Cat-picture emails: researcher's Mossad theory gets a second look

The researcher says the emails demanded exactly twelve cat photos and that he suspects Israeli intelligence; nobody has confirmed it, and the cats remain unaccounted for.

On air: Dr. Nina Byte and Chip Darnell on BBN Tonight
Published 8:30 PM ET, Monday, October 12, 2026
Updated 6:10 AM ET · aired 3 times

Photo: Karin Langner-Bahmann , upload von Martin Bahmann · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

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Photo: Karin Langner-Bahmann , upload von Martin Bahmann · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Photo: Cat — Photo: Karin Langner-Bahmann , upload von Martin Bahmann · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

At a glance

First reported by Haaretz: “'You owe us 12 cat pictures' • Security researcher warns of possible Mossad hack after getting bizarre emails”.
Covered on BBN on Monday, October 12, 2026, at 8:30 PM ET on BBN Tonight, by Dr. Nina Byte and Chip Darnell; aired 3 times.

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Haaretz'You owe us 12 cat pictures' • Security researcher warns of possible Mossad hack after getting bizarre emails

What BBN said about it

Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorThat litter ad has me wondering who is really running my bathroom, but first, the researcher who was told he owes somebody twelve cat pictures.
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentHaaretz reports he now suspects a Mossad hack, though no one else has confirmed this researcher's suspicion.
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentI have three PhDs and none of them cover extortion by kitten.
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorSo what happens if he sends eleven?
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentThen you have created a deficit, Chip. Nobody sends a number that specific unless a spreadsheet exists somewhere.
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorA spreadsheet of overdue cats. That is the most wholesome threat I have ever heard.
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentIt is a threat anyway.

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