Adventures of Alice & Bob

This episode follows the fascinating journey of Gary Bowser, a tech industry veteran whose life has been shaped by his passion for hacking and modding. From his early days tinkering with Texas Instruments computers to becoming a key figure in the controversial world of game console hacking, Gary's story is one of innovation, legal battles, and personal redemption.

Host James Maude explores Gary's evolution from a curious teenager to a prominent figure in the modding community, culminating in a high-profile legal case brought by Nintendo. Gary candidly shares his experiences, including his arrest in the Dominican Republic, his challenging time in the US prison system during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the eventual resolution of his case.

In this episode, Greg Pickett takes Marc on a thrilling journey from his early days of war dialing and hacking a bank (complete with hiding under a desk to avoid detection!) to exposing credential misuse on bulletin boards and uncovering a massive security breach tied to the Chinese military—all while tackling the challenges of corporate security and internal politics.

In this episode, Marc engages in an eye-opening conversation with Robert RSnake Hansen, a true legend in the cybersecurity realm. RSnake takes us on a journey through his transformation from a mischievous hacker to a revered security expert, revealing the high-stakes moments that defined his career. He dives deep into his experience with the groundbreaking Hack the Pentagon program, where his relentless pursuit of vulnerabilities nearly landed him in prison. But the tension doesn’t stop there—RSnake also recounts a terrifying encounter with a cartel that wrongly believed he was the mastermind behind the infamous dark web site, Silk Road. With unfiltered honesty, RSnake shares his thoughts on the ever-evolving world of cybersecurity, the rise of bug bounties, and the delicate balance between safeguarding security and preserving privacy in our increasingly digital society.

In today's episode, James and Marc explore the devastating ransomware attack that crippled the Town of Truckee, shutting down phones, internet, and critical data access behind the town's firewall. With special guests Chris Hardy and Logan McDonald, you'll gain an insider's perspective on the relentless challenges they faced, the innovative strategies they used for recovery, and a surprising twist—the unique dress code of the Town of Truckee. Don't miss this captivating discussion on cybersecurity, resilience, and community spirit.

Over its 11 years in publication, the BeyondTrust Microsoft Vulnerabilities Report has been downloaded over 16,000 times, aiding thousands in enhancing their cyber defenses with detailed data analysis and expert insights. This year's report not only examines 2023 Microsoft vulnerabilities but also evaluates their use in identity-based attacks, highlights significant CVEs (9.0+ CVSS scores), and discusses mitigation strategies.

In this special Alice & Bob episode, James is joined by top cybersecurity experts and report commentators Paula Januszkiewicz, Terry Cutler, Eliza-May Austin, and Sami Laiho. They discuss the report's findings, share their experiences with vulnerabilities, and explore the future of Microsoft security and AI.

This week, Marc Maiffret sits down with Mark Weatherford to discuss his role in responding to the Moonlight Maze incident, one of the first major cyber espionage operations targeting U.S. government systems in the late 1990s. Mark talks about how Moonlight Maze highlighted significant vulnerabilities and reshaped cybersecurity strategies within the government and beyond. Mark also discusses broader topics in cybersecurity, the evolution of cyber threats, and the impact and security challenges AI is bringing to the table. 

This week James sits down with Michael Daniel, former Cybersecurity Coordinator at the White House and current President and CEO of the Cyber Threat Alliance. With over 20 years of cybersecurity experience, Michael shares insider insights into some of the most significant cyber incidents in recent history, including the notorious OPM breach. From budgeting to policy-making, he offers a candid look at the challenges and triumphs of securing the nation's digital frontiers.

This week, James hosts the renowned ethical hacker Heath Adams, famously known as The Cyber Mentor™. Heath shares his unconventional journey, beginning as an accountant and transitioning into the world of cybersecurity. He delves into some jaw-dropping experiences, including the time his team penetrated a city's system, uncovering confidential informant lists and crime stopper reports. They also discuss the critical importance of accessibility and affordability in cybersecurity education, highlighting how Heath's mission is truly transforming lives. Don't miss this glimpse into the mind of a true cybersecurity crusader.

Join us in a special out-of-band episode of Adventures of Alice and Bob, where we explore the exciting expansion of BeyondTrust through its recent acquisition of Entitle, a pioneering privilege management solution. Discover how this strategic move enhances BeyondTrust's identity security solutions across the cloud. BeyondTrust CTO, Marc Maiffret, and Entitle co-founders, Ron Nissim and Avi Zetser, also cover what exactly just-in-time (JIT) access is, what modern identity security looks like across the cloud, and what this exciting new union means for the landscape of identity security and access management.

Today, James is joined by Vincent Scott, a former US Navy cryptologist and founder of Defense Cybersecurity Group. Vincent shares his raw and authentic experience while bridging intelligence gaps during the 9/11 crisis and navigating cyber warfare operations in the Gulf Wars. He also shares the culture challenges he experienced while transitioning from military to corporate cybersecurity, the broken windows approach to fixing small cyber cracks before they shatter, and the paradox of expensive tools failing to deliver without the right people.