The Social-Engineer Podcast

Welcome to the Social-Engineer Podcast: The 4th Monday Series with Chris Hadnagy and Mike Holfeld. Chris and Mike will be covering cutting edge global news to help people remain safe, secure and knowledgeable in a world where it is hard to know what is real and what is fake news. Today Chris and Mike are joined by Kayla Lussier. Kayla is the co-founder of Money Match, a platform championing financial wellness by connecting real estate investors and small businesses with the capital they need to thrive. Her 15 years in healthcare as a nurse practitioner have instilled in her a deep understanding of holistic well-being – mind, body, and wallet. [April 28, 2025] 00:00 - Intro 00:16 - Mike Holfeld Intro 00:47 - Today's Guest: Kayla Lussier 01:53 - Jumping In Too Quickly 03:22 - Getting Burned 07:35 - Don't Mess with Kayla! 09:07 - Making a Match 13:21 - Play is the Way 15:17 - Mitigating the Risks 18:26 - Digital Nomads Welcome 21:25 - Find Kayla Lussier Online - Website: moneymatchapp.com 22:30 - Silver Tsunami 24:26 - Wrap Up 24:40 - Next Month: Baseball Technology 24:50 - Outro - www.social-engineer.com - www.innocentlivesfoundation.org Find us online: - Chris Hadnagy - Twitter: @humanhacker - LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/christopherhadnagy

28 Apr 25min

Today on the Social-Engineer Podcast: The Security Awareness Series, Chris is joined by Travis Farral. Travis has been working in information security since the 90s at places such as Nokia, ExxonMobil, and XTO Energy. He is currently VP & CISO at Archaea Energy, a bp owned, renewable natural gas company based in Houston, Texas. He has spoken at events around world on topics such as Cyber Threat Intelligence, MITRE ATT&CK, and Incident Response. Notable activities during his career include everything from programming logic controllers, building and leading SOCs, driving forklifts, standing up cybersecurity teams, developing threat intelligence programs, and handling responses to incidents, among many other things over the last few decades. [April 21, 2025] 00:00 - Intro 00:18 - Intro Links: - Social-Engineer.com - http://www.social-engineer.com/ - Managed Voice Phishing - https://www.social-engineer.com/services/vishing-service/ - Managed Email Phishing - https://www.social-engineer.com/services/se-phishing-service/ - Adversarial Simulations - https://www.social-engineer.com/services/social-engineering-penetration-test/ - Social-Engineer channel on SLACK - https://social-engineering-hq.slack.com/ssb - CLUTCH - http://www.pro-rock.com/ - innocentlivesfoundation.org - http://www.innocentlivesfoundation.org/ 02:08 - Travis Farral Intro 02:58 - A Different Path than Today 05:25 - Healthy Hacking 08:08 - Anything Can Be Weaponized 10:54 - Questionable Behavior 14:31 - Smash That Report Button!!! 18:58 - Improving Our Odds 21:00 - You Have to Keep It Simple 22:25 - Letters to a Young CISO 24:20 - Find Travis Farral online - LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/travisfarral 25:01 - Mentors - Shawn Edwards - Jay Leek 27:02 - Book Recommendations - R. E. Lee: A Biography - Douglas Southall Freeman 29:34 - Wrap Up & Outro - www.social-engineer.com - www.innocentlivesfoundation.org

21 Apr 30min

Today we are celebrating our 300th episode! Chris will be joined by some friends as he discusses how the podcast got started - back in 2009, how it has evolved, including the creation of multiple series, and the direction for the future. [April 14, 2025] 00:00 - Intro 00:22 - Intro Links - Social-Engineer.com - http://www.social-engineer.com/ - Managed Voice Phishing - https://www.social-engineer.com/services/vishing-service/ - Managed Email Phishing - https://www.social-engineer.com/services/se-phishing-service/ - Adversarial Simulations - https://www.social-engineer.com/services/social-engineering-penetration-test/ - Social-Engineer channel on SLACK - https://social-engineering-hq.slack.com/ssb - CLUTCH - http://www.pro-rock.com/ - innocentlivesfoundation.org - http://www.innocentlivesfoundation.org/ 02:45 - Social-Engineer Origin Story 03:59 - The Human Element Series 05:34 - The Security Awareness Series 06:03 - The Doctor Is In Series 06:12 - The SE ETC. Series 06:28 - The 4th Monday Series 07:05 - The Future 07:43 - Amanda Drops By 08:35 - Ooof! 09:12 - SE Trivia 13:17 - A Video Celebration! 21:16 - Neil Fallon Drops By 52:50 - Wrap Up 53:56 - Outro - www.social-engineer.com - www.innocentlivesfoundation.org

