BarCode

Chris Glanden

Barcode is a cocktail powered podcast that dives into the technology, personalities, criminals, and heroes that have come to define modern security across the globe.  Hosted by Chris Glanden.

  1. W0rmer

    4D AGO

    W0rmer

    In March 2012, the FBI surrounded a hurricane-rated steel door in Galveston, Texas. Behind it sat 30 year old Higinio Ochoa, drinking coffee in his boxers, flushing his one-time pad passwords down the toilet before letting federal agents inside. The operation to capture "w0rmer" had finally terminated.The process had initialized years earlier in childhood IRC rooms and 2600 chat channels. Ochoa taught himself to hack on dial-up connections, installing FreeBSD from thirty floppy disks at eleven years old. By his twenties, he was running cameras and internet infrastructure for Occupy Wall Street camps. When he witnessed police beating a woman having a seizure during a raid, something switched. The technical skills pivoted toward purpose.Cabin Crew launched with surgical precision. Ochoa mass-scanned police systems for SQL injections and admin pages, often not knowing which department he'd compromised until crafting the press release. He signed every hack, tagged every defacement, live-tweeted FBI taunts. His girlfriend posed in a bikini outside the Alabama Department of Public Safety holding signs that read "PwN3D by w0rmer" with GPS coordinates embedded in the photo metadata.Today he consults for governments and holds battlefield accommodations from Ukraine. The smooth hands that once broke into Secret Service-designed systems now defend critical infrastructure at levels where people could die if information leaks. TIMSTAMPS 00:00 The Early Days of Hacking 04:22 From Hobbyist to Activist 08:30 The Shift to Purposeful Hacking 13:16 The Rise of Cabin Crew 17:58 The Psychology of Hacking and Branding 21:11 The Origins of Wormer: A Hacker's Journey 25:10 The FBI's Approach: How They Caught Me 27:50 The Day of Reckoning: My Arrest Experience 32:44 Life in the System: Mental Struggles and Adaptations 36:18 Navigating Post-Prison Life: Challenges and Restrictions 44:40 Navigating Life Post-Incarceration 47:27 The Struggles of Redemption 51:19 Finding Opportunities in a Stigmatized Field 55:23 The Evolution of a Hacker's Journey 58:46 Contributions to Information Security 01:01:19 Words of Wisdom for Aspiring Hackers 01:05:42 The Dream of a Cybersecurity Bar [Higinio “w0rmer” Ochoa – LinkedIn] - https://www.linkedin.com/in/x0hig Professional profile of Higinio Ochoa, a former Anonymous-affiliated hacktivist turned cybersecurity consultant, where he shares insights on security, research, and his work in the industry. [DEF CON Hacker Conference] - https://defcon.org/ One of the world’s largest and most influential cybersecurity and hacker conferences, referenced in the episode as a key part of early hacker culture and later professional engagement. [Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)] - https://www.cisa.gov/ A U.S. government agency focused on cybersecurity and infrastructure protection, mentioned in relation to responsible disclosure and ethical hacking initiatives. [Cloudflare] - https://www.cloudflare.com/ A global web infrastructure and cybersecurity company where the guest briefly worked after prison, playing a role in his transition into legitimate security work. [The Pirate Bay] - https://thepiratebay.org/ A well-known file-sharing platform referenced in the discussion about monitored internet usage and security research environments post-release.

