Cyber Confessions with Cybersecurity Girl

Cybersecurity Girl
  • 5.0 (4)
  • TECHNOLOGY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Cyber Confessions, hosted by Cybersecurity Girl (Caitlin Sarian), is the short-form podcast sharing the unbelievable true stories of what really happens to people online. From scams and shocking digital mistakes to the moments we all hope never happen to us, each 10-20 minute episode pulls you into a raw, personal confession about getting tricked, trapped, or blindsided on the internet. These are the stories that make you stop, think… and say, “This could happen to anyone.

Episodes

  1. 1D AGO

    How a Pro Hacker Uses Your Social Media to 'Sneak In' Legally (ft. Andrea Schaumann-Phillips)

    In this episode of Cyber Confessions, host Caitlin Sarian (Cybersecurity Girl) sits down with Andrea Schaumann-Phillips, a DEF CON Black Badge social engineering expert. Andrea reveals how she "sneaks into things " (legally ofc!) by using human psychology to bypass the most secure technical systems. We also dive into why your "harmless" social media posts are actually a roadmap for hackers to build a profile on you and breach your workplace Inside this Episode: The Social Media Roadmap: How "Day in the Life" videos accidentally leak office layouts and security badge designs. The #1 Vulnerability: Why psychology is the biggest security gap facing every individual and company today.The 11-Hour Grind: What it’s really like inside the high-stakes DEF CON "vishing booth" hacking companies live on stage.Corporate "Slang" as a Weapon: How hackers use internal jargon to sound like an insider in seconds. The "Personal MFA" Hack: A simple family trick to verify callers and protect yourself from AI voice-cloning scamsAbout the Guest:Andrea is the Director of Partnerships & Programs at Fortress Information Security and a DEF CON Black Badge winner in Social Engineering. She is a leading expert in OSINT and the "human element" of cybersecurity, helping global organizations secure their most vulnerable surface: their people.Follow us for more Cyber Confessions!

    29 min

  2. FEB 11

    Sextortion & The Ransomware War (ft. Keelin Conant)

    Is your "cyber hygiene" putting you at risk without you even knowing it? In this episode of Cyber Confessions, host Caitlin Sarian (Cybersecurity Girl) sits down with Keelin Conant, Senior Solutions Advisor at Alvaka and host of the CyberSoul podcast, to expose the surprising ways our daily habits leave us vulnerable. From the "false sense of security" we feel while working at 30,000 feet to the heartbreaking rise of digital blackmail, we move beyond the code to discuss why cybersecurity is fundamentally a human issue. Keelin exposes the "Patch and Pray" reality of modern tech, and Caitlin and Keelin explain why the industry needs more than just coders; it needs psychologists, lawyers, and creative thinkers to fight back against global threat actors Inside this Episode: The Silent Crisis of Sextortion: Why teenagers and young men are being targeted in "terrible webs" of blackmail and why no one is talking about it.The Ransomware Debate: A deep dive into why paying the ransom is a "capitalism issue" that fuels the criminal economy.The "Patch and Pray" Reality: Why companies fear software updatesAirplane Privacy Fails: Why we feel "insulated" on planes and the risk of displaying sensitive financials in public spaces.Public Wi-Fi & "The Chase Bank Story": The appalling moment Caitlin witnessed a traveler logging into their bank account on an open Wi-Fi network at an airport.Guest Bio: Keelin Conant is a Senior Solutions Advisor at Alvaka and the visionary behind CyberSoul. She is a catalyst for transformation, encouraging audiences to embrace vulnerability, honor their authentic selves, and build true human connection in an increasingly tech-driven world. Follow us for more Cyber Confessions!

