Behind the Shield - A Virtual Guardian Podcast

Expert panelists (including our new panelist Jason Williams) and host Marco Estrela bring you behind our shield to discuss current cybersecurity topics ripped from the headlines.
This episode's all Hot Topics format includes: The Volt Typhoon announcement, Cyberattack on US healthcare payment system, SEC Cybersecurity Disclosure coming into effect, Lessons from the Microsoft's Password Spray Hack, and Why Companies Are Bringing Data In-House.
Sources:
Topic 1: Patrick #1
Article title: CISA and GOV Volt Typhoon announcement
Source: https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/2024-03/Fact-Sheet-PRC-State-Sponsored-Cyber-Activity-Actions-for-Critical-Infrastructure-Leaders-508c.pdf
 
Topic 2: Bill #1
Article title: Cyberattack paralyzes largest US healthcare payment system         
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/05/health/cyberattack-healthcare-cash.html
 
Topic 3: Jason #1
Article title: Cybersecurity Disclosure by the SEC coming into effect
Source: https://www.sec.gov/news/statement/gerding-cybersecurity-disclosure-20231214
 
Topic 4: Bill #2
Article title:  Key Lesson from Microsoft's Password Spray Hack: Secure Every Account      
Source: https://thehackernews.com/2024/03/key-lesson-from-microsofts-password.html
 
Topic 5: Jason #2
Article title: The Rise Of Cloud Repatriation: Why Companies Are Bringing Data In-House
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2023/04/18/the-rise-of-cloud-repatriation-why-companies-are-bringing-data-in-house/?sh=3af3d57358f7
 

Expert panelists, including our guest Matt Konwiser from this month's sponsor IBM Security, and host Marco Estrela discuss current cybersecurity topics ripped from the headlines.
This episode's Hot Topics include: Open AI’s concerns about #GenAI, the data security of AI boy/girlfriends, Matt’s take on the #AppleProVision, and LockBit’s recent bust by the UK government.
If you want to talk to us about our 24/7 SOC, powered by IBM Security’s QRadar, you can reach us at 1-800-401-TECH or virtualguardian.com. 
Sources:
Topic 1: Bill
Article title: Microsoft, OpenAI Warn of Nation-State Hackers Weaponizing AI for Cyber Attacks
Source: https://thehackernews.com/2024/02/microsoft-openai-warn-of-nation-state.html
 
Topic 2: Patrick
Article title: “AI girlfriends” are a privacy nightmare 
Source: https://www.wired.com/story/ai-girlfriends-privacy-nightmare/
 
Topic 3: Bill
Article title: Lockbit cybercrime gang faces global takedown with indictments and arrests
Source: https://www.reuters.com/technology/cybersecurity/us-indicts-two-russian-nationals-lockbit-cybercrime-gang-bust-2024-02-20/
 
 
 

Virtual Guardian's BTS panelists and guest Jane Arnett of Check Point cover hot topics, revisit the highs and lows of cybersecurity in 2023, and make their predictions and wishes for 2024. 
 
Hot Topic Sources:
Article title: Hackers Extort Victim with SEC Whistleblower Complaint
Source: https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/hackers-extort-victim-with-sec-2694993/#:~:text=In%20an%20unintended%20consequence%20of,isn%27t%20even%20required%20yet.
 
Article title: We tried to quantify how harmful hospital ransomware attacks are for patients. Here’s what we found 
Source: https://www.statnews.com/2023/11/17/hospital-ransomware-attack-patient-deaths-study/
 

We didn't have time to get to all of our Hot Topics in the Nov 2nd Behind the Shield!  Ready for a little more  cyber news from Marco, Bill and Patrick?
Bonus Hot Topics:
AI Kidnapping Hoaxes: https://www.darkreading.com/black-hat/virtual-kidnapping-ai-tools-enabling-irl-extortion-scams
Johnson Controls Breach - An Update from Patrick from last week's discussion. https://www.msspalert.com/news/johnson-controls-struck-by-king-size-ransomware-attack-demanding-51-million-payoff
Fraudsters target Booking.com customers claiming hotel stay could be cancelled . https://grahamcluley.com/fraudsters-target-booking-com-customers-claiming-hotel-stay-could-be-cancelled/
Okta breach à One Password: https://www.darkreading.com/black-hat/virtual-kidnapping-ai-tools-enabling-irl-extortion-scams

