Cybersecurity Today

In this episode of Cybersecurity Today, host David Shipley covers the FBI's warning about North Korean state-sponsored QR code phishing campaigns targeting U.S. organizations. Additionally, he discusses Europol's arrest of 34 individuals in Spain tied to the infamous Black Acts crime syndicate and the uncertainty surrounding CISA's pre-ransomware notification initiative after the departure of its lead developer. Stay informed with the latest in cybersecurity news and learn how to protect yourself and your organization from emerging threats.

Cybersecurity Today would like to thank Meter for their support in bringing you this podcast. Meter delivers a complete networking stack, wired, wireless and cellular in one integrated solution that's built for performance and scale.

You can find them at Meter.com/cst

00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Message 00:20 FBI Warns of QR Code Phishing 04:44 Europol's Major Crackdown on Black Acts 07:11 Uncertainty Over Ransomware Alerts Program 09:41 US Withdraws from Cybersecurity Organizations 10:25 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In this episode of Cybersecurity Today, brought to you by Meter, we review key events and stories from the past few weeks. Join host Jim along with experts Tammy Harper from Flair, Laura Payne from White Tuque, and David Shipley from Beauceron Security as they discuss major cybersecurity events that unfolded over the holidays, including the MongoDB vulnerability 'Mongo Bleed', the compromises at Rainbow Six Siege, and the ethical implications of hacktivism. The panel also explores the complexities of AI in cybersecurity, the vulnerability of critical infrastructure, and the dichotomy between ethical hacking and cybercrime in the industry. As always, we emphasize the intersection of cybersecurity with people, processes, and our daily lives.

Cybersecurity Today would like to thank Meter for their support in bringing you this podcast. Meter delivers a complete networking stack, wired, wireless and cellular in one integrated solution that's built for performance and scale.

You can find them at Meter.com/cst

00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Message 00:20 Panel Introduction and Holiday Recap 02:26 MongoDB Vulnerability: Mongo Bleed 05:15 AI and Responsible Disclosure 16:20 Gaming Security: Rainbow Six Siege Hack 20:13 Video Games and Malware Risks 24:54 Fake Video Propaganda and Infrastructure Attacks 25:48 The Dilemma of Cybersecurity Censorship 26:34 Deepfakes and Cognitive Warfare 27:37 Cyber Operations and Infrastructure Vulnerability 34:42 The Role of Private Companies in Cyber Conflicts 36:19 Internal Threats in Cybersecurity 43:20 Hacktivism: Ethics and Boundaries 49:03 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Cybersecurity Today: Sideloaded App Issues, Fake Blue Screen Attacks, and Rising Ransomware Threats

In this episode of Cybersecurity Today, host Jim Love discusses HSBC blocking sideloaded apps with its banking app, new social engineering attacks using fake Windows blue screens to install malware, and the discovery of long-standing compromised Chrome extensions. Additionally, a new report reveals a significant rise in ransomware victims in 2025 despite major takedowns of ransomware groups. Special thanks to Meter for their support.

00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Message 00:21 HSBC Blocks Sideloaded Apps 02:44 Fake Blue Screen of Death Malware 04:49 Compromised Chrome Extensions 06:33 Ransomware Trends in 2025 08:33 Conclusion and Sponsor Message

In this episode of Cybersecurity Today, host Jim Love discusses the latest in cybersecurity threats including the rapidly growing Kim Wolf botnet affecting millions of devices, the rising threats to file-sharing environments, and the intersection of cybercrime with physical supply chains. He also covers an audacious hacktivist takedown of white supremacist websites. Tune in to learn about the evolving landscape of cybersecurity and practical measures you can take to protect your systems. Thank you to our sponsor Meter for supporting this podcast.

Cybersecurity Today would like to thank Meter for their support in bringing you this podcast. Meter delivers a complete networking stack, wired, wireless and cellular in one integrated solution that's built for performance and scale.

You can find them at Meter.com/cst

00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Message 00:21 Kim Wolf Botnet: A Growing Threat 04:07 Mitigation Strategies for Kim Wolf 05:22 Corporate Data Breaches: Zestix and ShareFile 07:48 Cyber-Enabled Cargo Theft: The Lobster Heist 09:44 Hacktivism: Root Takes Down White Supremacist Sites 11:46 Conclusion and Contact Information

In this episode of 'Cybersecurity Today', host David Shipley discusses significant cyber events and their implications. The podcast explores hints by President Donald Trump regarding the use of cyber tactics in a U.S. operation that resulted in a power outage in Venezuela. The episode also delves into the April 2025 data breach at Nova Scotia Power, detailing the company's efforts to keep incident specifics confidential and the extensive recovery measures taken. Lastly, it updates listeners on the Trust Wallet compromise linked to the Sha-Hulud supply chain attack, elucidating how the breach occurred and its aftermath. The episode underscores the growing cyber threat landscape and the critical need for enhanced cybersecurity measures.

