When your firewall forgets to buckle up, the crash doesn’t happen in the network first, it happens in your blindspots. In this episode, Ron is joined by returning guest Chris Hughes, Co-Founder of Aquia and host of the Resilient Cyber podcast. Chris helps reframe vulnerability work as exposure management, connect technical risk to human resilience, and break down the scoring and runtime tools security teams actually need today. Expect clear takeaways on EPSS, reachability analysis, ADR, AI’s double-edged role, and the one habit Chris swears by as a CEO. This episode fuses attack-surface reality with mental-attack-surface strategy so you walk away with both tactical moves and daily practices that protect systems and people. Impactful Moments: 00:00 - Intro 02:00 - Breaking: Fortinet WAF zero-day & visibility lesson 05:00 - Meet Chris Hughes: CEO, author, Resilient Cyber host 08:00 - Mental attack surface explained and why it matters 18:00 - From CVSS to EPSS, reachability, and ADR realities 21:00 - AI as force-multiplier for attackers and defenders 24:30 - Exposure vs vulnerability naming, market trends 26:00 - Chris’s book & how to follow his work 30:00 - Ron’s solo: 3 pillars to patch your mindset 34:00 - Closing takeaways and subscribe reminder Links: Connect with our guest, Chris Hughes, on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/resilientcyber/ Check out the article on the Fortinet exploit here: https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2025/11/14/fortinet-fortiweb-zero-day-exploited/  Check out our upcoming events: https://www.hackervalley.com/livestreams Join our creative mastermind and stand out as a cybersecurity professional: https://www.patreon.com/hackervalleystudio Love Hacker Valley Studio? Pick up some swag: https://store.hackervalley.com Continue the conversation by joining our Discord: https://hackervalley.com/discord Become a sponsor of the show to amplify your brand: https://hackervalley.com/work-w

The real disruption isn’t AI replacing humans, it’s the shocking possibility that human labor was the economic bubble all along. In this episode, Ron Eddings sits down with Daniel Miessler, founder of Unsupervised Learning and longtime security leader, to break open why companies are hitting record profits with shrinking workforces, and what that means for your future. Daniel shares how AI agents, context management, and his Telos problem-first framework are reshaping what it means to create value in the modern economy. From Apple to Human 3.0, Daniel explains why building in public, learning fast, and solving real problems are the ultimate career edge in an AI-powered world. Impactful Moments: 00:00 - Introduction 02:00 - Jobless profit boom accelerates 05:00 - Daniel's AI journey at Apple 08:00 - Building careers around problems 12:00 - AI bubble or timing problem 15:00 - Nine-year-old codes app in two hours 18:00 - Human labor is the bubble 22:00 - Context management changes everything 26:00 - Adaptation equals survival Links: Daniel’s Website: danielmiessler.com/ Daniel’s Github: https://github.com/danielmiessler/ Daniel’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielmiessler/ Upcoming events: https://www.hackervalley.com/livestreams Love Hacker Valley Studio? Pick up some swag: https://store.hackervalley.com Continue the conversation by joining our Discord: https://hackervalley.com/discord Become a sponsor of the show to amplify your brand: https://hackervalley.com/work-with-us/ Join our creative mastermind and stand out as a cybersecurity professional: https://www.patreon.com/hackervalleystudio  