November 2023 Episode (Recorded on 11.02.2023) – Special #AIWeek Episode
Expert panelists, including our guest Chris ‘Tito’ Sestino of HiddenLayer, and host Marco Estrela discuss current cybersecurity topics ripped from the headlines.
Hot Topics:  Credit card fraud while traveling; AI generated phishing attacks, Johnson Controls Breach, Emerging AI Regulations & Effects
Spotlight: “Securing AI Innovation: Safeguarding AI Amid Emerging Threats” - Chris Sestito, Co-founder & CEO of HiddenLayer, a cybersecurity start-up dedicated to preventing adversarial artificial intelligence attacks.
 
Sources:
Topic 1: Credit card fraud and tips for guarding credit cards while traveling.
Source: N/A
 
Topic 2: Bill
Article title: AI generates convincing phising attacks
Source: https://www.csoonline.com/article/656698/generative-ai-phishing-fears-realized-as-model-develops-highly-convincing-emails-in-5-minutes.html
 
Topic 3: Patrick
Article title: Jonhson Controls breach
Source: https://www.msspalert.com/news/johnson-controls-struck-by-king-size-ransomware-attack-demanding-51-million-payoff
 
Topic 4: Tito
Article title: Emerging AI Regulations & Its Effect on Innovation
Source: N/A

September 2023 Episode (Recorded on 9.21.2023)
Expert panelists and host Marco Estrela discuss current cybersecurity topics ripped from the headlines.
Hot Topics: MGM and Caesar’s Cyberattack, TransUnion Data stolen, Microsoft AI Employee Accidental Leak, Canadian Airports DOS, Clorox Breach
Extras:  CISCO’s $28B purchase of SPLUNK, NaviLogic’s name change to Virtual Guardian
 
Sources:
Topic 1: Bill #1
Article title: MGM and Caesar’s cyberattack
Source: https://www.reviewjournal.com/business/casinos-gaming/mgm-hackers-could-have-tried-to-get-slots-to-spit-out-money-2907417/
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-09-13/caesars-entertainment-paid-millions-in-ransom-in-recent-attack?embedded-checkout=true
 
Topic 2: Patrick #1
Article title: Law 25 Event in Montreal       
Source: N/A
 
Topic 3: Marco #1
Article title: TransUnion data stolen, but they say their weren’t hacked!
Source: https://www.techradar.com/pro/security/transunions-data-stolen-in-major-data-breach
 
Topic 4: Bill #2
Article title: Microsoft AI Employee Accidentally Leaks 38TB of Data
Source:  https://www.pcmag.com/news/microsoft-ai-employee-accidentally-leaks-38tb-of-data?utm_medium=browser_notifications&utm_source=pushly&utm_campaign=3558823&utm_country_code=CA
 
Topic 5: Patrick #2
Article title: Source: Canadian Airports DOS
 Source: https://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/national/2023-09-19/agence-des-services-frontaliers/la-panne-dans-les-aeroports-provenait-bien-d-une-attaque-informatique.php?utm_campaign=internal+share&utm_content=ulink&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=lpp&redirectedFrom=https%253A%252F%252Fplus.lapresse.ca%252Fscreens%252Fbd53d576-4f02-4d19-853b-a9f64e7d1a31__7C___0.html%253Futm_campaign%253Dinternal%252520share%2526utm_content%253Dulink%2526utm_medium%253Dreferral%2526utm_source%253Dlpp
 
Topic 6: Marco #2
Article title: Clorox Breach
Source: https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/18/business/clorox-cyberattack-production-disruption/index.html
 
 

August 2023 Episode (Recorded on 8.3.2023)
Hot Topics: Cybersecurity labeling for smart devices, New 4-Day disclosure requirement by SEC, Chinese Malware’s Potential Impacts to US, WormGPT, JumpCloud hack linked to North Korea, US’s Data Breach Record
Extras:  Rapid Fire Q&A for the panel; Remembering Kevin Mitnick, 1990s “Most Wanted Computer Outlaw”
Sources:
Topic 1: Patrick #1
Article title: Cybersecurity labeling for smart devices aims to help people choose those less vulnerable to hacking
Source: https://apnews.com/article/cybersecurity-smart-devices-fcc-cyber-trust-mark-74af5829296ba65cddd2b2287b47422a
 
