CyberWire Daily Marina Ciavatta: Going after the human error. [Social engineer] [Career Notes]
Aug 31, 2025
Marina Ciavatta, CEO of Hekate and a social engineering expert, shares her unique journey from journalism to cybersecurity. She humorously dispels the Hollywood stereotype of hackers, emphasizing the strategic tactics involved in physical pentesting. Marina discusses the importance of understanding human behavior in security and encourages aspiring pentesters to connect with fellow social engineers. Her passion for technology shines through as she reveals insights into navigating vulnerabilities and the ethical responsibilities that come with her thrilling profession.
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Writer Turned Into Security Communicator
- Marina started in journalism and never used the diploma she completed.
- Her early love of writing and storytelling set the stage for moving into tech communications.
Nerdy Roots And Distrust Of Media
- Marina grew up a nerd who loved gadgets, sci-fi, and tearing things apart to see how they worked.
- Her distrust of media and desire to change things pushed her toward journalism initially.
Entry Into Hacking Via Content Work
- Marina got a content producer job at an IT company and discovered hacking there.
- Writing about security led her to fall in love with the subject and its culture.