AI agents aren't just reacting anymore, they're thinking, learning, and sometimes deleting your entire production database without asking. The real question isn't if your AI agent will be hacked, it's when, and whether you'll have the right hooks in place to stop it before it happens. In this episode, Ron breaks down the ChatGPT Atlas vulnerability that shocked researchers, revealing how malicious prompts can turn AI assistants against their own users by bypassing safeguards and accessing file systems. He presents his new talk "Hooking Before Hacking," introducing a framework for applying EDR principles, prevention, detection, and response, to AI agents before they execute unauthorized commands. From pre-tool use hooks that catch malicious intent to one-time passwords that put humans back in the loop, this episode shares practical security controls you can implement today to prevent your AI agents from going rogue.   Impactful Moments: 00:00 - Introduction 02:00 - ChatGPT Atlas vulnerability exposed 04:00 - AI technology outpacing security guardrails 05:00 - Guardrail jailbreaks and prompt injection 06:00 - AI agents deleting production databases 07:00 - EDR principles for AI agents 09:00 - Pre-tool use hooks catch intention 11:00 - User prompt sanitization prevents leaks 14:00 - One-time passwords for agent workflows 16:00 - Automation mistakes across 10 years   Links: Connect with Ron on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronaldeddings/ Check out the entire article here: https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/cybersecurity-experts-warn-openai-chatgpt-101658986.html  GitHub Repository: https://hackervalley.com/hooking-before-hacking  See Ron's "Hooking Before Hacking" presentation slides here: http://hackervalley.com/hooking-before-hacking-presentation Check out our website: https://hackervalley.com/ Upcoming events: https://www.hackervalley.com/livestreams Love Hacker Valley Studio? Pick up some swag:

What if your security team never missed a single alert and actually had time to think strategically? In this episode, Ahmed Achchak, CEO and Co-Founder of Qevlar AI, reveals how autonomous SOCs are reshaping security operations worldwide. From tackling alert fatigue to empowering analysts with intelligent AI-driven investigations, Ahmed shares the inside story of building a system that can act on threats faster than any human alone. Learn how Qevlar’s innovative approach is giving organizations clarity, control, and measurable ROI while freeing security teams to focus on what truly matters. Impactful Moments 00:00 - Introduction 01:30 - Founding Qevlar AI by chance 03:30 - Inefficiency of current SOCs 05:00 - Augmenting analysts, not replacing them 08:00 - AI investigating alerts at scale 11:30 - How autonomous agents handle phishing 14:30 - Why tackling all alerts maximizes ROI 17:30 - Graph technology as investigation backbone 25:00 - Limitations and randomness of LLMs 30:30 - Advice for testing AI in SOCs Links Connect with our guest Ahmed on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ahmed-achchak-872554109/   Check out Qevlar’s website: https://www.qevlar.com/   Check out our upcoming events: https://www.hackervalley.com/livestreams Join our creative mastermind and stand out as a cybersecurity professional: https://www.patreon.com/hackervalleystudio Love Hacker Valley Studio? Pick up some swag: https://store.hackervalley.com Continue the conversation by joining our Discord: https://hackervalley.com/discord Become a sponsor of the show to amplify your brand: https://hackervalley.com/work-with-us/    

Who said cybersecurity had to be serious? The future of cyber is creative, human, and even a little sexy. In this special 400th episode, Ron Eddings celebrates six incredible years of Hacker Valley Studio with one of cyber’s most creative voices, Maria Velasquez, Co-Founder of the Cybersecurity Marketing Society and Co-Host of Breaking Through in Cybersecurity Marketing. Together, they discuss how bold storytelling, authentic community, and a touch of fun are reshaping the way we connect in cybersecurity. Maria opens up about turning burnout into purpose, building a 4,000-strong global movement, and why the next frontier in cyber might just be entertainment.   Impactful Moments: 00:00 - Introduction 02:00 - CISA layoffs and collaboration fragility 04:00 - Welcoming Maria Velasquez 06:00 - How loneliness sparked a global community 08:00 - Why collaboration fuels cybersecurity growth 10:00 - When cybersecurity marketing was “boring” 12:00 - The rise of creativity and brand power 14:00 - Story behind Torque’s “Kill the S.O.A.R” campaign 15:00 - Making cybersecurity emotional and human 17:00 - Maria’s advice for bold marketing leaders 18:00 - The next big thing: experiential marketing 20:00 - Inside Cyber Marketing Con 2025 24:00 - Final reflections on community and creativity 27:00 - Ron’s takeaways: connection drives innovation Links: Connect with Maria on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-vepa/ Check out our upcoming events: https://www.hackervalley.com/livestreams Join our creative mastermind and stand out as a cybersecurity professional: https://www.patreon.com/hackervalleystudio Love Hacker Valley Studio? Pick up some swag: https://store.hackervalley.com Continue the conversation by joining our Discord: https://hackervalley.com/discord Become a sponsor of the show to amplify your brand: https://hackervalley.com/work-with-us/