Topic 2: Bob #1
Article title: SEC now requires companies to disclose cyberattacks in 4 days
Source: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/sec-now-requires-companies-to-disclose-cyberattacks-in-4-days/
 
Topic 3: Bill #1
Article title: Chinese Malware Could Cut Power To U.S. Military Bases, Businesses And Homes, Report Claims
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/tylerroush/2023/07/29/chinese-malware-could-cut-power-to-us-military-bases-businesses-and-homes-report-claims/?sh=397fec1224ae
 
Topic 4: Patrick #2
Article title: WormGPT: New AI Tool Allows Cybercriminals to Launch Sophisticated Cyber Attacks
Source: https://thehackernews.com/2023/07/wormgpt-new-ai-tool-allows.html?m=1
 
Topic 5: Bob #2
Article title: JumpCloud hack linked to North Korea after OPSEC mistake
Source: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/jumpcloud-hack-linked-to-north-korea-after-opsec-mistake/
 
Topic 6: Bill #2
Article title: US on Track For Record Number of Data Breaches
Source: https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/us-track-record-number-data/

June 2023 Episode (Originally Aired Live on 6.15.2023)
Hot Topics: US-based white hat researcher, Eaton Zveare, discovers serious flaws in well-known carmaker; Phishing controversy using pay raise as bait; Making progress in the war against cybercrime.
Special Guest Panelist: Graham Cluley of the award-winning “Smashing Security” podcast.
Spotlight: Rudolph Araujo, Arista Networks: IoT, Ransomware, Insider Threats and Your Data: Threat Hunting to the Rescue
Sources:
Topic 1
Source: https://www.securityweek.com/vulnerabilities-in-honda-ecommerce-platform-exposed-customer-dealer-data/
https://eaton-works.com/2023/06/06/honda-ecommerce-hack/
 
Topic 2:
Source: https://www.economist.com/by-invitation/2023/05/26/ciaran-martin-argues-that-cyberspace-is-finally-if-unevenly-getting-safer
 
Topic 3:
Source: https://grahamcluley.com/staff-salary-phishing-test-backfire/
https://www.rollonfriday.com/news-content/exclusive-incredulity-firm-sends-lawyers-fake-pay-rise-emails

May 2023 Episode (Originally Aired Live on 5.18.2023)
Hot Topics: Cisco IOS vulnerabilities and UQAM’s 2023 Report on geopolitical cyber incidents.
Spotlight: Amber Borgersen, Product Manager for IBM Security's Threat Management functionalities - the QRadar Suite, discusses “SIEM is dead! Or is it…?”

April 2023 Episode (Originally Aired Live on 04.19.2023 in front of a live audience at Esterel Resort, Quebec Canada)
Panelists: Pulitzer Prize Winning Journalist Byron Acohido (lastwatchdog.com), VG CEO Patrick Naoum, Co-Founders of NaviLogic Bill Strub and Bob Bennett, and VG’s Sr. Director Cybersecurity and host of the show, Marco Estrela.
Hot Topics:
Topic 1:  Article title: Six arrested in Quebec as police dismantle international identity theft network
Source: https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/six-arrested-in-quebec-as-police-dismantle-international-identity-theft-network-1.6344156
Topic 2: Article title: Putin’s secret weapon: weaponized ransomware
Source: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/new-ransomware-attacks-in-ukraine-linked-to-russian-sandworm-hackers/
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/security-firms-find-thin-lines-connecting-notpetya-to-ukraine-power-grid-attacks/
Topic 3: Article title: SlashNext's 2023 Mobile BYOD Security Report Reveals 71% of Employees Have Sensitive Work Information on their Personal Devices; 43% Were the Target of Phishing Attacks
Source: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/slashnexts-2023-mobile-byod-security-report-reveals-71-of-employees-have-sensitive-work-information-on-their-personal-devices-43-were-the-target-of-phishing-attacks-301785360.html
Sponsor/Spotlight: Byron Acohido “Network security reborn: Leveraging machine learning, automation to drive legacy defenses into obsolescence.”
Bonus Segment: Rapid Fire Topics with Byron Acohido
This is a recording of an event that took place live, virtual and in-person. To attend future virtual Behind the Shield events and ask the panelists questions, register at virtualguardian.com/event