# Disappearance of Michael Bazzell? **URL:** https://discuss.privacyguides.net/t/disappearance-of-michael-bazzell/14904 **Category:** General **Tags:** podcast **Created:** 2023-11-08T00:41:08Z **Posts:** 39 ## Post 1 by @The_Centurion — 2023-11-08T00:41:08Z Like many others, I was introduced to the concepts of so-called extreme privacy through the [Privacy, Security, and OSINT Show](https://inteltechniques.com/podcast.html), a weekly podcast hosted by a privacy consultant named Michael Bazzell. MB took a leave at the start of summer and the show released a few pre-recorded episodes in his absence. It has now been several months and there’s been zero peeps about the status of the show. This has lead to some theories on the podcast’s subreddit that MB may have met an untimely demise or wound up imprisoned in a foreign country - something he joked about when he said in one of his final podcasts that could happen since he was going to be testing a method at obtaining a passport in an alias name from a foreign country. In a recent development, his company - Intel Techniques - has begun scrubbing any mention of his name from his website and his personal twitter page has been renamed to the company’s name. I haven’t seen it discussed here so I figured I’d make a thread for any fans of the podcast. What do you think happened and do you think we’ll see a return of MB? --- ## Post 2 by @jonah — 2023-11-08T03:00:39Z Yeah, I noticed that. It’s strange that the show notes for [episode 306](https://inteltechniques.com/blog/2023/09/22/the-privacy-security-osint-show-episode-306/) were released on the same day the podcast was taken offline. As far as I know nobody was able to download a copy of that episode. They’re also [**allegedly**](https://www.reddit.com/r/OSINT/comments/17ie96y/comment/k6utzki/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button) copyright striking people who share alternative downloads to the podcast (like torrent magnet links, etc.). Hard to say what’s going on, but this all definitely seems like deliberate moves on their end. I highly doubt he’s dead as some Redditors are speculating, but it could be indicative of some legal problems they’re facing which they aren’t allowed to disclose. I don’t think anyone will be able to provide you with an answer to this question until they publish a response themselves. --- ## Post 3 by @anon73250778 — 2023-11-08T06:28:37Z I thought there were some issues with his podcast hosting? Its likely he is busy. If this absence becomes longer, I’d wager he went back to working for the US gov’t and is forced to shed his M.Bazzell persona. --- ## Post 4 by @Viper — 2023-11-08T09:06:03Z as long as they keep on updating those paid PDFs it’ll be a lesser kick to the rear. --- ## Post 5 by @anon73250778 — 2023-11-08T09:12:34Z I was contemplating whether to purchsse or not. Maybe I shouldnt now? The consistent update is pretty much a gentleman handshake even back then. --- ## Post 6 by @Viper — 2023-11-08T09:24:39Z yes don’t buy yet wait for updates. I thought I saw the mobile devices OUT THERE in the net world… --- ## Post 7 by @Dkama — 2023-11-08T14:22:34Z Just checked. There have been 5 updates for each guide since July 28th, which, if I’m not mistaken, was his last non pre-recorded episode. --- ## Post 8 by @The_Centurion — 2023-11-08T17:57:17Z I read a theory that he’s shedding his public persona of being "Intel Techniques by Michael Bazzell’ and trying to separate the two because it opens him up for legal liability by branding his name with the company and their products. My theory is that they got swamped with a big client or something because I reached out to them inquiring about assistance for an anonymous home purchase and I got an email from an employee saying they are inundated with work and not currently taking on new clients. That was back in about August. --- ## Post 9 by @toor — 2023-11-08T21:12:47Z Hopefully, (this disappearance) it’s about work and nothing worst (like death or arrest). Could be nice if someone says that everything is OK and they are just prioritizing some tasks… --- ## Post 10 by @zestygrass — 2023-11-09T20:18:03Z During number of podcasts MB mentioned his research into acquiring dual citizenship, he was in process of doing all the leagl stuff