To defend like a human, you first have to think like a hacker. In this episode, Ron Eddings sits down with Chris Dale, Co-Founder and Chief Hacking Officer at River Security, to explore the human side of hacking, where curiosity, persistence, and vigilance meet defense. Chris shares how the traditional idea of penetration testing has evolved into a continuous journey of discovery, and why reconnaissance and storytelling are critical tools for modern defenders. From real-world breach stories to lessons on trust and responsibility, this episode reveals how thinking like a hacker, and acting like a human can transform the way we approach cybersecurity.   Impactful Moments 00:00 - Introduction and massive breach overview 03:00 - Trusted systems become exposure points 05:00 - Meet Chris Dale of River Security 07:00 - The problem with traditional pen testing 08:30 - Continuous reconnaissance and real-world risk 10:00 - Knowing yourself as a security principle 13:00 - The meaning of continuous vigilance 15:00 - Turning cybersecurity lessons into stories 18:00 - Storytelling and mindset in defense 19:30 - Final takeaways on fundamentals and vigilance   Links: Connect with our Chris on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisad/ Read the Tech Radar article here: https://www.techradar.com/pro/security/f5-breach-fallout-over-266-000-instances-exposed-to-remote-attacks Check out our upcoming events: https://www.hackervalley.com/livestreams Join our creative mastermind and stand out as a cybersecurity professional: https://www.patreon.com/hackervalleystudio Love Hacker Valley Studio? Pick up some swag: https://store.hackervalley.com Continue the conversation by joining our Discord: https://hackervalley.com/discord Become a sponsor of the show to amplify your brand: https://hackervalley.com/work-with-us/      

When code meets intuition, innovation gets personal. But what happens when we let AI vibe with our ideas? In this episode, Ron Eddings covers the rise of AI-driven development from Vibe Coding, where natural language shapes real code, to the emerging Model Context Protocols (MCPs) that redefine how apps talk to AI. He breaks down the recent Figma MCP vulnerability to discuss how creativity and security now collide in surprising ways. With hands-on insights using Raycast and practical steps for building responsibly, Ron takes you inside a new era where human intuition and machine intelligence truly build together.     Impactful Moments 00:00 - Introduction 01:00 - The Figma vulnerability explained 03:00 - Why MCP security matters 05:00 - What vibe coding really means 07:00 - Writing with intention and context 08:00 - The power of structured prompting 10:00 - How MCP connects everything 12:00 - Why adoption is skyrocketing 15:00 - Setting up an MCP server 17:00 - Agents, actions, and security trust 19:00 - The real takeaway: curiosity with caution 30:00 - Predictions on OpenAI’s upcoming browser 33:00 - The profit battle between OpenAI and Microsoft 35:00 - Windsurf’s rollercoaster of acquisitions   Links: Connect with our Ron on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronaldeddings/ Check out the Hacker News article here:  https://thehackernews.com/2025/10/severe-figma-mcp-vulnerability-lets.html?m=1   Check out our upcoming events: https://www.hackervalley.com/livestreams Join our creative mastermind and stand out as a cybersecurity professional: https://www.patreon.com/hackervalleystudio Love Hacker Valley Studio? Pick up some swag: https://store.hackervalley.com Continue the conversation by joining our Discord: https://hackervalley.com/discord Become a sponsor of the show to amplify your brand: https://hackervalley.com/work-with-us/  

