Unlocking Cyber Education with John Hammond

What if the key to innovation is breaking the rules? Ted Harrington, Executive Partner at Independent Security Evaluators and a pioneering ethical hacker, explores the power of commitment, curiosity, creativity, and nonconformity to rethink cybersecurity and life itself. From hacking the first iPhone to disrupting misconceptions about security testing, Ted shows why the hacker mindset matters more now than ever. Join Ron and Ted as they discuss strategies for using the hacker mindset to solve problems, address risks like AI-driven deepfakes, and uncover unconventional opportunities in both business and personal growth.   Impactful Moments: 00:00 - Intro 03:15 - The four traits of a hacker mindset 07:40 - Hacking the first iPhone and Tesla 11:50 - Why penetration testing is misunderstood 16:30 - Risks and realities of AI deepfakes 21:20 - Applying hacker traits to entrepreneurship 28:45 - Ted’s upcoming book: Inner Hacker 33:00 - Why mindset matters most   Links: Connect with our guest, Ted Harrington: https://www.linkedin.com/in/securityted/ Order Ted Harrington’s book “Hackable” here: https://www.amazon.com/Hackable-How-Application-Security-Right-ebook/dp/B08MFTQ7Q4 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/

17 Dec 202441min

What happens when cutting-edge AI meets the art of deception? In this episode, Iain Jackson, Academy Hive Leader at CovertSwarm, takes us through the uncanny potential and risks of synthetic voices and AI in cybersecurity.  Together, Ron and Iain discuss how adversaries are using AI to bypass human intuition. From synthetic voice calls to automating phishing attacks at scale, this episode explores how hackers leverage technology using these tactics and what you can do to stay one step ahead.    Impactful Moments: 00:00 - Introduction 01:56 - Iain shares his journey with AI 03:29 - Demonstrating voice cloning in real-time 06:31 - Risks of automated synthetic voice attacks 09:46 - Impact of AI on social engineering tactics 11:00 - Importance of "vibe checks" in cybersecurity 15:17 - Real-world phishing and HR scam example 20:00 - Uncanny Valley: Defense against AI deception 23:37 - The future of AI in adversary emulation   Links: Connect with our guest, Iain Jackson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iain-j-98578a238/ Learn more about CovertSwarm here: https://covertswarm.com/   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/

12 Dec 202425min

What happens when cybersecurity puts people first? Julie Haney, Human-Centered Cybersecurity Program Lead at NIST, shares how designing security with humans at the center leads to greater adoption, reduced frustration, and stronger protection. In this episode, Julie discusses how to improve user adoption by simplifying complex security processes, why empathy is a game-changer for effective security, and strategies for empowering people to feel confident and secure online. This conversation will inspire you to rethink how we protect people in the digital age and shares a fresh perspective on making cybersecurity work for all. Impactful Moments: 00:00 - Introduction 07:15 - Breaking down barriers in user design 15:40 - Why empathy matters in cybersecurity solutions 21:05 - Challenges in bridging tech and humanity 28:30 - Designing systems with people, not just for them 35:10 - Practical steps to empower users in security 42:45 - Final reflections on human-centered innovation   Links: Connect with our guest, Julie Haney here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-haney-037449119 Check out NIST’s Online Community of Interest here: https://csrc.nist.gov/Projects/human-centered-cybersecurity/hcc-coi Learn more about Human-Centered Cybersecurity on NIST’s website here: https://csrc.nist.gov/projects/human-centered-cybersecurity   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/

3 Dec 20242min

Do you deserve to be hacked? With that bold tagline, CovertSwarm is pushing leaders to rethink how they test and defend their systems, and in this episode, they’re sharing firsthand how organizations can prepare for adversaries in the wild. Recorded at Black Hat 2024, Ron is joined by Ilan Fehler, US Sales Lead at CovertSwarm, and Dahvid Schloss, Hive Leader at CovertSwarm to explore the world of adversary emulation. From physical breaches to API exploits, this conversation covers the human, digital, and physical elements of cybersecurity. Impactful Moments: 00:00 - Introduction 01:25 - You Deserve To Be Hacked 03:05 - Emulating criminal behavior: The hive structure 07:55 - Social engineering tactics that really work 20:16 - Physical breaches: Pentesting in action 24:09 - Past the firewall: Second- and third-layer testing 29:14 - Digital exploits and real-world vulnerabilities 35:24 - Why organizations hesitate to invest in red teams 37:33 - Building muscle memory for security   Links: Connect with our guests, Ilan Fehler https://www.linkedin.com/in/fehler/ and Dahvid Schloss https://www.linkedin.com/in/dahvidschloss/ Learn more about CovertSwarm here: https://covertswarm.com/   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/