    28 min

  3. FEB 2

    AI Needs Just One Link to Uncover Your Private Life (ft. Brian Long)

    Think your private life is safe? Think again. In this episode of Cyber Confessions, host Caitlin Sarian (Cybersecurity Girl) and Adaptive Security CEO Brian Long reveal how AI uses a single LinkedIn URL to uncover your family’s deepest secrets, even things you’ve never officially posted. From AI voice cloning to $1 million crypto thefts, the rules of digital safety have changed. Brian shares chilling stories of how "data brokers" and Large Language Models (LLMs) are being used to map your life and drain your accounts in seconds. Inside this Episode: The LinkedIn Trap: How ChatGPT found an engineer’s daughter’s name and his dog using only a profile URL a 20-second-old job posting. The Death of the Voicemail: Why you must change your greeting immediately to prevent AI Deepfakes. The "Flight Scam": How attackers use your airport social media posts to target your family while you're offline at 30,000 feet. Data Brokers Exposed: Why companies are allowed to sell your SSN, IP address, and location history. The Million Crypto Theft: A play-by-play of how a smart executive lost everything in 15 seconds. The Office Scam: Why a new hire on their first day and their manager bought $5,000 in gift cards for his CEO Guest Bio: Brian Long is the CEO and Co-Founder of Adaptive Security, a leader in protecting businesses from GenAI phishing, smishing, and deepfake threats. Follow us for more Cyber Confessions!

    21 min

  4. JAN 26

    The Dark Web AI Leak: A 4-Month Security Nightmare (ft. Tito Sestito)

    In this episode of Cyber Confessions, host Caitlin Sarian (Cybersecurity Girl) sits down with Tito Sestito, CEO and Co-Founder of HiddenLayer. Tito shares a "no sleep" story from the early days of starting the company: a high-stakes crisis where threat actors reverse-engineered AI models and sold them on the dark web. We also explore the bizarre side of cyber history—from 2005-era hackers who forced victims to pass environmental quizzes to unlock their data , to modern risks where AI is given the authority to act as a human being. Inside this episode: The AI Reverse-Engineering Crisis: Tito’s account of the four-month mission to put out an AI-driven fire. Quizzes for Ransom: The "hilarious" historical era where multi-billion dollar companies couldn't access their data until they passed a cybersecurity test. The $1 Car Hack: How a professional red teaming engagement tricked an AI chatbot into selling a car for $1. The "Dirty Laundry" Rule: Why you should never tell an AI anything you wouldn’t want a federal agent or the public to know. AI and the Future of Work: Why Tito believes 9% of the US workforce, specifically drivers, face immediate risk from AI displacement. Follow us for more Cyber Confessions!

    14 min

  5. JAN 26

    How a 'Vibe Check' Stopped a Major Cyber Scam (ft. Andy Piazza)

    In this episode of Cyber Confessions, host Caitlin Sarian (Cybersecurity Girl) sits down with Andy Piazza, Senior Director of Threat Intelligence at Palo Alto Networks Unit 42. Andy reveals how the most sophisticated technical security in the world was outsmarted by a simple human "vibe check." We dive into a shocking Business Email Compromise (BEC) story where a fraudulent banking transfer was stopped not by a firewall, but because a friend’s email tone was missing its usual "bubbly" energy and signature emojis. Inside this episode: The "Bubbly" Red Flag: How human intuition caught a scam that security tools missed. North Korean Infiltration: The reality of "Wage Mold," where nation-state operators are getting hired as remote IT workers inside Western companies. The Danger of "Vibe Coding": Why rushing to build apps with AI is creating massive security holes. Jailbreaking LLMs: How scammers trick AI into dumping sensitive customer data. Follow us for more Cyber Confessions!

    18 min

  6. JAN 14

    How a 12-Year-Old Hacked Microsoft (ft. Fergus Hay)

    In this episode of Cyber Confessions, host Caitlin Sarian talks with Fergus Hay, Co-Founder and CEO of The Hacking Games. Fergus shares surprising stories about how many modern hackers are actually kids, not adults in faraway countries. He explains how gaming platforms often become the first place young people discover exploits, build skills, and sometimes cross lines they do not fully understand. Fergus highlights real examples, from a twelve-year-old exploiting Roblox to another twelve-year-old who hacked Microsoft and ended up with a custom bug bounty program. He also explains how The Hacking Games works to guide this talent toward ethical hacking and safer futures. Follow us for more Cyber Confessions!

    14 min
  • 6 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Cyber Confessions, hosted by Cybersecurity Girl (Caitlin Sarian), is the short-form podcast sharing the unbelievable true stories of what really happens to people online. From scams and shocking digital mistakes to the moments we all hope never happen to us, each 10-20 minute episode pulls you into a raw, personal confession about getting tricked, trapped, or blindsided on the internet. These are the stories that make you stop, think… and say, “This could happen to anyone.

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