Phillip Wylie Show Phillip Wylie

In this episode, Vivek Ramachandran joined the show. Vivek is the founder of Pentester Academy and SecurityTube. Vivek shared how he got interested in computers at an early age and developed a passion for hacking and cybersecurity. Since selling Pentester Academy to INE, he has started a hacker superhero, comic book, and his most recent venture a startup called SquareX. SquareX protects users with a secure browser solution that leverages a cloud-based sandbox. Vivek shares about his hacker-focused comic book titled Hackers: Superheroes of the Digital Age, which educates readers that hacking can be used for good. He shares how his son inspired him to create the comic book.

Vivek's Bio:
Vivek Ramachandran, a veteran in the cybersecurity industry with over 20 years of experience in building security products and finding vulnerabilities in security systems. His entrepreneurial experience spans over a decade, during which he has built wireless monitoring solutions, pentesting gadgets, and cloud-powered lab environments. Before SquareX, he founded Pentester Academy, a cloud-based cybersecurity training startup that was successfully acquired. Vivek also discovered the infamous Caffe Latte Attack and has authored multiple books and research papers on offensive cybersecurity techniques. He has spoken at top conferences like DEFCON and BlackHat over the years.

Vivek's social media:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/vivekramachandran/
https://twitter.com/vivekramac

SquareX website and social media:
https://www.sqrx.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/squarexonline/
https://twitter.com/getsquarex

VRN Comics:
https://www.vrncomics.com/


Connect with Phillip on social media, YouTube and visit his website:
https://twitter.com/PhillipWylie
https://www.linkedin.com/in/phillipwylie
https://www.instagram.com/phillipwylie/
https://www.youtube.com/@phillipwylie
https://www.thehackermaker.com/

​ Phillip welcomes Maggie MacAlpine of MITRE Engunity ( @mitreengenuity3171  ) to discuss MITRE Engunity and its cybersecurity initiatives. In addition to MITRE Engunity, in this episode, Maggie discusses election security.

Connect with Maggie on social media:
https://twitter.com/MaggieMacAlpine
https://www.linkedin.com/in/margaretmacalpine/

MITRE Resources:
https://mitre-engenuity.org/https://mitre-engenuity.org/cybersecurity/attack-evaluations/
https://mitre-engenuity.org/cybersecurity/center-for-threat-informed-defense/
https://mitre-engenuity.org/cybersecurity/mad/
https://attack.mitre.org/
https://twitter.com/MITREengenuity
https://www.youtube.com/@UCGJjokBEqouIhVZvqnLQgYg

If you enjoyed this podcast, check out Phillip's other podcast, The Hacker Factory:
https://thehackerfactory.simplecast.com/

Connect with Phillip on social media, YouTube and visit his website:

https://twitter.com/PhillipWylie
https://www.linkedin.com/in/phillipwylie
https://www.instagram.com/phillipwylie/
https://www.youtube.com/@phillipwylie
https://www.thehackermaker.com/

Phillip interviews Darin Fredde, a longtime friend and twice former coworker from their CAD drafting days to a recent job as pentesters. Phillip and Darin have a history that goes back to 1995 when they were AutoCAD drafting. They reconnected in 2002 and have stayed connected since. Darin is an offensive Security professional educator, mentor, and author. Phillip has seen Darin's talent and recommended him for a job in pen testing. Darin has worked in pen testing for about five years and is now one of the best pen testers Phillip knows. During this episode, Phillip and Darin will discuss Darin's origin story, how he got started, and his favorite techniques for pen testing. This episode will be helpful for those already in pen testing and those trying to get started.

Darin's episode of The Hacker Factory Podcast:
https://thehackerfactory.simplecast.com/episodes/darin-freddes-path-from-cad-drafter-to-pentester-the-hacker-factory-with-phillip-wylie-iaciuaXa

Connect with Darin on social media:
Darin's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darinfredde/
Darin's Twitter: https://twitter.com/dkfredde

If you enjoyed this podcast, check out Phillip's other podcast,
The Hacker Factory: https://thehackerfactory.simplecast.com/

Connect with Phillip on social media, YouTube and visit his website:
https://twitter.com/PhillipWylie
https://www.linkedin.com/in/phillipwylie
https://www.instagram.com/phillipwylie/
https://www.youtube.com/@phillipwylie
https://www.thehackermaker.com/

In this episode, Phillip interviews Corey LeBleu, an offensive security professional with over 19 years of experience in offensive security. Corey shares his beginnings in offensive security specializing in social engineering and physical pentesting. Corey's career has been spent consulting for various companies, and his interests evolved from network pentesting to application pentesting. He shares how crucial constant learning is to be an offensive security professional and how learning languages such as Python and Go Lang is essential in developing your skills. In this episode, Corey shares how he enjoys lifting weights to stay healthy and manage stress to keep his mental health in check. Corey shares his early interests in inline skating and punk rock music.

