Wiretapping the Secret Service can be easy and fun | Bryan Seely | TEDxKirkland

In 2014, Bryan Seely hacked the Secret Service and the FBI, and then turned himself in to alert authorities to the problem. He'll tell you what you can do about it in his very entertaining talk.
Bryan Seely has garnered a great deal of national attention in the last year. He recognized there were some critical problems with the websites we use most often. He learned that not only is our personal security threatened, but so is our national security. To prove his point, Seely hacked the Secret Service and the FBI last year, and then turned himself in to alert authorities to the problem. He'll tell you what you can do about it in his very entertaining talk.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx

[@Lunascaped]

"My friends call me Bryan" Subtitles: *(Laughter)* Rip

[@SeriouslySeriousGrim]

F

[@emmy-db8no]

F

[@birdcat8382]

F

[@sanskartewatia4320]

F

[@mykytajex2248]

F

[@dwemeri9895]

And Google is like: Yeah, let me recommnd this video

[@kysier6015]

They actually suppressed it for nearly 3 years...... (You can look at traffic history to confirm. Was also prevented from showing up on notifications from what old subscribers tell me).

[@andrekohler5792]

@@kysier6015 Where can I look up traffic history for this video? I don't see a button for it on this page.

[@jimramos2723]

Wow what a brave man.he has integrity and he is a hero.thank you brother run for office we need someone honest in politics.

[@devilousdanys3040]

Lmaoo fax

[@dwemeri9895]

@@uku4171 Nobody knows what kind of magic is behind the KZbin algorithm

[@ChrisHanline]

Every single person on the production team of this talk: *"STAY ON THE RED CIRCLE"*

[@whichdoctor707]

Chris Hanline I wonder if it was purposely done. Like another joke, "live in the shadows " kind of thing

[@arshaghazie]

@@whichdoctor707 lol, that's a good one

[@LeonDerczynski]

it's rendering this talk almost unwatchable. GET ON THE RED DOT FFS

[@felix_christopher]

The guy's great, but all the media people (including myself) cringe hard at how unused (spell: nervous) he seems to be speaking in front of large crowds.

[@thecma3]

Having spent some time as a lighting technician, I can say that exactly nobody ever manages to stay in their light unless they're trained to be onstage. It is the most annoying thing when you set up a light specifically for where someone says they insist on standing, then they immediately wander somewhere else...

[@ShinChan0397]

Mr. Bryan Seely, if you ever read this message, I wanna let you know that I laughed. I laughed. A lot.

[@xblkyeet2917]

His mic only picked up his voice, you can faintly hear in some parts how the audience laughs.

[@velu158]

@@xblkyeet2917 its not the mic since in all other ted talks you can clearly hear if audience is laughing

[@AverageDoggo]

@phuc ewe Are you even old enough to make a comment like this?

[@velu158]

@@AverageDoggo Not a comedy club i agree but every good presentation has a bit of humor here and there to break the monotony

[@gabor7524]

phuc ewe have you ever been to a ted talk?

[@matteorayner4273]

The poor man is dying out there. Absolutely silent crowd 😕

[@robertgateno7536]

Matteo the mic only picked up audio from him. But it made it sound terrible

[@amitch2179]

Robert Gateno yo

[@amitch2179]

Robert Gateno hhwhiyhwhy

[@amitch2179]

Whyhy

[@matteorayner4273]

@@AverageDoggo regardless, some crowd interaction would make this whole thing feel less awkward.

[@ColocasiaCorm]

"My friends call me Bryan." *silence*

[@johna1186]

its the type of mic. can’t pick up the crowd

[@ColocasiaCorm]

@@johna1186 Bet you're fun at a party.

[@alexclark8442]

John Mayer op wasn’t reallly that funny he was just trying to be helpful since it’s not satire and your just being toxic for no reason

[@ColocasiaCorm]

@@alexclark8442 oh he was trying to be helpful? OOPS. MY BAD.

[@joehart2003]

@@ColocasiaCorm I bet YOU are fun at party aswell.

[@theradioactiveplayer3461]

love how everybody's focusing on the audience, and not the fact that this is the single largest security risk of (perhaps) all time

[@staceykmetz941]

Right?! Amen already!!! So glad I'm not alone because I just posted a literal rant comment on that. In truth I sorta hope i took it a bit too far.. Maybe it'll wake soneone up.. cause, call me crazy but i am getting the strong impression 80% of watchers are half asleep/coherent!

[@apacheattackhelicopter5823]

I know it probably ain’t fixed, and new problems arise but at the very least a little bit has done about this in the YEARS this talk was made :/

[@jameswhitlock6005]

Thank you! for fucks sake people are so small minded now-a-days

[@frankharris1553]

Umm... disagree. I'm betting that you either work for or receive some gain from Google

[@NithinJune]

i really doubt that

[@fikzwolf7118]

Google: *Has a problem* Also Google: *Let me recommend this video of our problems*

[@eljakimdeclerck1941]

would comment the exact same if I didn't find yours lol

[@Thaccus]

A four year old video to boot.

