Join Damian, Troy, and Fern on Episode 15 of the DTF Cyber Podcast as they dive into a hilarious and insightful recap of Black Hat 2025 in Las Vegas! From Fern's first-time adventures and networking wins to debunking Wi-Fi myths, swag horror stories, and industry trends like AI SOCs, this episode is packed with real-talk for cyber pros and newcomers alike. Whether you're in security or just curious, get the lowdown on making conferences affordable, avoiding vendor traps, and planning for next year—including a DTF meetup pledge!

Don't miss out—subscribe to the DTF Cyber Podcast for weekly cyber insights: https://link.cyberpodcast.net

Timestamps:

00:00:00 - Intro: Welcome to Black Hat Recap Week

00:00:37 - Fern’s First Black Hat: Late Nights and Cool Vibes

00:01:38 - Debunking Wi-Fi/Bluetooth Myths at Hacker Cons

00:05:51 - Meeting Fans and Approaching Cyber Celebs

00:08:20 - Helping Newcomers: Introducing Stephanie to Luminaries

00:11:27 - Networking Without a Ticket: Black Hat on a Budget

00:12:25 - Rising Costs Push Networking to Hallways and Bars

00:15:40 - Affordable Vegas: $500 for Flights, Hotels, and Fun

00:16:54 - Sessions vs. Stealth Demos: What’s Worth It?

00:21:20- UI/UX Excellence Awards: Judging, Categories, and Passion for Intuitive Cyber Tools

00:37:48 - AI SOCs, Cloud Backups, and Ransomware Trends

00:38:12 - Swag Fails: Urinal Cakes and Branded Alexas

00:44:06 - Vendor Raffles: Super Bowl Tickets and Hidden Agendas

00:47:00 - AI Notetakers in Sales: Privacy vs. Convenience

00:51:53 - Branded Shirts and Avoiding LinkedIn Disasters

00:53:00 - Wrapping Up: Missed Events and DEF CON FOMO

00:56:21 - DTF Meetup Pledge for Black Hat 2026

00:57:00 - Outro: See You Next Week!

Hit like if you survived Black Hat (or wish you did), comment your wildest conference story, and subscribe for more unfiltered cyber chats with Damian, Troy, and Fern! #DTFCyber #BlackHat2025 #CybersecurityPodcast

Cyber UXcellence Awards

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mindgrub-announces-winners-of-inaugural-cyber-uxcellence-awards-at-black-hat-usa-2025-302523814.html

Linkedin:

Damian: https://www.linkedin.com/in/damianchung/

Troy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kosovotroy/

Fern: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fernrojasaz/

Business Inquiries: dtf at cyberpodcast dot net