Defensive Security Podcast - Malware, Hacking, Cyber Security & Infosec

In this episode of the Defensive Security Podcast, hosts Jerry Bell and Andrew Kalat discuss various cybersecurity topics, including a year-long supply chain attack that compromised 390,000 credentials, the U.S. government’s bounty for information on North Korean IT worker farms, and the alarming number of vulnerabilities found in software containers. They also delve into the … Continue reading Defensive Security Podcast Episode 289 →

In this episode of the Defensive Security Podcast, we discuss the anticipated rise of Mac malware, the economic implications of new top-level domains (TLDs) for phishing, innovative phishing techniques using corrupt documents, and the risks associated with open-source software. We also explore the concept of risk homeostasis in cybersecurity, examining how users’ perceptions of security … Continue reading Defensive Security Podcast Episode 288 →

In this episode of the Defensive Security Podcast, hosts Jerry Bell and Andrew Kalat discuss various topics including their holiday plans, updates on their podcast, and significant cybersecurity incidents. They delve into a recent Wi-Fi breach involving Russian hackers, CrowdStrike’s IT outage and its implications for customer retention, and the discovery of malware exploiting vulnerable … Continue reading Defensive Security Podcast Episode 287 →

In this episode of the Defensive Security Podcast, hosts Jerry Bell and Andrew Kalat discuss various cybersecurity topics, including the launch of their new podcast, Getting Defensive. They delve into a CISA report on exploited vulnerabilities, highlighting the concerning trend of zero-day vulnerabilities being exploited. The conversation also covers a GitHub incident involving malicious commits … Continue reading Defensive Security Podcast Episode 286 →

In this episode of the Defensive Security Podcast, we discuss the theft of cloud credentials, the exploitation of SharePoint vulnerabilities, evolving malware techniques, and the importance of cyber due diligence for suppliers. They reflect on the challenges of managing secrets, the implications of auto-updates, and the need for robust risk management practices in the face … Continue reading Defensive Security Podcast Episode 285 →

Delta’s Lawsuit, SEC Penalties, and Fortinet’s Zero-Day Exploit In this episode, hosts Jerry Bell and Andrew Kellett discuss current cybersecurity issues, starting with Delta Air Lines’ $500 million lawsuit against CrowdStrike over an IT outage and data breach. They explore SEC penalties imposed on tech companies for downplaying the SolarWinds hack’s impact, followed by an … Continue reading Defensive Security Podcast Episode 284 →

“They Can’t All Be Winners” In this episode of the Defensive Security Podcast, hosts Jerry Bell and Andrew Kalat explore several pressing cybersecurity topics as of October 2024. The discussion begins by addressing the rapid increase in vulnerability exploitation speeds, with a highlight that 70% of exploitable flaws in 2023 were zero-days, now being exploited … Continue reading Defensive Security Podcast Episode 283 →

Episode 282: Exploiting Trust in Cybersecurity Practices In episode 282 of the Defensive Security Podcast, hosts Jerry Bell and Andrew Kallett discuss several cybersecurity topics. They highlight a phishing attack outlined by Microsoft, where cybercriminals leverage file-hosting services like OneDrive and Dropbox to exploit trust and compromise identities. The episode also explores concerns about AI … Continue reading Defensive Security Podcast Episode 282 →

In this episode of the Defensive Security Podcast, hosts Jerry Bell and Andrew Kalat discuss various cybersecurity events and issues. The episode opens with discussion on the recent weather impacts affecting Asheville and lessons for disaster preparedness in the security industry. A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to CrowdStrike’s recent Capitol Hill testimony, … Continue reading Defensive Security Podcast Episode 281 →

In this episode of the Defensive Security Podcast, hosts Jerry Bell and Andrew Kellett delve into key cybersecurity topics. They discuss a recent statement by CISA director Jen Easterly on holding software manufacturers accountable for product defects rather than vulnerabilities, and the need for derogatory names for threat actors to deter cybercrime. The episode also … Continue reading Defensive Security Podcast Episode 280 →

In Episode 279 of the Defensive Security Podcast, Jerry Bell and Andrew Kalat discuss the latest cybersecurity news and issues. Stories include Transportation for London requiring in-person password resets after a security incident, Google’s new ‘air-gapped’ backup service, the impact of a rogue ‘Whois’ server, and the ongoing ramifications of the Moveit breach. The episode … Continue reading Defensive Security Podcast Episode 279 →

In episode 278 of the Defensive Security Podcast, Jerry Bell and Andrew Kalat discuss various recent cybersecurity topics. The episode starts with light-hearted banter about vacations before diving into the main topics. Key discussions include a new vulnerability in YubiKey that requires sophisticated physical attacks, resulting in a low overall risk but sparking debate about … Continue reading Defensive Security Podcast Episode 278 →

