November 27, 2023

Katie Paxton-Fear: The Importance of Content Creation in Cybersecurity Careers

45 minutes

About The Guest:
Katie Paxton-Fear, also known as Insider PhD, is a content creator and educator in the field of cybersecurity. With a background in software engineering, Katie creates high-quality videos on her YouTube channel that cover various topics related to web security and bug bounty hunting. She is known for her detailed and comprehensive approach to teaching and sharing knowledge in the cybersecurity field.

Summary:
In this episode of The Phillip Wylie Show, host Phillip Wylie interviews Katie Paxton-Fear, also known as Insider PhD, a content creator and educator in the field of cybersecurity. Katie shares her insights on bug bounty hunting, API security, and the importance of having hobbies outside of the computer. She emphasizes the value of content creation in building a personal brand and advancing one's career in cybersecurity. Katie also discusses her teaching approach and how she incorporates content creation into her curriculum to help students showcase their skills and knowledge.

Key Takeaways:

Bug bounty hunting is a valuable path for individuals interested in cybersecurity, but it is important to have a genuine interest in security rather than just the financial aspect.

APIs are often overlooked in terms of security, but they can be a significant vulnerability and a great place to find bugs.

When approaching bug hunting, Katie takes a top-down perspective, starting with the functionality of the application and breaking it down into its component parts to identify potential vulnerabilities.

Having hobbies outside of the computer is crucial for maintaining a healthy work-life balance and preventing burnout in the cybersecurity field.

Content creation, such as writing blogs or creating videos, is highly beneficial for personal branding and career advancement in cybersecurity.

Quotes:

"Bug hunting is really interesting. It's like having a puzzle, except you only have a few pieces, they're completely blank, and you're not sure if they came from the same set." - Katie Paxton-Fear

"It's really easy to get caught up in 'I finish work, I'm going to go look at my phone.' I think it's really important to have hobbies that just do not involve a computer at all." - Katie Paxton-Fear

"Content creation is the biggest thing you can do for your personal career. It changes the equation in hiring, where companies come to you instead of you chasing them." - Katie Paxton-Fear

Socials and Resources:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiepf/

https://www.youtube.com/@InsiderPhD

https://twitter.com/InsiderPhD

...more

View all episodes

By Phillip Wylie

4.9

1717 ratings