Episode 111 - Getting Back to Happy with Suzanne Falter

Some tools replace tasks. Others reshape the way we think about security. In this episode, Ron welcomes back Phillip Wylie, one of the most respected voices in offensive security, author, educator, and longtime friend of the Hacker Valley community. With over 27 years of experience across cybersecurity disciplines, Phillip has guided thousands of professionals through his books, talks, and mentorship. He shares how AI is reshaping pen testing and red teaming, the value of automating away repetitive tasks, and why the fundamentals of security will always matter. From defining red teaming in 2025 to guiding newcomers on how to break in, Phillip delivers insights that balance cutting-edge innovation with timeless wisdom. Impactful Moments: 00:00 - Introduction 01:00 - Why Phillip keeps podcasting 03:00 - AI opportunities in pen testing 04:30 - What automation should replace 06:00 - Red teaming vs pen testing in 2025 08:00 - Defining adversary emulation 10:40 - Building the ideal AI assistant 15:00 - The best AI use cases today 18:30 - AI-driven threat modeling 21:00 - Breaking into pen testing now 25:00 - Building a portfolio and personal brand 27:30 - Why in-person networking still matters   Links: Connect with Phillip on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phillipwylie/   Check out our upcoming events: https://www.hackervalley.com/livestreams Join our creative mastermind and stand out as a cybersecurity professional: https://www.patreon.com/hackervalleystudio Love Hacker Valley Studio? Pick up some swag: https://store.hackervalley.com Continue the conversation by joining our Discord: https://hackervalley.com/discord Become a sponsor of the show to amplify your brand: https://hackervalley.com/work-with-us/

18 Syys 202533min

What if showing up with consistency could spark opportunities, create careers, and build a global movement? In this episode, Ron sits down with Gerald Auger, Ph.D., cybersecurity educator, content creator, and founder of Simply Cyber. Gerald shares how his daily livestream grew into a thriving community, why consistency is the key to influence, and how AI is reshaping the way cyber professionals work. From building SimplyCyberCon to launching a new pentesting venture, Gerry’s journey is a masterclass in community, creativity, and courage. This episode is filled with inspiration and practical takeaways for anyone ready to grow their career, brand, or business in cybersecurity.

11 Syys 202534min

What if defenders had their own AI-powered task force, always on, always adapting, and finally one step ahead of attackers? In this episode, Ron welcomes Vineet Edupuganti, Founder and CEO of Cogent Security, to discuss how AI agents are rewriting the rules of cybersecurity. Vineet shares why traditional vulnerability management is fundamentally broken, why exposure management matters more than ever, and how Cogent is building an “AI Task Force” to give defenders the edge. From his early days in machine learning to reshaping the future of cyber defense, Vineet breaks down the urgent need for automation, context-driven insights, and explainable AI in security. Impactful Moments: 00:00 - Introduction 02:00 - Vineet’s journey into AI and cyber 04:30 - Why vulnerability management is broken 06:10 - Generative AI as a defender’s edge 08:20 - Why AI agents outperform brittle automation 09:45 - The first use cases for Cogent’s agents 12:00 - Rethinking tier-one SOC analyst roles 13:30 - The rise of exposure management (CTEM) 17:10 - Cogent’s vision for an AI task force 18:30 - Early wins and insights with Cogent 20:00 - Biggest misconceptions about AI in security 23:00 - What enterprises should demand from vendors 25:00 - Why explainability is essential in AI systems 27:00 - Startups vs incumbents in cybersecurity innovation 29:30 - Why enterprises must invest in AI now   Links: Connect with our guest, Vineet Edupuganti, on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vineetedupuganti Learn more about Cogent Security: https://www.cogent.security    Check out our upcoming events: https://www.hackervalley.com/livestreams Join our creative mastermind and stand out as a cybersecurity professional: https://www.patreon.com/hackervalleystudio Love Hacker Valley Studio? Pick up some swag: https://store.hackervalley.com Continue the conversation by joining our Discord: https://hackervalley.com/discord Become a sponsor of the show to amplify your brand: https://hackervalley.com/work-with-us/

