Episode 0x8:

In this episode of Hack Dissection, host Mike Lisi welcomes back Graham O’Donnell, Penetration Tester at Maltek Solutions, to pull back the curtain on what really happens during external and internal network assessments.

From OSINT and subdomain enumeration to Nmap quirks and the chaos of inconsistent vulnerability data, Graham shares his raw, unfiltered process for finding weaknesses in the wild — plus the unexpected human side of hacking when tests get a little too real.

Mike and Graham also discuss:

• Automating and optimizing pen testing workflows
• Credential reuse and why third-party breaches still matter
• The ethics of exploring live environments
• What it feels like to uncover personal data during an engagement

Whether you’re a cybersecurity pro or just curious how ethical hackers think, this conversation offers a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the craft, the chaos, and the conscience of penetration testing.