The real edge in cybersecurity isn’t found in new tools, it’s built through timeless fundamentals and a mindset that never stops learning. In this episode, Ron sits down with Rich Greene, Senior Solutions Engineer and Instructor at SANS Institute, to uncover how true cyber value starts with skills, curiosity, and mindset. Rich shares his remarkable story of surviving a battlefield injury, retraining his brain, and how that journey shaped his approach to mastering cybersecurity. Together, they connect real-world lessons like the recent Discord breach to the core truth that even advanced systems depend on people who master the basics. Impactful Moments 00:00 - Introduction 02:00 - Discord breach and third-party risk 05:00 - Meet Rich Greene from SANS 06:00 - The power of mastering fundamentals 07:00 - Learning how to learn 08:30 - Rich’s story of rebuilding his memory 11:00 - Forcing the brain to grow stronger 12:00 - Top skills that get you paid 14:00 - Skills that lead to fulfillment 16:00 - Fundamentals that fuel long-term success 17:00 - The OSI model decoded 20:00 - Why operating systems matter 21:00 - Security operations fundamentals 23:00 - Why cloud is the #1 must-learn skill 25:00 - Final advice: sharpen your fundamentals   Links Connect with our Rich on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/secgreene/ Check out our upcoming events: https://www.hackervalley.com/livestreams Join our creative mastermind and stand out as a cybersecurity professional: https://www.patreon.com/hackervalleystudio Love Hacker Valley Studio? Pick up some swag: https://store.hackervalley.com Continue the conversation by joining our Discord: https://hackervalley.com/discord Become a sponsor of the show to amplify your brand: https://hackervalley.com/work-with-us/  

What if protecting your digital twin becomes the new cyber hygiene? In this week's episode, Ron welcomes back cybersecurity leader Jason Rebholz, CEO of Evoke, to discuss how AI is reshaping the fundamentals of cyber hygiene. From data breaches and deepfakes to everyday habits that protect our digital lives, Jason shares how small actions and smarter use of AI can make all the difference. Together, they uncover how our growing digital footprints are giving rise to digital twins, AI replicas that can mirror our behaviors, voices, and even decisions, and what that means for the future of trust, identity, and security. Impactful Moments: 00:00 - Introduction 01:00 - The Neon app data leak story 03:00 - Why our voices are the new passwords 05:00 - How AI can strengthen cyber hygiene 07:00 - Jason’s mission to secure AI systems 09:00 - AI as a force multiplier for defenders 11:00 - Deepfakes and the new social engineering playbook 13:00 - Attackers’ use of AI and what it means for us 15:00 - The rise of digital twins and identity threats 19:00 - How to defend against “yourself” online 20:00 - Final reflection: Trust in the AI age   Links: Connect with Jason on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jrebholz/ Check out the TechCrunch article on the Neon app data leak story: https://techcrunch.com/2025/09/25/viral-call-recording-app-neon-goes-dark-after-exposing-users-phone-numbers-call-recordings-and-transcripts/   Check out our upcoming events: https://www.hackervalley.com/livestreams Join our creative mastermind and stand out as a cybersecurity professional: https://www.patreon.com/hackervalleystudio Love Hacker Valley Studio? Pick up some swag: https://store.hackervalley.com Continue the conversation by joining our Discord: https://hackervalley.com/discord Become a sponsor of the show to amplify your brand: https://hackervalley.com/work-with-us

The biggest security threat isn’t in the cloud, it’s hidden in the code you trust the most. In this episode, Ron sits down with Varun Badhwar, Co-Founder & CEO of Endor Labs, who shares why research shows that nearly 80–90% of application code comes from open source and third-party libraries, not your own developers. Varun discusses the unseen risks of AI-generated software, how attackers can now weaponize vulnerabilities in hours, and why precision in security matters more than ever. He also reveals how AI can be both the ultimate accelerator and the ultimate weakness in modern development.   Impactful Moments: 00:00 - Introduction 02:00 - Varun’s journey from RedLock to Endor Labs 04:00 - Why the software supply chain is broken 07:00 - AI coding assistants and insecure code risks 10:00 - The NPM self-replicating worm discovery 13:00 - Simple controls to enforce Zero Trust in code 16:00 - Pairing AI with security to prevent slop 19:00 - AI-powered security code reviews explained 22:00 - Why 88% of code goes unused 26:00 - Developer efficiency as the new security metric 29:00 - The next wave of AI-driven software threats   Links: Connect with our Endor on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vbadhwar/     Check out our upcoming events: https://www.hackervalley.com/livestreams Join our creative mastermind and stand out as a cybersecurity professional: https://www.patreon.com/hackervalleystudio Love Hacker Valley Studio? Pick up some swag: https://store.hackervalley.com Continue the conversation by joining our Discord: https://hackervalley.com/discord Become a sponsor of the show to amplify your brand: https://hackervalley.com/work-with-us/    

