Mike Snader is the Associate Director of Cyber Investigations at Kivu Consulting. Kivu helps companies prevent and manage cyber ransoms and theft. In this role, Mike negotiates with cyber-terrorists after they have locked a company’s data in order to avoid the worst outcomes.

Mike joined Kivu’s team in January of 2020 after 25 years at the Scottsdale Police Department. He spent most of his police career in investigations, including nearly a decade on the United States Secret Service Electronic Crimes Task Force. Mike is also a Resident Security Agent for Major League Baseball.

You’ve walked into the office and none of the computers work. You call the IT team and they find an unnerving message on the screen: “We’ve stolen your data and you must pay for it to be unlocked.” You only have one question while the sudden dread settles in: What do I do now?

Thankfully, Kivu Consulting’s got your back. Their team of highly-trained investigators are ready to negotiate with cyber terrorists in any situation. It’s similar to sending the SWAT team to negotiate for hostages at a bank robbery — but with specialized training for invisible, online attackers.

In this episode of She Said Privacy/He Said Security, Jodi and Justin Daniels sit down with Mike Snader, the Associate Director of Cyber Investigations at Kivu Consulting, to discuss ransomware negotiations. Mike explains the negotiation process, how Kivu assists clients, and his tips for avoiding future scams. Stay tuned.