Security Unlocked

Everything is exciting and new when you're a kid, and curiosity inspires many of us to branch out and try new things. For some, that means drawing from our imagination or trying all kinds of sports. And for others it means spending days at the library, checking out books on modem communications, and eventually hacking into the local dial-up community service. That's just a random example, of course... Either way, curiosity can be a powerful tool, even at a young age. To the point that it may help kickstart a career, you didn't even know existed.  

In this episode of Security Unlocked, host Natalia Godyla is joined by S&P Global Ratings BISO Alyssa Miller. Alyssa is a life-long hacker and highly experienced security executive. She runs the security strategy for S&P Global Ratings as the Business Information Security Officer (BISO), bringing together corporate security objectives and business objectives. Natalia and Alyssa discuss her journey in security from a young and curious hacker to a BISO of the largest credit-rating agency, and how she is shaping what the role of the BISO will be for future generations.  

In This Episode You Will Learn:    

• What are the roles and responsibilities of a BISO  
• How a BISO should interact with the rest of the organization 
• How to put yourself on track to become a BISO   

Some Questions We Ask:    

• What are the gaps that the BISO function is trying to address? 
• What other roles should exist in security, but don’t?  
• How will the BISO role evolve over time? 

Resources:   

View Alyssa Miller on LinkedIn 

View Nic on LinkedIn  

View Natalia on LinkedIn  

Related:   

Listen to: Security Unlocked: CISO Series with Bret Arsenault     

Listen to: Afternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson    

Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts

Security Unlocked is produced by Microsoft and distributed as part of The CyberWire Network.   

Produced by Hangar Studios

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Disinformation refers to the calculated use of false information to influence others and has been a steadily growing form of information warfare. Unfortunately, disinformation is everywhere these days, often hidden in plain sight. Criminals will also adapt and take advantage of technologies, such as AI and deepfakes, to increase the effectiveness of disinformation campaigns. Of course, there are ways to combat these types of attacks, and we cover recommendations for protecting the enterprise in the 2021 Microsoft Digital Defense Report (MDDR).  

In this episode of Security Unlocked, hosts Natalia Godyla and Nic Fillingham are joined by the Director of Enterprise Continuity and Resilience at Microsoft, Irfan Mirza, who authored the chapter on disinformation in the enterprise in the 2021 MDDR. Irfan joins to discuss what disinformation is, why the use of disinformation is growing, how cognitive hacking occurs, and how cybersecurity can start thinking about adapting their strategies. 

In This Episode You Will Learn:    

• How to identify disinformation campaigns  
• How to train users and protect your organization from disinformation   
• Why we need AI to defend against disinformation 

Some Questions We Ask:    

• What is the difference between misinformation and disinformation? 
• How does disinformation impact cybersecurity? 
• What new skills do cybersecurity professionals need to be able to protect the enterprise from this new threat? 

Resources:   

Microsoft Digital Defense Report 2021 

View Irfan Mirza on LinkedIn  

View Nic on LinkedIn  

View Natalia on LinkedIn  

Related:     

Listen to: Security Unlocked: CISO Series with Bret Arsenault     

Listen to: Afternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson    

Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts

Security Unlocked is produced by Microsoft and distributed as part of The CyberWire Network.

Produced by Hangar Studios

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Microsoft works around the clock to protect their customers, no matter what product they’re using, Microsoft or otherwise. In some instances Microsoft teams up with other companies, creating an all-star cybersecurity team, to handle newly discovered vulnerabilities. It helps everyone stay more secure, and of course, that's the ultimate goal, right?  

In this episode of Security Unlocked, hosts Natalia Godyla and Nic Fillingham are re-joined by Jonathan Bar Or, Principal Security Researcher at Microsoft. Jonathan discusses the recently discovered vulnerability that could let attackers bypass System Integrity Protection (SIP) in macOS, why he believes in investing in cross-platform protection, and the importance of collaboration between security researchers, software vendors, and the larger security community. 