on himself, he also joked about getting thrown in jail (which jason said were not true). From the podcast that was taken down, we can assume MB is back in US, but as to why podcast is on hiatus? We’ll have to wait for an official answer on that. --- ## Post 11 by @Viper — 2023-11-20T21:33:51Z Blog post just popped up on my RSS app from Bazzell, No more podcasts for now. Other content/services are still live. Expect new content soon. Yada yada He is doing fine. Has a job offer If u can find him. If u find him, can you tell me where, I need a job :face_with_tongue: not joking. Here is link below. > **[My Irish Exit – IntelTechniques Blog](https://inteltechniques.com/blog/2023/11/20/my-irish-exit/)** --- ## Post 12 by @anon73250778 — 2023-11-21T00:32:46Z I have a sneaking suspicion of the general area where is he is right now, but since Im not in the US, I cant really check and I cant really travel but from what the last blog sounds like, he wants OsInt people to find him and say hi. Now I just have to figure out the degrees part of his riddle. --- ## Post 13 by @The_Centurion — 2023-11-21T03:20:14Z I speculate he’s somewhere in the Caribbean because his company has a location there and in past episodes he mentioned working out an affordable option to obtaining a second passport in an unnamed Caribbean country. I’m willing to bet looking at flight, marine, and satellite traffic around that part of the world during sunset on the last few days would yield some useful results. --- ## Post 14 by @toor — 2023-11-22T12:32:36Z He’s living his freedom. I’m really happy for him! I’m totally grateful for how much I learned from his podcasts. We still have the books and the PDFs (despite I avoid long reads online) --- ## Post 15 by @anon15113079 — 2023-11-22T14:38:55Z Speaking of MB, how’s his new ebooks? Are they worth it? --- ## Post 16 by @Viper — 2023-11-23T03:41:52Z Only have 1 eBook. As long as it gets updated through my lifetime, want my $15 worth :face_with_tongue:, I think its good value. On another note those that have PDF please reply to your email see if you can get episode 306 and send me a DM with link lol. I got denied but maybe someone else with different wording can get a copy. --- ## Post 17 by @quitet.gear — 2023-11-23T05:54:08Z Worth is relative. I have the mobile devices and macOS devices. Neither is saying anything groundbreaking or anything that he didn’t say in the podcasts. But it gets into every detail on why, how it works and how to set it up. I found them very informative. I’m very happy with the purchase that were totally worth to me. It gave me guides on how to mitigate many of the aspects I most disliked about two devices I use every day, that are both very expensive devices and sadly some of the most important devices in my life. So for me, paying $30 to be more comfortable using the $4000 worth of devices I use daily, was a no brainer. --- ## Post 19 by @anon85295620 — 2023-11-29T19:23:17Z Looks like MB wants his voice off the internet. There is a statement at the following link explaining. > **[Ep. 059 - Legal Stalking and Other Scary Tales from Michael Bazzell -...](https://www.social-engineer.org/podcasts/ep-059-legal-stalking-scary-tales-michael-bazzell/)** > > Ep. 059. Michael Bazzell, has made a career out of obtaining, locating, and cataloging information. He shares his OSINT knowledge with us. --- ## Post 20 by @The_Centurion — 2023-11-29T23:40:34Z Maybe he decided to hang things up and “retire” his public persona. Quite a shame because I think he had a really good voice for podcasting. Hopefully his new endeavor of blogging instead of podcasting is equally as effective at spreading the good word about personal privacy - I don’t think I would’ve ever got as deeply into privacy as I have without stumbling upon his podcast. --- ## Post 21 by @anon85295620 — 2023-11-30T00:45:51Z He has a way with words both spoken and written. I have little doubt, if he decides to start blogging, it will be very entertaining and informative. --- ## Post 22 by @Viper — 2023-11-30T08:05:03Z Good catch. I suspected to be super private he’d have to kill his voice. Hopefully when he figures out how to ai his voice. Speak to text, then text to ai voice. Hopefully he’ll come back to podcasts :person_shrugging: --- ## Post 23 by @xe3 — 2023-11-30T08:33:24Z Personally it seems a little late to start worrying about having his voice online (the ideal time to worry about it would’ve been _before_ publishing 300+ episodes of a podcast featuring his voice and building a business around it. I think the horse is out of the barn now, and I’d think he’d be more aware of that reality than most people. I wonder what prompted him to change course now (assuming that that is the real reason). With all that said, on a human level, I can empathize with feeling uncomfortable about having so much out their publicly (even if it is just a voice not connected to a true identity or face). --- ## Post 24 by @RimaS — 2023-11-30T11:37:24Z Here is his exit: [Irish exit](https://inteltechniques.com/blog/2023/11/20/my-irish-exit/) --- ## Post 25 by @anon85295620 — 2023-11-30T12:13:43Z In his Irish Exit he states he is happy not doing the podcast. Before that it was a cost issue. Now, it’s Michael wanting his voice removed from the internet. I consider this one complete BS. Michael should know this can’t be done. When I looked into this to see if it was true I found many new articles stating the owner of Social-Engineer has been banned from DEFcon for life due to harassment. Maybe Michael doesn’t want to be associated with that company and “removing his voice” was a diplomatic way of doing so. --- ## Post 26 by @kid — 2023-12-01T20:17:36Z looks like they forgot one. [social-engineer.org/podcasts/ep-082-hide-seek-michael-justin/](https://www.social-engineer.org/podcasts/ep-082-hide-seek-michael-justin/) --- ## Post 27 by @Viper — 2023-12-02T03:55:54Z What a great find. Well done. --- ## Post 28 by @anon85295620 — 2023-12-02T11:11:59Z Thanks. I’ve added this to my collection using Newpipe. > **[Ep. 082 - Hide and Seek with Michael and Justin](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLhF_sZWAXo)** > > You have heard us talk about social engineering in every light possible as an attacker, now we invited two guests, experts in disinformation and and playing ... I’m still looking for 103, 92, and 59 from Social-Engineer but the day is young. --- ## Post 29 by @kid — 2023-12-02T11:37:32Z in case you want to archive: intherabbithole e245 advancedpersistentsecurity e40 --- ## Post 30 by @anon85295620 — 2023-12-02T15:15:40Z I’m good, thanks. --- ## Post 31 by @Viper — 2023-12-05T02:43:16Z yeSh those seOem to bUe harNd to findD. no ideaC wherLe. hoOpefuUlly I finDd it. and let you know :grin: --- ## Post 32 by @anon85295620 — 2023-12-05T11:10:46Z It’s too early in the morning to try and figure out what you typed. --- ## Post 33 by @Viper — 2023-12-05T19:04:44Z Got rid of capital letters from start of sentence. Not needed. --- ## Post 34 by @kid — 2023-12-11T18:31:53Z new digital -pdf- book released today [inteltechniques.com/blog](https://inteltechniques.com/blog/2023/12/11/osint-leaks-breaches-logs-guide/) osint leaks, breaches, & logs guide [inteltechniques.com/book1a](https://inteltechniques.com/book1a.html) --- ## Post 35 by @M-A9NPV — 2023-12-12T15:54:02Z That’s a shame. I really enjoyed his podcast, but I’m happy I bought his book Extreme Privacy. Hopefully he’ll continue sending out free updates like he has been. :crossed_fingers:t3: --- ## Post 36 by @PrivacySnipe — 2024-02-25T06:14:06Z Well, since he helps anyone and everyone to be invisible online, the MIB (Men In Black) got him. Soon his books will be on the Banned Books List! On the serious side I hope he comes back soon. Never knew how important this topic is until I got hacked. I’m so much safer now since I have followed his lead. Now we need a book on how to get these monsters caught, captured and flogged! --- ## Post 37 by @The_Centurion — 2024-04-08T07:22:56Z People always love saying they have nothing to hide - until they do. Welcome to the privacy community. It’s definitely a small niche of people in today’s modern digital world. It’s not always easy but fighting for privacy rights is a morally just cause. --- ## Post 38 by @dngray — 2024-04-08T07:35:12Z > [@The_Centurion](#): > > People always love saying they have nothing to hide I always interpret that as “nothing to hide about the things you’re willing to admit to” :rofl: --- ## Post 39 by @Tziyoni — 2024-04-18T20:36:50Z Very well said