Corey's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreylebleu/

If you enjoyed this podcast, check out Phillip's other podcast, The Hacker Factory:
https://thehackerfactory.simplecast.com/


Connect with Phillip on social media, YouTube and visit his website:

https://twitter.com/PhillipWylie
https://www.linkedin.com/in/phillipwylie/
https://www.instagram.com/phillipwylie/
https://www.youtube.com/@phillipwylie
https://www.thehackermaker.com/

Phillip is joined by Reuven "Rubi" Aronashvili, the CEO and founder of CYE. Phillip discusses the advanced capabilities of people in cybersecurity, particularly those who have served in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and Unit 8200. They have a unique understanding of how to defend networks, as the stakes are much higher in the military as it can involve protecting citizens and potentially life-threatening consequences. Rubi explains that Israel is often seen as advanced in cybersecurity primarily because of the survival-oriented approach taken in the Army, such as the Technology Units and the Center of Encryption Cybersecurity in the IDF. Every attack and cybersecurity-related operation can have serious consequences, thus necessitating the need for a focused and comprehensive approach.

The conversation discusses the immediate consequences of an attack on critical infrastructure, such as power and water treatment plants. It is pointed out that such attacks can cause damage to civilian lives while also highlighting the cyber attack against a water treatment plant in Florida last year, which was referred to as a killware attack. The conversation also mentions that Israel experienced an attack attempt on its power environment by Iranian attackers last year. In summary, the conversation focuses on the importance of protecting critical infrastructure from attack attempts to prevent such damage.


The conversation is about the importance of having adequate security measures in industrial control systems and OT environments. The speaker has a background in the Israeli military, where he was part of the founding team of Section 21 and served for seven years. He states that the knowledge and problem definition he has gained from the military is invaluable, and he believes one year in the army equals five years of experience in the commercial world. The speaker also speaks of nation-state capabilities and how they can be divided into three areas: people, training, and skills. Social engineering is mentioned as an example of chutzpah, which is the ability to take things to the next level.

Cybersecurity is complex, and there are several essential components to consider. These include processes and procedures, efficient activation, and covering tracks. But the most critical component is having the right tool set. Nation-level players have access to powerful tools such as Eternal Blue, but even smaller players can cause significant damage by exploiting vulnerabilities or misconfigurations. Organizations need to make improvements to protect themselves against these threats.

Rubi's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/reuven-aronashvili/
CYE Twitter: https://twitter.com/CyesecLtd
CYE Website: https://cyesec.com/

If you enjoyed this podcast, check out Phillip's other podcast, The Hacker Factory: https://thehackerfactory.simplecast.com/

Connect with Phillip on social media, YouTube and visit his website: https://twitter.com/PhillipWylie
https://www.linkedin.com/in/phillipwylie/
https://www.instagram.com/phillipwylie/
https://www.youtube.com/@phillipwylie
https://www.thehackermaker.com/

In the podcast episode, Phillip Wylie interviews cybersecurity professional Don Dobson, who shares his journey into the field and emphasizes the importance of continuous learning, hands-on experience, and a strong foundation in computer science. They discuss the significance of soft skills such as communication, empathy, and teamwork in the cybersecurity industry and the value of networking, attending events, and engaging on platforms like LinkedIn.

Don talks about his various roles in the cybersecurity sector and the importance of finding the right fit for one's skills and interests. He highlights the value of mentorship, learning from others, and building a personal brand on LinkedIn through consistency, quality, and original content.

Don encourages professionals to be patient and persistent in their careers, leverage mentors for guidance, and give back to the community by volunteering and helping local organizations with security challenges. His insights offer valuable advice for those seeking a cybersecurity career.

Don's LinkedIn profile:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/security-cyber-technology/

Buckhorn Consulting LinkedIn and Website:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/buckhorn-consulting/
https://www.buckhornconsulting.com/

If you enjoyed this podcast, check out Phillip's other podcast, The Hacker Factory:
https://thehackerfactory.simplecast.com/

Connect with Phillip on social media, YouTube and visit his website:

https://twitter.com/PhillipWylie
https://www.linkedin.com/in/phillipwylie/
https://www.instagram.com/phillipwylie/
https://www.youtube.com/@phillipwylie
https://www.thehackermaker.com/