September 27, 2025

Cartels, Drones & Deepfakes: Modern Threats You’re Not Ready For

43 minutes

AI is rewriting the security playbook — from deepfakes and “deep-live” video calls to bot farms, quantum-powered hacking, cartel drones, and fast-moving disinformation. In this episode of Time to Head North, host Vince Vargas sits down with Steve Hernandez (CEO, The North Group) to break down what’s real, what’s hype, and how families, schools, and enterprises can harden their defenses right now.

What you’ll learn

Deepfakes vs. deep-live: why real-time video impersonation is the next frontier

Quantum + AI: the coming risk to banking, identity, and critical infrastructure

Bot farms and narrative warfare: how short-form content spreads disinfo at scale

Voice-clone fraud and “CEO scams”: simple verification workflows that stop it

Cartels, drones, and domestic event security: what battlefield TTPs mean at home

Protective intelligence for leaders: closing open-source exposure and access gaps

School security that works: access control, SRO funding, training cadence that matters

Everyday readiness: situational awareness for families without living in fear

Timestamps

00:00 AI hype vs. real risk, and why deep-live beats deepfake

03:05 Quantum computing + ML: what banks and enterprises should expect

04:34 Bot farms, narrative ops, and the power of short-form manipulation

05:58 Voice cloning, image theft, and social-engineered “FaceTime” scams

08:20 Who’s most vulnerable online — and why

12:05 Cartels, cyber, and drones: lessons from modern conflict zones

20:00 Radicalization, grievance, and lone-actor risk

28:00 Practical family safety and situational awareness

33:40 School security: access control, SROs, and training that sticks

40:30 A call for unity, vigilance, and measured response

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Podcast: Time to Head North — Security refined by intelligence.

Guest: Steve Hernandez, CEO, The North Group

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevehernandeztng/ Website: https://tngdefense.com/

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By The North Group