    1h 10m
  2. Michael Farnum and Phillip Wylie

    4D AGO

    Michael Farnum and Phillip Wylie

    The Microsoft offices in downtown Houston initialized something in 2010 that its founders never intended to scale. Michael Farnum and his team triggered a regional conference with 120 attendees, built for the Texas cyber community. No grand ambitions. No national aspirations. Just a gathering for people who knew each other, wanted to learn together, and could afford to show up without corporate sponsorship covering a $2,700 entry fee.Meanwhile, Philip Wylie was running monthly meetups in Denton, traveling constantly, and discovering that building community meant something different than building an audience. The former professional wrestler turned pentester had launched DC940, authored bestselling books, and established himself as a global keynote speaker. But by fall 2024, the logistics became unsustainable. He stepped down from his DefCon group leadership role.That same night, walking away from the venue, an idea crystallized. The Dallas-Fort Worth area housed one of the world's largest cybersecurity communities, yet lacked a proper hacker conference. So Wylie sent a text message to Farnum. No expectations beyond advice. Within weeks, they had formalized a partnership that would bring CyberHackCon to the Plano Event Center, the same venue that hosted DalHackCon two decades earlier.What started as Houston's 15-year regional experiment had evolved into a national conference ecosystem. Companies were bypassing Black Hat and RSA entirely, sending whole teams to what was becoming CyberSecCon instead. The infrastructure now includes youth programs, executive events, OT-focused conferences, media arms, venture advisory, and nonprofit partnerships. Five full-time employees orchestrate an operation that refuses to gate its primary educational content behind paywalls, maintains community as the entry point for everything, and somehow preserves the feel of a high school reunion even as it approaches 400 attendees. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Building Community in Cybersecurity 05:15 The Evolution of HusekCon to CyberSecCon 12:00 The CyberSec Community Ecosystem 20:14 Introducing Cyber Hack Con 29:04 Call for Papers: Seeking Deep Tech Talks 32:20 Engagement and Community Involvement 33:44 Conference Experiences: Big vs. Small 39:03 Post-Conference Content and Accessibility 40:48 Creative Concepts: Cybersecurity-Themed Bar Ideas SYMLINKS [CyberSecCon] - https://www.cybrseccon.com/ Official website of CyberSecCon, a community-driven cybersecurity conference focused on accessibility, education, and bringing together professionals across all experience levels. [CyberSec Media] - https://www.cybrsecmedia.com/ Media platform that publishes cybersecurity talks, videos, and educational content from CyberSecCon and related community initiatives, available for free access. [DEF CON] - https://defcon.org/ One of the world’s largest and most well-known hacker conferences, recognized for its deep technical content, hands-on learning, and strong hacker culture. [Michael Farnum – LinkedIn] - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mfarnum Professional profile of Michael Farnum, cybersecurity leader and co-founder of CyberSecCon, where he shares insights on community building and industry initiatives. [Phillip Wylie – LinkedIn] - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phillipwylie Professional profile of Phillip Wylie, penetration tester, instructor, and keynote speaker with extensive experience in cybersecurity and community mentorship.

    45 min
  3. Rich Greene

    4D AGO

    Rich Greene

    Twenty-one years old, sitting at an e-machines computer in Oregon. AOL chatrooms visable through the scanlines of a 17" beige CRT monitor. The social engineering protocol initializes without a name, without formal training. Just need driving innovation. Packages arrive at the house. Things he couldn't afford now flowing through manipulation vectors his young mind discovered by instinct.The judicial system terminates this operation quickly. Join the military or go to jail. Too pretty for prison, Rich Green chooses the army in 2002. Combat communications for five years until special forces assessment and selection activates a new trajectory. Close target access missions. Network taps and Wi-Fi exploitation in cartel safe houses. No help desk background, no certifications. Pure offensive operations training his neural pathways for a different kind of warfare.Retirement executes in April 2022, triggering contractor status at the DoD schoolhouse. Teaching the same skills they'd programmed into him. SANS identifies the teaching aptitude and extracts him from government work. The classroom becomes his new operational environment. June 2022, Sith 2 incorporates as his own company. Security, infrastructure, threat hunting, hardening.Now he's pulling 415 pounds in the gym while filming TikTok videos about password managers, running SANS courses in Singapore, oprates Cith 2, then chairing virtual summits at 2 AM without missing a beat. The nuclear reactor in a skin suit who responds to every troll comment with Southern charm until they start using password managers. His real dream remains teaching world history to middle schoolers.TIMESTAMPS  00:00 Introduction and Background 02:44 Military Journey and Cybersecurity Career 05:29 Teaching and Content Creation 08:29 The Importance of Listening and Learning 11:18 Energy and Engagement in Content Creation 14:13 Sith2: Building a Brand and Community 17:10 Fitness and Personal Accountability 19:38 Content Creation Challenges and Mindset 26:04 The Impact of Teaching and Mentorship 26:29 Fueling Motivation Through Negativity 27:36 Engaging with Trolls and Negative Comments 29:42 Navigating Different Social Media Platforms 33:07 AI in Cybersecurity and Content Creation 37:38 The Future of AI and Human Creativity 40:10 Unique Bar Experiences and Travel Stories 42:18 Creating a Cybersecurity-Themed Bar SYMLINKS [Sith2 Official Website] – http://www.sith2.com Rich Green’s main platform for cybersecurity content, consulting, blogs, and podcast episodes. [LinkedIn] – https://www.linkedin.com/in/secgreene Professional profile where Rich shares cybersecurity insights, teaching content, and industry updates. [X (Twitter)] – https://twitter.com/secgreene Platform for quick thoughts, updates, and conversations around cybersecurity and tech. [SANS Profile] – https://www.sans.org/profiles/rich-greene Official instructor profile showcasing his work, credentials, and contributions within SANS cybersecurity training. [Instagram] – https://www.instagram.com/secgreene A mix of cybersecurity content, personal updates, and lifestyle posts including fitness and daily routines.