[@self-rewardingqbitsunderhu3765]

@@Thaccus Maybe Google fixed "it," or the media attention faded. If that's what you were looking for ;-) .

[@DrummerJacob]

Everyone is writing KZbin comments in script form now. So original. I bet you felt funny for a second when you posted this.

[@gutz323]

These Ted talks recordings never do.

[@7g3p]

I literally ignore EVERY AD I see regardless of where it is. Seems like that was the right choice...

[@guystokesable]

7g3p what about the ones that you don't see?

[@CheCortezTV]

I click the ad and then close the tab, after I click to their contact page. Costs them money, win win

[@iananderson8392]

7g3p some people don't see the little ad thing

[@Falcodrin]

Chris C there are ad blockers that click the ads they block

[@giurgindemilan]

I want that ;) if it doesn't exist it should be implemented in uBlock or AdBlock options "flick their noses!"

[@secondlifearound]

Secret Service: "You're not under arrest but you're..... HIRED!!! Heyyy ooooh!!"

[@justas423]

Best ending

[@nettart4924]

you're not fired, YOU'RE HIRED! (im sorry)

[@determined919]

You're

[@caseylocke4474]

*You're*

[@davidpreston7667]

@@nettart4924 yea then hold him and never pay , seems familiar.

[@smode983]

And in 2017, 2 years after this, Google puts out news stories claiming that Google researchers found this problem. They even used his opening example of the locksmith. "As an example, a fraudster might list a locksmiths at a location on Google Maps when they don’t actually have premises there. When a potential customer calls the phone number listed, they are put through to a central call centre that hires unaccredited contractors to do jobs all over. Often the customer ends up being coerced into paying more than the original quoted price." UNREAL

[@andrewvaughnsiii9544]

Thomas William Alfonso

[@andrewvaughnsiii9544]

Answer me.

[@Kholaslittlespot1]

So, they did eventually address the issue?

[@Draccwsup]

@@Kholaslittlespot1 the point is that this man actually found an exploit, used it, proved it, nothing was done, and then they used his exact point to prove the problem that they happened to 'find'. This man should have gotten paid 100% or credited.

[@topsecret1837]

Karth Us I don’t think this guy wants to be paid in full. He wants recognition that he will get in this video and possibly others, but this is hunting for good will, not for a profit like Google.

[@josephorlandi8622]

If you wanna get em to fix it just make a fake google headquarters and when people call just forward it to Bing. Make them realize how it feels to be in the receiving end.

[@mrdownboy]

That would be so awesome. Heck, even Apple 🍎

[@TheOfficialDaBoogaloo]

*The mic he was wearing didn't pick up the audience, everyone calm down.*

[@sixxvsixx]

please be true

[@schex9]

When the audience DOES laugh, the editor switched the video to the TED cameras focused on the audience to show them laughing (see James Veitch). Unless this was a tiny TED that only has cameras on the speaker.

[@TheOfficialDaBoogaloo]

Janet S This is a Ted X talk, the 'X' means it was hosted independently and the standards between all Ted X talks can vary quite a lot.

[@lilaclizard4504]

@@TheOfficialDaBoogaloo in both ted & ted x, there's a bright red mat that's lit & mic'ed to fully capture the presentation. He failed to stay on the mat & consequently caused the problems himself. Wouldn't have been an issue if he was on the mat! The audience could have actually seen him too!

[@HarringtonElectric]

Always blaming the sound guy!☹

[@zufalllx]

"Edward's Snow Den" Bravo.

[@BryanSeely]

It still makes me laugh.

[@kysier6015]

Based on activity history, Google/YT suppressed this video for years.

[@Kholaslittlespot1]

But did they?

[@GeneratedPerson]

Khola based on activity history, yes

[@thomasjamesritchie]

How do you view the activity history of a video?

[@AndreaDingbatt]

HHHhhhhmmmm..

[@bagelbob3979]

yeah so true like came out like last yr

[@attorneyronfrey7973]

The risks he took were extremely courageous. His freedom was truly at stake.

[@evolicious]

What freedom?

[@juliannmnnnm]

Vee Cee jesus christ, really?

[@juliannmnnnm]

Vee Cee yeah i am white, and i really dont know why you had to bring up skin colour to this conversation. it has nothing to do with racism.

[@feedigli]

@@juliannmnnnm Try walking around with dark skin for a couple months and see what you think then. I'm not saying you're a bigot or anything, but the lived experience is different from yours, beyond doubt. We're not different because our skin pigmentation varies, but because our viewpoints depend on our cultural programming; no matter what you look like, you can't come up in America (at least) without having some racial filters of some kind in your perception. Easy to see the truth of this by living in a culture not your familiar home.

[@jameson1239]

controlledabandon you know what I completely agree with you but the original comment had nothing to do with racism

[@Mavr1ck098]

Jesus tough crowd

[@moritzkockritz5710]

It seems that way because he uses a mic that's designed to only record his voice

[@zachbrown1630]

the audio is from his lapel mic only. duh.