Search engines aren’t dying quietly, they’re being replaced in real time by AI browsers and voice agents. AI isn’t just answering questions anymore; it’s acting for us. In this episode, Ron Eddings explores how tools like NanoBrowser and Comet are reshaping browsing, why Google may be in trouble, and how AI voices are becoming the new interface for productivity. From breakthroughs to risks, this is a front-row look at how AI agents are changing how we work, connect, and live online.   Impactful Moments: 00:00 - Introduction 01:00 - AI agents as everyday tools 02:00 - Testing AI-powered browsers 03:00 - Comet: AI browser from Perplexity 04:30 - Why Google should be worried 05:30 - Real-world tasks for AI browsers 07:00 - Automating cybersecurity inventory 09:00 - Comet in action on LinkedIn 10:00 - Testing for malicious exploits 11:00 - Risks of persuasive AI prompts 12:00 - The rise of voice agents 13:30 - First real-world AI voice experience 15:00 - Security concerns with customer data 16:30 - Double-edged sword of AI adoption 17:30 - System prompt leakage vulnerabilities 18:00 - Why voice could shrink attack surfaces Links: Connect with Ron on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronaldeddings/   Check out NanoBrowser: https://nanobrowser.ai/ Check out Comet by Perplexity: https://www.perplexity.ai/comet Read the article ‘No more links, no more scrolling - the browser is becoming an AI Agent.’ here: https://venturebeat.com/ai/no-more-links-no-more-scrolling-the-browser-is-becoming-an-ai-agent Read the article ‘How Voice AI Prompt Injection Threatens Enterprise Security’ here: https://www.teneo.ai/blog/how-voice-ai-prompt-injection-threatens-enterprise-security   Check out our upcoming events: https://www.hackervalley.com/livestreams Join our creative mastermind and stand out as a cybersecurity professional: https://www

Some tools replace tasks. Others reshape the way we think about security. In this episode, Ron welcomes back Phillip Wylie, one of the most respected voices in offensive security, author, educator, and longtime friend of the Hacker Valley community. With over 27 years of experience across cybersecurity disciplines, Phillip has guided thousands of professionals through his books, talks, and mentorship. He shares how AI is reshaping pen testing and red teaming, the value of automating away repetitive tasks, and why the fundamentals of security will always matter. From defining red teaming in 2025 to guiding newcomers on how to break in, Phillip delivers insights that balance cutting-edge innovation with timeless wisdom. Impactful Moments: 00:00 - Introduction 01:00 - Why Phillip keeps podcasting 03:00 - AI opportunities in pen testing 04:30 - What automation should replace 06:00 - Red teaming vs pen testing in 2025 08:00 - Defining adversary emulation 10:40 - Building the ideal AI assistant 15:00 - The best AI use cases today 18:30 - AI-driven threat modeling 21:00 - Breaking into pen testing now 25:00 - Building a portfolio and personal brand 27:30 - Why in-person networking still matters   Links: Connect with Phillip on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phillipwylie/   Check out our upcoming events: https://www.hackervalley.com/livestreams Join our creative mastermind and stand out as a cybersecurity professional: https://www.patreon.com/hackervalleystudio Love Hacker Valley Studio? Pick up some swag: https://store.hackervalley.com Continue the conversation by joining our Discord: https://hackervalley.com/discord Become a sponsor of the show to amplify your brand: https://hackervalley.com/work-with-us/    

What if showing up with consistency could spark opportunities, create careers, and build a global movement? In this episode, Ron sits down with Gerald Auger, Ph.D., cybersecurity educator, content creator, and founder of Simply Cyber. Gerald shares how his daily livestream grew into a thriving community, why consistency is the key to influence, and how AI is reshaping the way cyber professionals work. From building SimplyCyberCon to launching a new pentesting venture, Gerry’s journey is a masterclass in community, creativity, and courage. This episode is filled with inspiration and practical takeaways for anyone ready to grow their career, brand, or business in cybersecurity.