14 Apr 54min

Welcome to the Social-Engineer Podcast: The Doctor Is In Series – where we will discuss understandings and developments in the field of psychology. In today's episode, Chris and Abbie are discussing Why Do We Cry? They will talk about the psychological and biological influence on our crying, as well as those that cry too much, too little, and how to get support to find the right balance. [April 7, 2025] 00:00 - Intro 00:16 - Dr. Abbie Maroño Intro 00:31 - Intro Links - Social-Engineer.com - http://www.social-engineer.com/ - Managed Voice Phishing - https://www.social-engineer.com/services/vishing-service/ - Managed Email Phishing - https://www.social-engineer.com/services/se-phishing-service/ - Adversarial Simulations - https://www.social-engineer.com/services/social-engineering-penetration-test/ - Social-Engineer channel on SLACK - https://social-engineering-hq.slack.com/ssb - CLUTCH - http://www.pro-rock.com/ - innocentlivesfoundation.org - http://www.innocentlivesfoundation.org/ 02:55 - The Topic of the Day: Why do we cry? 03:23 - An Emotional Release 04:50 - Biologically Speaking 06:15 - Crying Too Much? 10:14 - Chemical Reaction 12:12 - Let It Out! 15:25 - Suppression Depression 18:38 - Symptom, Not Cause 20:32 - The Hormone Effect 21:22 - Best Next Steps 23:53 - Wrap Up 24:23 - Next Month: Emotional Regulation in the Workplace 25:25 - Outro - www.social-engineer.com - www.innocentlivesfoundation.org Find us online: - Twitter: @DrAbbieofficial - LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dr-abbie-maroño-phd - Instagram: @DoctorAbbieofficial - Twitter: @humanhacker - LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/christopherhadnagy References: Bagby, D. G. (1999). Seeing through our tears: Why we cry, how we heal. Augsburg Books. Bylsma, L. M., Gračanin, A., & Vingerhoets, A. J. (2019). The neurobiology of human crying. Clinical Autonomic Research, 29, 63-73. Feeny, N. C., Zoellner, L. A., Fitzgibbons, L. A., & Foa, E. B. (2000). Exploring the roles of emotional numbing, depression, and dissociation in PTSD. Journal of traumatic stress, 13, 489-498. Gračanin, A., Bylsma, L. M., & Vingerhoets, A. J. (2014). Is crying a self-soothing behavior?. Frontiers in psychology, 5, 82046. Holguín-Lew, J. C., & Bell, V. (2013). "When I Want to Cry I Can't": Inability to Cry Following SSRI Treatment. Revista Colombiana de Psiquiatría, 42(4), 304-310. Lilley, M. (2019). Why We Cry: The Science of Tears. Compass Point Books. Millings, A., Hepper, E. G., Hart, C. M., Swift, L., & Rowe, A. C. (2016). Holding back the tears: Individual differences in adult crying proneness reflect attachment orientation and attitudes to crying. Frontiers in psychology, 7, 196642. Ramirez, S. M., Glover, H., Ohlde, C., Mercer, R., Hamlin, C., Goodnick, P., & Perez-Rivera, M. I. (2001). Relationship of numbing to alexithymia, apathy, and depression. Psychological Reports, 88(1), 189-200. Steer, R. (2011). Self-reported inability to cry as a symptom of anhedonic depression in outpatients with a major depressive disorder. Psychological reports, 108(3), 874-882. Trimble, M. (2014). Why humans like to cry: Tragedy, evolution, and the brain. Oxford University Press. Vingerhoets, A. J., & Bylsma, L. M. (2016). The riddle of human emotional crying: A challenge for emotion researchers. Emotion Review, 8(3), 207-217. Vingerhoets, A. J., & Scheirs, J. G. (2012). Crying and health. In Adult crying (pp. 227-246). Routledge. Vingerhoets, A. J., Cornelius, R. R., Van Heck, G. L., & Becht, M. C. (2000). Adult crying: A model and review of the literature. Review of General Psychology, 4(4), 354-377. Walter, C. (2006). Why do we cry?. Scientific American Mind, 17(6), 44-51.

