Behind the Binary by Google Cloud Security

Josh Stroschein

Welcome to Behind the Binary, the podcast that introduces you to the fascinating people, technology, and tools driving the world of reverse engineering. Join your host, Josh Stroschein, a reverse engineer with the FLARE team at Google, and someone passionate about sharing knowledge and shedding light on the art of reverse engineering, as he sits down with intriguing guests to explore the human side of this profession. Behind the Binary goes beyond the code, sharing the stories, motivations, and unique perspectives of the individuals who dedicate their lives to unraveling the complexities of technology. We'll hear about their journeys into the field, the challenges they face, and the impact their work has on securing our digital world. Whether you're a seasoned malware analyst, a software developer, a security researcher, or just someone curious about the world of reverse engineering, Behind the Binary offers insightful and engaging conversations for everyone interested in this fascinating field.

  1. 1D AGO

    EP18 10,000 DLLs and Too Much Math - Wrapping Up FLARE-On 12 with the FLARE Team

    In this episode, we sit down with Nick Harbour, Blas Kojusner, Moritz Raabe, and Sam Kim — members of the FLARE Team and some of this year’s challenge authors — for a deep dive into the design and execution of FLARE-On 12. The team discusses the complexity and intent behind this year's challenges, including how Sam created his grueling final challenge, "10,000," which featured 10,000 individual DLLs to force competitors toward automation. Sam reveals that solving the final puzzle required deep knowledge of both reverse engineering and group theory concepts like topological sorting and modular exponentiation of a matrix. Blas Kojusner explains his approach to challenge design, detailing how he blended modern Web3 concepts into a classic reverse engineering scenario with his ransomware chat client challenge, while Moritz shares that his Challenge 7 used obfuscation based on an actual malware sample he analyzed earlier in the year. The conversation then turns to the competition's impact and future. The authors confirm the community's primary feedback was a clear call for more malware-focused challenges. The strong participation and the constant flow of feedback directly influences the next iteration of the event, giving the team the motivation and data needed to improve. The FLARE Team confirms they are planning for FLARE-On 13 in 2026, driven by the community's enthusiasm to tackle new technical hurdles like Rust binaries. Tune in to hear the creators discuss the effort that goes into writing puzzles that truly test the world's best reverse engineers. Get the latest from FLARE's community efforts. Email flare-external@google.com to join our mailing list for important announcements. Your information will not be shared and is used only for this purpose.

    48 min

  2. OCT 22

    EP17 What Lurks Beneath: Building a Robust Network at Black Hat with Mark Overholser

    In this episode, we're asking the question: "What Lurks Beneath?" We're joined by Mark Overholser, a Technical Marketing Engineer at Corelight who's part of the team running the Black Hat Network Operations Center (NOC). We discuss the incident during Black Hat 2025 that introduced us and revealed the team's proactive approach to protecting every guest from the unseen threats hiding in the shadows. Mark gives us an insider’s look at the philosophy and challenges behind building a robust network for a security conference, which includes the complex infrastructure provided by partners like Arista, Cisco, Palo Alto Networks, and Lumen. We then dive into memorable network incidents and how they apply to any modern organization. Mark shares key insights on how to balance a permissive network with robust security, how they identify legit traffic from the digital monsters in training labs, and the crucial role of network alerts (IDS/IPS) in stopping attacks before they become full-blown nightmares. He'll also share some scary stories, including an infected presenter, a leaked company org chart, and people accessing their NASes in the clear. Get ready for a frightfully insightful discussion on network security.

    1h 10m

  3. OCT 1

    EP16 The Machine Learning Revolution in Reverse Engineering with Hahna Kane Latonick

    In this episode of Behind the Binary, we're joined by renowned security researcher Hahna Kane Latonick for a deep dive into the powerful world where reverse engineering meets data science. Hahna shares her expertise on how techniques like supervised and unsupervised learning can be used to classify and predict security threats, and she explains how deep learning and neural networks are being applied to identifying code sharing and solving other classification problems. We also discuss how Generative AI is transforming reverse engineering, from augmenting and assisting workflows to driving fully automated analysis. Resources mentioned during the episode: https://dronewolf.darkwolf.io/ https://asrp.darkwolf.io/ https://ringzer0.training/countermeasure25-machine-learning-for-reverse-engineers/

    1h 25m

  4. SEP 17

    EP15 Getting Ready for FLARE-On 12 - An Inside Look at the Reverse Engineering Gauntlet

