Easy Prey

Reusing passwords makes it easier for threat actors to gain access to your accounts. They may not actually be using it to take money. They may be impersonating you to scam others in your network. Today's guest is Joel Hollenbeck. Joel is a cyber security executive with over 25 years experience in multiple disciplines. He is the CTO at Check Point Software Technologies and leads a global team of cyber security experts dedicated to understanding the challenges that customers face and helping them stay ahead of the ever-evolving threat curve.

Show Notes:

• [1:01] - Joel shares his background and his current role.
• [2:38] - Joel has teenagers at home and describes the challenges of communicating threats including one that wound up being an attack.
• [5:06] - His credit card company alerted him of fraud and he looked further into it.
• [6:29] - Threat actors have to constantly change up their tactics.
• [7:53] - The latest report shows that the number one brand that scammers are using is LinkedIn. They are trying to harvest accounts to get in under the radar.
• [9:06] - Brands themselves need to also be aware to keep their customers safe.
• [10:36] - Every major holiday, shopping event, or global event creates new opportunities for phishing attempts.
• [12:09] - Joel shares some of the information threat actors gather.
• [14:33] - A great many people don't trust SMS messages.
• [16:30] - The reuse of passwords has been proven to be a huge mistake.
• [18:37] - Chris shares an experience with a password reset issue.
• [20:28] - Social media companies do not have a public facing customer service line.
• [22:46] - On the other end of the spectrum, there is the issue of being overwhelmed by multi-factor authentication.
• [24:18] - Product links on social media are also something to be wary of.
• [25:37] - Think of it as a risk assessment and know that sometimes it will feel very cynical.
• [26:59] - You don't know if the person on the other end of a message is from the person you actually trust.
• [28:48] - Threat actors strive to gain access to high value accounts.
• [30:42] - Some LinkedIn or other social media account hacks, they will be used for simple phishing attacks. But some will be used for something very sophisticated.
• [33:06] - Awareness of these issues is critically important to try to stay ahead of scammers.

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All security is personal. It's important for each individual to understand the risk of predators so we can protect ourselves, our data, and our finances. Today's guest is Robert Siciliano. Robert is a security expert and private investigator, number 1 Amazon best-selling author of five books, and an architect of the CSI Protection Certification, a cyber-social identity and personal protection security awareness training program. He is a frequent speaker and media commentator and the CEO of Safr.me. Robert has been featured on CNN, Fox News, and in The Wall Street Journal.

Show Notes:

• [1:02] - Robert shares his background and career, beginning with self-defense training in the 90's.
• [2:40] - At the start, Robert operated his business through a catalog and through live training. Once he offered credit card payments, he was hacked.
• [3:58] - There will always be a criminal element out there looking for a target.
• [5:01] - All security is personal, including both physical and virtual.
• [5:55] - Chris shares an experience of owning an online bookstore.
• [7:32] - Regardless of the value, there are people who are motivated to steal anything.
• [9:27] - Some people have the mentality that they don't have anything valuable to steal. Humans are born with the innate ability to trust.
• [11:31] - It is also human nature to lie.
• [12:52] - It is getting easier and easier for people to make fake social media profiles that are very believable.
• [14:52] - Every time someone reaches out to you, be suspicious. It's not paranoia.
• [16:55] - There are signs in communicating with others that may indicate that they are trying to do you harm.
• [18:20] - Most people are not doing even the basics of security.
• [19:30] - Some people believe that taking precaution is living in fear.
• [21:47] - Robert describes denial and why people live that way.
• [24:17] - Robert's career is built on selling the concept of security.
• [25:32] - There is no such thing as a safe neighborhood.
• [26:52] - Once we get the basics down, we can make advances in security.
• [28:35] - Most cyber security awareness training only includes content about phishing. This is to meet compliance but doesn't solve many problems.
• [30:18] - Security awareness makes it important to individuals.
• [32:12] - For many organizations and security companies, they treat security as business.
• [34:40] - Teaching security through fear is not effective.
• [36:00] - It is important to have uncomfortable conversations regarding security with your family from time to time.
• [37:16] - Robert explains the future impact of the Equifax data breach if security strategies have not changed for an individual.
• [40:25] - Robert has frozen his credit since 2008.
• [42:53] - The "Grandma Test" is asking yourself if something is manageable by everyone.
• [45:36] - Robert uses the example of wearing a seatbelt as decades long to make it the norm.
• [47:12] - CSI Protection is a 6 hour course that Robert offers that includes interaction with experts.
• [49:03] - These courses are geared towards those in the service industry.

