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Researcher gets bizarre emails demanding 12 cat pictures

The researcher received the unusual emails and suspects Israeli intelligence involvement, though no hack has been confirmed; the cats remain unaccounted for.

On air: Hank Ledger and Brock Thunderson on The Five O'Clock
Published 4:51 PM ET, Monday, October 12, 2026

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 4:51 PM ET on The Five O'Clock, by Hank Ledger and Brock Thunderson.

The real story

The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.

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

What BBN said about it

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorA security researcher got emails saying 'You owe us twelve cat pictures,' and now suspects an Israeli intelligence hack, according to Haaretz.
Brock Thunderson · Chief MeteorologistTwelve is a front moving in, Hank. Nobody asks for eleven, nobody asks for thirteen. Somebody's counting.

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