Mikko Hypponen of Sensofusion

In this kick-off episode for 2026, Jeremy is joined by the legendary Mikko Hypponen, Chief Research Officer at Sensofusion, for a comprehensive retrospective of 2025 and a look ahead at the future of AI-driven threats. Mikko, now a "Mount Rushmore" guest of the show, shares insights from his transition into the anti-drone space while reflecting on a year defined by massive infrastructure disruptions.

The duo discusses the staggering impact of 2025 ransomware incidents, most notably the Jaguar Land Rover breach, which halted production for six weeks and cost an estimated £1.5 billion. Mikko argues that these events prove cybersecurity is no longer just about protecting computers—it’s about securing society itself. They also break down the "random shotgun" nature of modern attacks, where gangs like Clop and Akira target vulnerabilities rather than specific industries or geographies.

Turning to AI, Mikko provides a reality check on the current state of deepfakes and automated orchestration. He reflects on the first massive AI-orchestrated cyber espionage campaign of 2025 and explains why the battle between open-source and closed-source models will define the next phase of defense. Finally, they examine how "data is the new oil" and AI is the "new oil refinery," creating a dual-extortion landscape where the risk of data leakage often outweighs the cost of downtime.

About Mikko

Mikko Hypponen is a world-renowned global security expert, author, and speaker with over 35 years of experience in the industry. In August 2025, Mikko transitioned from his long-standing tenure at WithSecure to become the Chief Research Officer at Sensofusion, a Finnish company specializing in advanced anti-drone technologies.

Mikko has assisted law enforcement in the U.S., Europe, and Asia on major cybercrime cases since the 1990s and is the curator of the Malware Museum at the Internet Archive. He is the author of the best-selling book "If It's Smart, It's Vulnerable" and a frequent contributor to The New York Times, Wired, and Scientific American. In addition to his role at Sensofusion, Mikko serves as an advisor to Firetail.

Episode Links

https://sensofusion.com/

https://mikko.com/

https://www.firetail.ai/ai-breach-tracker

https://www.anthropic.com/news/disrupting-AI-espionage