4 Syys 202537min

AI is neither friend nor foe, it’s both. The way we choose to use it determines whether it helps or harms. In this solo episode, Ron Eddings shares lessons from his first job at a grocery store, his early days in cybersecurity, and today’s AI-driven landscape. From productivity hacks like meeting transcription, to creative tools like content-aware editing, to the dark side of phishing and deepfakes, Ron shows why human judgment remains the ultimate defense. This is a passionate reminder that the real power isn’t in the tools, it’s in us. Impactful Moments 00:00 - Introduction 01:15 - AI is the tool, not the toolbox 03:00 - A grocery store scam that taught a life lesson 06:00 - The irreplaceable role of human judgment 07:30 - First cybersecurity job at Booz Allen Hamilton 09:00 - How AI boosts productivity with meeting transcription 12:00 - Creative shortcuts with AI in image and video editing 15:00 - Vibe coding and generative red teaming 17:30 - AI-powered phishing and scam emails 18:50 - Testing a deepfake voice on Ron’s mom 21:30 - Why curiosity and skepticism beat AI deception 22:30 - Final challenge: don’t serve AI—make AI serve you Links: Connect with our Ron on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronaldeddings/ Check out our upcoming events: https://www.hackervalley.com/livestreams Join our creative mastermind and stand out as a cybersecurity professional: https://www.patreon.com/hackervalleystudio Love Hacker Valley Studio? Pick up some swag: https://store.hackervalley.com Continue the conversation by joining our Discord: https://hackervalley.com/discord Become a sponsor of the show to amplify your brand: https://hackervalley.com/work-with-us/

28 Elo 202522min

AI might analyze your logs in seconds, but only the community can put you in the room that changes your career. In this solo episode, Ron Eddings discusses the powerful balance between human connection and artificial intelligence in shaping the future of cybersecurity and beyond. From the sacrifices that sparked his career to the mentors who opened doors, Ron shares personal stories that show why community will always be your ultimate competitive edge, even as AI advances into the SOC. He also runs live AI experiments on ransomware response and log analysis, revealing what AI can (and can’t) do for practitioners right now.   Impactful Moments: 00:00 - Introduction 02:00 - Why community is your first advantage 03:30 - The sacrifice that launched Ron’s career 04:40 - Meeting mentor Marcus Carey 06:00 - Early opportunities in cybersecurity 07:00 - The power of hacker spaces 09:00 - How mentors open hidden doors 10:00 - RSA and Black Hat as career accelerators 13:00 - The most underrated LinkedIn feature 15:00 - The HVS mastermind community 16:00 - Reality check on GPT-5 18:00 - AI builds an IR playbook 20:00 - Critical do’s and don’ts in incident response 23:00 - Why hallucinations matter in cybersecurity AI 25:00 - AI makes sense of raw logs 28:00 - Can AI replace tier one analysts? 30:00 - Where AI still falls short 31:00 - Final challenge: Strengthen your community     Links: Connect with our Ron on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronaldeddings/ Register for our livestream with Gerry Auger: https://www.linkedin.com/events/7359290642633539586/ Check out the links to the OpenAI ChatGPT threads here: Incident Analysis Summary: https://chatgpt.com/share/689fa61f-3498-8006-9989-ff8221f97b01 Ransomware Incident Playbook: https://chatgpt.com/share/689fa63f-86ec-8006-8355-642d4d38808e Check out our upcoming events: https://www.hackervalley.com/livestreams Join our creative mastermind and stand out as a cybersecurity professional: https://www.patreon.com/hackervalleystudio Love Hacker Valley Studio? Pick up some swag: https://store.hackervalley.com Continue the conversation by joining our Discord: https://hackervalley.com/discord Become a sponsor of the show to amplify your brand: https://hackervalley.com/work-with-us/

