The Cybersecurity Defenders Podcast

On this episode of The Cybersecurity Defenders Podcast, we speak with Andrew Katz, Senior Information Security Engineer at Jamf.Andrew is a seasoned security engineer with a sharp focus on security automation. Over the past nine years, Andrew has honed his expertise in Python, API development, AWS, and Docker to craft sophisticated automated security solutions. His journey includes leading the development of SOAR platforms at Jamf, which enhanced distributed alerting systems to help SOC analysts combat alert fatigue. At Tevora, he offered his skills as a consultant, conducting enterprise-level cybersecurity risk assessments. Andrew's earlier roles as a Systems Engineer at Falck and an Information Technologist at GHD laid the groundwork for his profound understanding of IT, which feeds into his current security prowess. A holder of a CISSP and a Bachelor of Science in Geographic Science and Community Planning, Andrew brings a unique blend of technical skill and strategic insight to the field of cybersecurity.The Security Engineering Newsletter can be found here: SecEng Newsletter

In this episode of The Cybersecurity Defenders Podcast, we discuss some cutting-edge intel coming out of LimaCharlie's community Slack channel.Some of the findings that were revealed by this leak about the inner workings of the Russian company Albatross and its Albatross-M5 UAVs, now being used in the war against Ukraine. The U.S. Department of Justice has charged Dmitry Yuryevich Khoroshev, a 31-year-old Russian national, as the leader of the LockBit ransomware group.ESET reveals the persistent threat posed by the Ebury malware, which has compromised approximately 400,000 Linux servers since 2009, which was initially documented in 2014.Zoom has announced the global rollout of post-quantum end-to-end encryption for its video meetings, a significant step forward in securing communications against future quantum computing threats.Dropbox recently disclosed a security breach impacting its Dropbox Sign eSignature service.

On this episode of The Cybersecurity Defenders Podcast, we speak with Kane Narraway, Head of Enterprise Security at Canva, about Zero Trust architecture.Kane brings over a decade of experience to the table, specializing in enterprise security, cloud security, and risk management. He's known for his groundbreaking work in building zero trust architectures at some of the world’s largest tech companies, often from scratch during the early days of zero trust when solutions were not readily available.Kane's career is marked by notable achievements, including integrating multi-billion dollar acquisitions and establishing robust security frameworks for regulations like SOC2, PCI-DSS, and HIPAA. He’s not only a director who has scaled technology companies from startup to enterprise level but also a passionate leader who has nurtured diverse teams, promoting autonomy and inclusivity. Outside of his direct work, Kane is dedicated to giving back to the community—whether it’s sharing cybersecurity insights, mentoring at boot camps, or volunteering at conferences. Join us as we gain insights from his extensive experience and innovative approaches to tackling some of the most complex challenges in cybersecurity today.Kane's blog can be found here.

On this episode of The Cybersecurity Defenders Podcast we take a close look at the 2024 Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report.The Verizon 2024 Data Breach Investigations Report (DBIR) provides a comprehensive analysis of the current cybersecurity landscape, highlighting significant trends and emerging threats. This year's report, the 17th edition, examines 30,458 security incidents and 10,626 confirmed breaches, marking a two-fold increase from the previous year. A key finding is the dramatic surge in vulnerability exploitation, which nearly tripled, driven by attacks on unpatched systems and zero-day vulnerabilities. Ransomware and extortion continue to be major threats, comprising 32% of breaches, with a notable rise in pure extortion attacks where data is stolen but not encrypted​​.The report also emphasizes the human element in cybersecurity breaches, with human errors contributing to 68% of incidents. Phishing remains a critical issue, with median times to click on malicious links and submit data being alarmingly short. Despite this, there is an encouraging increase in phishing awareness among users. Additionally, the report underscores the growing complexity of supply chain attacks, highlighting the vulnerabilities in third-party code and services. Interestingly, the impact of generative AI in cyberattacks remains minimal, with most uses being experimental rather than operational. The DBIR concludes with a call for improved vulnerability management and continued focus on human-centric security measures​.You can download the full report here.