    In this episode, we're "Getting Ready for FLARE-On 12" with an inside look at the world-renowned reverse engineering competition. We’re joined by long-time FLARE-On host and challenge author Nick Harbour and regular challenge author Blas Kojusner for an in-depth conversation. We'll take a brief tour of FLARE-On history and discuss how it has grown into a must-do event for malware analysts and reverse engineers. We’ll also break down how the competition works, from the evolution of the unique flag format to the mechanics of getting to the next challenge. Nick and Blas will then give us a sneak peek at FLARE-On 12, teasing details on the number of challenges, the technologies being covered, and what participants can expect from this year's installment. Plus, we'll share insights into the challenge's difficulty, from the blazing speed of the first finisher to the average completion time for a successful competitor. Whether you're a seasoned veteran or a curious newcomer, getting ready for FLARE-On 12 starts here! https://www.flare-on.com

    39 min

  5. SEP 3

    EP14 Web3's Dark Side: Unmasking the New Age of Financial Crime

    Web3 promised a new era of decentralized finance, but it has also created a new frontier for crime, with thefts and hacks far surpassing those in the traditional financial sector. In this episode, we sit down with experts Blas Kojusner, Robert Wallace, and Joseph Dobson to explore the Wild West of Web3 and decentralized finance (DeFi). But what is Web3? Our episode begins by taking a look at Web3 technologies like DeFi, blockchain, and smart contracts and explain how their very design makes them vulnerable. Our panel will then reveal how threat actors exploit these weaknesses, from crypto wallet key theft and EthHiding to intricate smart contract exploits and web frontend attacks. We'll also highlight some of the major players in the Web3 crime scene, including organized state-sponsored groups. We'll also discuss how organizations can fight back. Our guests will share critical defense strategies, offering actionable steps developers and users can take to protect themselves and their assets from this new breed of financial predator. Read the blog referenced in this episode: https://cloud.google.com/blog/topics/threat-intelligence/examining-web3-heists

    1h 12m

  6. AUG 13

    EP13 Beyond the Bug: Scaling Bug Bounty Programs & Launching a Cyber Startup with Dr. Jared DeMott

    In this episode of Behind the Binary, we sit down with Dr. Jared DeMott to pull back the curtain on the world of cybersecurity. Formerly with the Microsoft Security Response Center (MSRC), Jared shares invaluable wisdom on managing bug bounty programs at scale and what truly makes a good bug report. We then pivot to explore his fascinating career journey, from his start with the NSA to leading teams at Microsoft. If that wasn’t enough, we’ll also dive into the unique challenges of a cyber startup. Get a firsthand account of his entrepreneurial spirit as he discusses why he launched his own cybersecurity company, revealing both the surprising successes and the hurdles he had to overcome.

    37 min

  7. JUL 16

    EP12 Unpacking Malware & Minds: A Reverse Engineer's Journey with Danny Quist

    Join us as we explore the world of reverse engineering with pioneer and CTO, Danny Quist. We'll examine the evolving landscape of binary analysis tools, the constant battle with malware obfuscation, and what it was like building one of the very first malware repositories for research. Plus, Danny shares unique insights on neuro-diversity and cognitive load – crucial topics that impact us all. That's just a glimpse of what's ahead. Danny Quist isn't just a leading mind in reverse engineering; he offers a rare look into the evolution of our field and some deeply personal reflections that I think will resonate with many of you. Let's jump right into my chat with Danny.

    1 hr

  8. JUN 25

    EP11 Tracing Lazarus: Greg Sinclair on Attributing North Korean Cyber Threats Through Binary Similarity

    Ever wonder who names the world's most notorious APTs? In this episode, we sit down with Greg Sinclair, a reverse engineer from the FLARE team at Google. Greg not only hunts down sophisticated malware but also shares the behind the scenes story of how he discovered and named the North Korean APT, the Lazarus Group. He also discusses his innovative methods for identifying malware families through binary similarities. Get ready for an inside look at the challenges, triumphs, and the sheer passion that defines a cutting-edge reverse engineer.

    1h 2m
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

Welcome to Behind the Binary, the podcast that introduces you to the fascinating people, technology, and tools driving the world of reverse engineering. Join your host, Josh Stroschein, a reverse engineer with the FLARE team at Google, and someone passionate about sharing knowledge and shedding light on the art of reverse engineering, as he sits down with intriguing guests to explore the human side of this profession. Behind the Binary goes beyond the code, sharing the stories, motivations, and unique perspectives of the individuals who dedicate their lives to unraveling the complexities of technology. We'll hear about their journeys into the field, the challenges they face, and the impact their work has on securing our digital world. Whether you're a seasoned malware analyst, a software developer, a security researcher, or just someone curious about the world of reverse engineering, Behind the Binary offers insightful and engaging conversations for everyone interested in this fascinating field.

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