[@JVenom]

That makes me feel better. I was laughing at a lot of his jokes, and felt bad that (it felt like, at least) no one else was.

[@Slappos]

theyre all federal agents thats why

[@VortechBand]

And Google employees

[@theghostking-7951]

I was really expecting him to end it with "so I recorded more secret service phone calls"

[@DrakonIL]

There'd be no purpose to it. The only reason he was able to avoid prison based on the first case was because he could demonstrate in good faith that the intent was to bring attention to the problem, AND he was able to demonstrate that he was otherwise unable to bring attention to it. In doing so, he's established himself as the "leading authority" on this matter, and the SS/FBI would now take him at face value on the matter.

[@RKBock]

google most probably did something so that you wouldn't be able to impersonate government agencies anymore. that's why the secret service couldn't be borthered anymore about that issue. he can stil make fake businesses, but impersonating the secret service he can't.

[@fartfarmer2.087]

RKBock the problem is it can be used to destroy any small business... It's not fair

[@RKBock]

did i somewhere say otherwise? i just wanted to point out, that google technically resolved the problem to the point that the government doesn't care, not that the problem wouldn't exist anymore nor did i want to imply that the rest of the problem doesn't matter.

[@fartfarmer2.087]

RKBock and you know this how? Mind uploading that video of you trying?

[@walrusbfv6862]

“There probably isn’t a single person in this room who can make an educated guess of which one is which.” My FBI agent watching with me:

[@chesterwardan5515]

Walrus BFV you realized there’s someone behind the camera too eh..

[@ariakusakabe1847]

He seems like such a normal guy yet he stepped up to do something so selfless and pure! He may be a bit monotoned but you can hear the sincerity in his voice. It’s upsetting that big companies always get away with shameless deeds.

[@user-qz4nf5pl5p]

At a certain point, my school was full of cafes, night clubs, and farms.

[@frostedlambs]

Cody Nemo almost suspiciously ironic isn't it? ;)

[@FranklinXVI]

@@frostedlambs Yeah... Think we should be worried?

[@verdatum]

Grey-hat hacking done BEAUTIFULLY. This is the true hacker archetype. One of the best Hacking Ted talks I've seen.

[@ascendingneet2263]

I'm looking to be a grey-hat :)

[@noornasri5753]

Not even hacking into anything, just using the tools google provides. It's scary that people can change your work hours, I thought they had some sort of verification.

[@therustgiant1925]

@@noornasri5753 nope. It's just like wikipedia except it ruins lives and Wikipedia actually has verification and warnings about misinformation (it also has a smaller workforce and budget).

[@jamesboaz4787]

He said it wasn't a hack.

[@Virgoisback]

@@noornasri5753 Well if the restaurant owner hadn't previously setup his business then someone could of in his place.

[@getsaucedon9313]

“Edward’s Snow Den” 😂😂😂😂 bruhh this dude is a god much respect

[@tommykarrick9130]

This is still my favorite TED talk, I wonder if this has ever been fixed but I’m inclined to assume that no it hasn’t Also, for everyone saying “tough crowd” it’s cause they didn’t mic the crowd, Tom Scott talked about it once. The crowd was fine in person you just can’t hear it

[@lilaclizard4504]

you can't hear it because he stands in the unmic'ed shadows instead of on the brightly lit mat (his mark) in the middle. All his own doing

[@samjordan8800]

Don't know whether they fixed it or not, but Edward's Snow Den lost their lease in the Oval Office of the White House a few years ago (but it was *more than a YEAR after* he did this video - I used to check it every so often).

[@speedyJ0hnny]

Not fixed. I recently needed to change a motorbike tyre and so googled tyres near me. The first guy didnt have one that would fit so I called the second listing. The same guy picked up. Thought I'd called the first listing accidentally so tried again. Long story short the first 5 listings were his and he was very pissed that I kept calling even though they were different phone numbers and business listings

[@jaredpierce8477]

Google happily let me permanently close a medical practice business and link what could very well have been a fake obituary for the doctor to the photos.

[@choczynski]

Still hasn't been fixed. The current popular target is the phone numbers for airlines

[@user-ku4du1ny4d]

I think the 1.2k people who disliked this video are Google's employee's or bots

[@summydots]

Or scammers

[@samhouston2000]

No they are among 1.3 Billion Indians who program this like Boeing's Aircraft software.

[@ogkushclouds2535]

Or socialists

[@novanomi3362]

1.9k

[@brotherchrisrco1125]

No. The employees know they are corrupt, they just don't want to loose their jobs and stock options.

[@lovetoeatallthefood]

Sadly, I'm not at all surprised by Google's failure to take any meaningful action to address this problem. I run a number of mail servers and GMail has been one of the largest, most consistent sources of spam that they receive - almost all of it SEO/web dev spam from India. I did some testing recently and, 30 days later, more than 75% of the GMail addresses I'd reported to Google for spamming were still active. Though, "strangely," they had terminated 100% of the addresses that I'd reported with the option "this sender appears to be impersonating Google" - funny, that. And, of course, there's the $500 million fine they received a few years ago thanks to their profiting from - and turning a blind eye to - ads for counterfeit pharmaceuticals.

