Mind What Matters

A university shuts off its Wi-Fi, an AI platform leaks chat transcripts, and a security leader explains why people still come first. Plus 90s rom-coms and a thank-you to our veterans.

AI assistants that read your email can now be phished too, and ransomware gangs are reportedly escalating to threats of physical violence. Samuel Hill breaks down both, shares a clip from his webinar with MVB Bank CISO Parrish Gunnels on vetting AI vendors and unpacks the wave of data security consolidation. Then his marketing team makes him react to their Cybersecurity Awareness Month videos. He survives. Mostly.

Cybersecurity Awareness Month is here, and your team doesn’t need another pizza party.

In Mind the Headlines, Samuel looks at how AI-generated submissions are flooding Google’s bug bounty program and why letting AI police AI-written bug reports about AI-written code might be a step too far. He also covers the takedown of ShinyHunters and the KillSec ransomware group, both reportedly run by teenagers, and what it means for security leaders: focus on the controls you own.

Next, MIND co-founder Itai Schwartz talks about building culture at a fast-growing startup, how MIND is putting its $72M Series B to work, trading Tel Aviv for Brooklyn and his ongoing quest to understand American football.

Then, a preview of next week’s webinar with Parrish Gunnels, CISO at MVB Bank. Parrish walks through what he asks every AI vendor: which models they run, how much of their code AI wrote, whether that code’s been reviewed and how they handle hallucinations and model validation. Plus the vendor conversation that left his team uneasy.

Finally, five ideas for what security teams actually want this October, from a toil-kill hackathon and a no-pager weekend to a full security theater purge.

Register for the full webinar with Parrish Gunnels

On this episode of Mind What Matters, Samuel sits down with Eran Barak, MIND co-founder and CEO, to talk about MIND's $72 million Series B. They cover how the round came together just a year after the Series A and where the new fuel goes next as AI agents make protecting sensitive data even harder. They also answer the important question: is there a pool full of money involved?

Then we play a clip from our recent webinar with Mike Hiltz, CISO at nference and Anumana. Mike explains why data lives everywhere and why endpoint visibility matters. He also covers what happens when users get "permission fatigue" with AI tools and just click allow.

In Mind the Headlines, we dig into IBM's Cost of a Data Breach report, which found shadow AI in 43% of breaches, up from 20% last year. We also look at the growing calls to slow down frontier AI.

And Liz Cook, our Global Head of Standards, checks in from South Beach with a trip review that was 100% Liz approved. Well, almost.

Watch the full webinar with Mike Hiltz: https://mind.io/events/since-the-business-runs-on-ai-your-dlp-should-too-right

CISOs are less confident in their data protection than ever and that number is still falling. Samuel and Landen unpack new research showing confidence has dropped from 48% in 2022 to just 26% today, then connect it to the Medtronic breach, where Shiny Hunters walked away with millions of sensitive records through a chain of identity, SaaS and infrastructure failures.

The through-line: cybersecurity isn't a collection of siloed disciplines anymore. It's one massive problem with a common answer: Secure your data.

Then Samuel and Landen get into it on conference speaking panels. Vendor stages, suit jackets at RSA, and the practitioners nobody's putting in front of a crowd. They don't entirely agree, which is the point.

Plus: a three-year-old takes first place in Pee Wee Beginners desert racing, and a five-year-old hides behind his coach to juke an entire flag football field.

In this episode, Samuel Hill and Landon Brown explore the latest in AI advancements, cybersecurity challenges, and the importance of data governance. They discuss the impact of new AI models like Claude Mythos, the future of cyber defense, and how to adapt in a rapidly interconnected world.

keywords

AI, cybersecurity, Claude Mythos, data governance, cyber defense, AI models, cyber threats, innovation, open source security, data protection

key topics

• AI model Mythos and its implications
• Cybersecurity challenges with AI advancements
• Data governance and security in AI era

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Mind What Matters Podcast

01:43 Personal Updates and Family Dynamics

05:38 Navigating Family Calendars

07:41 The Rise of Claude Mythos

11:44 AI and Cybersecurity: A Double-Edged Sword

15:39 The Future of Cyber Defense

21:07 The Importance of Data Security

25:30 Closing Thoughts and Reflections

resources

Mind Security Research Report -https://mind.io/content/research-report-impact-of-data-trust-on-ai-success

The podcast episode discusses the post-RSAC feedback and experience, the theme of agentic AI at RSAC, food marketing and brand experience, team commitment and growth, oddities and brand presence at RSAC, and the shift towards realism and tangibility in the market.

This episode covers the upcoming RSA conference, cybersecurity industry insights, and the impact of geopolitics on cyber threats. Guests share their perspectives on industry trends, conference expectations, and the importance of community in cybersecurity.

In this episode of Mind What Matters, host Samuel Hill welcomes Tyson Hempel, the Chief Revenue Officer at MIND, to discuss the evolving landscape of cybersecurity and the impact of AI on the industry. They kick off the conversation by reflecting on personal experiences and aspirations for the new year, emphasizing the importance of both personal and professional growth. As they transition into the main topic, they delve into the integration of AI in healthcare, particularly the implications of using tools like ChatGPT for managing sensitive health data. Tyson highlights the security challenges that arise from this trend, stressing the need for robust data protection measures in the healthcare sector.

The discussion then shifts to evaluating cybersecurity companies, where Tyson shares insights on what makes a company valuable in the current market. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the people behind the technology, the need for genuine partnerships, and the significance of ongoing customer support. The episode wraps up with anecdotes about the unpredictable nature of sales and leadership, showcasing the lighter side of their experiences in the industry.

Takeaways:

• "It's not about just the product or the market or the tech, but more so about the people and the team."
• "You can change your credit card number. You can't change your blood type."
• "The customer journey doesn't begin or end at the actual sale."
• "Find an organization that's maniacally focused on partnership."
• "You have to work your ass off, period. There's no free lunch."

Summary

In this episode of Mind What Matters, hosts Samuel Hill, Landen Brown welcome Eran Barak to discuss holiday traditions, predictions for 2026 in cybersecurity, and the evolving landscape of AI and data security. They explore the implications of AI initiatives, data poisoning, and the need for security teams to focus on business enablement rather than just tool counts. The conversation highlights the importance of trust in technology and the potential challenges that lie ahead as AI becomes more integrated into business processes.

Takeaways

• The importance of holiday traditions in different cultures.
• Predictions for 2026 include a rise in AI initiatives.
• Data poisoning is a significant concern for AI models.
• Security teams will be measured by business enablement.
• Tool sprawl is recognized as a liability.
• AI agents will become more prevalent in organizations.
• Data security will surpass application security in importance.
• Trust and validation are crucial in cybersecurity.
• The need for innovative solutions to manage AI agents.
• The holiday season is a time for family and reflection.