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There's always risk when using technology, but your perception of the exposure will determine how active you are at minimizing the danger. Today's guest is Stephen Cobb. Stephen is a best-selling author and award winning technologist with over 30 years experience in digital security and data privacy. He has authored more than a dozen textbooks on PC and LAN security as well as software usage. As a CISSP since 1996, he co-founded two successful security startups and earned a Master's in security and risk management. Stephen now researches harm caused by the abuse of digital technology.

Show Notes:

• [1:02] - Stephen shares his background and how he wound up in the world of cyber security.
• [3:17] - In the earlier days of his career, he learned the niche of the risks of technology.
• [6:13] - Privacy violations were becoming a HIPPA category.
• [9:14] - Stephen shares more about the companies he worked for and his experience in cyber security.
• [10:44] - Stephen continues researching risk perception.
• [12:01] - Understanding the limits of technology and human behavior have helped guide his research.
• [13:02] - Covid was a very eye opening experience in that it revealed who was willing to exploit and who was willing to come together.
• [14:26] - The new ideas of solving problems are coming out of smaller companies.
• [15:41] - Growth of security is evolving but is it keeping up with the use and diversity of technology?
• [17:23] - Different countries have a different approach to tracking cyber crime.
• [19:05] - The data isn't accurate as much cyber crime goes unreported.
• [20:23] - Stephen believes the amount of monetary loss from cyber crime can be doubled in individual wellbeing.
• [21:41] - The effect of being targeted has led to health problems.
• [24:30] - Some countries are doing a better job cracking down on cyber crime, but many kinds of scams, particularly romance scams, continue to go unreported.
• [25:50] - Crypto currency has been abused since it's onset.
• [26:51] - Tech support scams are also going strong.
• [27:25] - Crypto scams are cumulative. They don't replace a scam, they add to existing ones.
• [31:48] - People aren't thinking about what a mess that malware will create in upcoming technology.
• [34:08] - Cyber crime is now organized crime.
• [37:04] - Stephen describes his experience showing NPR the industry of the Dark Web.
• [38:52] - People continue to be shocked and amazed by how organized the industry of cyber crime is.
• [40:10] - There has been a drop in enthusiasm and trust in technology companies from the general public.
• [44:10] - When we push technology on people who do not have a lot of experience with it, security becomes complicated and it becomes an ethical dilemma.
• [46:39] - Nothing has been done to make these ethical issues become morally reprimanded.
• [48:10] - Cyber crime is a huge challenge that is a relatively recent phenomenon.
• [50:40] - Although foreign scammers cannot be arrested in your country, Stephen still thinks they should be sought after.
• [52:08] - We need growing economies and full employment in all countries.

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Corporate spies are regularly hired by competitors to help poach employees with the best ideas. Listen on to know if it is happening at your company and how to prevent it. Robert Kerbeck is the founder of Malibu Writers Circle and his essays have been featured in numerous magazines and newspapers including Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle, and Los Angeles Times Magazine with one story adapted in the award winning film Reconnected. His newest memoir Ruse: Lying the American Dream From Hollywood to Wall Street is a look at the world of corporate espionage and his career as a corporate spy.

Show Notes:

