Host
Gary Ruddell
Former Intelligence Operator for the UK Military and Cyber Threat Intelligence expert for global banks, Gary Ruddell is highly experienced in the threat landscape in both hostile and corporate landscapes.
Masked Actors
True crime meets cybercrime. Discover the people behind the keyboard.
From Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) gangs to global financial crime syndicates, the rise of sophisticated cyber threats is reshaping the world. These aren’t lone hackers — they’re organized groups running multi-million dollar operations in the shadows.
In the Masked Actors podcast, cyber threat expert and former soldier turned hacker Gary Ruddell joins forces with Nick Palmer, a seasoned financial crime fighter, to investigate the top 10 most dangerous cybercriminal groups of 2025 — drawn from Group-IB’s High-Tech Crime Trends Report.
Each episode explores the tactics, motivations, and impact of major cybercrime groups, uncovering their role in the latest cybercrime, RaaS, and financial crime trends. You’ll learn how these actors exploit vulnerabilities, fuel geopolitical tension, and affect businesses and consumers alike.
Tune in to Masked Actors — and stay one step ahead of cybercrime.
Contributors
Host
Nick Palmer
Financial crime fighter with deep expertise in threat intelligence, fraud prevention, and DFIR, Nick Palmer brings a consultative, problem-solving approach to the global fight against cybercrime.
Guests
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Guest
Craig Jones
Former INTERPOL Cybercrime Director Craig Jones is an Independent Strategic Advisor at Group-IB, where he leverages his global law enforcement expertise to shape strategy, combat cybercrime, and drive industry partnerships.