Episodes

  • Vik Phatak on the inherent issues in native cloud firewalls

    Vik Phatak on the inherent issues in native cloud firewalls
    Dec 19 2024
    In the latest episode of Safe Mode, Greg Otto talks with Vik Phatak, Chairman and CEO of CyberRatings.org. Cyber Ratings recently released a report assessing the native firewalls provided by major cloud service providers like Microsoft, Google, and AWS. These cloud-native firewalls, included with their instances, were put to the test by Cyber Ratings to evaluate their effectiveness. The findings reveal significant shortcomings in relying solely on these built-in security measures. In our reporter chat, Greg Otto talks with Tim Starks about two interesting stories that chronicle the latest in the shady world of spyware. LINK: https://cyberscoop.com/russian-surveillance-spyware-threat-citizen-lab/ https://cyberscoop.com/amnesty-international-exposes-serbian-polices-use-of-spyware-on-journalists-activists/
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    32 mins
  • Emily Crose on the government’s long history with hackers

    Emily Crose on the government’s long history with hackers
    Dec 11 2024
    In the latest episode of Safe Mode, Greg Otto talks with Emily Crose about her new book “Hack to The Future: How World Governments Relentlessly Pursue and Domesticate Hackers.” Emily explains how the US government managed to weaponize a subculture widely seen as misanthropic and awkward into a lever of power that now has far-reaching geopolitical implications In our reporter chat, Greg Otto talks with Tim Starks about the continued investigation and fallout of the Salt Typhoon hacks. Also in this episode: ThreatLocker CEO and Co-Founder Danny Jenkins joins SNG host Wyatt Kash in a sponsored podcast discussion on how implementing a layered approach to network security better protects government data. This segment was sponsored by ThreatLocker. LINK: https://cyberscoop.com/senators-witnesses-3b-for-rip-and-replace-a-good-start-to-preventing-salt-typhoon-style-breaches/
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    50 mins
  • GreyNoise’s Andrew Morris on using AI to find zero-days

    GreyNoise’s Andrew Morris on using AI to find zero-days
    Dec 5 2024
    In the latest episode of Safe Mode, Greg Otto talks with Andrew Morris, founder and chief architect of GreyNoise. Greg and Andrew talk about some recent work GreyNoise has released including one of the first instances where threat detection has been augmented by AI to discover zero-day vulnerabilities. In our reporter chat, Greg talks with Tim Starks about his interview with the president of Dakota State University, and how she sees the state’s politicians impacting cybersecurity in a Trump administration. LINK: https://cyberscoop.com/south-dakota-cybersecurity-leadership-2025/
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    44 mins
  • The evolution of Microsoft’s Digital Crimes Unit

    The evolution of Microsoft’s Digital Crimes Unit
    Nov 21 2024
    In the latest episode of Safe Mode, we talk to Peter Anaman, principal investigator in Microsoft’s Digital Crimes Unit. Peter takes us on a deep dive on how the Digital Crimes Unit (DCU) has morphed since its inception in 2008. We'll explore how investigative approaches have evolved over the years and discuss how cybercriminals are adapting in response to disruptive actions. In our reporter chat, Greg Otto talks with Christian Vasquez about Cape, a new mobile phone company looking to change the privacy game with a hardened phone that doesn’t keep metadata, while also adhering to the strict U.S. criminal and national security laws. LINK: https://cyberscoop.com/cape-phone-privacy-calea-tracking/
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    1 hr and 2 mins
  • Securing the Skies: Aerospace Cybersecurity with David Brumley

    Securing the Skies: Aerospace Cybersecurity with David Brumley
    Nov 14 2024
    In this episode, Greg Otto chats with David Brumley, an offensive cybersecurity professor at Carnegie Mellon and CEO of Mayhem Security, as he is collaborating with the FAA and airplane manufacturers to tackle critical software security challenges in the aerospace industry. David delves into the most pressing cybersecurity threats facing aircraft today, examines the types of software currently in use on airplanes, and highlights areas of concern within the broader aerospace sector. He also discusses potential strategies the FAA could employ to strengthen cybersecurity in aviation. Also in this episode: ThreatLocker co-founder and CEO Danny Jenkins joins SNG host Wyatt Kash in a sponsored podcast discussion on why zero trust and least privilege access are foundational to how critical infrastructure enterprises should secure their operations today. This segment was sponsored by ThreatLocker. Greg also chats with Tim Starks about the latest cybersecurity news related to the incoming Trump administration. LINK: https://cyberscoop.com/dhs-nominee-kristi-noem-cyber-grants-trump-admin/
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    36 mins
  • What will GenAI regulation look like in 2025?

    What will GenAI regulation look like in 2025?
    Nov 7 2024
    In the latest episode of Safe Mode, Greg Otto talked with Casey Bleeker, CEO of the generative AI security firm SurePath AI, about the future of AI regulation in the U.S. and how it might unfold compared to other countries in 2025. They explore whether AI oversight will differ from state to state, mirroring the current landscape of data privacy laws. Additionally, they discuss the challenges of formulating and passing a comprehensive national AI regulation. Greg also reviews a September piece by Tim Starks that looked at who would be in line to run the cybersecurity leadership of a forthcoming Trump administration. LINK: https://cyberscoop.com/trump-cybersecurity-second-term-white-house-cisa/
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    27 mins
  • Special CyberTalks Edition with National Cyber Director Harry Coker

    Special CyberTalks Edition with National Cyber Director Harry Coker
    Nov 1 2024
    In case you didn't have the chance to attend CyberTalks, we have the keynote address from the event: National Cyber Director Harry Coker highlighted the White House's focus on strategy and policy to address internet routing vulnerabilities, particularly with the Border Gateway Protocol (BGP). Coker emphasized the importance of Resource Public Key Infrastructure (RPKI) for authenticating BGP routing information, acknowledging its slow adoption and implementation challenges, but reported progress with expectations for significant federal coverage by year's end. In our reporter chat, Greg Otto talks with Tim Starks about his story examining the legal barriers anti-spyware advocates are dealing with in a number of high-profile court cases aimed at bringing victims justice. LINK: https://cyberscoop.com/spyware-court-cases-nso-group-meta-whatsapp-apple/
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    31 mins
  • DomainTools’ Sean McNee on how China is watching the Russia-Ukraine conflict

    DomainTools’ Sean McNee on how China is watching the Russia-Ukraine conflict
    Oct 24 2024
    In this episode, we delve into the escalating cyber threat posed by China with guest Sean McNee, Head of Threat Research at DomainTools. Sean shares insights on how China is closely observing the ongoing cyberwar between Russia and Ukraine to strategize its potential moves concerning Taiwan. In our reporter chat, Greg Otto talks with Derek B. Johnson about the U.S. government’s attempt to rein in data brokers and bulk data collection by “countries of concern.” LINK: https://cyberscoop.com/justice-department-data-broker-regulation-china-russia-iran/
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    31 mins