7 Apr 25min

REPLAY (Original Air Date May 27, 2024) *Please note that this episode contains discussions regarding abuse that some may find disturbing. Welcome to the Social-Engineer Podcast: The SE Etc. Series. This series will be hosted by Chris Hadnagy, CEO of Social-Engineer LLC, and The Innocent Lives Foundation, as well as Social-Engineer.Org and The Institute for Social Engineering. Join Chris as he discusses topics and news pertaining to the world of Social Engineering. Today, Chris is joined by Nadja El Fertasi. Nadja is a leading figure in fostering emotional resilience within the digital age. Her comprehensive expertise spans crisis management, strategic stakeholder communication, and emotional intelligence, creating a unified approach to enhance the human side of digital advancements. Having spent nearly two decades at NATO, including a significant role in the NATO Communications and Information Agency focusing on Digital Transformation & Cybersecurity, Nadja has been a pivotal figure in strategic engagement and communications. This role highlighted her commitment to navigating and leading through the complexities of cybersecurity and digital transformation. With over 15 years dedicated to cybersecurity at NATO, Nadja has emerged as a respected expert in her field. Her contribution to the cybersecurity community was acknowledged in "Hacking Gender Barriers: Europe's Top Cyberwomen," by the Women4Cyber foundation, which recognized her as one of Europe's influential figures in cybersecurity. Today, Nadja is the voice behind the EQ Elevator Podcast, where she assists businesses in cultivating leadership that's resilient and equipped for the digital age's challenges. Her work is dedicated to shaping a safer, more emotionally intelligent digital landscape, where individuals and organizations can thrive amidst technological disruptions. [May 27, 2024] 00:00 - Intro 00:19 - 2024 State of Vishing Report 01:01 - Intro Links - Social-Engineer.com - http://www.social-engineer.com/ - Managed Voice Phishing - https://www.social-engineer.com/services/vishing-service/ - Managed Email Phishing - https://www.social-engineer.com/services/se-phishing-service/ - Adversarial Simulations - https://www.social-engineer.com/services/social-engineering-penetration-test/ - Social-Engineer channel on SLACK - https://social-engineering-hq.slack.com/ssb - CLUTCH - http://www.pro-rock.com/ - innocentlivesfoundation.org - http://www.innocentlivesfoundation.org/ 03:11 - Nadja El Fertasi Intro 05:02 - The Importance of Sharing 07:14 - Romance Scam: Nadja's Story 13:51 - The Other Side 15:59 - The Red Flags 19:13 - A Gift and a Curse 23:22 - Taking Responsibility 25:24 - Love, Not Romance 27:05 - Navigating the Apps 32:28 - Reality Check 37:27 - Being Human 39:39 - Learning From "No" 41:28 - Where to Report 42:25 - Wrap Up 43:58 - Find Nadja El Fertasi Online - LinkedIn: in/nadja-elfertasi - Instagram: @nadjafertasi 45:17 - Outro - www.social-engineer.com - www.innocentlivesfoundation.org Find us online - Chris Hadnagy - Twitter: @humanhacker - LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/christopherhadnagy