• [1:08] - Robert never thought he would become an infamous corporate spy. He shares his background and what led him there.
• [3:42] - He was hired and realized it was not the ordinary marketing job he thought it would be.
• [4:46] - The job was determined to be in a "gray area" legally.
• [6:00] - A lot of Robert's job was over the phone trying to get information out of employees.
• [7:04] - Eventually, Robert would imitate major executives over the phone.
• [8:48] - A lot of the information gathered at the time was employment information.
• [10:07] - Some employees are not listed as team members to avoid being poached.
• [11:11] - Although so much data is available publicly online now, there are still pieces of valuable information that corporate spies can use.
• [12:49] - Corporate plans are valuable to competitors.
• [13:58] - In Robert's case, blackmail wasn't utilized, but rather poaching talent.
• [15:54] - Robert describes some of the information that he was gathering. He viewed himself as an actor.
• [17:38] - Sometimes the more outlandish something seems, in a strange way, it becomes more believable.
• [19:24] - In order to target the right person and use the right strategies, Robert had to do a lot of research on the companies he was contacting.
• [20:53] - There are certain areas in a firm where people aren't following company protocol.
• [22:17] - In the corporate world, there are qualities that create a toxic culture.
• [24:53] - There should be training in place to ensure that employees do not reveal information if they do not know the person.
• [26:18] - Once someone has access to an organizational chart, not only employee names are available.
• [29:02] - The more time spent trying to break a company for the information desired, a corporate spy is gathering small pieces of data.
• [31:23] - There are scams that are designed to target people who have previously been a victim of a scam.
• [32:04] - Robert explains that he never used these skills in his personal life.
• [33:12] - In 2008, jobs were harder to find and Robert left his career as a corporate spy.
• [35:41] - Robert describes his experience in Corporate America.
• [37:27] - Through his experiences, Robert says it was very nerve wracking to attend corporate events as somebody else.
• [38:46] - Find Robert's new book on his website.

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If you are addressing the blindspots in your online security, you cannot prevent the costly impact of lost or hacked data. Today's guest is Ralph Russo. Ralph retired from the New York Police Department after over 20 years and served as the commanding officer of an organized crime control task force of local, state, and federal law enforcement. He is currently the Director of Tulane University's School of Professional Advanced Information Technology where he has taught in both homeland security and information technology programs. Ralph holds a bachelor's of Business Administration and a master's degree in Information Technology. As an entrepreneur he has co-owned two startup technology firms.

Show Notes:

• [1:01] - Ralph shares his current role at Tulane University and shares his interest in information technology.
• [2:15] - As more people become dependent on online systems, the more valuable it becomes.
• [3:50] - As an educator, Ralph engages students in the growing field of cybersecurity.
• [4:42] - Ralph describes qualities of great cybersecurity students.
• [6:32] - Cybersecurity can be compared to traditional security.
• [8:48] - Using traditional security as an example, Ralph says that a single door just isn't enough.
• [9:41] - "It is so much harder to secure something when you have to retrofit it rather than designing it for security."
• [12:02] - In some ways it is harder to bring older companies that work more traditionally on board with updated cybersecurity.
• [13:12] - Ralph believes there is a misunderstanding that small and medium sized businesses may not believe they are a target.
• [14:22] - Sometimes the target is not money, it's data.
• [15:53] - Now, there is cybersecurity insurance offered which Ralph believes is a good thing.
• [17:01] - In the near future, Ralph believes that if you do not have the most updated software, you will be denied access.
• [18:40] - At Tulane University, the program is designed to have graduates provide value to cybersecurity immediately.
• [20:44] - The separation of tech and cybersecurity from a company's team is over.
• [22:35] - From a leader's perspective, a data breach is also a loss of money.
• [23:31] - If you lose your company's server, can you afford to be down for a week? Likely not.
• [25:08] - In the cloud does not always mean secure.
• [27:40] - Hacking is now being done by massive criminal organizations.
• [29:21] - Malware is coming from every direction.
• [32:27] - Responsible disclosure is extremely important.
• [34:05] - Your backup should not be in the same place as your primary location for stored data.
• [35:45] - Ralph shares his ideas on what cybersecurity governance will look like in the future.
• [37:33] - There are daily news stories of cyberattacks. Ralph shares an example.
• [39:33] - Phishing is still a huge problem, but awareness is being raised constantly to help.
• [41:06] - Cybercrime undermines a lot of the good that technology does. It reduces trust and introduces fear and confusion.
• [43:40] - Courses and resources are available no matter where you are.

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Data entry may seem boring, but you never know the story behind the information being entered and the patterns that emerge. Some data has distinctive characteristics that point towards fraudulent activities. Today's guest is Leah Wietholter. Leah is the CEO and founder of Workman Forensics as well as the host of the Investigation Game Podcast. After working for the FBI, she has served as the Senior Certified Fraud Examiner in Tulsa and she currently volunteers as a treasurer for the Tulsa Crime Stoppers. With over 15 years of experience and more than 100 cases worked, Leah has honed her industry expertise to create the Data Sleuth Process, a scalable data-first approach to forensic accounting engagement and fraud investigations.

