Be Fearless Podcast by SquareX

Steve Wylie, General Manager of Black Hat, shares his journey and insights into running a leading cybersecurity conference. He elaborates on the challenges and innovations that have shaped Black Hat over the years, especially during the pandemic. Wylie passionately discusses the importance of community-driven programs that empower cybersecurity entrepreneurs and enhance mentorship. He highlights the critical role of networking and engagement at Black Hat, illustrating how the conference fosters a vibrant ecosystem dedicated to tackling real security issues.

Nathan Hamiel, Sr. Director of Research at Kudelski Security, shares his journey from a rural upbringing to a cybersecurity career sparked by a challenge with restricted video games on a military computer. He discusses the evolution of AI and its potential to reshape cybersecurity, reflecting on his experiences at the Black Hat conference and his role in curating its AI track. Nathan also offers insights on the challenges newcomers face in cybersecurity and emphasizes the necessity for a balanced discourse in integrating technology with human safety.

Nikhil Mittal, the Founder and Director of Altered Security, provides insight into affordable enterprise-grade security training. He discusses the launch of free Azure training labs and emphasizes the critical role of Multi-Factor Authentication in enterprise protection. Nikhil also dives deep into the vulnerabilities of browser security, sharing innovative approaches for enterprises to mitigate threats. His journey from a cybersecurity novice to an industry leader offers valuable advice for those seeking a career in this dynamic field.

In this DEF CON 32 special episode of the Be Fearless Podcast, SquareX Founder Vivek has a conversation with Jeff Moss, Founder of DEF CON and Black Hat. Join Jeff and Vivek as they discuss their experiences at DEF CON and how it’s evolved over the years, what’s next for both sides and more!0:00 Introduction and DEF CON’s new venue3:24 Vivek’s experience at DEF CON 32 with SquareX5:21 Making an inclusive DEF CON culture6:50 Jeff’s experience at DEF CON 328:52 Presenting “Breaking Secure Web Gateways (SWG) for Fun and Profit” on the DEF CON 32 main stage13:42 DEF CON training and what’s next for Jeff15:32 Bringing the DEF CON flavor to Singapore International Cyber Week16:20 Wrapping up the conference 🔔 Follow Jeff and Vivek on:https://defcon.social/@thedarktangenthttps://www.linkedin.com/in/vivekramachandran/ 📖 Episode Summary:Jeff Moss, founder of DEF CON and Black Hat, reflects on the rapid changes and challenges faced in organizing DEF CON, He highlights the importance of creating a welcoming environment that encourages spontaneous interactions and fosters a sense of belonging among attendees, regardless of their expertise.SquareX founder Vivek Ramachandran also shares his experiences presenting at DEF CON since his first time at the conference in 2007, noting the significant impact of live feedback and open dialogue on advancing cybersecurity research. He also mentions the positive audience reaction from SquareX’s talk “Breaking Secure Web Gateways (SWG) for Fun and Profit” on the DEF CON 32 main stage, and its impact on vendors and the industry.The conversation underscores DEF CON's evolution, with both parties appreciating how the event has grown while maintaining its core values of inclusivity, collaboration, and continuous learning.🔥 Powered by SquareXDeployed as a lightweight extension, SquareX turns any browser, on any device, into a secure enterprise browser. Find out more about SquareX at https://hubs.la/Q03rPcbf0