[@bensmith3890]

To be fair, gmail's spam filtering for itself, is amazing!

[@kruze2075]

Lovetoeat Allthefood I

[@Lugia21]

They are still doing the same.

[@Migwelp]

Pink contracts man. No repercussions.

[@Tman_Hall]

In terms of "impersonating Google", they have to protect their own business first, it's like if you were being impersonated you would want a massive red flag bringing that notification to the top. There's nothing wrong with self-prioritizing and the issue with spam accounts is that they're fairly easy to generate using bots (even with captcha all a hacker has to do is enter in the captcha manually, which only prevent account creation from being as fast as the program that generates them), which means Google can only best handle bots with their own bots and programs, no one has the manpower to deal with programs generating bots manually, or programs in general. Programs can create bots like heads of a hydra. It's not a problem for a manual workforce to handle, fire must be fought with fire.

[@JoshLathamTutorials]

When I was a teenager, I added my house to google maps. It was super easy, and I'm not surprised people started using that maliciously.

[@maxbenson8900]

I don't even remember doing it but its there for me too

[@lonigaming5880]

Max Benson RIP LOL

[@bagelbob3979]

wait wha i want to know how so i can tell people and spread awarness but at the same time i too scared a law enfrocement agency is going attak mr

[@happycamperds9917]

Is your house a PokeStop?

[@JoshLathamTutorials]

I had to choose a business type while doing so, so I chose a cafe. I subsequently received two phone calls over about 4 years about ordering a sandwich. Was super trippy each time since you forget.

[@ispartacus1337]

This whole time I thought his name was Ted Kirkland. The Bryan joke went right over my head. I was like why would they call you Bryan...

[@liamdienemann8937]

Thank you for this

[@meghanachauhan9380]

Dear god...

[@Scorch428]

People like you and I know to ignore google Ads in the search results, but what about our parents? People not as familiar with technology are still being scammed, and something needs to be done.

[@vammonaco649]

YOU HAVE FAILED AS A CHILD. YOU HAVE FAILED AS A MILLENNIAL. VISIT YOUR MOM. (Install AdBlock Plus while you are there)

[@KyuubyMaster]

Adblock everythin your parents use xD

[@RaeStriker]

Is this still a problem? Theres still a Taco Bell in the pentagon

[@GoErikTheRed]

That's probably just trump

[@InnerMindCreations]

The pentagon has a huge food court - I'm pretty sure there are three Starbucks

[@GrimDanny13]

RaeStriker there is a taco bell in the Pentagon, and a KFC, I have done work there as a contractor

[@obstructedterminal6341]

Nah that's legit, big shots gotta eat yo

[@Fa1seP0sitive]

That's real. When I was younger My dad took pictures from the Pentagon when he was staying with my cousin, who was a soldier that was healing from a major injury.

[@gee3484]

the chaos that this man holds within him is more than i could ever hope to achieve

[@BryanSeely]

you have no idea

[@leef_me8112]

The man says that he asked an agent to call the DC office. The agent does, and talks for approx 5 minutes. Then the agent hangs up. The man plays the conversation back from his laptop. What appears to be missing in this talk is that **the agent willingly called the number in the Google listing, instead of the actual #** If the agent calls the PROPER number, the man cannot intercept the call.

[@Multigor96]

I misunderstood that as well, anybody care to explain ?

[@protectorate2823]

PO6 for any future confused people, he’s saying they call the fake number, it then routs to the real secret service to keep everything looking normal but the call is still going through his phone to record. Kinda like how customer service bot says this call may be recorded for quality purposes before you talk to a rep.

[@sie4431]

@@Multigor96 imagine if you googled the number for the emergency services and it said 555-1234 and you dialled that instead of 911. They then do a three way call to 911 but to the caller it looks normal. The weird thing is the receiver will be getting tons of calls from the same number so they will find out

[@nielsdegroot9138]

Precisely the problem: how do you get the proper number? If you're inside the organization you usually have some way to find out. But if you're not at your desk? You'd probably search the internet... And the "official website" won't help you either. Because how do you find the official website without prior knowledge? You search the internet...

[@rebeccacaraska4112]

Yes, but the point of calling the number on Google Maps is to prove that anyone who calls the number from an internet search is compromised. Agents don't have to google the numbers. They have an in house telephone exchange.

[@JimFortune]

So click through on every sponsored link you find. Something to do on a boring afternoon.

[@robdevenney]

That is Click Fraud (not actually illegal) and Google only charge the advertiser once per IP address so would only work with a VPN and cleared browser cache and not every AdWords user is a scam artist it might just be a decent business paying to be on Google so....

[@JimFortune]

Robert Devenney I didn't say hammer the same link over and over. And if you think decent businesses should have to pay Google to get business, then don't do it. And what makes you call it fraud? Google thinks I would be interested in this company. It's fraudulent for me to see if they're right?