Show Notes:

• [1:03] - Welcome to the show, Leah! Leah shares her background and current role as founder of Workman Forensics.
• [2:08] - What sets Workman Forensics apart is their creative team and Investigation Games.
• [4:26] - Forensics accounting started becoming more common, but Leah shares how she became a part of the FBI accounting team.
• [6:13] - While in the FBI, she was heavily involved in data entry and also testified for grandy jury after Hurricane Katrina.
• [7:58] - Many times, fraud is determined simply by entering data and seeing patterns.
• [9:25] - Leah explains a tool developed by Workman Forensics to see anomalies within data that indicate fraud.
• [11:41] - By building up from this information, categories for fraud risk can easily be seen.
• [13:18] - Business owners need to know what money enters the business, what form of payment, who touches the money, and what money leaves the business.
• [14:29] - Pay close attention to your payroll reports.
• [16:04] - You need to also know what is normal for your business, then always look for things that look off.
• [17:31] - Chris shares an unusual statement he received and why it looked odd.
• [19:08] - People committing embezzlement typically pay themselves in even dollar amounts.
• [20:57] - Indicators allow investigators a more defined set of data to look at more closely.
• [22:46] - If the person in charge of your bookkeeping isn't reconciling, you have a problem. Leah explains what reconciling is.
• [24:57] - You don't always know how much money you have if you aren't reconciling.
• [25:56] - Most scams have a lifespan of 18 months, but in these types of financial fraud cases, Leah says they last several years.
• [26:58] - When it comes to financial fraud, Leah says it can't always be prevented but it is important to detect it quickly.
• [28:21] - When money comes into your business, a certain amount is already called for. The money stolen is the profit.
• [30:11] - You can limit access to accounts through your bank.
• [32:14] - Leah shares the story of the craziest case she worked on.
• [36:12] - In this case, someone was using their own legitimate business to launder money through fake vendors.
• [37:25] - Many people think that if a large sum is stolen that the money can be found somewhere, but in most cases, it has been spent.
• [40:18] - In Tulsa, where Leah is located, there are a lot of casinos but the majority of the embezzlement cases she has worked on are by people with shopping addictions.
• [42:31] - One of the suspicious behaviors for high risk is being loved by management but not by others.
• [44:24] - The feeling of betrayal is the most emotionally charged in these events.
• [45:13] - As the owner, make it a process to check things every month.
• [46:50] - A red flag could be if bookkeepers or accountants are defensive when you want to check things.

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• The Investigation Game

In 2020 and 2021, the scam that impacted the largest number of people was done through online purchases. Either you or someone you know may very well have been scammed. Today's guest is Melissa Trumpower. Melissa Trumpower is the Executive Director of the BBB Institute for Marketplace Trust, the Educational Foundation of the Better Business Bureau. Melissa is the co-author of several research reports, including the BBB Scam Tracker Risk Report, the BBB Online Purchase and Employment and Small Business Scam Reports. She has more than 30 years of leadership experience working with not-for-profit, has a bachelor's degree from Cornell University and a master's from John Hopkins University.

Show Notes:

• [1:01] - Welcome to the show, Melissa! Melissa shares her current role with BBB and the mission of the organization.
• [2:05] - Scam trackers from the BBB were created in 2015 to be really intentional and specific to track data on threats.
• [3:30] - Melissa explains why she was drawn to this position with BBB.
• [5:09] - Due to Covid, more people were online in 2020 and 2021 and online purchasing scams were the riskiest.
• [6:25] - The BBB utilizes a risk index that looks at more than just the most prevalent of scams.
• [7:23] - Online purchase scams don't involve a lot of money per individual target, but they are riskiest because of how many of them are extremely believable.
• [8:37] - Online purchase scams are simple. You purchase an item from a website or an ad and you never receive the item.
• [9:45] - Be aware that you can come across fake websites in your web searches as well.
• [10:46] - Melissa shares things to look for in sites that you have never purchased from before.
• [11:56] - Don't do anything rash especially if you feel like something is off.
• [13:03] - The method of payment can be a red flag.
• [14:21] - Crypto is also increasingly used in online purchase scams.
• [16:43] - Be very careful even when sending crypto to someone you know and be certain you are sending it to the right person.
• [17:04] - Employment scams are another top scam for the third year in a row.
• [19:24] - Employment scams average a loss of over $900 per target.
• [20:38] - Some job listings, especially on Craigslist, tend to be very vague and promising.
• [22:55] - The other two top scams are home improvement scams and investment scams.
• [24:24] - If you are investing money, do the research before making decisions. Melissa gives examples of what you can do to ensure safety.
• [27:25] - Scammers do sometimes also pose as legitimate companies.
• [28:02] - Don't believe everything you see or read. Be cautious.
• [29:28] - Another element BBB is looking at is the non-financial impact of scams.
• [30:42] - The highest scam for susceptibility is the moving scam.
• [32:29] - Consumers often read reviews and it is nearly impossible to tell the difference between a real or fake review.