What if defenders had their own AI-powered task force, always on, always adapting, and finally one step ahead of attackers? In this episode, Ron welcomes Vineet Edupuganti, Founder and CEO of Cogent Security, to discuss how AI agents are rewriting the rules of cybersecurity. Vineet shares why traditional vulnerability management is fundamentally broken, why exposure management matters more than ever, and how Cogent is building an “AI Task Force” to give defenders the edge. From his early days in machine learning to reshaping the future of cyber defense, Vineet breaks down the urgent need for automation, context-driven insights, and explainable AI in security. Impactful Moments: 00:00 - Introduction 02:00 - Vineet’s journey into AI and cyber 04:30 - Why vulnerability management is broken 06:10 - Generative AI as a defender’s edge 08:20 - Why AI agents outperform brittle automation 09:45 - The first use cases for Cogent’s agents 12:00 - Rethinking tier-one SOC analyst roles 13:30 - The rise of exposure management (CTEM) 17:10 - Cogent’s vision for an AI task force 18:30 - Early wins and insights with Cogent 20:00 - Biggest misconceptions about AI in security 23:00 - What enterprises should demand from vendors 25:00 - Why explainability is essential in AI systems 27:00 - Startups vs incumbents in cybersecurity innovation 29:30 - Why enterprises must invest in AI now   Links: Connect with our guest, Vineet Edupuganti, on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vineetedupuganti Learn more about Cogent Security: https://www.cogent.security    Check out our upcoming events: https://www.hackervalley.com/livestreams Join our creative mastermind and stand out as a cybersecurity professional: https://www.patreon.com/hackervalleystudio Love Hacker Valley Studio? Pick up some swag: https://store.hackervalley.com Continue the conversation by joining our Discord: https://hackervalley.com/discord Become a sponsor of the show to amplify your brand:

AI is neither friend nor foe, it’s both. The way we choose to use it determines whether it helps or harms. In this solo episode, Ron Eddings shares lessons from his first job at a grocery store, his early days in cybersecurity, and today’s AI-driven landscape. From productivity hacks like meeting transcription, to creative tools like content-aware editing, to the dark side of phishing and deepfakes, Ron shows why human judgment remains the ultimate defense. This is a passionate reminder that the real power isn’t in the tools, it’s in us. Impactful Moments 00:00 - Introduction 01:15 - AI is the tool, not the toolbox 03:00 - A grocery store scam that taught a life lesson 06:00 - The irreplaceable role of human judgment 07:30 - First cybersecurity job at Booz Allen Hamilton 09:00 - How AI boosts productivity with meeting transcription 12:00 - Creative shortcuts with AI in image and video editing 15:00 - Vibe coding and generative red teaming 17:30 - AI-powered phishing and scam emails 18:50 - Testing a deepfake voice on Ron’s mom 21:30 - Why curiosity and skepticism beat AI deception 22:30 - Final challenge: don’t serve AI—make AI serve you Links: Connect with our Ron on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronaldeddings/ Check out our upcoming events: https://www.hackervalley.com/livestreams Join our creative mastermind and stand out as a cybersecurity professional: https://www.patreon.com/hackervalleystudio Love Hacker Valley Studio? Pick up some swag: https://store.hackervalley.com Continue the conversation by joining our Discord: https://hackervalley.com/discord Become a sponsor of the show to amplify your brand: https://hackervalley.com/work-with-us/  