[@BlinkyLass]

But how can you tell which sponsored links are from scammers? Google advertising is used by legit businesses and scammers alike. Not to mention you'd just be giving money to Google for each click.

[@JimFortune]

Blinky Lass The sponsored links are there because the companies pay money to Google. Not because they best fit your search criteria. And you'd only be giving money to Google until scammers and legit businesses alike figure out that it's a waste of money.

[@deidyomega]

Or just *never* click a paid result. Organic results only.

[@ZipSnipe]

I feel sorry for newer businesses. I have had my glass shop for 18 years, I no longer have to advertise because of word of mouth advertising....kinda hard to hack that.

[@kidcitylynnwood6324]

ZipSnipe me too, 33 yrs

[@gg_rider]

If one of your loyal customers looks up your number on Google Maps, because it's not stored in their phone as a contact, and it says "Permanently Closed", will they contact you personally to verify or go to another glass shop?

[@stijn7876]

Hard, but not impossible. Montauk-project? Agent Orange? MKultra?

[@0fficialdregs]

@@stijn7876 what do those illegal practices have to do with someone's business?

[@stijn7876]

Dregs - You didn't get it, that's allright. He said you can't hack verbal commerce. I am saying you can and it has been done. Not bussinesswise of course, I don't know why you think I meant that. If you want it explained: if you alter the minds of people communicating, then you just hacked the unhackable according to him. Is this more clear to you...?

[@wilsonexec]

Someone add the Seinfeld laugh track the crowd is depressing

[@ParticularlyBaptist]

need the bass riffs too ahahaha

[@LeonDerczynski]

3:51 it's just quiet

[@weevil5269]

He’s using a mic designed only for his voice

[@vincenoname]

I think his mic just didn't pick it up

[@CtrlAltMike]

Kirkland Washington is home to one of the largest Google offices outside of California. Because of the location, the majority of the audience for this talk was likely Microsoft and Google employees.

[@godkeebler]

Patriot. The only critique I have is he called the users of Google services the customer, though he had, in my opinion proven beyond a reasonable doubt, we users are the product.

[@outfield243]

This was a very interesting Ted talk. I'm very glad I watched it all the way through

[@AgentExeider]

I don't know if he did this on purpose of not, but I like the statement of his positioning during this whole talk, he stays out of the spot light on the red dot and off to the side, seemingly standing half way in the shadows and half in the light as if to point out, he's got a foot in both worlds. He's clearly a good man, so he isn't monster, but he works in the realm of monsters, like any Guardian or Sentinel often does.

[@roxrequiem2935]

Wait... so scammers pay google per click... *Time to make a bot that keeps clicking bois*

[@creativeclub2023]

Great idea are you working on it may be you will get a chance in TED to TALK.😌😏

[@puteborddelux1309]

so make a bot that makes google a shitton of money then huh

[@adrianthoroughgood1191]

Advertisers pay google per click, google takes a cut, then sends the rest to the website hosting the ad. Scammers made bots to generate fake clicks to get money for their websites. The advertisers hate this because they are paying for clicks but getting no actual customers. So they stop bothering advertising with google because it doesn't work. So fake clicks is actually a problem for google not a benefit. I have a friend who came up with some software to detect the fake clicks and filter them out. Now he works for google, fighting a bot arms race.

[@soundpreacher]

That was my first thought, too. Maybe hit the scammers where it hurts.

[@thomashan4963]

If we mechanically clicks with no regular interval time, no software can ever detect a single click, because it is technically a real click.

[@suchoudh]

The guy seems scarred by the event. He is yet not reconciled, which makes the whole story very disturbing and truthful.

[@ca-ke9493]

Its because it apparently wasnt reconcilled. Google is more powerful than the secret service, and the Secret Service has such a huge security breach as a result of Google and its just lying out there for someone who can do real harm to exploit. Also, he went there in hopes that it would be fixed for all the small businesses and their customers falling for the scams. If the secret service couldnt get Google to fix this issue, what hope does ordinary civillians have of safeguarding against anonymous hackers ruining and hijacking their lives? Everyone on the internet is there by virtue of "hacking probably not going to happen to me". But we have no true guarantee of that and as our lives get more tied to the internet its truly frightening that we don't have avenues to support people who do get hacked/impersonated etc...

[@everythinggoodsfeckingtaken]

Alternative: everyone search up those scam adverts and click through.... scammer gets billed for thousands of clicks.... No sales though

[@bobbysanchez6308]

What if we made bots to spam click these ads? Would they count as individual clicks?

[@MrItachi114]

@@bobbysanchez6308 we might be on to somthing here

[@imafishbish1346]

Bobby Sanchez That is a thing

[@ThatControlUser]

@@bobbysanchez6308oh boyyy

[@Comin_at_U_Live]

@@MrItachi114 what if attempts actually Target an actual small business owner with a family struggling to pay his mortgage and all of a sudden gets slammed with fake clicks which depletes all his money right out of his account leaving them out of business, in foreclosure, and eventually homeless...?

