In this bonus episode, Ciaran and James ring in the new year with a look back at the standout guests and thought-provoking topics from series one. They also take a sneak peek at what 2025 holds for the ever-evolving world of tech security.

And to top it off, there’s a special announcement to chase away those January blues.

Highlights:
Typhoon Variants
Ciaran and James take a look at developing cyber threats from China, including:

• Volt Typhoon: a persistent botnet with wide-reaching impacts
• Volt Typhoon back with vengeance | Blowing out the bots
• Salt Typhoon: a new wave of cyber espionage
• Wall Street Journal article: How Chinese Hackers Graduated From Clumsy Corporate Thieves to Military Weapons | Department of Treasury Press
  Release

New year, new legislation
As the U.S. pulls back on regulation, other nations are strengthening their
cybersecurity laws.

• Australia’s new law mandates ransomware attack reporting
• Mandatory ransomware payment reporting | Cyber Sanctions
• UK: Cybersecurity and resilience bill focused on ransomware mitigation
• Cyber Security and Resilience Bill | Ransomware Legislative Proposals: Government Consultation

Additional Resources:

Cyber Leaders Series One Episodes
The myth of the 8-character password
Lazarus Heist: The intercontinental ATM theft that netted $14m in two hours
Cyber Threat Conference

Contact:

Have questions or comments? Email us at ciso-network@sans.org

In this special bonus episode, Ciaran and James tackle one of their favorite cybersecurity acronyms: FUD – Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt. Here our hosts break down what exactly FUD means for cybersecurity, why it matters, and the real-world risks it presents.

Highlights:

Notable Example of FUD

- The Killer Drones story; FUD in action and then retraction

- Highlights from the RAeS Future Combat Air & Space Capabilities Summit

- BBC article on viral report

Malware attacks

- WannaCry Guidance for Users | NHS Case Study on WannaCry

- Lessons from the Colonial Pipeline Attack

- CFR Analysis of the Shamoon Attack | BBC Coverage of Shamoon Attack

Accidental IT failures

- UK Air Traffic Control Technical Failure: confusion over two DVLs.

- BBC Report on ATC Failure | Regulator Review Following ATC Technical Failure

The Ultimate FUD phrase

- Leon Panetta's Cyber Pearl Harbor Warning; fostering a climate of fear about the catastrophic consequences of cyber warfare.

- Panetta’s Speech on Cyber Threats | BBC Coverage of Panetta's Warning

Dousing the FUD Flames

- Ian Levy's Magic Amulet Speech to cyber security vendors in which he accused them of selling medieval witchcraft to the public.

- The Register on Ian Levy's Speech

‘The World’s First Cyber Weapon’

- Stuxnet Computer Virus; the infamous worm aimed at Iran's nuclear facilities

- BBC Overview of Stuxnet | Kaspersky Resource on Stuxnet

Additional Resources:

- BBC Full Dossier on Iraq | Transcript of Andrew Gilligan's original report

- BBC Report on Iraq Dossier Controversy

Contact:

Have questions or comments? Email us at ciso-network@sans.org

In this episode, Ciaran and James sit down with investigative journalist and author, Geoff White, to explore the booming business of cyber crime. Geoff sheds light on this murky criminal underworld, its far-reaching consequences, and how cybersecurity has evolved in the public eye.

Highlights:

[1:30] Overview of Geoff’s notable work
[4:00] Cybersecurity in the Limelight
[10:15] Transformative Hacking Stories
[20:00] Global Cyber Criminals Overview
[30:00] Gripping Stories Covered by Geoff in his latest book, Rinsed
[45:00] National Crime Agency Efforts

Links:

Crime Dot Com - Crime Dot Com
The Lazarus Heist - Podcast | Book
Rinsed - Rinsed
World Economic Forum on Misinformation | World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2024
AlphaBay Shutdown
Snowden Leaks: The Guardian| BBC News
Anonymous Hacking: Britannica on Anonymous
Sony Pictures Entertainment Hacking: Vox | CCDCOE
Nation State Hackers: Nation State Hackers
Organized Cybercrime: Rise of Ransomware
Hacktivists: Hacktivism
Axie Infinity Hack: The Block
Tornado Cash: US DoJ | FBI
Money Laundering Sisters from Bury: GMP News | Bury Times
NCA on DDoS Attacks

Contact:

Have questions or comments? Email us at ciso-network@sans.org