What Is Natto Thoughts?
Natto Thoughts explores the intersection of culture, technology, and security, with stories, analysis and insights into the humans of the information age—whether decision-makers, criminals, or ordinary users. We probe the language, culture, institutions, political systems, and unwritten social rules that constrain and inspire their actions.
Natto is a sticky Japanese fermented soybean dish with an acquired taste. Fermented foods are slow foods. It helps keep your microbiome—that complex ecosystem that helps you digest—healthy. Like natto, our thoughts have had time to “ferment.”
Who Are We?
We are a group of experts with decades of experience in geopolitical analysis and cyber threat intelligence between us. We do research in a variety of European and Asian languages.
Media Mentions
The Associated Press: Behind the doors of a Chinese hacking company, a sordid culture fueled by influence, alcohol and sex, March 8, 2024
The Guardian: Huge cybersecurity leak lifts lid on world of China’s hackers for hire, February 23, 2024; Western governments struggle to coordinate response to Chinese hacking, March 29, 2024
NPR The World: A look into how China out sources hacking, March 26, 2024
The Record: Leaked documents open the lid on China’s commercial hacking industry, February 22, 2024
The Click Here podcast: Inside the i-Soon papers and China’s secret world of hackers-for-hire, March 12, 2024
The Wire China: Access Denied: Can Jen Easterly solve the China hacking problem? May 26, 2024; Hacking the Hackers, March 3, 2024
Krebs on Security: New Leak Shows Business Side of China’s APT Menace, February 22, 2024
Australian Financial Review (AFR): Leaked documents reveal Australia targeted by Chinese hackers, March 26, 2024
Risky Business Media: The i-SOON Data Leak, February 22, 2024
Risky Business Media: Infosec industry, Tianfu Cup 2023, January 19,2024
Lawfare: The I-Soon Data Leak + Disruption, Disruption Everywhere; February 23, 2024
Sinocism: Foreign and Defense Affairs - i-SOON: Kicking Off the Year of the Dragon with Good Luck … or Not, February 28, 2024
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung: Hacker im Auftrag Pekings, February 27, 2024
MediaPart: Bienvenue à I-Soon, chez les cybermercenaires qui espionnent à la solde de Pékin, March 4, 2024
Information Security Media Group: iSoon Leak Shows Links to Chinese APT Groups, March 26, 2024
Cybersecurity Advisors Network: 50 Cent Army? What a Bargain! China and its Disinformation Campaigns, January 17, 2024
"...a very very strong plug for our friends over at the Natto Thoughts substack whose three-part disinformation handbook has been an absolutely invaluable resource..."
Memetic Warfare (bi)Weekly: i-SOON data leak, February 22, 2024
Those interested in reading more … you can check out … the highly-recommended Natto Thoughts