In This Episode You Will Learn: 

• What is System Integrity Protection (SIP) 
• How attackers can bypass SIP 
• How attackers can use the Shrootless vulnerability 

Some Questions We Ask: 

• How did you find the Shrootless vulnerability? 
• How do you decide what products to assess? 
• How does the process of submitting a vulnerability to Apple work? 

Resources:   

Microsoft finds new macOS vulnerability - Shrootless 

View Jonathan Bar Or on LinkedIn 

View Nic on LinkedIn  

View Natalia on LinkedIn  

Related:   

Listen to: Security Unlocked: CISO Series with Bret Arsenault     

Listen to: Afternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson    

Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts

Security Unlocked is produced by Microsoft and distributed as part of The CyberWire Network.     

Produced by Hangar Studios

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In December 2020, Microsoft began sharing information with the cybersecurity industry on a group of Russia-based hackers who gained access to multiple enterprises through vulnerable software code, stolen passwords, compromised on-premises servers, and minted SAML tokens. In this supply chain attack, hackers could access the SolarWinds code, slip malicious code into a piece of the software, and use the vendor’s legitimate software updates to spread malware to customer systems.   

Security Unlocked is excited to share with you, Decoding NOBELIUM. The docuseries gives you an inside look into the NOBELIUM incident, now viewed as one of the most advanced nation-state and supply chain attacks in history, with stories from the frontline defenders who tracked and responded to the attackers. 

Resources: 

Decoding NOBELIUM: Video Series

Defending Against Nation-State Attacks | Microsoft Security

View Natalia on LinkedIn 

View Nic on LinkedIn 

Related:    

Listen to: Security Unlocked: CISO Series with Bret Arsenault   

Listen to: Afternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson  

Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts

Security Unlocked is produced by Microsoft and distributed as part of The CyberWire Network.  

Produced by Hangar Studios

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We are back, covering more of the 2021 Microsoft Digital Defense Report, and this time we’re taking a deep dive into chapter five on Hybrid Workforce Security and Zero Trust. Zero Trust means precisely what it sounds like, never assuming any device or identity is secure; it's like having major trust issues, but in a professional way. With most businesses moving to remote work because of the pandemic, cybercriminals, of course, found new ways to take advantage, especially since most people are now moving between business and personal activity online. For the first time, we’re going to cover a full 12-month recap of what securing the hybrid workforce has been like. 

In this episode of Security Unlocked, hosts Natalia Godyla and Nic Fillingham are joined by Carmichael Patton, Lead Architect for Microsoft's Internal Zero Trust Deployment. Carmichael joins the show to discuss security challenges and trends impacting the hybrid workforce, the three most significant insider risk vulnerabilities, and why some customers are still not using MFA. 

In This Episode You Will Learn:    

• Security challenges and trends impacting the hybrid workforce 
• How Microsoft approached their Zero Trust journey  
• Prioritizing security initiatives during a time of massive change 

Some Questions We Ask:    

• What were some of the major hybrid workforce attacks?  
• Why are some customers still not using MFA? 
• When and how should you deal with insider risk? 

Resources:   

Zero Trust Adoption Report 

The 2021 Microsoft Digital Defense Report  

View Carmichael Patton on LinkedIn  

View Nic on LinkedIn  

View Natalia on LinkedIn  

Related: 

Listen to: Security Unlocked: CISO Series with Bret Arsenault   

Listen to: Afternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson  

Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts

Security Unlocked is produced by Microsoft and distributed as part of The CyberWire Network.   

Produced by Hangar Studios

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The way most people operate online these days, what would you even consider private anymore? We are so quick to share details about our job, home, friends, and family without even thinking about how much personal info we're giving away. Privacy and user agreements are a part of almost everyone's life at this point, and what do you know about them? For the most part, we often see a user agreement pop up, click agree and move on, but do you know what you just agreed to? Privacy choices have become routine, though they shouldn’t be. 