AI might analyze your logs in seconds, but only the community can put you in the room that changes your career. In this solo episode, Ron Eddings discusses the powerful balance between human connection and artificial intelligence in shaping the future of cybersecurity and beyond. From the sacrifices that sparked his career to the mentors who opened doors, Ron shares personal stories that show why community will always be your ultimate competitive edge, even as AI advances into the SOC. He also runs live AI experiments on ransomware response and log analysis, revealing what AI can (and can’t) do for practitioners right now.   Impactful Moments: 00:00 - Introduction 02:00 - Why community is your first advantage 03:30 - The sacrifice that launched Ron’s career 04:40 - Meeting mentor Marcus Carey 06:00 - Early opportunities in cybersecurity 07:00 - The power of hacker spaces 09:00 - How mentors open hidden doors 10:00 - RSA and Black Hat as career accelerators 13:00 - The most underrated LinkedIn feature 15:00 - The HVS mastermind community 16:00 - Reality check on GPT-5 18:00 - AI builds an IR playbook 20:00 - Critical do’s and don’ts in incident response 23:00 - Why hallucinations matter in cybersecurity AI 25:00 - AI makes sense of raw logs 28:00 - Can AI replace tier one analysts? 30:00 - Where AI still falls short 31:00 - Final challenge: Strengthen your community     Links: Connect with our Ron on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronaldeddings/ Register for our livestream with Gerry Auger: https://www.linkedin.com/events/7359290642633539586/ Check out the links to the OpenAI ChatGPT threads here: Incident Analysis Summary: https://chatgpt.com/share/689fa61f-3498-8006-9989-ff8221f97b01 Ransomware Incident Playbook: https://chatgpt.com/share/689fa63f-86ec-8006-8355-642d4d38808e Check out our upcoming events: https://www.hackervalley.com/livestreams Join our creative mastermind and stand out as a cybersecurity professional:

When AI agents move faster than security teams, the game changes, and the risks multiply. Ron welcomes back Marco “Mystic Marc” Figueroa, Program Manager at Mozilla’s 0DIN Program, to continue the conversation and update on 2025’s most pressing AI and cybersecurity shifts. From the explosive rise of AI agents and OpenAI’s rumored browser to the hidden dangers of MCP implementations and prompt injection exploits like the Gemini attack, Marco shares insights that security pros can’t afford to miss. Impactful Moments 00:00 - Introduction 02:00 - Why 2025 is the year of the agent 05:45 - MCP’s rapid adoption and security risks 10:00 - The Gemini prompt injection vulnerability 15:00 - How attackers hide malicious AI prompts 18:00 - High success rates in non-technical teams 22:00 - Rise of voice-based AI scams 25:00 - Using jailbreaks to bend AI to your needs 30:00 - Predictions on OpenAI’s upcoming browser 33:00 - The profit battle between OpenAI and Microsoft 35:00 - Windsurf’s rollercoaster of acquisitions Links: Connect with our guest Marco on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marco-figueroa-re/ Check out our upcoming events: https://www.hackervalley.com/livestreams Join our creative mastermind and stand out as a cybersecurity professional: https://www.patreon.com/hackervalleystudio Love Hacker Valley Studio? Pick up some swag: https://store.hackervalley.com Continue the conversation by joining our Discord: https://hackervalley.com/discord Become a sponsor of the show to amplify your brand: https://hackervalley.com/work-with-us/

The riskiest move in cybersecurity? Playing it too safe. In this solo episode, Ron Eddings redefines the way we think about technical debt, risk, and missed opportunities, in security and in life. Ron reframes the debt vs. risk paradigm through the lens of the SharePoint breach, personal milestones, and co-founding Hacker Valley. With sharp insights, personal stories, and a call to action for every listener, he shows how curiosity and calculated risk are the true drivers of innovation. Impactful Moments 00:00 - Introduction 01:10 - Why debt vs. risk matters now 02:20 - What the SharePoint breach taught us 04:15 - Risk avoidance creates deeper debt 05:10 - Clear definitions: risk vs. debt 06:30 - Hidden costs of deferring decisions 08:15 - Leaving $200k salary to build Hacker Valley 10:00 - Long-term founder debt explained 11:08 - When comfort becomes dangerous 12:00 - Curiosity as a leadership skill 13:10 - What you’re not seeing yet 14:30 - Final thought: reflect and reassess Links: Connect with our Ron on LinkedIn: ​​https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronaldeddings/ Check out our upcoming events: https://www.hackervalley.com/livestreams Join our creative mastermind and stand out as a cybersecurity professional: https://www.patreon.com/hackervalleystudio Love Hacker Valley Studio? Pick up some swag: https://store.hackervalley.com Continue the conversation by joining our Discord: https://hackervalley.com/discord Become a sponsor of the show to amplify your brand: https://hackervalley.com/work-with-us/    

