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CyberWire Daily

Orange you glad you didn't fall for this?

Feb 25, 2025
Lauren Buitta, Founder and CEO of Girl Security, sheds light on empowering girls in the national security sector. She discusses innovative mentoring strategies, including reverse mentorship, that foster intergenerational knowledge transfer. The conversation dives into the challenges faced by organizations in recruiting female talent and the significance of skills-based learning. With cyber threats on the rise, Buitta emphasizes the urgent need for a diverse workforce to tackle these challenges and promote effective cybersecurity solutions.
33:18

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • The surge in cyberattacks targeting industrial control systems and operational technology underscores an alarming escalation in threats to critical infrastructure amidst geopolitical tensions.
  • The innovative mentorship approach promoted by Girl Security highlights the importance of intergenerational knowledge transfer to enhance collaboration and efficiency in the cybersecurity sector.

Deep dives

The Rise of Cyber Threats

Cyber attacks targeting industrial control systems and operational technology have surged by 87% in 2024, highlighting a significant escalation in threats against critical infrastructure. Geopolitical tensions, such as those stemming from conflicts like Russia-Ukraine and China-Taiwan, have contributed to an increase in ransomware incidents, with attacks on industrial sectors rising by 60%. State-sponsored groups, notably China's Volt Typhoon, are infiltrating these critical systems, posing risks of future disruptions. Alarmingly, non-state cybercriminals have begun collaborating with state actors, enhancing their capabilities and potentially expanding their target scope.

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