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Many use the internet considering it more like a walk in the park rather than realizing it is more like a trip down a dark alley. Today's guest is Stuart Madnick. Professor Madnick has been a faculty member at MIT since 1972. He has served as the head of MIT's IT group for more than 20 years. During that time, the group has been consistently rated number 1 in the nation among schools for information technology programs. Dr. Madnick is a prolific writer and author or co-author of over 380 books, articles, or technical reports and textbooks. He has a degree in Electronic Engineering, Management, and Computer Science from MIT. He has been a visiting professor at Harvard University and six additional countries.

Show Notes:

• [1:10] - Dr. Madnick shares his background and current role at MIT.
• [2:53] - There were examples of cybersecurity attacks predating the internet through floppy disks.
• [4:02] - In the late 90s and early 2000s, the internet experienced a boom of users.
• [5:50] - In other industries, safety is a priority.
• [6:53] - Everything, even toothbrushes, have computers in them.
• [8:30] - Most know of the common scams, but there are people who still fall victim to them.
• [9:18] - Some of the really poorly written scam emails are intentionally created this way to find the most gullible.
• [10:15] - Dr. Madnick describes spear phishing and the rise in these cases.
• [11:30] - In some cases, only a couple hundred dollars could be enough for a scammer and they add up quickly.
• [13:03] - Don't feel bad if you are hit by a believable scam.
• [14:11] - Most people do not consider what to do to minimize damage.
• [16:56] - If something bad happens to your computer and/or your data, what is your plan?
• [18:54] - Dr. Madnick shares some corporate examples of cyberattacks.
• [20:23] - We constantly have several subconscious decisions that we don't consider the consequences of.
• [22:16] - Maintaining certificates and security is a tedious and manual task.
• [23:51] - Data is tracked by how attacks were successful rather than how many were unsuccessful.
• [26:10] - Larger companies are starting to give more attention to cybersecurity but the progress is very slow.
• [28:31] - Cybersecurity can be considered a catastrophe.
• [29:30] - What does a cyber catastrophe look like?
• [31:40] - Outages and malfunctions are possible and in catastrophes, a solution can take weeks or more.
• [33:22] - It may not be likely that a catastrophe will happen, but it is possible, and we are unprepared.
• [36:12] - You can't avoid all risks, but you can minimize the damage done.
• [39:31] - Cybersecurity tends to be a low priority.
• [41:17] - What is a "zero-click vulnerability?"
• [43:12] - Cybersecurity education is outdated in most schools.
• [44:43] - You can put a better lock on your front door, but if you put your key under the mat, are you any more secure?

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• Cybersecurity at MIT

Everyone is at risk when they're online. But there are simple security measures that you can implement that will make it more difficult to be hacked. Today's guest is Lisa Plaggemier. Lisa is the Interim Executive Director for the National Cybersecurity Alliance. She has held executive roles with Ford Motor Company, InfoSec, and Media Pro. She is also a frequent speaker at major events and is a thought leader for innovative security trainings and awareness programs.

