Damian, Troy, and Fern break down the week’s biggest hacks, breaches, and zero-days with zero corporate filter. Expect strong opinions, dark humor, and actionable intel from three pros who’ve been in the trenches. New episodes drop when the news is too wild to ignore.
Last refreshed: ⓘ
Follow this podcast in the Metacast mobile app to refresh it and see new episodes.
Don't just listen to podcasts. Learn from them with transcripts, summaries, and chapters for every episode. Skim, search, and bookmark insights. Learn more
Is your resume landing in the trash before a human even sees it? This week on the DTF Cyber Podcast, Troy, Damian, and Fern get brutally honest about the cybersecurity job market. We aren't just talking about certifications; we're talking about why the standard advice is failing the next generation of cyber professionals. Troy reveals why he trashed 48 resumes in one morning, Damian explains why a GitHub repo is worth more than a degree, and Fern asks the questions every job-seeker is thinking b...
Anthropic just changed the rules of the game with "Mythos"—a frontier-tier model that doesn't just find vulnerabilities; it reasons through a 23,000-word "Living Constitution" to decide if it even wants to help you. In this milestone Episode 40, Damian, Troy, and Fern dive into Project Glasswing, the secret group of 12 companies given early access to this "digital nuke," and debate whether we are heading toward a future of AI-on-AI warfare. From 72% exploit success rates to AI toilets, we cover ...
In this episode, Damian, Troy, and Fern dive into the 'Wild West' of 2026: Shadow AI. From autonomous agents paying unapproved invoices to the rinse and repeat of the 2010 cloud revolution, the team debates whether AI agents are productivity miracles or a liability nightmare for the modern CISO. Timestamps: 00:00 - The $50k Shadow Agent Invoice 01:02 - Fern’s Nightmare Scenario: The AI Agent in Production 02:15 - 2010 vs. 2026: Why Shadow AI is the new Shadow IT 04:14 - Damian’s Technical Deep ...
In Episode 38 of the DTF Cyber Podcast, Fern and Troy welcome Healthcare CISO, Bob Schlotfelt. We dive into why an incident at a hospital is fundamentally different from a retail breach. While Damian is out, Bob brings decades of insight into protecting patient safety over just protecting data. We discuss the nightmare of unpatchable medical devices, why compliance doesn't equal security, and the hilarious (but effective) ways to get a nurse's attention for security training. Chapter Markers: •...
Is the "Cyber Skills Gap" a myth? In this episode, Damian, Troy, and Fern strip away the HR fluff and talk about the cold, hard reality of the 2026 job market. From entry-level SOC roles being "squeezed" by AI to $3.5M CISO roles that come with massive personal liability, we’re breaking down what you’re actually worth and why your resume is likely being ghosted by a bot. If you aren't negotiating your insurance and building your own AI tools, you're falling behind. THE DEEP DIVE: • 00:00 – Int...
Chances are you’ve got the best tech money can buy, the latest AI, and the biggest firewalls—but you’re still losing. In this episode of the DTF Cyber Podcast, Damian and Fern sit down with Vancouver-based leadership coach and "positivity troll" Dom Vogel to discuss why the weakest link in cybersecurity isn’t a line of code, it’s the person behind the keyboard. We’re ignoring the hardware today to focus on the Human Side of Security. Dom shares his 20+ years of experience transitioning from corp...
In this episode, Damian, Troy, and Fern dive into the heated controversy surrounding new federal reporting mandates. We explore the "Feds vs. Firewalls" dynamic: does mandatory reporting actually help stop the bad guys, or is it just a massive resource drain on teams already fighting for their lives? We break down the 72-hour reporting window for significant incidents and the even tighter 24-hour requirement if you decide to pay a ransom. From the ambiguity of what defines a "significant inciden...
Damian, Troy, and Fern explore the rapid shift from tools like Clawdbot to Moltbot and OpenClaw, highlighting how these autonomous AI agents present significant new attack surfaces for enterprises. They delve into privacy concerns, the 'Age of Ultron' scenario, and rogue AI, emphasizing the security implications of granting bots unfettered access. The hosts provide practical advice for organizations to identify and secure AI, warning against the 'toddler with a chainsaw' approach, and reflect on the future of AI in security, legal, and personal contexts.
Is the constant wave of alerts keeping you up at 3 a.m.? In this episode of the DTF Cyber Podcast, industry veterans Damian, Troy, and Fern dive deep into the reality of mental health and burnout in the cybersecurity industry. Special guest CISO, Vito Rocco jumps deep into this conversation. With 78% of professionals feeling stressed out and 62% citing alert overload as a primary cause, it's clear the industry needs a culture shift. We discuss the pressures of catastrophic risk , the fear of mis...
2026 is here, and the cybersecurity job market is evolving. Whether you are trying to break into the industry or land your next senior role, the playbook has changed. In this episode of the DTF Cyber Podcast, Fern and Troy are joined by Gary Perkins (CISO at CISO Global) to break down 8 actionable steps you can take right now to jumpstart your career. From building public red team projects to mastering new attack toolchains like the Flipper Zero, we cover the technical and soft skills that hirin...
