Collateral Dialogue

MailChannels

Introducing "Collateral Dialogue," a MailChannels podcast. Join CEO Ken Simpson and selected guests for a thought-provoking exploration of the computer and network security landscape—subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred podcast platform.

  1. JAN 7

    From NSA to PHP: Rob Seger's Quest to Secure the Web at its Source

    In this episode, MailChannels CEO Ken Simpson sits down with Rob Seger, CTO of Monarx and former NSA engineer, to explore how malware actually spreads across the internet from shared hosting environmentsRob shares what he learned at the NSA, why attackers always win, and why the blast radius of a single false positive can take down a million websites. This episode dives into the hidden mechanics of web-based attacks, PHP’s dark corners, symbolic AI, and the economic forces shaping cybersecurity today.If you work in hosting, cybersecurity, devops, or run a SaaS platform, this conversation is a must-watch. (00:00) When one false positive impacts a million sites(01:00) Lessons Rob took from his early NSA years(02:00) How cybersecurity teams manage massive problem spaces(04:20) Seeing security through attacker vs defender perspectives(07:10) Understanding the economics shaping cybersecurity decisions(09:00) A clear look at what Monarx actually protects(11:00) Why shared hosting environments hide so much malware(17:00) How Monarchs integrates with PHP to block malicious behavior(25:00) Why symbolic AI can outperform modern ML in security(32:00) What it takes to scale malware detection to billions of files(40:00) The real reason hosting providers struggle to stop spam(45:00) Closing insights and what comes next for security ✅✉️ MailChannels builds email security products for hosting providers to give users a more secure, more reliable email experience. 🎧 Listen to us on: - Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1iK2OPwEwwzLvz1cuqwLk7?si=41f9c6df59994119&nd=1- Apple podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/collateral-dialogue-conversations-about-computer-security/id1700347643👋 Connect wth us: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/mailchannels/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mailchannels/Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/mailchannelsWebsite - https://mailchannels.com/

    47 min
  2. 07/08/2025

    Why Domain Reputation is the New IP Reputation | Insights from Expert in Email Deliverability

    In this episode, email deliverability expert Matt Vernhout joins the podcast to discuss essential insights into the current state of email delivery.  Matt emphasizes the importance of looking at campaign performance over time and the value of engagement metrics in maintaining a healthy email list. He shares historical and recent changes in email authentication standards such as SPF, DKIM, and DMARC, and highlights their impact on improving email delivery.  The conversation covers major shifts in the industry, including the implementation of one-click unsubscribe mechanisms mandated by major email providers like Google and Yahoo, and the rise of generative AI's role in both creating and filtering email content.  Matt also talks about the tools and strategies new email services should adopt to mitigate abuse from day one. Looking ahead, he shares his hopes for the evolution of interactive email and improved security standards. Highlights: Look at overall campaign performance, not just individual metrics. Email remains a crucial communication tool in business. Authentication standards like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are essential. Unsubscribe mechanisms should be clear and easy to use. Engagement metrics are vital for maintaining a healthy email list. Generative AI is changing how emails are created and filtered. New email services must prepare for potential abuse from day one. Tools like BlackBox can help identify problematic email lists. AMP for email could revolutionize user interaction with emails. The email industry will continue to evolve with new technologies and standards. Chapters (00:00) Intro (02:20) Email Industry Evolution (03:54) Impact of Major Changes by Google and Yahoo (07:57) The Role of Unsubscribes in Email Deliverability (11:07) Importance of Engagement Metrics (15:10) Challenges with Open and Click Rates (18:00) Common Issues in Email Deliverability (19:43) Generative AI in Email Marketing (20:18) AI in Image Generation and Content Creation (23:24) Manual Processes and AI Assistance (29:39) Advice for New Email Service Providers (31:57) Future of Email Deliverability (38:52) Conclusion and Future Episodes #podcast #computersecurity #cybersecurity

    39 min
  3. 10/31/2024

    Email's Untapped Potential: Nicolas Toper on What's Next

    This episode features an engaging discussion with Nicolas Toper, a seasoned entrepreneur known for founding Crit Send and later Inbox Booster. Nicolas delves into his unique educational journey at the CNA school in France, highlighting how its unconventional night-class system catered to working individuals and shaped his entrepreneurial path. He shares the challenging transition from academia to launching his startups, emphasizing the real-world applications and difficulties of innovating within the email delivery and marketing space. His insights shed light on the evolving landscape of email technology and startup culture, providing a valuable perspective for aspiring entrepreneurs and industry professionals. (00:00:00) - Introduction to Nicolas Toper and the Podcast Theme (00:00:19) - The Enduring Value of Email (00:00:34) - Nicolas' Educational Path and Early Influences (00:03:08) - Starting Crit Send During a Master's Thesis (00:06:06) - The Evolution of Email Technology (00:09:39) - The Founding and Challenges of Crit Send (00:15:16) - Transition to Silicon Valley and Y Combinator (00:19:01) - The Concept Behind Inbox Booster (00:22:13) - Overcoming the Challenges of Spam Filters (00:25:05) - The Role of AI in Enhancing Email Delivery (00:30:06) - How Big Tech Influences Email Practices (00:35:04) - The Potential of AI to Transform Email Usage (00:40:00) - Discussing the Impacts of Silicon Valley Investment Trends (00:44:14) - Future Directions for Email Technology (00:49:35) - The Technical Side of Inbox Booster (00:52:09) - Decentralizing Email to Enhance Security and Accessibility

    58 min

About

Introducing "Collateral Dialogue," a MailChannels podcast. Join CEO Ken Simpson and selected guests for a thought-provoking exploration of the computer and network security landscape—subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred podcast platform.