Summary

In this in-depth interview, cryptography researcher Matilda Backendal discusses applied cryptography, end-to-end encryption vulnerabilities, password manager security flaws, and the future of cryptographic research. Gain insights into real-world security challenges and best practices for protecting digital data.

Keywords

cryptography, end-to-end encryption, cloud storage security, password managers, cryptographic research, privacy, zero-knowledge proofs, digital identity, homomorphic encryption

Key topics

Applied cryptography and real-world applications

Vulnerabilities in end-to-end encryption systems

Security flaws in cloud storage and password managers

Cryptographic research and formal verification

Future trends and challenges in cryptography

 Sound bites

"Crypto is all around us in daily life."

"Most cloud storage isn't end-to-end encrypted by default."

"User-chosen passwords are a major security factor."

Links

Matilda's Website - https://mbackendal.github.io/

Paper - Zero Knowledge (About) Encryption: A Comparative Security Analysis of Three Cloud-based Password Managers - https://eprint.iacr.org/2026/058 

Summary

In this in-depth interview, Griff Green shares insights from the historic DAO hack, the evolution of Ethereum security, and TheDAO Security Fund. Discover how security practices have transformed over the years and explore new models for funding and coordinating security efforts in the crypto space.

Keywords

Ethereum, DAO hack, security, smart contracts, DAO Security Fund, crypto security, auditing, quadratic funding, white hats, blockchain security

key topics:

Sound Bites

"It was an existential threat for Ethereum."

"Funding security is a systemic problem in crypto."

"The industry needs to communicate more openly."

Links

https://x.com/Giveth 

https://thedao.fund/ 

https://x.com/thedaofund 

https://giveth.io/ 

https://x.com/griffgreen

Summary

In this episode of CypherTalk, Peter Kacherginsky, the founder of BlockThreat, joins us to discuss the evolution of his newsletter into a comprehensive source of actionable intelligence in the cybersecurity landscape, particularly focusing on Web3.

He emphasizes the importance of understanding attack patterns, the role of operational security, and the impact of AI on security practices. The conversation also touches on the implications of privacy-preserving technologies and the need for teams to prepare for future security challenges. Peter shares insights on common misassumptions in security practices and the correlation between market conditions and security incidents, concluding with advice for security teams to foster a culture of awareness and proactive measures.

In this episode of CypherTalk, we are joined by Jordi Baylina, founder of Zisk, and Stefan Beyer to explore the intricate world of privacy technology, particularly focusing on zero-knowledge proofs and their implications for security and privacy in the blockchain space.

The conversation delves into the definitions of privacy, the evolution of zero-knowledge technology, the role of developers, regulatory challenges, and the future of privacy technology beyond blockchain.

Welcome to the first episode of CypherTalk — a new podcast exploring the real-world intersection of cybersecurity, privacy, and the human side of staying safe online.

In this inaugural episode, host Jade Doherty is joined by co-host Stefan Beyer, co-founder of Oak Security, to introduce what the show is about and why security in 2026 looks different from what it did even a few years ago. They unpack why the human attack vector is now the easiest way into most systems, how remote work and “always-on” device habits changed the threat landscape, and why modern attacks increasingly target social engineering, phishing, and supply chains rather than just code.

You’ll also hear how the rise of AI is accelerating both attacks and defenses, why zero-knowledge (ZK) and privacy tech introduce new implementation risks (including the danger of “proving the wrong thing”), and how composability and cross-protocol dependencies continue to reshape blockchain security.

Stefan shares a personal story of a highly targeted “podcast invite” scam that nearly turned into a credential-stealing attack — a perfect example of why, in 2026, it’s less about never making mistakes and more about designing systems that limit blast radius when mistakes happen.

Next up: an episode fully focused on operational security (OpSec) — practical steps you can take to protect yourself and your organization.

What CypherTalk will cover (cybersecurity + privacy, with rotating guests/co-hosts)

Why humans are the #1 target: phishing, social engineering, supply chain attacks

Remote work, context switching, and why “always-on” makes mistakes more likely

AI as an arms race: scaling attacks vs improving defenses

ZK/privacy tech maturity: new opportunities and new failure modes

Why “zero trust” is about reducing impact, not paranoia

Institutional security expectations and how crypto security is (slowly) evolving

If you enjoyed the episode, follow/subscribe, leave a review, and send topic suggestions (or corrections!) — the team wants this podcast to be shaped by what listeners actually want to learn.