Ep 12. Bit By Bit

A group of hackers known as The Python's Revenge sends a Trojan virus through thousands of printers, allowing them access to personal and highly confidential information from numerous individuals and even a federal agent. Citing their mission to expose the vulnerability of modern-day technology and the need for tighter security measures, the group claims to have no nefarious intent and only demands that their messages be shared through every printer available.

Agent Ryan and the rest of the FBI's Cyber Crime Division are called in to investigate and work alongside a consultant named Calvin from the Bit By Bit company, who is specialized in cybersecurity and has previously worked with the government. The team discovers that the Trojan virus not only grants access to the hackers, but it also hijacks the printers and causes them to start printing out a sequence of numbers and codes.

The investigation leads them to a suspect named Cade, who is a member of The Python's Revenge and also a college student studying computer science. Cade was initially hesitant to join the group, but after feeling ostracized and discouraged by his peers, he found acceptance and purpose in the "hacktivist" community. Agent Ryan tries to appeal to Cade's better judgement and presents the consequences of his actions, but Cade recounts his own experience of being a victim of identity theft and argues that a wake-up call was necessary for companies and individuals to take cyber security more seriously.

Meanwhile, it is revealed that Calvin had a personal vendetta against Cade's father, who had previously hired him to test his company's security but failed to fix the vulnerabilities that Calvin exposed. Calvin had intentionally planted a Trojan virus in the company's system, leading to their downfall and the subsequent suicide of Cade's father. Agent Ryan confronts Calvin about his unethical behavior and informs him that his actions have only worsened the problem of cybercrime.

The team races against time to track down and stop The Python's Revenge before they can release the sensitive information they have gathered. With the help of Cade, they manage to locate and apprehend The Python's Revenge's leader, who maintains his stance on the necessity of exposing security flaws.

In the end, the team reflects on the blurred line between "hacktivism" and illegal activities and the need for a comprehensive approach to cybersecurity that addresses both prevention and response.