In this episode of Security Unlocked, hosts Natalia Godyla and Nic Fillingham are joined by Privacy Counsel and Data Protection Officer at Asana, Whitney Merrill. She is an accomplished attorney with 7+ years of privacy, data security, and data governance experience. Whitney discusses how to avoid common privacy mistakes, current privacy attack trends, and the importance of thinking like an attacker.  

In This Episode You Will Learn:    

• The role of encryption in privacy  
• Privacy attack trends you should be paying attention to 
• Why some organizations have different approaches to privacy 

Some Questions We Ask:    

• How, and when, do privacy and security come together?  
• Why has a common framework been so difficult to establish?  
• Should regulators play a role in establishing a baseline of privacy awareness? 

Resources:   

View Whitney Merrill on LinkedIn 

View Nic on LinkedIn  

View Natalia on LinkedIn  

Related:     

Listen to: Security Unlocked: CISO Series with Bret Arsenault   

Listen to: Afternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson  

Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts

Security Unlocked is produced by Microsoft and distributed as part of The CyberWire Network.  

Produced by Hangar Studios

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The newfound popularity of the internet in the nineties spurned an obsession with hacking. Unfortunately, most movies believed that it wasn't possible to show real hacking and still be entertaining; hence all the awkward video game graphics and characters living in sketchy basements regularly yelling out, "We're in!" while pounding on their keyboards. I'd also like to address their outfit choices but now is not the appropriate time. The point is, hackers have been portrayed as the same character repeatedly when in reality, there are many possibilities to turn these skills into a legitimate career.    

In this episode of Security Unlocked, hosts Natalia Godyla and Nic Fillingham are joined by Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer at Veracode Chris Wysopal. In the ’90s, Chris was one of the first vulnerability researchers at The L0pht, a hacker think tank, where he publicized his findings on the dangers of insecure software. Chris shares guidance for anyone getting started with modern secure software development, the best tools to monitor for vulnerabilities in open-source code, and shares what he believes is one of the greatest threats to software development. 

In This Episode You Will Learn:    

• How to use open-source code safely 
• Best tools for monitoring vulnerabilities 
• How to detect and respond to threats to insecure software 

Some Questions We Ask:    

• What is modern secure software development?  
• What are the biggest threats to software today?  
• How should companies allocate ownership of secure code across the software development lifecycle? 

Resources:   

View Chris Wysopal on LinkedIn 

View Nic on LinkedIn  

View Natalia on LinkedIn  

Related:    

Listen to: Afternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson  

Listen to: Security Unlocked: CISO Series with Bret Arsenault  

Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts

Security Unlocked is produced by Microsoft and distributed as part of The CyberWire Network. 

Produced by Hangar Studios

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Okay, look, we know you plan on reading the entire 2021 MDDR at some point. But you're busy. Life gets in the way. We get it. Who has the time! Well, we've got the time, but that's beside the point, and honestly... fortunate for you. We've read the report front to back and have decided to cover some of it today on the podcast, but you'll still need to read all 134 pages yourself if you truly want to grasp the entire piece. Unless you want to be that person who listens to a single podcast and pretends they read the whole thing... then go ahead; we won't tell. 

In this episode of Security Unlocked, hosts Natalia Godyla and Nic Fillingham are joined by Sian John, Microsoft's director of strategic growth. Sian is currently working with the business development team, exploring growth opportunities for Microsoft to strengthen security, compliance, and identity offerings that address unfulfilled needs in the market. As a security professional with over 25 years of experience, Sian accompanies us as we discuss the 2021 Microsoft Digital Defense Report, which she personally contributed to.   

In This Episode You Will Learn:    

• The history and analysis of the 2021 Microsoft Digital Defense Report 
• The evolution of cybercrime services that are for sale 
• What's providing new attackers with access to deeper data 

Some Questions We Ask:    

• How did Microsoft settle on the topics and themes of the 2021 MDDR?   
• What are some takeaways from the newly added disinformation chapter? 
• Why isn't Zero Trust being implemented, considering the conversations we've had that it's more critical than ever?   