In Episode 4 of the Be Fearless Podcast, our teammates from the Founder’s Office Audrey and Aleksandra interviewed Kevin O'leary, who’s acted as CISO for some of the most iconic global brands such as HP, General Electric and most recently JP Morgan. Hear directly about Kevin’s journey from medieval history graduate to CISO, what fractional CISOs can offer enterprises and more!0:00 Kevin’s cybersecurity journey and his thoughts on the CISO role7:48 Kevin's proudest CISO moment and the importance of teamwork16:33 On AI in cybersecurity23:59 The evolution of the CISO role32:55 Dealing with third party risks36:42 Pros and cons of SASE/SSE solutions41:23 “Creative” attacks Kevin has seen45:00 On Fractional CISOs and their role54:15 Rapid fire questions and some fun facts about Kevin 🔔 Follow Kevin, Audrey and Aleksandra on:https://www.linkedin.com/in/kboleary/https://www.linkedin.com/in/aleksandra-melnikova-1012/https://www.linkedin.com/in/audrey-adeline/ 📖 Episode Summary:In this episode of the Be Fearless podcast, Kevin O'Leary, a seasoned CISO with experience at HP, General Electric, and JP Morgan, shares his journey in cybersecurity. Kevin began his career in an era when cybersecurity did not exist as an industry. With a background in medieval history, he initially worked in various IT roles before moving into cybersecurity. Kevin discusses the evolution of the CISO role from a technical position to one that includes risk management and organizational leadership, emphasizing the importance of soft skills and aligning with business outcomes.Kevin also discusses current cybersecurity trends, highlighting the importance of managing third-party risks, especially in the financial sector. He explains how modern tools like SASE and SSEs have improved security but also points out their limitations. He underscores the need for continuous adaptation and vigilance in cybersecurity, discussing the role of AI in both attack and defense. He also shares his perspective on the evolving landscape of cybersecurity roles, including the benefits of fractional CISO positions for smaller organizations and startups.🔥 Powered by SquareXDeployed as a lightweight extension, SquareX turns any browser, on any device, into a secure enterprise browser. Find out more about SquareX at https://hubs.la/Q03rPcbf0

In this special edition of the Be Fearless Podcast, Aleksandra from our Founder’s Office talks to Anand Prakash, Founder of Pingsafe (now acquired by SentinelOne), about his advice to aspiring cybersecurity entrepreneurs and how to stay inspired when times are tough.  0:00 Introduction and advice to budding cybersecurity entrepreneurs2:03 Important soft skills for cybersecurity entrepreneurs5:14 Keeping motivated during the hard times7:00 Looking back and advice to younger self 🔔 Follow Anand and Aleksandra on:https://www.linkedin.com/in/anandprakash6/https://www.linkedin.com/in/aleksandra-melnikova-1012/ SquareX helps organizations detect, mitigate, and threat hunt web attacks happening against their users in real-time. Find out more about SquareX at https://www.sqrx.com/🔥 Powered by SquareXDeployed as a lightweight extension, SquareX turns any browser, on any device, into a secure enterprise browser. Find out more about SquareX at https://hubs.la/Q03rPcbf0

Join us in this episode of the Be Fearless podcast with SquareX Founder and CEO Vivek Ramachandran and Anand Prakash, Founder of Pingsafe (now acquired by SentinelOne). In this conversation, Anand shares his journey from discovering hacking in cyber cafes to becoming a top bug bounty hunter and successful cybersecurity entrepreneur.0:00 Introduction and starting as a bug bounty hunter8:26 The story behind earning $12,500 for a single bug12:39 Starting a career in cybersecurity17:55 From Flipkart employee to starting PingSafe23:48 Meeting Sequoia SEA29:29 The journey to acquisition38:01 On success as an entrepreneur41:01 Thoughts on the cybersecurity startup ecosystem in IndiaSquareX helps organizations detect, mitigate, and threat hunt web attacks happening against their users in real-time. Find out more about SquareX at https://www.sqrx.com/🔔 Follow Anand and Vivek on:https://www.linkedin.com/in/anandprakash6/https://www.linkedin.com/in/vivekramachandran/📖 Episode Summary:In this episode of the Be Fearless podcast, Anand shares his journey into cybersecurity, which began in 2008 when he learned about hacking through social media and cyber cafes. His curiosity set him on the path to bug bounty hunting, where he eventually became a top-ranked white-hat hacker for companies like Uber, Twitter, LinkedIn, Salesforce, and Meta.In 2020, Anand founded Pingsafe to address cloud security problems from a hacker's perspective. His innovative approach attracted investment from Sequoia Capital SEA and eventually led to the acquisition of his company by SentinelOne.🔥 Powered by SquareXDeployed as a lightweight extension, SquareX turns any browser, on any device, into a secure enterprise browser. Find out more about SquareX at https://hubs.la/Q03rPcbf0

