To defend like a human, you first have to think like a hacker.

In this episode, Ron Eddings sits down with Chris Dale, Co-Founder and Chief Hacking Officer at River Security, to explore the human side of hacking, where curiosity, persistence, and vigilance meet defense. Chris shares how the traditional idea of penetration testing has evolved into a continuous journey of discovery, and why reconnaissance and storytelling are critical tools for modern defenders. From real-world breach stories to lessons on trust and responsibility, this episode reveals how thinking like a hacker, and acting like a human can transform the way we approach cybersecurity.

Impactful Moments

00:00 - Introduction and massive breach overview

03:00 - Trusted systems become exposure points

05:00 - Meet Chris Dale of River Security

07:00 - The problem with traditional pen testing

08:30 - Continuous reconnaissance and real-world risk

10:00 - Knowing yourself as a security principle

13:00 - The meaning of continuous vigilance

15:00 - Turning cybersecurity lessons into stories

18:00 - Storytelling and mindset in defense

19:30 - Final takeaways on fundamentals and vigilance

Links:

Connect with our Chris on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisad/

Read the Tech Radar article here: https://www.techradar.com/pro/security/f5-breach-fallout-over-266-000-instances-exposed-to-remote-attacks

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