Show Notes:

• [1:05] - The National Cybersecurity Alliance has a mission to enable a more secure interconnected world.
• [1:45] - Lisa was working in sales and marketing with Ford Motor Company, but shares an experience that changed her career trajectory.
• [4:27] - Lisa created a series of videos that became popular with viewers.
• [5:58] - Security professionals are well intentioned, but when educating people who are not technologists, you want to give just enough to stay interested.
• [7:21] - People use technology to enhance their lives. The internet was never built to be secure.
• [9:30] - Doing things securely doesn't always mean that the user should be frustrated.
• [11:04] - With keeping track of passwords, Lisa reveals the common misconception of password management sites.
• [12:28] - Another problem is with business accounts and corporations where employees think the company handles security.
• [14:23] - Unfortunately, there are some sites that don't make using a password manager easy.
• [15:31] - It really isn't necessary to change your password every 90 days as was previously important to do.
• [16:46] - It is important for people to research a company and their possible security breaches before doing business.
• [17:57] - Part of many sites are requiring two factor authentication as a part of the setup process.
• [19:27] - What if everyone did two factor authentication?
• [21:46] - Lisa shares some stereotypes of hackers and phishing emails. But they aren't like that anymore. Hacking has become very sophisticated.
• [24:42] - Advertising and stock images feed this stereotype.
• [26:24] - Organized crime is structured just like a professional organization.
• [28:40] - People involved with organized crime look at what they are doing as just their job.
• [30:04] - Lisa's prediction in cybersecurity will get worse before it gets better.
• [31:54] - In the security world, security professionals are improving their ability to educate the populace.
• [33:52] - If we don't report things, trends will not be noticed.
• [35:31] - Always keep your software and apps updated. Updates are usually security driven.
• [36:47] - The language barrier between employees of a company and the IT department is something that needs to be bridged.
• [39:31] - There are a lot of free resources available on the National Cybersecurity Alliance's website.

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It is easy for people to create fake online profiles and say or do whatever they want as a cyberbully. They often don't think through the possible consequences of their actions. Today's guest is Tina Meier. Tina is the Executive Director of The Megan Meier Foundation. Her life was forever changed on October 16, 2006 when Tina's 13 year old daughter Megan Taylor Meier took her own life after being cyberbullied by an adult neighbor posing as a fictitious boy named Josh Evans. Her belief is that if there is even just one child that struggles with bullying, cyberbullying, or self-harm, that is one too many and we must be there to help and support them. Show Notes:

• [1:08] - Megan struggled with self-worth and self-esteem. Tina shares Megan's story of meeting a boy on MySpace.
• [3:50] - The things that were being said online were not true and Megan began defending herself. She felt like her mother was not on her side.
• [4:52] - Megan took her own life.
• [5:45] - After Megan's passing, the boy's MySpace account was deleted. It turned out that it was a fake account created by the neighbor.
• [7:03] - It is hard to fathom that an adult was behind this, however Tina does not believe that Megan would take her own life.
• [8:27] - The FBI investigated and determined who was behind the fake account.
• [9:50] - The court case was a first of its kind and Tina explains the process and results.
• [11:15] - Tina took her focus to beginning the Megan Meier Foundation to help other kids.
• [13:34] - In the early 2000s, there were really no restrictions or laws in place to help protect people.
• [16:02] - When your child is young, talk to them about the rules and make sure they understand.
• [17:32] - For adolescents, share stories like Megan's story.
• [19:20] - Who will your child feel comfortable coming to in a time of crisis?
• [20:15] - Be aware of behavior changes.
• [21:21] - Check in with teachers and school staff to see if behavior changes take place at school, too.
• [23:24] - Listen to your child and validate their feelings.
• [24:45] - There's the concern of the other party knowing you've taken a screenshot. Tina advises getting another device and blocking them.
• [26:12] - Kids are smart and don't want to see their parents upset so they pretend to be okay.
• [27:18] - If your child has expressed thoughts of self-harm, stay calm.
• [29:17] - When they're young, parents tend to want to fix everything for them and protect them.
• [31:40] - Technology has made things easier for kids to create fake accounts. Schools can only do so much.
• [33:31] - Bullying and cyberbullying are so complex because there are no quick fixes.
• [35:30] - Learn social media platforms to see how kids are interacting on them. Tina shares several helpful links.
• [37:31] - Some parents feel like they need to hack into their child's social media account, but Tina explains that all you are doing is panicking.
• [39:31] - As a parent, you will make mistakes.
• [40:57] - The Megan Meier Foundation has tons of resources and their support does not cost anything.

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