00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Message 00:46 US Cyber Operations in Venezuela 03:13 Implications for Cybersecurity Professionals 04:37 Nova Scotia Power Breach Details 08:52 Trust Wallet Hack Update 10:46 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In this episode, host Jim Love discusses the importance of cybersecurity awareness and training, featuring insights from Michael Joyce of the Human-Centric Cybersecurity Partnership at the University of Montreal and David Shipley of Beauceron Security. They explore the impact of cybersecurity awareness programs, the decay of sustained vigilance post-training, and the nuances between phishing reporting and clicking behaviors. The conversation also critiques recent research claims that question the efficacy of phishing training, emphasizing the need for continuous, empirically supported approaches in cybersecurity education. The episode highlights the value of balanced, layered defenses involving both technical solutions and informed user behavior.

00:00 Introduction and Podcast Announcement 00:14 Sponsorship Acknowledgment 00:35 The Nature of Cybersecurity Awareness 01:09 Introduction to the Research Show 01:21 Guest Introductions 02:15 Human-Centric Cybersecurity Partnership 03:46 The Importance of Canadian Research 04:40 Cybersecurity and Culture 05:27 The Role of Research in Cybersecurity 07:12 David's Research and Collaboration with Michael 08:46 The Value of Independent Research 13:33 Cybersecurity Awareness Month Impact 17:23 Phishing Simulation and Reporting 23:49 Awareness Decay and Vigilance 30:55 The Importance of Reporting and Feedback Loops 40:00 Optimal Frequency for Cybersecurity Training 40:27 Critiques and Misconceptions in Phishing Training 42:00 Empirical Data and Training Effectiveness 43:19 Insights from Phishing Simulations 47:14 Understanding Why People Click 52:43 Challenges in Cybersecurity Research 01:04:06 The Importance of Layered Defenses 01:17:17 Concluding Thoughts on Cybersecurity Training

In this episode, the host shares a pre-recorded favorite interview with David Decary-Hetu, a criminologist at the University of Montreal. They discuss the dark web, its technology, and its role in cybercrime. Decary-Hetu explains how the dark web operates, its users, and the dynamics between researchers and law enforcement in tackling cyber threats. Key topics include the economics of illicit markets, the cat-and-mouse game between law enforcement and criminals, the role of cryptocurrencies, and the evolution of cyber threats. The episode offers insights into the social aspects of cybercrime and the measures being taken to combat it.

00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Message 00:52 Understanding the Dark Web 02:16 Interview with David Decary-Hetu 05:10 The Basics of the Dark Web 06:27 Technology Behind the Dark Web 14:49 Law Enforcement Challenges 21:50 Trust and Transactions on the Dark Web 23:45 Recruitment and Structure of Cybercriminals 26:42 Cultural Dynamics in Hacking Communities 27:32 Researching the Impact of Technology on Crime 29:01 Challenges in Policing the Dark Web 30:12 The Role of Social Engineering in Cybercrime 31:18 Law Enforcement Strategies and Conditional Deterrence 32:09 The Evolution of Cybercrime and Cryptocurrency 41:24 Legal and Ethical Considerations in Cybercrime 43:47 Advice for Policymakers and Corporations 48:44 Educational Resources and Conferences 50:57 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Cybersecurity Today: MongoDB Vulnerability 'Mongo Bleed' Exploited, Rainbow Six Siege Hacked, Trust Wallet Compromise, and GrubHub Crypto Scams

In this episode of Cybersecurity Today, David Shipley covers significant cybersecurity incidents that occurred over the holiday period. The major topics include the 'Mongo Bleed' vulnerability in MongoDB that was disclosed and then publicly exploited on Christmas Day, leading to potential data leaks. Ubisoft's Rainbow Six Siege faced a breach enabling attackers to manipulate in-game functions and distribute billions worth of in-game currency for free. Trust Wallet's browser extension was compromised, resulting in a loss of approximately $7 million in cryptocurrencies. Finally, a phishing scam using a legitimate GrubHub subdomain to promise fake Bitcoin rewards was also discussed. Immediate actions and preventive updates were highlighted for all these incidents.

00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Message 00:48 Mongo Bleed Vulnerability Exploit 04:10 Rainbow Six Siege Breach 08:13 Trust Wallet Extension Hack 10:30 GrubHub Bitcoin Scam 12:02 Conclusion and Sign-Off

This is an interview with former hacker Brian Black. Brian is now on the right side of the battle and bringing his skills to to the fight against hackers. He finds the weaknesses in corporate security so that it can be patched.

This was one of my favourite interviews this year. Listening to what Brian has learned and understanding how we can use that knowledge and experience kept me on the edge of my seat.

Once more I want to thank Meter for making this possible. Visit them at meter.com/cst

Jim takes a break for some R&R during the holidays and shares his favorite podcast episodes from the year. He acknowledges that some listeners might have heard these episodes already, while others may find them new. The podcast's production is supported by Meter, a company providing integrated networking solutions. Additionally, support from listeners through the Buy Me a Coffee program has helped sustain the shows and expand their content offerings. Jim thanks Meter and the listeners, wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

00:00 Introduction and Holiday Plans 00:33 Sponsor Acknowledgment 01:08 Support and Growth 01:55 Final Thoughts and Episode Introduction