[@Delemaroth]

At 14:39 when he said "The Scammers 'Pay Google'...." It activated my phones google assistant....

[@Givemeafinname]

Result?

[@owenmiller4176]

I imagine "pay google" sounds close enough to "hey google" (the phrase to activate the assistant) , so it activates the assistant.

[@sie4431]

@@owenmiller4176 it's "ok Google" pay sounds like okay

[@owenmiller4176]

@@sie4431 I used "hey google" on my Google home mini.

[@Karnemelk]

@@owenmiller4176 it both works but it's officially OK Google

[@alvesvaren]

”The scammers, pay google” *google home randomly starts listening*

[@bagelbob3979]

lol

[@ROGUEyoutube]

Probably thought the catchphrase "Pay Google" was "Hey Google"

[@jplxlabelle1681]

"..end up in a bag in a river.." Sad times. He know' s.

[@actsrv9]

He said he was a marine. If anyone knows, it's him.

[@Sniiigel]

Knows what?

[@gaychampagnesocialist7213]

@@Sniiigel That he would be Epstein'd if he caught the 'wrong' information.

[@TheStarBlack]

Is it compulsory in conspiracy theory circles to misuse apostrophes? Or was my understanding of grammar beamed into my head by the gubmint?

[@korpakukac]

know' s know' s know' s know' s know' s know' s know' s know' s know' s know' s

[@rylen154]

The Snowden puns are too good

[@glenntaylor9519]

I wonder if it was the Destiny of Edward Snowden ~ too seek exhile in the Soviet Union SNOWED~in!! ; - )

[@diannh2894]

This guy deserves an award. You know that scene in lord of war when cage comes out and tells Mick at the end how he did good but no one can stop him(basically). Same concept. This guys amazing

[@jamierogers5016]

One of my favorite TEDx talks, in regards to helping the public & small businesses survive

[@littlereader1]

Is it illegal to make a program that visits those scam site repeatedly making their bill enormous while giving them no business?

[@jayneboatis6494]

Jim Read that would be yes, making false internet traffic with ill intent

[@ImperiumLibertas]

It is called a Denial of Service attack which is very illegal.

[@littlereader1]

oh ok ive heard of that before thanks

[@Hyperstudio77]

BeFoRe - Cinematic CS:GO - Trailer Online Actually it is, it is making fake traffic, which could be considered as a Denial of Service (DOS) attack in court

[@peope1976]

A denial of service attack can take many forms. It doesn't even have to be done with computers.

[@haydencarp]

I'm booking a getaway trip to Edward's Snow Den. Wish me luck.

[@idubbbzfatfather1360]

I love the transition from third to first person in the intro

[@LongDistanceCall11]

Wow. Thank you so much, Bryan. It is sad, and as usual the ray of light and hope is generated by a small number of people. You being one of them.

[@louis0221]

I actually used to work at Google's Spam Review Team back in 2010, to counter exactly this problem. We have about 30 people working in this team. I personally worked day and night, there were two months I pulled 80 hours a week because of the backlog. The principle is, Google believes the overall users are good, and any modification in Maps by any users is assumed to be right until manually reviewed. Unlike Yelp, which business can be claimed by the owner and only the owner can change the business information. They do have a team of engineers working at tools to revert the abuse, but everything is manually done for some reason. Which I hope eventually the manual decision-making process was preparation for machine learning on spam behaviors.

[@demoniack81]

30 people is nothing and you know it. I did maintainance on the database of a certain (big) company here in Italy, where everything breaks all the time, and several customers ended up in legal trouble (although very briefly) because of that. Let's say that they had at least a day ruined. Two people cannot keep up with a system that generates hundreds of system errors every day; 30 people cannot keep up with a system that gets tens of thousands of submissions per day. Google's effort is completely inadequate.

[@xavierozaraga391]

demoniack81 agreed

[@NatalieZorah]

You are assuming he actually worked for google. Which is more likely: he worked for google and they only applied the effort of 30 people to a system problem, or he is doing his best to defend google and their oversight, or lack thereof, by spinning a story? I can’t think of a single day in the last 10 years that I didn’t use google for something, but even the biggest companies have their problems. Like the speaker said, “this is a cancer”.

[@jennhoff03]

I truly hope this comment isn't true because 30 people is nothing in comparison with the scope of this problem!

[@ThisisGlorious]

PRO TIP: play at 1.25 speed

[@bearb1asting]

Federico Mutis god. Thank you!

[@francescaa8331]

Thanks. That's perfect.

[@dancallaghan528]

1.25 speed = normal sounding speed

[@lindabcarpentersings]

Federico Mutis wish i knew that before i watched 15 minutes in

[@FirstLast-kv5qh]

THANK YOU

[@jakubdolozilek4694]

Him: My friends call me bryan **Silence** Subtitles: (laughter)

[@acatfrompoland5230]

Jakub Doložílek yeah I know atleast the subtitles found it funny

[@aegr5125]

CatGods this made me laugh and it made my day

[@hansbraun2726]

Great talk, great American. Thank you for your service in the Marines as well as fighting apathy and corporate abuse in our world

[@kenmendoza6932]

Is he talking to ghosts?

