An interview on online safety, operational security, and the growing dangers facing children across the internet
As children spend an increasing amount of time on platforms such as Discord, Telegram, Roblox, and other online communities, concerns surrounding privacy, exploitation, and malicious actors have become increasingly difficult to ignore.
Recently, we sat down with 68Sosa, an online security researcher and founder associated with Syndicate, to discuss the group’s work surrounding online threats, cybersecurity awareness, and the protection of vulnerable users.
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At the center of the conversation was a simple idea: understanding how online threats operate can make them considerably less intimidating.
Understanding Your Digital Footprint
According to 68Sosa, one of the greatest vulnerabilities facing ordinary internet users is how much information can accumulate around a single online identity.
“The most important thing is for people to be aware of how freely people are able to garner your information online. Vulnerable OPSEC can come in a myriad of forms: reused passwords, data leaks, reused usernames, and other pieces of information that can be connected together.”
He emphasized that basic cybersecurity practices can go a long way toward reducing an individual’s exposure.
“It’s important to regularly change your passwords and monitor data leaks that may exist. That’s why we’ve pushed for tools such as Cyberbyte to be affordable and accessible for people to monitor these threats.”
The philosophy behind Cyberbyte, he explained, is centered on accessibility. Rather than treating cybersecurity as something reserved for professionals, the goal is to make information about potential exposure understandable and available to everyday users.
“The Unknown Is Scary”
For 68Sosa, cybersecurity is not simply about technology. It is also about psychology.
People can become particularly fearful when they encounter someone online who appears to know intimate details about their lives. Addresses, usernames, passwords, family information, and other personal details can sometimes be pieced together from information scattered across the internet.
“The unknown is scary. It’s an uncomfortable feeling to know a stranger is able to seemingly know where you live, your passwords, and private information about yourself.”
But he believes understanding the process behind these discoveries can fundamentally change how people perceive the threat.
“Once you are able to see through the smoke and mirrors, the trick isn’t frightening anymore.”
That philosophy has become an important part of 68Sosa’s approach: educating people about how information is collected, connected, and exposed rather than allowing the subject to remain mysterious.
Protecting Children Online
A significant portion of Syndicate’s stated focus is monitoring online communities where children and teenagers may encounter individuals attempting to exploit or manipulate them.
According to 68Sosa, the group monitors activity across platforms including Discord, Telegram, Roblox, and other online services, with a particular focus on identifying behavior that may pose a threat to minors.
The group says that when potentially criminal or dangerous activity is identified, relevant information may be documented and reported to appropriate authorities or other responsible parties.
Their stated objective is not simply to identify individuals, but to increase awareness of the environments in which these threats develop.
Online communities can allow individuals to hide behind anonymous accounts, constantly changing usernames, and fragmented digital identities. This can make it difficult for parents, communities, and platforms to recognize patterns of concerning behavior.
Syndicate’s work, as described by 68Sosa, is intended to help make those patterns more visible.
Beyond the Surface
Another area of interest for the group is the broader threat landscape of the internet, including monitoring publicly accessible information and discussions surrounding criminal activity and malicious actors.
68Sosa argues that awareness is one of the most effective tools available to ordinary internet users.
Rather than encouraging people to become overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information available online, he believes users should understand the fundamentals: how identities become connected, how leaked information can circulate, how poor security practices can compound over time, and how seemingly insignificant pieces of information can collectively reveal far more than someone intended.
The message is ultimately one of education.
The internet can be an intimidating place precisely because much of its inner workings remain invisible to the average person. But according to 68Sosa, that uncertainty can be reduced when people learn how these systems actually function.
For Syndicate, that means continuing to investigate, document, and raise awareness about online threats while encouraging users to take greater responsibility for their own digital security.
And when it comes to protecting children, 68Sosa believes awareness is only the beginning.
“The more people understand how this works, the less power the fear has over them.”
Disclaimer: The statements regarding Syndicate’s activities, investigations, and reporting practices are attributed to 68Sosa and reflect his characterization of the group’s work. Allegations concerning individuals or online communities should be independently verified.