    48 min
  4. Ryan Williams

    MAR 30

    Ryan Williams

    In the back office of his father’s telecommunications business, something in five-year-old Ryan Williams initialized. Programming in BASIC on a Commodore 64, he typed endless lines of code from a magazine, waiting three hours for a Mandelbrot set to render pixel by pixel across the screen. He was disappointed with the result, but the process had already taken hold. Years later, Williams was setting up a Formula One driver’s party when his phone rang. Pack it down. COVID wiped out his entire music career, his production company, and $40K in a single moment. Everything he’d built over two decades as a touring DJ and musician terminated without warning. By eleven, he was hacking payphones with McDonald’s straws and engaging in underground BBSs after answering questions about death metal. But music became his focus, taking him from classical orchestras to rock bands to DJ tours across Australia and overseas. It was a life of little responsibility and constant motion, until March 2020 forced a hard stop. At rock bottom, Williams enrolled in a cybersecurity course at a local TAFE college. He quickly realized he was ahead of his classmates, but that wouldn’t be enough among 12,000 graduates nationwide. So he went online, consuming everything he could while documenting his path as D8RH8R from the hills of Victoria. Now he works as a lead security engineer at Applied Computing Technologies, breaking AI models deployed in critical infrastructure. He runs Smart Security Solutions, publishes HVCK Magazine, builds offensive security training, and operates Solo Hobo, providing pro bono assessments for organizations with no budget. The man who once lived for sold-out shows now works in the quiet RF spectrum of Victoria’s hills, pushing physics-based AI models until they fail. TIMESTAMPS 00:00:00 - Introduction and guest background 00:05:11 - Early computer addiction and origin story 00:07:30 - Music career and COVID impact 00:09:10 - Transition into cybersecurity education 00:13:22 - Data Hater persona meaning explained 00:16:22 - Lessons learned the hard way 00:20:03 - Adversarial AI security role 00:28:00 - Solo Hobo pro bono security 00:35:00 - Hack Magazine and Academy vision 00:45:00 - Business model and creative process LINKS Applied Computing Technologies – https://www.appliedct.com.au - AI platform company for critical infrastructure AttackIQ Academy – https://www.attackiq.com/academy/ - Cyber security training platform B-Sides Brisbane – https://bsidesbrisbane.com - Information security conference PADDOK's AI Red Team Course – https://www.youtube.com/c/PADDOK - Adversarial AI security training Hack Magazine – https://hackmagazine.org - Cybersecurity publication Solo Hobo – https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanwilliams-datahater/ - Pro bono security assessments TAFE – https://www.tafe.edu.au - Technical education colleges Australia Orbital AI Platform – https://orbital.ai - AI platform for industrial applications

