particularly the British colonization of India. The discussion delves into the lack of a long-term American strategy to address China's rise, referencing insights from Henry Kissinger. The video highlights remarkable economic shifts, with China's...

In this clip, Amb. Kishore Mahbubani delves into the critical challenges facing China's political system, particularly the importance of a strong leader for stability. The discussion highlights how corruption and factionalism can arise under weak leadership, as seen in historical instances within China. The narrative emphasizes President Xi Jinping's efforts to combat these issues and unde...

In this clip, Amb. Kishore Mahbubani explores the evolving economic relationship between the US, Europe, and China, focusing on the implications of their competition over the next decade. It discusses the historical mutual benefits that have since shifted towards a more competitive stance, especially from the US, which strives to maintain its position as the world’s leading economy. The conversati...

In this clip, Amb. Kishore Mahbubani delves into the remarkable journey of Singapore, as discussed in the book 'Living the Asian Century.' The speaker shares personal anecdotes about being born in Singapore and describes how it became one of the most successful societies in human history. Central to this success are four key principles encapsulated in the acronym MMPH—Meritocracy, Pragmati...

Amb. Kishore Mahbubani unpacks the complexities of the China-India relationship with a focus on practical strategies for improvement in this short clip. He is a China and India optimist, and emphasizes the need for both nations to adopt calculated, interest-based tactics rather than relying on sentiment or emotion. The discussion highlights the importance of strategic calm and mutual benefit, espe...