[@Flint_Inferno]

Part of me wants to dub a laugh track over this video to fill in the awkward silence.

[@vammonaco649]

No, they're just blown away.

[@verbindung]

this isn't a concert you hypebeasts

[@LeonDerczynski]

the crowd wasn't mic'd, everything else is working fine

[@kamikuru5398]

Pretty much, he's talkin to feminists and sjw Ted talkers

[@whereareyou2]

Playing with Google maps in the closest city the other day to see what all there is that I didn't know about. Apparently there's more than 100 gas stations in a town of 30k people...

[@Ilmeigarjs]

As a lady that has gone through some share of emotional and psychological abuse from a narcissist i have learnt to run away when I see any traits of dishonesty and selfishness but sometimes you can’t really know until it happens and I discovered a way to find out before I become a victim again , I was cheated on and betrayed by my partner and blamed myself who his promiscuous behavior until I hacked his device and read through his chat and social media account before I discovered I was being played by someone I gave my totality to , really we have to be wise and know who to give our undying love and respect to, now I’m wiser and happier

[@Ilmeigarjs]

Only few will understand this but I advice and admire anyone that choose to fight it and free themselves from psychological abuses to contact the hacker to help you understand your situation send your requests to the email address below

[@Ilmeigarjs]

Zyonbinary7

[@Ilmeigarjs]

@

[@Ilmeigarjs]

Gmail

[@Ilmeigarjs]

.

[@monimoni8141]

WOW! WHAT HE DID WAS COURAGEOUS AND IS IN FACT A HERO! IT WAS A SELFLESS ACT! THANK YOU MR. SEELY

[@Verrisin]

Who clicks on the links that say *ad* ??? - Those are always nonsense...

[@JimmyFantage]

Where did it say ad?

[@principal_optimism]

average people.

[@MrHatoi]

Jimmy Fantage There's a bright yellow bubble right next to the result that clearly says "Ad"

[@davidemahiser]

adsense*

[@jaybeat4172]

On the left side of every result. Usually are the first three or four.

[@bazookajoe8904]

moral of the story: use adblock

[@samwisegamzy]

Adblock is nothing more than a different kind of cancer.

[@jaredkidd1]

If you use Adblock, you are attacking the revenue streams that support free services on the Internet. If enough people use it certain services become economically unviable and people don't really want that for the simple reason that they like free stuff.

[@JP-wd1ok]

It's more than the ads that's how his secret service fake went about the actual secret service

[@me_teck1714]

moral of the story is not using adblock, it is actually to get education for the ones that click on them links, because we know what them links do, but your mom maybe doesn't. We could stomp them as well, as this guy just did, but look at the risk of putting yourself in danger for doing the right thing, or the risk of nothing happening.

[@bazookajoe8904]

Yep you are right my mom doesnt know what to click on. That is why I put adblock on her browser for her. Advertising is why i canceled my cable subscription and stopped listening to the radio. I dont give 2 poops about "free" web they are stealing my time if they are trying to sell me something.

[@infernosgaming8942]

"Edward's Snow Den" don't know why that made me laugh so hard xD

[@ib10jhs45]

Thank you for bringing this to the surface.

[@cdert90]

is there a update of this issue?

[@talltony7290]

an*

[@ngand660]

Tall Tony good update

[@talltony7290]

Ngand hah np mate ;) always here to keep ppl updated

[@Blades11c]

Issue?

[@ZenoZaneZedd]

people*

[@viseberg8527]

This is taking off now. Thanks, Google's algorithm!

[@kevinm8865]

Bryan Seely; thank you for your service! This is very interesting and eye-opening.

[@BryanSeely]

Thank you!

[@allanhernandez9616]

"I didn't have any criminal intent" *camera zooms in* 10:12

[@mini-mei]

I always avoid the advertised pages on top of the google results page, because most of the time when I'm searching for something, I'm looking for info and not to buy anything. Now I have even more reason to do so.

[@sebbes333]

First, You are a HERO! Second, what does FBI say about this, I guess they must know that it isn't fixed?

[@deidyomega]

Not their problem. That's what they usually say. Unless you are recording them, then they will take you out back and shoot you.

[@nickisme1236]

"Edward's Snow Den 2 (electric boogaloo)" is now open for business in the same location as the last

[@rollercoaster55]

I was totally unaware of this, thank you for spreading the word!

[@maximilian333]

Google is too powerful for the secret service, it needs to be broken up and regulated.

[@troyevitt2437]

Boognishman!

[@BryanSeely]

Thanks Max. Google lied to the Secret Service about fixing the issue.

[@Tobi-ci3ns]

My Google Home woke up every time he said "pays Google"

[@jimmykeech2467]

one of the best ted talks i've ever seen

[@profbell7931]

Bryan, Thanks for the info! I wish to God someone like you was around to inform me that small things like scamming the WRONG customers can bring a business to its knees. It’s just a matter of time before Google’s downfall, if what you say is true. There is no such thing as “TOO BIG TO FAIL”.

