DISCARDED: Tales From the Threat Research Trenches

Proofpoint

DISCARDED: Tales from the Threat Research Trenches is a podcast for security practitioners, intelligence analysts, and threat hunters looking to learn more about the threat behaviors and attack patterns. Each episode you’ll hear real world insights from our researchers about the latest trends in malware, threat actors, TTPs, and more.Welcome to DISCARDED

  1. 16h ago

    Diving Into the DBIR: Vulnerabilities, AI, and Supply Chain

    Send us fan mail! Hello to all our Cyber Pals! Host Selena Larson is joined by guest host Sarah Sabotka as they chat with returning guest: Alex Pinto, Associate Director of Threat Intelligence at Verizon Business, and the architect behind the Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report.  Alex joins hosts Selena Larson and Sarah Sabatka to break down the most important findings from this year's report — and there's a lot to unpack. From vulnerabilities overtaking credential abuse as the leading initial access vector, to the sobering reality that organizations are patching more but getting worse outcomes, this year's DBIR paints a complex picture of a threat landscape under pressure. The team also digs into the rise of pretexting and voice-based social engineering, what the data actually says about GenAI and threat actors (spoiler: mostly reinventing the wheel — for now), and why third-party and supply chain compromises are quietly becoming one of the biggest stories in security. They discuss: The VERIS framework and why standardization in threat intelligence mattersRansomware taxonomy, data extortion, and why classification is still a headachePretexting vs. phishing — and why they require completely different defensesVulnerability exploitation as the new number one initial access vectorPatching capacity and why outcomes are getting worse despite more effortWhat the DBIR data actually shows about GenAI usage by threat actorsThird-party and supply chain breaches — up 60% year over yearShadow AI and the emerging DLP problem no one's fully ready forA sneak peek at Verizon's upcoming cost-of-a-data-breach reportThe DBIR drops once a year — make sure you're getting the most out of it with this breakdown straight from the source, all 121 nutritious, fiber-rich pages of it. Resources Mentioned: 2026 DBIR For more information about Proofpoint, check out our website. Subscribe & Follow: Stay ahead of emerging threats, and subscribe! Happy hunting!

    1h 5m

  2. May 27

    "Always Intentional": A CISO's Pragmatic Take on the Agentic Era

    Send us fan mail! What does it actually look like to bring AI into a threat intelligence program at one of the internet's most iconic companies? Hello to all our Cyber Pals! Host Selena Larson is joined by guest host, Sarah Sabotka as they chat with Sean Zadig, Chief Information Security Officer (and "Chief Paranoid") at Yahoo, for a candid conversation about the evolving intersection of AI and cybersecurity. Sean shares how Yahoo's security team, the Paranoids, is navigating the agentic AI transformation: from running a company-wide "skill-a-thon" to get every team member building Claude-powered tools, to rethinking legacy infrastructure from the ground up. He also opens up about what keeps him up at night; including the looming threat of AI-powered exploit frameworks like Mythos, the growing signal-to-noise problem in threat intel feeds, and the very real risk of analyst burnout as the pace of the industry accelerates. But Sean's outlook is surprisingly optimistic. He argues that defenders have a home-field advantage, that the best code ever written is just 12–18 months away, and that the goal of AI in security shouldn't be doing more with fewer people–it should be building more resilient teams. For more information about Proofpoint, check out our website.   Subscribe & Follow: Stay ahead of emerging threats, and subscribe! Happy hunting!

    46 min

  3. May 12

    A Device Code Explosion: The New Era of AI-Enabled Phishing

    Send us fan mail! Hello to all our Cyber Sunbeams! Host Selena Larson is joined by guest host, Sarah Sabotka as they chat with Jake Gionet to unpack one of the fastest-growing threats in today’s cyber landscape: device code phishing. What started as a niche technique used in red team exercises has quickly evolved into a widely adopted method for account takeover—fueled by publicly available phishing kits and accelerated by AI-assisted tooling. The trio breaks down how device code phishing works, why it’s suddenly everywhere, and how attackers are exploiting legitimate authentication flows to bypass traditional defenses. They also explore the rise of “phishing-as-a-service” platforms like Evil Tokens, the surprising lack of sophistication behind many campaigns, and how AI is both enabling attackers and exposing their mistakes. Along the way, they dig into real-world examples, threat actor missteps, and the blurry line between innovation and imitation in cybercrime. If you’ve been hearing the buzz around device code phishing and want a clear, grounded explanation—without the hype—this episode delivers. Plus, practical insights on what defenders should actually focus on as these techniques continue to evolve. Resources Mentioned: https://www.proofpoint.com/us/blog/threat-insight/access-granted-phishing-device-code-authorization-account-takeover https://www.proofpoint.com/us/blog/threat-insight/access-granted-phishing-device-code-authorization-account-takeover For more information about Proofpoint, check out our website.   Subscribe & Follow: Stay ahead of emerging threats, and subscribe! Happy hunting!