Resources:   

 2021 Microsoft Digital Defense Report 

View Sian John on LinkedIn 

View Natalia on LinkedIn 

View Nic on LinkedIn  

Related:    

Listen to: Security Unlocked: CISO Series with Bret Arsenault  

Listen to: Afternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson 

Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts

Security Unlocked is produced by Microsoft and distributed as part of The CyberWire Network.  

Produced by Hangar Studios

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What would you say is the most personal possession that you own? Most would say their cell phone... unless you still have a few journals from high school. And if you do, this is your reminder that it might be time to let those go. It's become increasingly apparent lately how much info our phones collect from us, from the first app you check in the morning after waking up, recent calendar entries, and your actual heart rate by 9 am. The crazy part is most people don't give it a second thought. It doesn't interest us... until something or someone goes missing, then it becomes a road map to whatever it is you did. 

In this episode of Security Unlocked, host's Natalia Godyla and Nic Fillingham are joined by Senior Digital Forensics Researcher at Cellebrite, SANS Author and Senior Instructor Sarah Edwards. Sarah walks us through the world of mobile digital forensics while also crushing our dreams on how not so relatable it is to our favorite CSI television shows. She explains what makes mobile forensics unique while incredibly intimate and how a mobile device can be used as part of an attack chain.  

In This Episode You Will Learn: 

• The specific tools used during a digital forensics investigation 
• What the typical threat landscape looks like for mobile devices 
• Big trends and changes happening in the past few years 

Some Questions We Ask: 

• How is mobile forensics particularly unique? 
• ​​What is typically looked for during an investigation?  
• How is a mobile device used as part of an attack chain? 

Resources: 

mac4n6.com 

View Sarah Edwards on LinkedIn 

View Nic on LinkedIn 

View Natalia on LinkedIn 

View Microsoft Security Blog 

Related:   

Listen to: Afternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson 

Listen to: Security Unlocked: CISO Series with Bret Arsenault 

Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts

Security Unlocked is produced by Microsoft and distributed as part of The CyberWire Network. 

Produced by Hangar Studios

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You're back home celebrating the holidays with friends and family, sharing stories, catching up, and discussing your plans for the year ahead. Next thing you know, that cousin who wouldn't stop sending you emails about the "future of bitcoin" and coin mining kicks the door open, and he's ready to spread some holiday knowledge. Oh yeah, he's also going to cut you in on a sweet deal he has going on with his buddy Carl, who he met at dollar wing night. Unfortunately, Carl is one of the bad guys. He is secretly infecting multiple devices with botnets, collecting crypto-cash at the expense of the naive device owners who don't know that their machines are being used.   

In this episode of Security Unlocked, hosts Natalia Godyla and Nic Fillingham are re-joined by Microsoft Defender 365 threat intelligence team member Elif Kaya, whose current primary focus is with botnets, commodity threats, and phishing delivered malware. Elif explains some of the new techniques from botnets, how they're being used for financial theft via cryptocurrency mining, and the impact on the defender's view of these actions.  

In This Episode You Will Learn:  

• An overview and detailed description of what botnets are 
• The fundamentals of cryptocurrency mining & botnets on a machine
• Best practices when trying to identify new botnets

Some Questions We Ask:    

• How can Microsoft contribute to helping take down these botnets?  
• What direction are the new botnets moving towards? 
• How common is competition-killing activity within new botnets and crypto mining? 

Resources: 

Phorpiex morphs: How a longstanding botnet persists and thrives in the current threat environment 

When coin miners evolve, Part 1: Exposing LemonDuck and LemonCat, modern mining malware infrastructure 

When coin miners evolve, Part 2: Hunting down LemonDuck and LemonCat attacks 

View Elif Kaya on LinkedIn

View Natalia on LinkedIn 

View Nic on LinkedIn 

Related:   

Listen to: Security Unlocked: CISO Series with Bret Arsenault 

Listen to: Afternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson

Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts

Security Unlocked is produced by Microsoft and distributed as part of The CyberWire Network. 

Produced by Hangar Studios

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.