Packet Protector
Join us at the intersection of networking and security! Whether you’re fending off ransomware attacks, securing remote workers, hunting for rogue IoT devices, or gearing up for your latest compliance audit, Packet Protector provides practical information that IT and infrastructure pros can put to work. Every episode covers the latest security headlines and then drills into essential topics to provide technical and strategic insights on wired and wireless network security, access control, cloud security, pen testing and red/blue teaming, security hardware and software, and more. Whether security is your full-time job or one of your many responsibilities, Packet Protector is your go-to cybersecurity resource.
Latest episodes
May 20, 2025 • 53min
PP063: Wi-Fi Security and AI in the WLAN at Mobility Field Day
Wireless security takes center stage in this episode of Packet Protector. Jennifer Minella and guests discuss “secure by default” efforts by WLAN vendors; the current state of PSK, SAE, and WPA3; NAC and zero trust; more WLAN vendors adding AI to their products (or at least their messaging); and more. Jennifer is joined by Jonathan... Read more »
May 13, 2025 • 34min
PP062: Hunting for Host Security and Performance Issues with Stratoshark
Stratoshark is a new tool from the Wireshark Foundation that analyzes system calls on a host. Network, security, and application teams can use Stratoshark to diagnose performance issues and investigate behavior that may indicate malware or other compromises of the host. On today’s Packet Protector we talk with Gerald Combs of the Wireshark Foundation about... Read more »
May 6, 2025 • 36min
PP061: Comparing Breach Reports, RSAC 2025 Highlights, and a Security Awareness Soapbox
New breach reports show threat actor dwell times are dropping significantly. It’s a positive development, but there is a caveat. We discuss this caveat and other findings from the 2025 editions of the Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report and the Google M-Trends Report. We also get highlights from the 2025 RSA Conference, and JJ gets... Read more »
Apr 29, 2025 • 45min
PP060: Subsea Cables and the Watery Risks to Critical Infrastructure
Submarine cables are a hidden wonder. These fiber optic bundles carry data and voice traffic around the world and serve as critical global links for communication and commerce. Today on Packet Protector, guest Andy Champagne dives into the history of submarine cables, the technological and operational advancements that allow voice and data to travel hundreds... Read more »
Apr 22, 2025 • 34min
PP059: News Roundup – Oracle Plays Breach Word Games, Fast Flux Worries CISA, AI Package Hallucinations, and More
Once a month, the Packet Protector podcast likes to see what’s going on out there via our news roundup. There’s a lot happening! Today we discuss Fortinet warning that a threat actor has found a way to maintain read-only access on Fortinet devices even if you’ve applied the patch for the original threat. Avanti VPNs... Read more »
Apr 15, 2025 • 45min
PP058: Network Discovery with NMAP: You’ve Got Swaptions
We’re diving into NMAP on today’s show with guest Chris Greer. Chris, an expert in network analysis and forensics, explains what NMAP is, the difference types of scans, how device fingerprinting works, and more. We also coin the term “swaptions” as we have some fun with NMAP terminology. He also gives details on how to... Read more »
Apr 8, 2025 • 54min
PP057: Behind the Scenes At Cisco: PSIRT, AI, CVEs, and VEX
Cisco Systems has a sprawling portfolio of home-grown and acquired products. What’s it like trying to find and address bugs and vulnerabilities across this portfolio? Omar Santos, a Distinguished Engineer at Cisco, gives us an inside look. We dig into how Cisco identifies security bugs using internal and external sources, the growing role of AI... Read more »
Apr 1, 2025 • 39min
PP056: Ask A CISO with Joe Evangelisto
On today’s show, we chat with Joe Evangelisto, CISO at NetSPI. He recounts his journey to becoming a Chief Information Security Officer, one that started as an IT sysadmin, advanced to management, and led him ultimately to the CISO role. Joe talks about building security programs from the ground up and developing both personally and... Read more »
Mar 25, 2025 • 38min
PP055: News Roundup – BotNet Targets TP-Link, Threat Hunting In the Electric Grid, Apple Vs. UK Snoops, and More
This week we dive into security headlines including a botnet bonanza that includes TP-Link routers, Chinese attackers targeting Juniper and Fortinet, and a case study of nation-state actors penetrating the operator of a small US electric utility. We also discuss ransomware attacks targeting critical infrastructure, a backdoor in an Android variant used in streaming devices,... Read more »
Mar 18, 2025 • 49min
PP054: Understanding WireGuard and Overlay VPNs with Tom Lawrence
WireGuard and other overlay VPNs are the focus of today’s podcast with guest Tom Lawrence from Lawrence Systems. We dig into differences between WireGuard and traditional IPSec VPNs, how WireGuard’s opinionated approach to crypto suites helps improve its performance, and how WireGuard compares to OpenVPN. We also look at the broader category of overlay VPNs... Read more »