    53 min

  4. Apr 28

    Champagne with Our Campaigns: A 100th Episode Happy Hour

    Send us fan mail! Hello to all our Cyber Pals, Cyber Centaurs, Cyber Stars, and listeners who have been with us for 100 episodes! It’s our 100th episode—and we’re raising a glass to celebrate. 🥂 Host Selena Larson is joined by long-time guest hosts, Sarah Sabotka and Tim Kromphardt, and honorary host, VP of Proofpoint Threat Research Daniel Blackford, for this commemorative episode of Discarded! We reflect on the journey so far, revisit standout moments, and look ahead to what’s next in cybersecurity. From unforgettable guests and inside jokes to real lessons learned from years of tracking threat actors, this episode is part celebration, part reflection, and part unfiltered cyber chat. We dig into: Favorite podcast guests and the insights that stuck with usThe reality vs. hype of AI in cybersecurity (and what’s actually useful)How threat actors are evolving—and where they’re… notThe surprising truth about targeting, myths in the industry, and why attackers don’t need to be sophisticated to be effectiveBehind-the-scenes looks at the tools and research we’re building right nowPlus, we answer listener questions, share a few laughs (and a few drinks), and talk about what the next 100 episodes might hold. Whether you’ve been with us since episode one or just discovered the show, this milestone episode is a thank-you to our listeners—and a reminder that cybersecurity is as much about people as it is about technology. Cheers to 100 episodes. 🍾 Resources Mentioned: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/04/technology/ai-chatbots-teen-roleplay.html For more information about Proofpoint, check out our website.   Subscribe & Follow: Stay ahead of emerging threats, and subscribe! Happy hunting!

    1 hr

  5. Apr 14

    Magic Packets & Stealth Backdoors: The Art of Detection Engineering

    Send us fan mail! Hello to all our Cyber Daffodils! Host Selena Larson, and guest Host, Tim Kromphardt, sit down with Stuart Del Caliz, Senior Threat Detection Engineer at Proofpoint, to unpack the stealthy world of backdoors, malware detection, and the “secret signals” threat actors use to stay hidden. From magic packets and port knocking to sophisticated backdoors like BPFdoor, Stuart shares how attackers design covert communication methods—and how defenders work to uncover them without overwhelming security teams with noise. The conversation blends deep technical insight with real-world analogies (think speakeasy knocks and undercover “internet cops”) to make complex detection strategies easier to understand. You’ll also hear: How detection engineers balance accuracy and performance when writing IDS/IPS signaturesWhy some advanced malware can remain undetected for years—and whether we’re simply not seeing itHow historic leaks like Shadow Brokers still influence modern attack techniquesThe role of “pattern matching” in identifying evolving malware behaviorsHow file metadata and revoked certificates can reveal threats hiding in plain sightWhy community collaboration and feedback loops are critical to stronger detectionsWhether you’re a security practitioner or deep in the trenches, this episode offers a closer look at the craft of detection engineering—and the constant challenge of writing high-fidelity detections against increasingly evasive threat techniques. Resources Mentioned: https://community.emergingthreats.net/ https://www.rapid7.com/blog/post/tr-bpfdoor-telecom-networks-sleeper-cells-threat-research-report/ https://www.wired.com/story/nsa-hacking-tools-stolen-hackers/ https://github.com/x0rz/EQGRP For more information about Proofpoint, check out our website.   Subscribe & Follow: Stay ahead of emerging threats, and subscribe! Happy hunting!

