Firewalls Don't Stop Dragons Podcast Project Franklin Wants You
Oct 13, 2025
Jake Braun, co-founder of DEF CON Franklin and former acting principal deputy national cyber director, discusses the vulnerabilities in our critical infrastructure, particularly water utilities. He explains how the pandemic increased cyber threats, necessitating volunteer efforts to bolster security. Braun emphasizes the need for civic engagement and shares insights from pilot programs aimed at helping utilities enhance their defenses. He also highlights the challenges small utilities face and encourages listeners to get involved and support these crucial initiatives.
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Volunteer Cyber Fire Brigade
- DEF CON Franklin leverages the DEF CON community to pair technical findings with civic action to secure critical systems.
- The project models Benjamin Franklin's volunteer fire brigade by organizing hackers as a national 'cyber' volunteer force.
Why Water Is The Early Focus
- Water was chosen because it's highly impactful, under-secured, and slower to modernize than power.
- Tens of thousands of small utilities remain vulnerable and attractive targets for nation-state and criminal actors.
Adversaries Target Small Towns Too
- Small utilities often underestimate why foreign adversaries would target them, but attackers research even tiny towns.
- Adversaries exploit local staff and social ties, making any small utility a valuable target.