    1 hr
  5. Pyr0

    MAR 22

    Pyr0

    One batch file flatlined an entire school district’s network. That was 1994, in a town so small you could drive fifteen minutes and see nothing but the curvature of the earth. By sixteen he was building one of Wyoming’s first ISPs, and by 1996 he had already founded a Red Team. Then came twenty three years as a DEF CON goon, followed by an offensive security practice that scaled to 132 pen testers and nearly forty million dollars a year. He has breached security inside Ferrari dealerships, biolabs, and financial trading floors. If it had a lock, a network, a password, or a perimeter, Pyr0 found a way through it. Now he lives off grid in the mountains of Northern Colorado, running ham radio on solar, raising chickens, and still pulling sixty hour weeks breaking into things that were never supposed to be breakable. And this year, he's building something new. A conference on the beach at Carolina Beach, NC that is dedicated to preserving the stories and the history of hacking before they're lost to time. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Introduction and Background 09:44 Life Off-Grid: The Journey 19:10 Introducing naclcon: A Community-Driven Conference 26:55 Conference Planning and Logistics 32:10 Badge Life and Unique Experiences 37:03 Celebrating Hacker Culture and History 39:04 Organizational Challenges and Insights 42:00 Creating a Unique Conference Experience 47:12 The Vision for a Cybersecurity Bar LINKS [NaClCon Official Website] – https://naclcon.com Main website for NaClCon where users can register, book accommodations, and access full event details. [NaC Con Contact Email] – mailto:info@naclcon.com Official support email for inquiries about the conference, including registration and partnerships. [Pyr0 (Luke McOmie) Email] – mailto:pyr0303@gmail.com Direct contact for sponsorships, collaborations, and communication with the event organizer. [Fat Pelican – Carolina Beach] – https://fatpelican.com – Iconic dive bar on the Carolina Beach boardwalk highlighted as a must-visit during NaClCon. [Red Helm] – https://redhelm.com – Pyr0's company where he serves as VP of Offensive Security. [DEFCON] – https://defcon.org – The world's largest hacking conference where Pyr0 spent 23 years as a senior goon and founded SkyTalks. [SkyTalks at DEFCON] – https://skytalks.info – The off-the-record talk track at DEFCON founded by Pyr0. [Dual Core] – https://dualcoremusic.com – Nerdcore hip-hop artist performing live at NaClCon's Concert at Sea.

    55 min
  6. Robert Covington

    MAR 14

    Robert Covington

    A kid builds a website for Game Boy Advance tips. Then another one. Then a racing game with a contact form he didn't think twice about. Until, someone hit it with a SQL injection. That moment cracked open a door he never planned to walk through. Years later, he's still walking. Past classical computing, past the ones and zeros we all know and into a space where a bit doesn't have to choose. One where particles hold their breath until someone measures them. This is the story of someone who cut their teeth building websites about gaming tips and a comedy sketch audio site that hit number one on G4TV. Now he's volunteering at DEF CON's Quantum Village, building browser-based quantum simulations, and trying to make the most complex frontier in computing feel a little less sci-fi. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Introduction to Robert Covington and His Journey 00:51 From Web Projects to Security Awareness 03:51 Diving into Quantum Computing 06:22 Understanding Quantum Concepts 08:31 Making Quantum Accessible with Qubitide.dev 11:13 Quantum in Enterprise: Use Cases and Costs 13:14 Involvement with Quantum Village and Community Initiatives 15:17 Emerging Job Opportunities in Quantum Computing 17:27 Learning Resources for Quantum Computing 19:31 Understanding Q Day and Its Implications 23:16 The Role of Quantum Random Number Generators 25:38 Unique Bar Experiences and Quantum Themes LINKS [Robert Covington – LinkedIn] – https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-covington-2693a914b - A LinkedIn profile where Robert Covington shares posts about quantum computing, security conferences, and experiments with quantum simulations and QPU workflows.] [QubitIDE] https://qubitide.dev - Quantum computing simulation platform for browser-based learning [Quantum Village] https://www.quantumvillage.org - DEFCON village focused on quantum computing education and CTFs [CompTIA SecurityX] https://www.comptia.org/certifications/securityx - Advanced cybersecurity certification [Amazon Braket] https://aws.amazon.com/braket/- Quantum computing service on AWS [IBM Qiskit] https://qiskit.org - Open-source quantum computing framework [PennyLane] https://pennylane.ai - Quantum machine learning library by Xanadu [D-Wave] https://www.dwavesys.com - Quantum computing systems and cloud services [Xanadu] https://xanadu.ai - Quantum computing company behind PennyLane [G4TV] https://g4tv.com - Gaming and technology television network [QEDC] https://www.quantumeconomicdevelopmentconsortium.org - Quantum Economic Development Consortium [Graph Machine Learning] https://www.cs.mcgill.ca/~wlh/grl_book/Academic resource on graph theory and ML [WordFence] https://www.wordfence.comWordPress security plugin