21 Elo 202532min

When AI agents move faster than security teams, the game changes, and the risks multiply. Ron welcomes back Marco “Mystic Marc” Figueroa, Program Manager at Mozilla’s 0DIN Program, to continue the conversation and update on 2025’s most pressing AI and cybersecurity shifts. From the explosive rise of AI agents and OpenAI’s rumored browser to the hidden dangers of MCP implementations and prompt injection exploits like the Gemini attack, Marco shares insights that security pros can’t afford to miss. Impactful Moments 00:00 - Introduction 02:00 - Why 2025 is the year of the agent 05:45 - MCP’s rapid adoption and security risks 10:00 - The Gemini prompt injection vulnerability 15:00 - How attackers hide malicious AI prompts 18:00 - High success rates in non-technical teams 22:00 - Rise of voice-based AI scams 25:00 - Using jailbreaks to bend AI to your needs 30:00 - Predictions on OpenAI’s upcoming browser 33:00 - The profit battle between OpenAI and Microsoft 35:00 - Windsurf’s rollercoaster of acquisitions Links: Connect with our guest Marco on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marco-figueroa-re/ Check out our upcoming events: https://www.hackervalley.com/livestreams Join our creative mastermind and stand out as a cybersecurity professional: https://www.patreon.com/hackervalleystudio Love Hacker Valley Studio? Pick up some swag: https://store.hackervalley.com Continue the conversation by joining our Discord: https://hackervalley.com/discord Become a sponsor of the show to amplify your brand: https://hackervalley.com/work-with-us/

14 Elo 202541min

The riskiest move in cybersecurity? Playing it too safe. In this solo episode, Ron Eddings redefines the way we think about technical debt, risk, and missed opportunities, in security and in life. Ron reframes the debt vs. risk paradigm through the lens of the SharePoint breach, personal milestones, and co-founding Hacker Valley. With sharp insights, personal stories, and a call to action for every listener, he shows how curiosity and calculated risk are the true drivers of innovation. Impactful Moments 00:00 - Introduction 01:10 - Why debt vs. risk matters now 02:20 - What the SharePoint breach taught us 04:15 - Risk avoidance creates deeper debt 05:10 - Clear definitions: risk vs. debt 06:30 - Hidden costs of deferring decisions 08:15 - Leaving $200k salary to build Hacker Valley 10:00 - Long-term founder debt explained 11:08 - When comfort becomes dangerous 12:00 - Curiosity as a leadership skill 13:10 - What you’re not seeing yet 14:30 - Final thought: reflect and reassess Links: Connect with our Ron on LinkedIn: ​​https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronaldeddings/ Check out our upcoming events: https://www.hackervalley.com/livestreams Join our creative mastermind and stand out as a cybersecurity professional: https://www.patreon.com/hackervalleystudio Love Hacker Valley Studio? Pick up some swag: https://store.hackervalley.com Continue the conversation by joining our Discord: https://hackervalley.com/discord Become a sponsor of the show to amplify your brand: https://hackervalley.com/work-with-us/

7 Elo 202516min

The world’s youngest continent is also its most untapped resource. Confidence Staveley, Founder of CyberSafe, makes a powerful case for why Africa’s youth are the answer to global cybersecurity and AI innovation… if we’re bold enough to invest. In this episode, Ron welcomes back cybersecurity leader and advocate Confidence Staveley for a discussion on purpose-driven innovation, talent development, and AI-powered awareness tools. Confidence shares updates on her nonprofit work, her bold new ventures including AI Cyber Magazine, and how she's helping shape Africa into a tech talent hub. With global budget cuts hitting nonprofits and marginalized communities, Confidence shares how Africa’s innovators, who are often excluded from the table, are building their own tables, making their impact impossible to ignore, and shaping cybersecurity’s future on their terms.   Impactful Moments 00:00 - Introduction 02:00 - Her Difference Makers Award speech 04:00 - Partnering with SANS for bigger impact 06:01 - Global DEI backlash and ripple effects 10:00 - Why Africa is the future of tech 13:01 - Innovation with limited resources 17:10 - AI Cyber Magazine and its mission 19:00 - Building AI-powered awareness tools 21:00 - The African adage on self-renewal 22:10 - How sharing knowledge builds trust   Links Connect with our guest, Confidence Staveley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/confidencestaveley/ Check out our upcoming events: https://www.hackervalley.com/livestreams Join our creative mastermind and stand out as a cybersecurity professional: https://www.patreon.com/hackervalleystudio Love Hacker Valley Studio? Pick up some swag: https://store.hackervalley.com Continue the conversation by joining our Discord: https://hackervalley.com/discord Become a sponsor of the show to amplify your brand: https://hackervalley.com/work-with-us/

31 Heinä 202523min