Safe Mode Podcast

In the first episode of 2025, Greg Otto dives into a conversation with Phil Venables, the Chief Information Security Officer of Google Cloud, who shares insights from his expansive career in cybersecurity. From his beginnings as Goldman Sachs' first CISO to his current role leading risk and security at Google, Phil discusses the evolving challenges CISOs face, including the impact of AI-powered cyber threats and strategies to prevent burnout. Discover Phil's perspectives on fostering a supportive organizational culture and the importance of proactive planning in strengthening cybersecurity resilience. In our reporter chat, Greg talks with Derek Johnson about a hacker scheme that abuses the guardrails in generative AI.

In the latest episode of Safe Mode, Greg Otto talks with Vik Phatak, Chairman and CEO of CyberRatings.org. Cyber Ratings recently released a report assessing the native firewalls provided by major cloud service providers like Microsoft, Google, and AWS. These cloud-native firewalls, included with their instances, were put to the test by Cyber Ratings to evaluate their effectiveness. The findings reveal significant shortcomings in relying solely on these built-in security measures. In our reporter chat, Greg Otto talks with Tim Starks about two interesting stories that chronicle the latest in the shady world of spyware. LINK: https://cyberscoop.com/russian-surveillance-spyware-threat-citizen-lab/ https://cyberscoop.com/amnesty-international-exposes-serbian-polices-use-of-spyware-on-journalists-activists/

In the latest episode of Safe Mode, Greg Otto talks with Emily Crose about her new book “Hack to The Future: How World Governments Relentlessly Pursue and Domesticate Hackers.” Emily explains how the US government managed to weaponize a subculture widely seen as misanthropic and awkward into a lever of power that now has far-reaching geopolitical implications In our reporter chat, Greg Otto talks with Tim Starks about the continued investigation and fallout of the Salt Typhoon hacks. Also in this episode: ThreatLocker CEO and Co-Founder Danny Jenkins joins SNG host Wyatt Kash in a sponsored podcast discussion on how implementing a layered approach to network security better protects government data. This segment was sponsored by ThreatLocker. LINK: https://cyberscoop.com/senators-witnesses-3b-for-rip-and-replace-a-good-start-to-preventing-salt-typhoon-style-breaches/

In the latest episode of Safe Mode, Greg Otto talks with Andrew Morris, founder and chief architect of GreyNoise. Greg and Andrew talk about some recent work GreyNoise has released including one of the first instances where threat detection has been augmented by AI to discover zero-day vulnerabilities. In our reporter chat, Greg talks with Tim Starks about his interview with the president of Dakota State University, and how she sees the state’s politicians impacting cybersecurity in a Trump administration. LINK: https://cyberscoop.com/south-dakota-cybersecurity-leadership-2025/

In the latest episode of Safe Mode, we talk to Peter Anaman, principal investigator in Microsoft’s Digital Crimes Unit. Peter takes us on a deep dive on how the Digital Crimes Unit (DCU) has morphed since its inception in 2008. We'll explore how investigative approaches have evolved over the years and discuss how cybercriminals are adapting in response to disruptive actions. In our reporter chat, Greg Otto talks with Christian Vasquez about Cape, a new mobile phone company looking to change the privacy game with a hardened phone that doesn’t keep metadata, while also adhering to the strict U.S. criminal and national security laws. LINK: https://cyberscoop.com/cape-phone-privacy-calea-tracking/

In this episode, Greg Otto chats with David Brumley, an offensive cybersecurity professor at Carnegie Mellon and CEO of Mayhem Security, as he is collaborating with the FAA and airplane manufacturers to tackle critical software security challenges in the aerospace industry. David delves into the most pressing cybersecurity threats facing aircraft today, examines the types of software currently in use on airplanes, and highlights areas of concern within the broader aerospace sector. He also discusses potential strategies the FAA could employ to strengthen cybersecurity in aviation. Also in this episode: ThreatLocker co-founder and CEO Danny Jenkins joins SNG host Wyatt Kash in a sponsored podcast discussion on why zero trust and least privilege access are foundational to how critical infrastructure enterprises should secure their operations today. This segment was sponsored by ThreatLocker. Greg also chats with Tim Starks about the latest cybersecurity news related to the incoming Trump administration. LINK: https://cyberscoop.com/dhs-nominee-kristi-noem-cyber-grants-trump-admin/

In this conversation, Casey Bleeker, CEO of SurePath AI, a leader in generative AI security, delves into the evolving landscape of AI regulation in the U.S. He discusses the potential for varying regulations across states, akin to current data privacy laws. The challenges of creating a cohesive national strategy are highlighted, along with the need for robust governance frameworks for generative AI. Further, Casey emphasizes the importance of transparency and consumer protection, addressing how companies can balance innovation with compliance.

In case you didn't have the chance to attend CyberTalks, we have the keynote address from the event: National Cyber Director Harry Coker highlighted the White House's focus on strategy and policy to address internet routing vulnerabilities, particularly with the Border Gateway Protocol (BGP). Coker emphasized the importance of Resource Public Key Infrastructure (RPKI) for authenticating BGP routing information, acknowledging its slow adoption and implementation challenges, but reported progress with expectations for significant federal coverage by year's end. In our reporter chat, Greg Otto talks with Tim Starks about his story examining the legal barriers anti-spyware advocates are dealing with in a number of high-profile court cases aimed at bringing victims justice. LINK: https://cyberscoop.com/spyware-court-cases-nso-group-meta-whatsapp-apple/

Sean McNee, Head of Threat Research at DomainTools, shares his expertise on how China is monitoring the Russia-Ukraine conflict to strategize its potential moves regarding Taiwan. He delves into the increasing cyber threats from China, including espionage operations like those from the Typhoon group. Derek B. Johnson discusses the U.S. government's efforts to regulate data brokers and protect personal data from foreign adversaries, emphasizing the urgency for stronger privacy laws to safeguard individual rights.

This episode of Safe Mode explores the critical issue of software supply chain security with Saša Zdjelar, ReversingLabs' chief trust officer. Discover why the hidden components of commercial off-the-shelf software pose significant risks to enterprises and how current security practices fall short. We'll discuss the explosive growth in breaches due to third-party software, the limited utility of Software Bill of Materials (SBOMs), and the need for more comprehensive security assessments. Saša will share insights on how to effectively "open the black box," enabling companies to identify threats and ensure compliance before deploying applications. In our reporter chat, CyberScoop senior reporter Tim Starks talks with Greg Otto about the indictments brought against Anonymous Sudan. LINK: https://cyberscoop.com/alleged-anonymous-sudan-leaders-charged-prolific-gangs-tool-disabled/