#507: He Quit Cybersecurity After 34 Years — Here’s Why

Sep 1, 2025

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Big thank you to Proton Pass for sponsoring this video. To sign up for Proton Pass, please use the following link https://proton.me/davidbombal to get a 60% discount. Cybersecurity icon Mikko Hyppönen sits down with David Bombal at Black Hat to explain his bold move from antivirus to anti-drone defense after 34 years. He breaks down why mobile operating systems are the biggest security improvement of the past 15 years, how attackers have shifted from device exploits to human scams, and why he believes defenders currently have the edge with AI. They unpack the rise of fiber-tethered drones that evade RF detection, the coming reality of autonomous “killer robots” (not yet here—but inevitable), and the grim state of privacy as everyday IoT devices go online by default—his “internet asbestos” warning. Mikko also reflects on achieving keynote goals at DEF CON, RSA, and Black Hat, and shares career advice: set goals, don’t drift. Topics: mobile OS security, social engineering, AI for defense, zero-day research, drone warfare, privacy and encryption policy, IoT risks, career pivot. // Mikko Hypponen’s SOCIALS // X: https://x.com/mikko Website: https://mikko.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hypponen/... // Books REFERENCE // If it’s smart it’s vulnerable: US: https://amzn.to/41lkSaG UK: https://amzn.to/4oTpOgN // David's SOCIAL // Discord: discord.com/invite/usKSyzb Twitter: www.twitter.com/davidbombal Instagram: www.instagram.com/davidbombal LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/davidbombal Facebook: www.facebook.com/davidbombal.co TikTok: tiktok.com/@davidbombal YouTube: / @davidbombal Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/3f6k6gE... SoundCloud: / davidbombal Apple Podcast: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... // MY STUFF // https://www.amazon.com/shop/davidbombal // SPONSORS // Interested in sponsoring my videos? Reach out to my team here: sponsors@davidbombal.com // MENU // 0:00 - Coming up 0:56 - Mikko Hyppönen keynote talks 01:51 - Proton Pass sponsored segment 04:09 - Pivoting from cybersecurity to anti-drone 09:28 - Humanoid robots are near 09:54 - How cybersecurity has improved 12:11 - Defenders have the advantage with AI 15:26 - Pros and Cons of the AI revolution 16:57 - Privacy is dying 21:36 - Advice for your future // Conclusion Please note that links listed may be affiliate links and provide me with a small percentage/kickback should you use them to purchase any of the items listed or recommended. Thank you for supporting me and this channel! Disclaimer: This video is for educational purposes only.