Adventures of Alice & Bob

Step into the fascinating mind of Keren Elazari—the first Israeli woman to give a TED Talk and a trailblazing force in cybersecurity. Once rejected by her school’s D&D group, she defied expectations to become a globally recognized security analyst, reshaping the narrative around hackers.In this episode, we dive into Keren’s remarkable journey—from a curious young girl armed with an encyclopedia and inspired by the movie Hackers to a leading voice in digital security. She shares personal stories from her early hacking days, her groundbreaking work in building inclusive tech communities, and her bold vision for the future of cybersecurity.And as a special treat, get exclusive insights into a never-before-seen fan remake of Hackers featuring legendary industry figures.Here is a link to the Hackers remake - https://vimeo.com/178240969

In this episode, James sits down with Tommy DeVoss (aka Doggy G), who went from a teenage hacker dodging federal prison to becoming one of the most successful ethical hackers in the world. Tommy spills raw, unfiltered stories about his wild days in IRC channels, running with the infamous World of Hell hacking group, and somehow managing to turn his life around to rake in over $4 million in bug bounties. You'll hear how a 10-year computer ban gave him enough pent-up tech energy to power a small country and how his boredom waiting for a friend led to a $180,000 Yahoo bug discovery. Yeah, some people text while waiting—Tommy casually breaks the internet.

Join James as he sits down with Mishaal Khan, a seasoned cybersecurity expert with over 20 years of experience in outsmarting attackers. From his early days hacking PC games to his current mission of safeguarding high-profile individuals, Mishaal offers fascinating insights into the world of open-source intelligence (OSINT) and social engineering. Discover how he’s intentionally erased his digital footprint, including keeping his own photos offline, hear the intriguing story of how he exposed cheaters using fake e-greeting cards, and learn why you should proactively "stalk yourself" to secure your personal data before someone else does.

Today, James Maude sits down with Dustin Haywood, better known as Evil Mog, Executive Managing Hacker at IBM's X-Force. Together, they talk about Evil Mog's fascinating journey from telemarketing to becoming a globally recognized expert in password security. He shares stories, including how he managed a high-stakes data center crisis, creatively navigated IBM's corporate culture through social engineering, and transformed the landscape of password cracking. The conversation also delves into the cutting-edge world of authentication security, the ever-evolving nature of cyber threats, and why a password manager could be your ultimate ally.

Join hosts James Maude and Marc Maiffret as they dive into a captivating conversation with industry legend Morey Haber. With over two decades of experience—going back before CVEs were even a thing—Morey delivers a bold look at the security threats of 2025 and beyond. Is AI on the verge of bursting its hype bubble? Are hidden paths to privilege the next battleground? The group discusses how today’s identity-based attacks are reshaping cybersecurity and how Morey deep-faked himself to expose the alarming reality of AI impersonation. From the roots of early vulnerability research to the cutting edge of emerging attack vectors, this is a must-listen episode to understand how old threats are wearing new masks—and what defenders must do to keep up (and a great episode to wrap-up 2024)!

Join host James Maude as he talks all things cryptography with Sophie Schmieg, a Staff Information Security Engineer at Google. In this episode, Sophie shares her journey from pure mathematics to applied cryptography, revealing how her background in algebraic geometry provides a distinctive approach to modern security challenges. From discovering major vulnerabilities in AWS to creating solutions that will last until the year 909,000, Sophie breaks down complex cryptographic concepts with clarity and humor. She offers invaluable insights into post-quantum cryptography, the real-world implications of quantum computing, and why you probably don't need that quantum random number generator.

Today, Marc and James welcome Brooke Denney, a rising star in cybersecurity who brings a dynamic, cloud-first perspective to the ever-evolving industry. Brooke shares her inspiring journey from aspiring veterinarian to accomplished security engineer, offering insights into the fascinating world of AI-powered phishing, modern security challenges, and safeguarding critical infrastructure. As a senior information security engineer and a dedicated member of the Ohio Cyber Reserve, Brooke provides a unique and expert view on the evolution of attack chains, the importance of supply chain security, and the transformative future of cybersecurity education.

In this episode, Marc and James plunge into the world of identity security with DJ Morimanno. From his early days pf dumpster diving for computer parts to becoming a powerhouse Director of Identity and Access Management Technologies, DJ’s cybersecurity journey is what legends are made of. They dig deep into the evolution of identity security, the pivotal role of human behavior in staying cyber-safe, and how quantum computing could revolutionize the future of identity protection.

In today's episode, host James welcomes Anna Aslanishvili, the visionary founder and CEO of Pine Risk Management. Anna takes us behind the scenes of high-stakes security assessments, from testing executive protection during a CEO's morning jog to uncovering faulty panic buttons—and even dealing with the threat of mailed anthrax. With captivating stories and expert insights, Anna reveals how pushing the limits in real-world scenarios leads to safer environments for everyone.

Today, Marc and James have the pleasure of sitting down with Omar Aviles, a seasoned expert in DFIR, threat hunting, and malware analysis. Omar takes us on a journey through his early days of dismantling computers out of sheer curiosity to the high-stakes world of battling ransomware in real-time. He delves into the growing dangers of corporate espionage, nation-state attacks, and the ever-evolving landscape of cybersecurity. Throughout the conversation, Omar’s passion for protecting the digital world shines brightly, as he shares his favorite hacking techniques, insights on hunting and neutralizing threats, and invaluable advice for those looking to break into the cybersecurity field.