[@KikiTay]

OCD be like “Step into the damm red circle!!”

[@poke548]

I put up a listing for The Batcave under my neighborhood pond sometime around the late 2000's It was accepted. (It's probably deleted by now, though.)

[@AJ287772]

Haven’t people realized if you looked up a support number the ads are scammers and the non ads usually first one is real. Never clicked the ad since

[@theenderemerald2573]

He just told everyone how to wiretap the secret service on a ted talk and it can still work 🤦‍♂️

[@daverice5649]

Right? Does he hope to get flagged to protect defense?

[@BryanSeely]

I appreciate that you figured that out.

[@infradigital]

Thank you for this info man people need to know how easy it is to get scammed, it happens way too much! Google prides themselves on standing against shady business practices and yet made no real attempt to fix this; they've lost a lot of my respect.

[@a2brute]

Google has at least added "local guides" -- people that verify existing listings and data on Maps.

[@buggsy5]

But Google's local guides are as vulnerable to the abusers as the regular search results. For that matter, it makes everything easier for the scammers, such as the "bait and switch" bastards.

[@doubletragus]

"Local guides" = unpaid workforce. Glad Google is so beneficent.

[@joshuak4553]

Best introduction I've ever heard. That was good. Hi Bryan.

[@iphoneadamf]

Best TED talk I've seen in years

[@RhizometricReality]

You either die a hero, or live long enough to see yourself become the villain.

[@stonium69]

I think Demos was referring to Google, not the secret service or the guy.

[@MyBeautifulLord]

👏👏👏 Good quote! 💜

[@irisshikoba4376]

I think that's a good quote, too!

[@DesudesChan]

Ricky "die a hero" could refer to the guy holding the speech. "become the villain" could be Google. It's definitely applicable to this situation.

[@welcometolife4237]

Ricky lol

[@matthewwriter9539]

"Its not even technically hacking."

[@binihalex8097]

Great clip. Still true in 2020. The ending was perfect.

[@carlosmarques8380]

Everytime i do a google search i always avoid the "sponsored" links that pop on top without even thinking about it tbh, guess thats a good thing, because i think, if you need ads to appear, you are probably not doing well.

[@tylerhowd1618]

How about people just stop clicking on adds. People give these scammers and hackers power.

[@buggsy5]

The average person is not that savvy.

[@chad1755]

Brian Seely how did you get around the postcard verification?

[@samguy7587]

God bless this dude, I wanna see what he is doing now

[@secondlifearound]

Who else was a bit bothered by that TEDx Kirkland logo on stage that clearly has the wrong font!?

[@trstmeimadctr]

So call the Secret Service guys you talked to and tell them that this is still happening. Go to CNN and show them how to do it. There are things to do.

[@mahamudra911]

Roddy Lawrence CNN only report fake news... Its not up in their alley.

[@antimitsu]

Tell me how that will work out for him?

[@MrAlexAKAprokiller]

well he's appearing in a TEDtalk, posted online, ironically onto Google's KZbin, that's one way to do it

[@karlneff]

shadowninja81500 I believe you mean Clinton News Network

[@Roonasaur]

Karl Neff . . . that name is . . . disturbing? (My last name is Neff, and Karl was my college roommate . . .) Sorry, Irrelevant . . . but it's late and I'm drunk and on YT (so obviously, I'm currently alone), so . . . Hi Stranger?

[@vect0r85]

I just Googled for local locksmiths. Several $15 listings came up. I clicked on all of them.

[@tom1228]

2019 and this is still around there was a dam del taco at area 51 like 3 weeks ago

[@ElectroDFW]

*Someone's* got to feed those storming into the place.

[@aikishugyo]

Great educational talk, about a huge problem. So glad the man took matters in his own hands, that is the only way to go forward! Again great illustration of how little the so-called authorities and gatekeeper companies care, since they are getting paid for it by the scammers. So essentially they are in cahoots, enabling scammers and profiting from them. I guess essentially it is money laundering fraudulent money.

[@paulc7138]

How does this not have millions of views?!?!

[@zabdas83]

Because Google censors what they don't like, so this video won't appear in your notifications etc. Google is blatantly censoring my notifications, I ask 100s of questions via comments pages everyday but 90% I don't get notified of their response or I just blatantly don't get one at all. I ask the kind of questions the corrupt authorities (gangs) don't want answered - hence the censoring!

[@paulc7138]

True.

[@martinc.720]

Mathew Bateman hundreds of questions per day? Lol

[@Dhendo7]

balls. of. steel.

[@davidpatel5267]

I can vouch for this, I've done a similar thing a while ago to see if it was possible, I became a local guide which makes Google trust your additions to it's map and set up a business in a place it didn't exist in a crowded city. It's hilarious, I made my friends house a business for fun

[@MuhammadAli-iw9jz]

It will probably take people, a year or two to even recognize that this guy is a hero!