In this episode of The Be Fearless Podcast, SquareX Founder and CEO Vivek Ramachandran has a conversation with Abbas Kudrati, Asia’s Chief Cybersecurity Advisor, Microsoft. With a wealth of experience in corporate cybersecurity, and being a writer of multiple bestselling books, Abbas shares his security journey, advice to CISOs, security paradigms and more!0:00 Introduction and Abbas's Cybersecurity Journey4:39 Being a Cybersecurity Author7:45 Zero Trust and Its Future16:00 Identity-based Attacks and Password Spraying18:55 Abbas's Thoughts on Browser Security24:39 Abbas's Thoughts on SquareX29:21 Advice for Aspiring CISOs37:42 Closing Thoughts and Why CISOs Need to Learn the BusinessSquareX helps organizations detect, mitigate, and threat hunt web attacks happening against their users in real-time. Find out more about SquareX at https://www.sqrx.com/🔔 Follow Abbas and Vivek on:https://twitter.com/askudratihttps://twitter.com/vivekramac📖 Episode Summary:In this episode of The Be Fearless Podcast, we talk with Abbas Kudrati, Chief Cybersecurity Advisor at Microsoft Asia. Abbas shares his journey from studying accounting to becoming a key player in cybersecurity. He explains his current role at Microsoft, where he advises CISOs in Asia and represents Microsoft at conferences.Abbas describes his path to cybersecurity, starting with an interest in programming and moving from system administration to security after a hacking incident at his company. He talks about how his technical experience helped him progress in his career and the importance of self-study and continuous learning.The discussion covers key cybersecurity topics like Zero Trust, identity-based attacks, and browser security. Abbas offers practical advice for aspiring CISOs, stressing the importance of understanding business needs and communicating security risks effectively. He also talks about the role of generative AI and the importance of data privacy and compliance in today's cybersecurity landscape.🔥 Powered by SquareXDeployed as a lightweight extension, SquareX turns any browser, on any device, into a secure enterprise browser. Find out more about SquareX at https://hubs.la/Q03rPcbf0

In the inaugural episode of The Be Fearless Podcast, SquareX Founder and CEO Vivek Ramachandran sits down with Jeff Moss, founder of DEF CON and Black Hat, to discuss everything from the origins of both conferences to how the browser is increasingly becoming a platform of its own, networking advice, and more!0:10 Introduction13:59 Growth and Challenges of Organizing Large-Scale Hacking Conferences20:25 The Story Behind Black Hat30:01 On DEF CON Trainings43:55 Would DEF CON ever allow an AI Speaker?59:27 On security products moving to the cloud1:06:50 How web attacks on enterprises can occur1:18:55 Closing Remarks and Jeff's advice for starting your cybersecurity journey🔔 Follow Jeff and Vivek on:https://defcon.social/@thedarktangenthttps://twitter.com/vivekramac📖 Episode Summary:Jeff Moss, founder of DEF CON and Black Hat, started his journey in cybersecurity with a hacking bulletin board system (BBS) during his high school and college years. This platform became a precursor to the creation of DEF CON, initially conceived as a farewell party for a networking group. When the original organizer disappeared, Jeff opened the event to everyone, fostering a community of sharing and learning. This inclusivity set DEF CON apart from other exclusive hacking conferences of the time and laid the foundation for a vibrant, open cybersecurity community.Jeff also discusses the evolution of the term "hacker" and its shift from a positive connotation within the community to a more negative public perception. He underscores the importance of maintaining the original spirit of hacking—curiosity and problem-solving. Reflecting on the role of AI and automation in cybersecurity, Jeff notes that while these technologies can assist with basic tasks, they cannot replace the nuanced understanding and expertise required for high-quality research and presentations.As one of our advisors, Jeff also talks about SquareX. Being a browser-native solution allows SquareX to be closer to the user's interaction point, represents the next frontier in cybersecurity. Jeff believes that such innovative approaches are crucial for the industry's future.Towards the end of the podcast, Jeff also highlights the importance of passion, practical experience, and networking for aspiring cybersecurity professionals. He advises against shortcuts and emphasizes the long-term benefits of integrity and reliability. Reflecting on his 30-year career, Moss attributes his longevity to a dedicated team and the constant influx of creative individuals at DEF CON. 🔥 Powered by SquareXDeployed as a lightweight extension, SquareX turns any browser, on any device, into a secure enterprise browser. Find out more about SquareX at https://hubs.la/Q03rPcbf0