31 Mar 46min

Today on the Social-Engineer Podcast: The Security Awareness Series, Chris is joined by Roy Luongo. Roy is the Chief Information Security Officer for the United States Secret Service. He leads a team in the defense and information assurance of all USSS information systems and solutions. Prior to his current role he was the Director, Joint Mission Operations Center for Cyber Command, providing oversight of mission critical Cyber Operations infrastructures. He has also served as Chief, NSA Red Team and Technical Director for Interactive Operations for the NSA. Roy is a retired Army soldier with 20 years' service within the Intelligence and Cyber career fields. [March 17, 2025] 00:00 - Intro 00:17 - Intro Links: - Social-Engineer.com - http://www.social-engineer.com/ - Managed Voice Phishing - https://www.social-engineer.com/services/vishing-service/ - Managed Email Phishing - https://www.social-engineer.com/services/se-phishing-service/ - Adversarial Simulations - https://www.social-engineer.com/services/social-engineering-penetration-test/ - Social-Engineer channel on SLACK - https://social-engineering-hq.slack.com/ssb - CLUTCH - http://www.pro-rock.com/ - innocentlivesfoundation.org - http://www.innocentlivesfoundation.org/ 01:55 - Roy Luongo Intro 02:44 - The Path to CISO of the Secret Service 04:58 - Cybersecurity in Early Education 07:50 - The Entry Level Catch-22 12:24 - Quantifying Risk 14:27 - The Best Way Forward 16:51 - The Effects and Future of AI 20:06 - Understanding Your Needs 22:11 - Advise to Young Roy 24:56 - The Cost of Training 29:01 - Mentors - Ed Skoudis - Brigadier General Brian D. Vile - Shawn Turskey 29:55 - Lollipop Moments - TEDxToronto - Drew Dudley "Leading with Lollipops" 31:33 - Book Recommendations - Cybersecurity Canon - Rick Howard - Kingpin - Kevin Poulsen - Turn the Ship Around! - L. David Marquet 33:49 - Wrap Up & Outro - www.social-engineer.com - www.innocentlivesfoundation.org

17 Mar 34min

Today we are joined by Dr. Lydia Kostopoulos. Dr. Kostopoulos is a globally recognized strategist that brings clarity and context as to what is on the horizon. Her unique expertise at the intersection of emerging technology, security and macro-trends has been sought by the United Nations, U.S. Special Operations, the European Commission, NATO, multi-nationals, tech companies, design agencies, academia, such as MIT and Oxford Saïd Business School, and foreign governments. She helps her clients understand new technologies, emerging value chains, and contextualizes the convergences of our time. She founded the boutique consultancy Abundance Studio and has experience working in the US, Europe, Middle East and East Asia. [March 10, 2025] 00:00 - Intro 00:19 - Intro Links - Social-Engineer.com - http://www.social-engineer.com/ - Managed Voice Phishing - https://www.social-engineer.com/services/vishing-service/ - Managed Email Phishing - https://www.social-engineer.com/services/se-phishing-service/ - Adversarial Simulations - https://www.social-engineer.com/services/social-engineering-penetration-test/ - Social-Engineer channel on SLACK - https://social-engineering-hq.slack.com/ssb - CLUTCH - http://www.pro-rock.com/ - innocentlivesfoundation.org - http://www.innocentlivesfoundation.org/ 02:10 - Dr. Lydia Kostopoulos Intro 03:30 - From Counter Terrorism to Conflict Landscapes 05:35 - The Imagination Dilemma 09:13 - Technological Tit for Tat 11:38 - Four Facets of Imagination 12:18 - Facet 1) Identity 13:36 - Facet 2) Convergence 15:38 - Facet 3) Humanity 16:48 - Facet 4) Dreams 18:18 - Turning Crisis Into Strategy 22:39 - Being Human 26:04 - Future-Proofing Organizations 29:51 - Real Value Proposition 31:26 - Webinar Series - Website: imaginationdilemma.com - YouTube: @ImaginationDilemma 32:12 - Find Dr. Lydia Kostopoulos online - Website: abundance.studio - LinkedIn: in/lydiak - Instagram: @HiLydiak 32:46 - Book Recommendations - The 100-Year Life - Andrew Scott & Lynda Gratton - Imagination Dilemma - Dr. Lydia Kostopoulos 37:02 - Mentors - Parents - Women Suffragists 38:15 - Guest Wrap Up & Outro - www.social-engineer.com - www.innocentlivesfoundation.org