In this episode, Jerry Bell and Andrew Kalat discuss various topics in the cybersecurity landscape, including the influence of cyber insurance on risk reduction for companies and how insurers offer guidance to lower risks. They touch upon the potential challenges with cybersecurity maturity in organizations and the consultant effect. The episode also goes into detail … Continue reading Defensive Security Podcast Episode 277 →

Check out the latest Defensive Security Podcast Ep. 276! From cow milking robots held ransom to why IT folks dread patching, Jerry Bell and Andrew Kalat cover it all. Tune in and stay informed on the latest in cybersecurity! Summary: In episode 276 of the Defensive Security Podcast, hosts Jerry Bell and Andrew Kalat delve … Continue reading Defensive Security Podcast Episode 276 →

Links: https://www.crowdstrike.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Channel-File-291-Incident-Root-Cause-Analysis-08.06.2024.pdf https://www.theregister.com/2024/08/05/crowdstrike_is_not_at_all/ https://www.theverge.com/2024/8/6/24214371/microsoft-delta-letter-crowdstrike-response-comments https://www.linkedin.com/posts/alexstamos_why-crowdstrikes-baffling-bsod-disaster-activity-7224046054076243969-1An8?utm_source=combined_share_message&utm_medium=ios_app https://www.linkedin.com/posts/choff_why-crowdstrikes-baffling-bsod-disaster-activity-7224078879445958658-ymuc?utm_source=combined_share_message&utm_medium=member_ios https://www.securityweek.com/thousands-of-devices-wiped-remotely-following-mobile-guardian-hack/ https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/stackexchange-abused-to-spread-malicious-pypi-packages-as-answers/ https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/hunters-international-ransomware-gang-targets-it-workers-with-new-sharprhino-malware/ Transcript: Jerry: Today is Wednesday, August 7th, 2024. And this is episode 275 of the Defensive Security Podcast. My name is Jerry Bell and joining me tonight as always is Mr. Andrew Kalat. Andrew: Good evening, Jerry. How are you? Good, sir. Jerry: I am amazing. … Continue reading Defensive Security Podcast Episode 275 →

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/over-3-000-github-accounts-used-by-malware-distribution-service/ https://blog.knowbe4.com/how-a-north-korean-fake-it-worker-tried-to-infiltrate-us https://arstechnica.com/security/2024/07/secure-boot-is-completely-compromised-on-200-models-from-5-big-device-makers/ https://www.darkreading.com/cybersecurity-operations/crowdstrike-outage-losses-estimated-staggering-54b  https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/64b69422439318309c9f1e44/66a24d5478783782964c1f6f_CrowdStrikes%20Impact%20on%20the%20Fortune%20500_%202024%20_Parametrix%20Analysis.pdf https://www.darkreading.com/vulnerabilities-threats/unexpected-lessons-learned-from-the-crowdstrike-event Summary: Episode 274: Malware on GitHub, North Korean Developer Scam & Secure Boot Failures In this episode of the Defensive Security Podcast, hosts Jerry Bell and Andrew Kalat discuss several notable security stories and issues. They start with a malware distribution service that leverages compromised GitHub accounts and WordPress … Continue reading Defensive Security Podcast Episode 274 →

The Joe Sullivan Verdict – Unfair? – Which Part? (cybertheory.io) Fujitsu Details Non-Ransomware Cyberattack (webpronews.com) 5 Key Questions CISOs Must Ask Themselves About Their Cybersecurity Strategy (thehackernews.com) Sizable Chunk of SEC Charges Vs. SolarWinds Dismissed (darkreading.com) CrowdStrike CEO apologizes for crashing IT systems around the world, details fix | CSO Online Summary: Cybersecurity Updates: Uber’s … Continue reading Defensive Security Podcast Episode 273 →

On episode 272 of the Defensive Security Podcast, hosts Jerry Bell and Andrew Kalat discuss a variety of pressing cybersecurity topics. These include the responsibilities of CISOs in avoiding legal repercussions following data breaches, highlighted by the case of Uber's former CISO, Joe Sullivan. The hosts also delve into the impact of the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning the Chevron deference doctrine on cybersecurity regulations, the risk of dynamic loading of JavaScript libraries, and the wide-reaching implications of the OpenSSH regression vulnerability. Throughout, practical advice and insightful commentary are provided on maintaining security in an ever-evolving threat landscape. 00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview 01:08 CISO's Guide to Avoiding Jail After a Breach 03:29 Challenges and Complexities of the CISO Role 13:35 US Supreme Court Ruling and Its Impact on Cyber Regulation 20:51 Polyfill.io Issue: A Modern Supply Chain Attack? 28:54 Understanding Polyfill Confusion and Risks 29:23 Maintaining Open Source Software Health 30:04 The Need for Open Source Health Ratings 30:41 Challenges with Third-Party Code and Security 34:08 Vendor Questionnaires and False Urgency 39:50 The Regression Vulnerability in OpenSSH 41:18 Cloud Security Best Practices 48:29 Final Thoughts and Recommendations 49:52 Conclusion and Farewell