Is 2026 the year AI takes over everything—including the crimes? 🤖💸 In the final episode of 2025, Damian and Troy break down their Top 8 Cyber Predictions for 2026. From AI agents executing 90% of breaches to ransomware payouts potentially hitting half a billion dollars, the future of cybersecurity is moving fast. We also discuss the "Harvest Now, Decrypt Later" threat, why your LinkedIn profile picture might already be a lie, and the new $150k entry-level salary standard. Plus, we’re ending th...
The 2025 Cyber Christmas List That Actually Gets You Hired Happy holidays, nerds! Your mom just spent $79 on a “hacker hoodie” that says “Trust Me” in Comic Sans… …while real juniors are out here making six figures with a $29 Yubikey and a Raspberry Pi. In Episode 30, Damian, Troy & Fern save your Christmas with the only cyber gifts worth buying in 2025: • Under $50 stocking stuffers that turn into paychecks • $50–$150 tools that get you interviews • $150–$300 big wins that scream “I’m serio...
2.5 billion daily account-takeover attempts. That’s one every 34 microseconds. Damian, Troy & Fern go full send-it mode on the 2025 ATO playbook: SIM swaps, session-token theft, MFA fatigue bombing, rogue QR codes, deep-fake family scams, and the OAuth tokens you granted in 2017 that are still wide open. Timestamps 00:00 – Intro 05:20 – SIM swaps & losing your phone number in minutes 09:40 – Why password resets are useless (session tokens survive) 14:20 – MFA fatigue / push-notification ...
Anthropic’s new report is a wake-up call: hackers turned Claude into a near-autonomous espionage agent that handled 90% of the attack chain by itself. The future is officially here… and it’s terrifying. We go deep on how they did it, why current defenses are cooked, and what defenders need to do yesterday. Timestamps 00:00 – The scariest line Anthropic has ever published 01:17 – “Set it and forget it” – the new AI attack paradigm 04:04 – Breaking attacks into tiny, undetectable chunks 13:48 – At...
The average company now runs 60+ cybersecurity tools — more apps than most people have on their phone. Is this making us safer… or just creating chaos, alert fatigue, and million-dollar shelf ware? In this episode, Damian, Troy, and Fern rip apart the tool sprawl epidemic: why CISOs are drowning in overlapping platforms, how 7% of IT budget became the “standard,” when best-of-breed actually beats single-vendor, and how to start consolidating before you go insane. Real talk from three practitione...
In this eye-opening episode of the DTF Cyber Podcast, hosts Damian, Troy, and Fern tackle the theme of trust in cybersecurity. From external hackers spoofing CEOs in Microsoft Teams to incident response firms secretly double-dipping in ransomware negotiations, and a shocking $106M heist at the Louvre enabled by the password “louvre,” the crew explores real-world threats and defenses. Plus, tips on security training, OSINT risks, mental health in cyber, and protecting against title fraud. Whether...
Dive into the wild world of cybersecurity certifications on this episode of the DTF Cyber Podcast! Hosts Damien, Troy, and Fern break down whether certs are the golden ticket to a six-figure cyber career, or if passion, experience, and networking matter more. From entry-level tips like CompTIA Security+ to gold standards like CISSP, they share real talk on getting hired, avoiding burnout, and building a standout resume in today's tough job market. Perfect for newbies, mid-career pros, or anyone ...
Join hosts Fern and Troy as they sit down with legendary negotiator and cybersecurity expert Jean Shapiro (formerly of American Express) for an in-depth discussion on navigating cybersecurity budgets, building trust with vendors, leveraging crises for improvement, and fostering a culture of transparency. From managing $2B budgets to avoiding sales pitfalls and tying security to business impact, Jean shares real-world insights from her decades in the field. Whether you’re dealing with ransomware ...
Welcome to Episode 23 of the DTF Cyber Podcast! 🎙️ Join our hosts as they dive into the evolving world of cybersecurity leadership, exploring what it takes to be a CISO in 2025. From technical acumen vs. business savvy to AI’s revolutionary impact on the industry, we unpack critical insights for aspiring and seasoned security pros. Plus, hear about Vegas’s tight-knit cyber community, data breach lessons, and the F1 party vibe! 💻 Don’t miss this mix of career advice, tech trends, and real-wo...
Join Damian, Troy, and Fern on Episode 22 of the DTF Cyber Podcast (@DTFCyberPodcast) as we tear into Deloitte’s $290K AI hallucination disaster—fake references, a misquoted judge, and a botched Australian government report that’s shaking trust in AI. From AI’s role in cyber chaos to practical tips for validation, we’ve got CISOs and tech lovers covered. Timestamps (Extracted from Transcript): Timestamps (Extracted from Transcript): 00:00 – 01:26 | Intro: AI Hallucinations & Holiday Banter 0...