    34 min

  6. Mar 26

    Regional Threats, Global Impact: A TA2725 Case Study

    Send us fan mail! Hello to all our Cyber Pals! Guest host Sarah Sabotka sits down with Senior Threat Researcher Jared Peck to unpack one of the most dynamic and persistent cybercrime groups operating today: TA2725, also known as “Grana.” From its roots in Latin America to its global reach, TA2725 stands out for its adaptability—and its relentless pursuit of financial gain. Jared shares how the group evolved from a high-volume malware operator into a multifaceted threat actor running phishing, fraud, and malware campaigns simultaneously. The conversation dives into how Grana targets regions like Brazil and Mexico, why their tactics shift across geographies, and what makes their operations uniquely complex. You’ll also hear: How threat actors “graduate” to official TA designations (and why it’s a big win for researchers) The impact of law enforcement disruptions on major malware operations like Grandoreiro Why Latin America’s banking infrastructure shapes cybercrime tactics differently The rise (and fall) of RMM tools in TA2725’s playbook What clues reveal whether activity comes from one group—or an entire cybercrime “service” ecosystemWhether you’re in cybersecurity or just curious about how modern cybercrime operates, this episode offers a fascinating look at a threat actor that refuses to stay in one lane—and what that means for organizations worldwide. For more information about Proofpoint, check out our website.   Subscribe & Follow: Stay ahead of emerging threats, and subscribe! Happy hunting!

    38 min

  7. Mar 10

    TrustConnect RAT: Inside a Vibe-Coded Malware Ecosystem

    Send us fan mail! Hello to all our Cyber Pals! Host Selena Larson and co-host, Tim Kromphardt, chat with Tommy Madjar, Senior Threat Researcher from Proofpoint, to unpack one of the strangest malware investigations of the year: TrustConnect RAT. What started as a seemingly legitimate remote management tool quickly unraveled into a bizarre, fast-evolving ecosystem of “vibe-coded” malware. TrustConnect masqueraded as a polished RMM platform—complete with fake testimonials, inflated customer counts, and even an extended validation (EV) code-signing certificate to appear trustworthy. But beneath the surface? Sloppy AI-generated web panels, exposed administrative pages, and a backend that literally labeled infected machines as “victims.” Tommy walks through how the team discovered the malware, why attackers are increasingly building their own fake RMM platforms instead of abusing legitimate ones, and how the use of EV certificates helped the malware evade detection across security tools.  The conversation also dives into: The explosion of legitimate RMM abuse in cybercrime How AI-assisted “vibe coding” is lowering the barrier to entry for malware development The surprising operational security failures that exposed both the malware author and their customers Connections to past crimeware activity and possible ties to known actors The rapid evolution of the “Connect” malware family, including newly spotted variants How Proofpoint disrupted the operation by working with partners to revoke certificates and take down infrastructure Along the way, the team explores a broader theme: what happens when threat actors move fast with AI—but don’t fully understand security fundamentals?  Resources Mentioned: https://www.proofpoint.com/us/blog/threat-insight/dont-trustconnect-its-a-rat For more information about Proofpoint, check out our website.   Subscribe & Follow: Stay ahead of emerging threats, and subscribe! Happy hunting!

    43 min

  8. Feb 26

    AI as a Tool, Not a Replacement: Malware Research in the Age of LLMs

    Send us fan mail! Hello to all our Cyber Pals! Host Selena Larson and co-host, Sarah Sabotka, chat with Kyle Cucci, and Dr. Chris Wakelin, Threat Researchers from Proofpoint. They unpack how artificial intelligence is shaping modern malware analysis and detection workflows.  The conversation explores how large language models are already embedded in day-to-day security operations—from accelerating rule creation and tooling development to helping analysts quickly interpret complex malware behavior. Drawing on real-world examples from the team’s work, the episode highlights both the promise and the limitations of AI in cybersecurity. Chris and Kyle share how AI can streamline tedious reverse-engineering tasks, compare malware variants, and surface insights faster—while emphasizing the ongoing need for expert validation, thoughtful prompting, and a human-in-the-loop approach to ensure accuracy and reliability. We also discuss: Practical ways AI is used today to support malware reverse engineering and detection development Prompting strategies that help reduce hallucinations and improve analysis outcomes The role of MCP (model context protocol) and emerging agentic AI concepts in security tooling Indicators and characteristics of AI-assisted malware development Real-world examples of prompt injection attempts within malicious code Whether AI-generated malware meaningfully changes defender workflows or primarily increases speed and scale How defenders and threat actors alike are leveraging the same AI capabilities across the threat landscapeUltimately, this episode offers a balanced look at AI’s growing influence in cybersecurity—showing how intelligent tools can amplify analyst effectiveness while reinforcing that expertise and critical thinking remain central to effective malware defense.

    50 min
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4.9
out of 5
56 Ratings

About

DISCARDED: Tales from the Threat Research Trenches is a podcast for security practitioners, intelligence analysts, and threat hunters looking to learn more about the threat behaviors and attack patterns. Each episode you’ll hear real world insights from our researchers about the latest trends in malware, threat actors, TTPs, and more.Welcome to DISCARDED

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