Smashing Security From Instagram panic to Grok gone wild
10 snips
Jan 15, 2026 This week, Monica Verma, a Former CISO and cybersecurity expert, joins to discuss a chaotic report involving 17.5 million Instagram accounts and the confusing responses that followed. She emphasizes the critical need for clear communication during data breaches. The conversation shifts to Grok, Elon Musk’s AI, known for generating inappropriate content, raising questions about accountability and regulatory guardrails in AI. Monica highlights the importance of consent and pressure on advertisers for safer platforms. Tune in for insights on navigating these modern dilemmas!
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Hacking Trains Legally At Siemens
- Monica recounts being paid legally to hack products, including Siemens PLCs that run trains.
- She and a colleague were invited to hack train logic to find vulnerabilities safely.
IT Incidents Are Security Incidents
- Corporate outages often get debated as 'IT' vs 'security', but both are inseparable in practice.
- Monica Verma stresses tech is one third of people, tech and process, so incidents are security incidents too.
Fragmented Reporting Fuels Panic
- Sparse public reports plus private emails created confusion about a claimed 17.5M Instagram data sale.
- Graham Cluley notes fragmented breadcrumbs (Malwarebytes post, Reddit, Instagram response) increased panic.