26 Nov 202440min

Cybersecurity is evolving fast, and AI is at the center. Roy Halevi, Co-Founder and CTO of Intezer, explains how AI automates SOC operations, improving speed and accuracy while freeing up teams to focus on critical threats. In this conversation with host Ron Eddings, Roy explains how AI automates critical tasks like alert investigation and response, reducing noise and improving accuracy. Roy shares insights on overcoming challenges in adopting AI, the future of SOC roles, and how organizations can optimize their defenses using AI driven tools.   Impactful Moments 00:00 – Intro and the AI revolution in cybersecurity 01:16 – Meet Roy Halevi, Co-Founder and CTO of Intezer 03:00 – The story behind the name ‘Intezer’ 06:14 – Key challenges facing today’s SOC teams 15:04 – Top use cases for AI in the SOC 21:27 – How Intezer automates alert triage and response 37:32 – Future predictions for SOC and cybersecurity roles 48:23 – Closing thoughts and call to action   Links: Connect with our guest, Roy Halevi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/royhalevi Learn more about Intezer here: https://intezer.com   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/

20 Nov 202449min

Can you truly protect what you can't see? Wes Wright, Chief Healthcare Officer at Ordr, joins Ron to share how organizations can shine a light on their network and asset blind spots and take control of their digital assets. In this episode, Ron and Wes discuss the importance of asset visibility in cybersecurity, outlining the potential of CAASM (Cyber Asset and Attack Surface Management) and how it empowers teams to expose hidden vulnerabilities, streamline operations, and stay ahead of security threats, vulnerabilities, and exposures.   Impactful Moments: 00:00 - Introduction 01:35 - Asset visibility and blind spots 03:47 - What keeps CTOs and CISOs up at night 08:45 - Bridging IT and OT: CAASM explained 12:10 - Real-world use cases for CAASM 18:37 - The power of automated asset management 25:00 - Why continuous inventory is a game-changer 35:59 - Wes’s advice for getting started with Ordr Links: Connect with our guest, Wes Wright: https://www.linkedin.com/in/4kidwes/ Learn more about Ordr here: https://ordr.net/   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/

12 Nov 202437min

How do you create waves of change in an industry? Connie Matthews, Founder and CEO of ReynCon, speaks with Ron about the power of resilience, mentorship, and taking that first bold step in cybersecurity. In this powerful episode, Connie shares her path as a pioneering woman in cybersecurity. Discussing diversity, mentorship, and her nonprofit EmpoW-ER, Connie’s shared lessons and insights on resilience and community give listeners a blueprint for making a meaningful impact in their careers.   Impactful Moments: 00:00 – Introduction 04:27 – Mentorship impact: Building future leaders 10:14 – Embracing diversity and servant leadership 18:03 – Founding EmpoW-ER: Supporting women in cyber 24:13 – Navigating stereotypes and staying resilient 30:00 – Recognizing and celebrating young talent 36:45 – Building an inclusive cybersecurity community   Links: Connect with our guest, Connie Matthews: https://www.linkedin.com/in/conniematthews/ Learn more about EmpoW-ER: https://www.empower-infosec.org/   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/

6 Nov 202441min

Is cybersecurity gatekeeping holding back the industry? Naomi Buckwalter, Senior Director of Product Security at Contrast Security and Founder of the Cybersecurity Gatebreakers Foundation, argues that fresh talent and open doors are crucial for industry growth. In this episode, Naomi challenges why industry hiring norms fall short, shares candid stories of her own missteps, and explains why humility and learning are just as important as technical skills in cybersecurity.   Impactful Moments: 00:00 – Introduction 03:15 – Building a genuine presence on LinkedIn 07:40 – Founding the Cybersecurity Gatebreakers Foundation 12:00 – Why hiring juniors is a win for cybersecurity 17:58 – Relationship building in cybersecurity 25:27 – Lessons from layoffs and overcoming failure 35:45 – Setting goals and attracting opportunities Links: Connect with our guest, Naomi Buckwalter: https://www.linkedin.com/in/naomi-buckwalter/ Learn more about the Cybersecurity Gatebreakers Foundation: https://www.cybersecuritygatebreakers.org/   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/

29 Okt 202443min