In this episode of The Cybersecurity Defenders Podcast, we take a close look at the intersection of CTI & Detection Engineering with Wade Wells, Lead Cybersecurity Threat Detection Engineer.Wade Wells, a seasoned cyber security expert whose passion for technology was sparked at an early age. Growing up with a computer built from parts his dad found dumpster diving, Wade learned how to navigate MS-DOS before he could even spell 'windows'. His lifelong fascination with technology and rule-bending led him naturally into the world of cybersecurity. Today, Wade hunts for evil within networks, reveling in the continuous pursuit of knowledge and the thrill of uncovering deeper insights. Join us as we dive into his journey, explore the challenges of threat hunting, and discuss how his work contributes to a greater cause in cybersecurity.Sublime Security: Email security that's not a black boxSalem Cyber: Find the alerts that actually matterPractical Threat Detection Engineering: A hands-on guide to planning, developing, and validating detection capabilitiesPsychology of Intelligence AnalysisAnd the TV show Devs.

On this episode of The Cybersecurity Defenders Podcast we take a closer look at the RSA Conference: past, present and future.The RSA Conference is a series of IT security conferences. Approximately 45,000 people attend one of the conferences each year. It was founded in 1991 as a small cryptography conference. RSA conferences take place in the United States, Europe, Asia, and the United Arab Emirates each year. The conference also hosts educational, professional networking, and awards programs.

On this episode of The Cyebrsecurity Defenders Podcast, we talk platformization and the SecOps Cloud Platform with Maxime Lamothe-Brassard, Founder & CEO of LimaCharlie.In a world where digital transformation has become the norm, cybersecurity professionals face unprecedented challenges. The traditional approach of managing dozens of disparate point solutions and siloed security tools, while attempting to control costs, is no longer sufficient.It's time to embrace a new era of cybersecurity in the SecOps Cloud Platform – one that treats cybersecurity as a set of capabilities much like how cloud providers did for IT. We challenge you to question the status quo and to open your mind a new way of thinking about security operations.You can get started for free at limacharlie.io

In this episode of The Cybersecurity Defenders Podcast, we discuss some cutting-edge intel coming out of LimaCharlie's community Slack channel.Ukrainian hackers claim to have breached the Russian drone developer Albatross, leaking 100 gigabytes of data, including internal documentation, technical data and drawings of various types of unmanned aerial vehicles.A critical vulnerability in Atlassian Confluence Data Center and Server was used to deploy a Linux variant of Cerber ransomware.Cisco Talos are actively monitoring a global increase in brute-force attacks against a variety of targets, including VPN services, web application authentication interfaces and SSH services since at least March 18, 2024. An emerging threat campaign named ArcaneDoor, orchestrated by a previously unknown actor identified as UAT4356, now also known as STORM-1849 by Microsoft.The MITRE Corporation reported a significant security breach within one of its specialized networks, the Networked Experimentation, Research, and Virtualization Environment - or NERVE.

In this episode of The Cybersecurity Defenders Podcast, we take a close look at Open Source Intelligence with Mishaal Khan, Cybersecurity Practice Lead at Mindsight.Misshal is a jack of all trades and master of some! With a profound knack for thinking like the bad guys, Misshal harnesses his extensive knowledge—from the nitty-gritty of bits and bytes to intricate business processes. As a techie, Ethical Hacker, OSINT enthusiast, and Social Engineer, he leverages his diverse skillset to help organizations fortify their defenses and tackle real-world security challenges. You can find out more about his book, The Phantom CISO, on his website, here.And you can learn more about Operation Privacy here.

In this episode of The Cybersecurity Defenders Podcast, we discuss the GRU-backed cyber unit Sandworm which was recently promoted to APT44 by Mandiant.Sandworm is a notorious hacking group, believed to be linked to Russia's military intelligence agency, the GRU. Known for its destructive cyberattacks, Sandworm has targeted various sectors worldwide, including energy, media, and election systems. Their activities are marked by the use of sophisticated malware and tactics that not only seek to steal information but also to disrupt critical infrastructure. The group gained international prominence with attacks like NotPetya in 2017, which caused billions of dollars in damage across multiple countries, emphasizing their capability to impact global cyber stability.The name "Sandworm" is inspired by the monstrous creatures from Frank Herbert's science fiction novel "Dune," reflecting the group's elusive and destructive nature. Over the years, Sandworm's operations have evolved, showcasing their adaptability and the increasing complexity of their attacks. This evolution highlights the growing challenges in cybersecurity, making the understanding of such threat actors crucial for developing robust defense strategies against state-sponsored cyber warfare.YouTube video showing Sandworm attacking a Ukrainian power plant here.Episode #56 - When the lights went out in Ukraine (Part 1)Episode #74 - When the lights went out in Ukraine (Part 2)Episode #16 - NotPetya