10 Mar 39min

Welcome to the Social-Engineer Podcast: The Doctor Is In Series – where we will discuss understandings and developments in the field of psychology. In today's episode, Chris and Abbie are discussing the Bystander Effect. They will talk about the many different ways it presents itself as well as how to avoid it and what you can do if you find yourself victim of it. [March 3, 2025] 00:00 - Intro 00:14 - Dr. Abbie Maroño Intro 00:45 - Intro Links - Social-Engineer.com - http://www.social-engineer.com/ - Managed Voice Phishing - https://www.social-engineer.com/services/vishing-service/ - Managed Email Phishing - https://www.social-engineer.com/services/se-phishing-service/ - Adversarial Simulations - https://www.social-engineer.com/services/social-engineering-penetration-test/ - Social-Engineer channel on SLACK - https://social-engineering-hq.slack.com/ssb - CLUTCH - http://www.pro-rock.com/ - innocentlivesfoundation.org - http://www.innocentlivesfoundation.org/ 03:06 - The Topic of the Day: The Bystander Effect 03:16 - Defining the Bystander Effect 05:14 - The Smoke Filled Room 09:03 - The Advantage of CCTV 11:13 - The Ambiguity Factor 12:53 - Gender Dynamics 15:20 - Self-Construal 16:43 - Reverse the Roles 21:21 - Bystanding Online 22:59 - It's Easier to be Negative 25:34 - Fear Factor 27:53 - Assigning Responsibility 30:34 - Education is Key 31:19 - Just Ask! 32:40 - Wrap Up 32:49 - Next Month: Why Do We Cry? 33:12 - Outro - www.social-engineer.com - www.innocentlivesfoundation.org Find us online: - Twitter: @DrAbbieofficial - LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dr-abbie-maroño-phd - Instagram: @DoctorAbbieofficial - Twitter: @humanhacker - LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/christopherhadnagy References: Bauman, S., Yoon, J., Iurino, C., & Hackett, L. (2020). Experiences of adolescent witnesses to peer victimization: The bystander effect. Journal of school psychology, 80, 1-14. Fadilah, I. N., & Ansyah, E. H. (2022). The Relationship Between The Bystander Effect and Prososial Behavior in Students Of The Faculty Of Psychology And Educational Sciences At University. Academia Open, 7, 10-21070. Ganti, N., & Baek, S. (2021). Why People Stand By: A Comprehensive Study About the Bystander Effect. Journal of Student Research, 10(1). Havlik, J. L., Vieira Sugano, Y. Y., Jacobi, M. C., Kukreja, R. R., Jacobi, J. H. C., & Mason, P. (2020). The bystander effect in rats. Science Advances, 6(28), eabb4205. Kettrey, H. H., & Marx, R. A. (2021). Effects of bystander sexual assault prevention programs on promoting intervention skills and combatting the bystander effect: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of experimental criminology, 17, 343-367. Levine, M., Philpot, R., & Kovalenko, A. G. (2020). Rethinking the bystander effect in violence reduction training programs. Social Issues and Policy Review, 14(1), 273-296. Liu, D., Liu, X., & Wu, S. (2022, June). A Literature Review of Diffusion of Responsibility Phenomenon. In 2022 8th International Conference on Humanities and Social Science Research (ICHSSR 2022) (pp. 1806-1810). Atlantis Press. Machackova, H. (2020). Bystander reactions to cyberbullying and cyberaggression: individual, contextual, and social factors. Current opinion in psychology, 36, 130-134. Madden, C., & Loh, J. (2020). Workplace cyberbullying and bystander helping behaviour. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 31(19), 2434-2458. Szekeres, H., Halperin, E., Kende, A., & Saguy, T. (2022). Aversive Bystander Effect: Egalitarian bystanders' overestimation of confronting prejudice.

3 Mar 33min