Mustafa Al-Bassam is a former member of Anonymous, the global hacktivist collective known for cyberattacks on governments, corporations, and security agencies. Al-Bassam also cofounded LulzSec, a splinter group that launched high-profile cyberattacks in 2011. He was one of the key figures behind its hacking of Sony Pictures, the CIA website, the Arizona Department of Public Safety, and multiple international law enforcement agencies.

In this interview, Al-Bassam takes us inside the world of cyber warfare and digital activism, discussing the rise of Anonymous, hacking programs targeting governments, and the battle for online privacy. He offers insight into cybersecurity threats posed by intelligence agencies like the US National Security Agency and UK Government Communications Headquarters and discusses how global powers such as China and Russia use hacking as a geopolitical weapon.

Since leaving the hacktivist world, Al-Bassam has become a blockchain developer and an entrepreneur. He earned a doctoral degree in computer science and cofounded Celestia, a decentralized blockchain platform aimed at enhancing online security and privacy.

For more:
Twitter: @musalbas
Celestia: www.celestia.org

Chet Sandhu is a former smuggler. He estimates that he trafficked over $50 million worth of illegal steroids. In the mid-1990s, Sandhu operated a steroid-trafficking network that sourced its supply from Karachi, Pakistan, and transported it via routes including the Netherlands, France, and Spain to the United Kingdom by bribing airport security. He was arrested during a smuggling run and sentenced to 4 ½ years in the Fontcalent correctional facility in Alicante, Spain, one of Europe's most infamous prisons.

Sandhu speaks with Business Insider about the underground anabolic-steroid market, explaining how testosterone and other performance-enhancing drugs make their way to street dealers, local gyms, and online platforms. He highlights the harsh prison sentences imposed in some countries and advocates for steroid use to be handled as a medical issue.

Since his release from prison, Sandhu has written two books, "From King of Karachi to Lockdown in the Costa Del Crime" and "Self-Made, Dues Paid." He now runs a CBD company.

Find more: https://chetsandhu.com/