    29 min
  7. Moo Muhammad

    MAR 3

    Moo Muhammad

    An Uber ride. A stranger in the backseat. A conversation that changes everything. What if the person who redirects your entire life is someone you've walked past a thousand times and never noticed? This is the story of a kid from West Philly who didn't know what a server was, what the cloud meant, or why Windows OS mattered and then turned that into a cybersecurity career built on hustle, community, and an obsession with doing the work. 00:00 Moo's Journey into Cybersecurity 09:14 Navigating Distractions in Tech 13:26 Finding Passion and Purpose 17:11 The Reality of Rapid Industry Changes 23:11 Supporting Newcomers in Cybersecurity 25:53 Starting Over: Lessons Learned 29:41 Experiencing Hacker Summer Camp 35:07 The Culture of Networking and Community 38:39 Unique Bar Experiences and Networking 44:10 Creative Drink Ideas and Closing Thoughts SYMLINKS Moo Muhammad – LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/munirmuhammad/Cybersecurity professional specializing in application security, incident response, and hands-on technical projects. Connect to follow his work, insights, and career journey in tech. National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) – https://www.nsbe.orgA professional organization supporting Black engineering students and professionals through mentorship, scholarships, and career development. IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) – https://www.ieee.orgA global professional organization advancing technology, offering resources, publications, and networking for engineers and technologists. Women in Cybersecurity (WiCyS) – https://www.wicys.orgA nonprofit organization dedicated to recruiting, retaining, and advancing women in cybersecurity through mentorship, conferences, and career opportunities. DEF CON – https://defcon.orgOne of the world’s largest and most well-known hacker conferences, held annually in Las Vegas as part of “Hacker Summer Camp.” Black Hat – https://www.blackhat.comA premier cybersecurity conference series featuring technical training, research briefings, and industry networking events.

    41 min
  8. Jim West

    FEB 12

    Jim West

    The future of cybersecurity is not coming. It is already here. AI is writing code faster than humans. Deepfakes can impersonate your boss. Quantum computers threaten the encryption that protects everything we trust. And most organizations are still playing catch up. In this episode of BarCode, Chris sits down with Jim West, a 30 plus year cybersecurity veteran who has seen every wave of the industry. From building machines in the early days of dial up to advising on quantum risk and AI driven defense, Jim breaks down what is hype, what is real, and what is about to change everything. This is not theory. This is what comes next. If you want to understand how to think like an attacker, adapt like a defender, and prepare for a world where machines outpace humans, this conversation is your briefing. Welcome to the future of security. 00:00 Introduction to Jim West and His Expertise 04:59 Jim's Origin Story and Early Career 10:36 The Importance of Certifications in Cybersecurity 17:16 The Rise of Quantum Computing in Cybersecurity 27:05 Preparing for Quantum Day and Its Implications 28:28 Exploring Quantum Computing and Qiskit 28:58 AI's Role in Cybersecurity Threats 30:45 The Evolution of Deepfake Technology 31:45 Quantum Computing as a Service 33:09 The Intersection of AI and Quantum Computing 34:34 Future Scenarios: AI and Quantum in Cyber Warfare 38:39 AI's Impact on Society and Human Interaction 39:24 The Creative Potential of AI 46:41 Balancing AI and Human Interaction 52:46 Unique Bar Experiences and Future Ventures [Facebook – Jim West Author] – https://www.facebook.com/jimwestauthorOfficial author page where Jim West shares updates about his books, cybersecurity insights, speaking engagements, and creative projects. [LinkedIn – Jim West] – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimwest1Professional networking profile highlighting his cybersecurity leadership, certifications, conference speaking, mentoring, and industry experience. [Official Author Site – Jim West] – https://jimwestauthor.com/Personal website featuring his published works, cybersecurity thought leadership, creative projects, and links to his social platforms. [BookAuthority – 100 Best Cybersecurity Books of All Time] – https://bookauthority.orgA curated book recommendation platform that recognized Jim West’s work among the “100 Best Cybersecurity Books of All Time,” reflecting industry impact and credibility. [ISACA (Information Systems Audit and Control Association)] – https://www.isaca.orgA global professional association focused on IT governance, risk management, and cybersecurity, where Jim West has spoken at multiple regional and international events. [GRC (Governance, Risk, and Compliance) Conference – San Diego] – https://www.grcconference.comA cybersecurity conference centered on governance, risk management, and compliance practices, referenced in relation to industry speaking engagements. [EC-Council (International Council of E-Commerce Consultants)] – https://www.eccouncil.orgA cybersecurity certification organization known for programs such as CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker) and events like Hacker Halted, where Jim West has participated and spoken.

    59 min
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About

Barcode is a cocktail powered podcast that dives into the technology, personalities, criminals, and heroes that have come to define modern security across the globe.  Hosted by Chris Glanden.

Information

  • Creator
    Chris Glanden
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    146
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Chris Glanden
  • Show Website
    BarCode

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