The world’s youngest continent is also its most untapped resource. Confidence Staveley, Founder of CyberSafe, makes a powerful case for why Africa’s youth are the answer to global cybersecurity and AI innovation… if we’re bold enough to invest. In this episode, Ron welcomes back cybersecurity leader and advocate Confidence Staveley for a discussion on purpose-driven innovation, talent development, and AI-powered awareness tools. Confidence shares updates on her nonprofit work, her bold new ventures including AI Cyber Magazine, and how she's helping shape Africa into a tech talent hub. With global budget cuts hitting nonprofits and marginalized communities, Confidence shares how Africa’s innovators, who are often excluded from the table, are building their own tables, making their impact impossible to ignore, and shaping cybersecurity’s future on their terms.   Impactful Moments 00:00 - Introduction 02:00 - Her Difference Makers Award speech 04:00 - Partnering with SANS for bigger impact 06:01 - Global DEI backlash and ripple effects 10:00 - Why Africa is the future of tech 13:01 - Innovation with limited resources 17:10 - AI Cyber Magazine and its mission 19:00 - Building AI-powered awareness tools 21:00 - The African adage on self-renewal 22:10 - How sharing knowledge builds trust   Links Connect with our guest, Confidence Staveley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/confidencestaveley/ Check out our upcoming events: https://www.hackervalley.com/livestreams Join our creative mastermind and stand out as a cybersecurity professional: https://www.patreon.com/hackervalleystudio Love Hacker Valley Studio? Pick up some swag: https://store.hackervalley.com Continue the conversation by joining our Discord: https://hackervalley.com/discord Become a sponsor of the show to amplify your brand: https://hackervalley.com/work-with-us/  

Is compliance just a checkbox, or the backbone of real security? Returning to the show with decades of hard-earned insight, Jeff Man makes the case that compliance, especially PCI-DSS, isn't just a formality; it's foundational to modern security. As one of the original architects of the NSA Red Team and a 20-year PCI veteran, Jeff explains how this often-misunderstood framework has shaped everything from pen testing to vendor accountability. Ron and Jeff unpack the six core goals of PCI, how red teams and SaaS builders are directly affected, and why many security teams resist compliance efforts, despite relying on them to get essential buy-in and funding.   Impactful Moments: 00:00 – Introduction 01:00 – Does compliance equal security? 02:09 – Jeff returns with PCI firepower 03:15 – Defining security vs. compliance 05:33 – “Show me what you’re doing” 06:45 – Six goals at PCI’s core 10:45 – Security is watching, not reacting 13:30 – Companies secure because they have to 15:00 – PCI gave red teams their jobs 16:30 – Stripe and Square absorb PCI burden 19:30 – PCI 4.0 causes confusion 21:00 – Vendors aren’t your trusted advisors 22:30 – “Hate me, but I’ll help” Links: Connect with our guest, Jeff Man: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffreyeman/ Check out our upcoming events: https://www.hackervalley.com/livestreams Join our creative mastermind and stand out as a cybersecurity professional: https://www.patreon.com/hackervalleystudio Love Hacker Valley Studio? Pick up some swag: https://store.hackervalley.com Continue the conversation by joining our Discord: https://hackervalley.com/discord Become a sponsor of the show to amplify your brand: https://hackervalley.com/work-with-us/