Buckle up for a wild ride through cyber chaos at 30,000 feet! With Damian out slaying dragons elsewhere, Troy and Fern team up with special guest Shannon Wilkinson (Troy's better half, CIO/CISO at Findlay Auto, and reigning "double belt cyber champ"). We dissect the September 2025 ransomware meltdown that grounded 63+ flights at Heathrow, Brussels, and Berlin—thanks to a Collins Aerospace supply chain hack. From botched check-ins to a shocking UK arrest in under a week, we unpack the third-party...
Welcome to Episode 20 of the DTF Cyber Podcast! 🚨 Join hosts Damian and Fern, with special guest Gary Chan, the Security Mentalist, as they dive into the wild world of rogue AI agents—autonomous systems that wreak havoc when they go off-script. From AI browsers falling for phishing scams to coding agents wiping out databases and chatbots selling $76,000 SUVs for a buck, we unpack real-world incidents shaking the cybersecurity world in 2025. Gary’s psychological manipulation expertise reveals ho...
Welcome to Episode 19 of the DTF Cyber Podcast, where Damian, Troy, and Fern dive into the wild world of cybersecurity with our special guest, Lester Godsey, CISO at Arizona State University! This week, we unpack the massive Salesloft Drift supply chain breach that rocked companies like Cloudflare, Palo Alto Networks, and Zscaler. From OAuth token risks to third and fourth-party vulnerabilities, we break down what went wrong, why it matters, and how to protect your organization from the next sup...
🎙️ Welcome to the DTF Cyber Podcast! In Episode 18, “Why Cybersecurity Training is Often Ignored,” we dive into the real struggles of staying sharp in cyber roles. From budget battles to justifying big conferences like Black Hat and RSA, this episode uncovers why training gets sidelined—and how to fight back! 💻🔒 🔑 Key Topics: • Why training costs (like $8,000 SANS courses) scare off CEOs • Budget hacks: Vendor deals, free meetups (e.g., Phoenix East Valley), and LinkedIn Learning • Justifyin...
In Episode 17 of the **DTF Cyber Podcast**, hosts Damian, Troy, and Fern tackle three cybersecurity threats that could impact your daily life: zero-day exploits on mobile devices, hardware-based attacks via webcams and laptops, and ATM/network breaches using physical devices. Drawing from recent 2025 incidents like Apple's CVE-2025-43300, Lenovo's "BadCam" flaw, and the "CAKETAP" rootkit, they break down risks, share practical tips on patching, privacy, and layered defenses, and emphasize resili...
Join hosts Damian, Troy, and Fern for Episode 16 of the DTF Cyber Podcast, featuring special guest Dina Mathers, CISO at Carvana. Recorded on August 18, 2025, this episode dives deep into three critical topics shaping the cybersecurity landscape. From measuring the impact of cyber spend to uncovering widespread weaknesses in critical infrastructure, we unpack it all with real-world insights and actionable strategies. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting out, this episode is packed with...
Join Damian, Troy, and Fern on Episode 15 of the DTF Cyber Podcast as they dive into a hilarious and insightful recap of Black Hat 2025 in Las Vegas! From Fern's first-time adventures and networking wins to debunking Wi-Fi myths, swag horror stories, and industry trends like AI SOCs, this episode is packed with real-talk for cyber pros and newcomers alike. Whether you're in security or just curious, get the lowdown on making conferences affordable, avoiding vendor traps, and planning for next ye...
DTF Cyber Podcast Episode 14 Shadow AI: The Costly Threat Lurking in Your Company! Join Damian, Troy, and “Average Fern” as they dive into the shadowy world of unauthorized AI tools in the workplace. Inspired by the latest IBM Cost of a Data Breach Report 2025, this episode uncovers how shadow AI is driving up breach costs and exposing sensitive data. Whether you’re a cybersecurity pro or just curious about tech risks, our experts break it down with real-world insights, relatable analogies, and ...
In this episode of the DTF Cyber Podcast (DTF013 v1), hosts Damian Chung, Troy, and Fern Rojas dive deep into the latest cybersecurity headlines, unpacking real-world incidents and sharing actionable insights to help you strengthen your defenses. From VPN breaches to third-party risks and AI chatbot vulnerabilities, we explore the common threads of identity management and zero-trust strategies that every security pro needs to know. Key Topics Covered: • Ingram Micro VPN Attack: Analyzing a crede...
Welcome to Episode 12 of the DTF Cyber Podcast! 🎙️ Join hosts Damian, Troy, and Fern as they dive into the hottest topic in cybersecurity: breaking into the industry. 🛡️ In this episode, we tackle the cybersecurity skills gap, exploring why hiring managers struggle to find talent while many with cyber degrees face challenges landing roles. From the importance of networking and building trust to overcoming imposter syndrome, we share practical advice for job seekers and hiring managers alike. �...
