The New Frontlines of Cybersecurity: Lessons from the 2025 Digital Defense Report [Microsoft Threat Intelligence Podcast]

While our team is out on winter break, please enjoy this episode of Afternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson from our partners at Microsoft Security. Dr. Lorrie Cranor, Director of the CyLab Security and Privacy Institute at Carnegie Mellon University joins Ann Johnson, Corporate Vice President, Microsoft, on this week's episode of Afternoon Cyber Tea to discuss the critical gap between security design and real-world usability. They explore why security tools often fail users, the ongoing challenges with passwords and password less authentication, and how privacy expectations have evolved in an era of constant data collection. Dr. Cranor emphasizes the importance of user-centered design, practical research, behavioral insights, and simpler, more transparent systems to help CISOs build security programs that truly work for people.    Resources:   View Lorrie Cranor on LinkedIn             View Ann Johnson on LinkedIn       Related Microsoft Podcasts:   Microsoft Threat Intelligence Podcast   The BlueHat Podcast    Uncovering Hidden Risks   Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts      Afternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson is produced by Microsoft, Hangar Studios and distributed as part of N2K media network.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While our team is out on winter break, please enjoy this episode of The Microsoft Threat Intelligence Podcast from our partners at Microsoft. In this episode of the Microsoft Threat Intelligence Podcast, host Sherrod DeGrippo is joined by Chloé Messdaghi and Crane Hassold to unpack the key findings of the 2025 Microsoft Digital Defense Report; a comprehensive look at how the cyber threat landscape is accelerating through AI, automation, and industrialized criminal networks.  They explore how nation-state operations and cybercrime have fused into a continuous cycle of attack and adaptation, with actors sharing tooling, infrastructure, and even business models. The conversation also examines AI’s growing impact, from deepfakes and influence operations to the defensive promise of AI-powered detection, and how identity compromise has become the front door to most intrusions, accounting for over 99% of observed attacks.  Listeners will gain perspective on:  How AI is shaping both attacker tradecraft and defensive response.  Why identity remains the cornerstone of global cyber risk.  What Microsoft’s telemetry—spanning 600 million daily attacks—reveals about emerging threats and evolving defender strategies.  Questions explored:  How are threat actors using AI to scale deception and influence operations?  What does industrialized cybercrime mean for organizations trying to defend at scale?  How can defenders harness AI responsibly without overreliance or exposure?    Resources:   Download the report and executive summary  Register for Microsoft Ignite  View Chloé Messdaghi on LinkedIn  View Crane Hassold on LinkedIn  View Sherrod DeGrippo on LinkedIn   Related Microsoft Podcasts:                    Afternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson  The BlueHat Podcast  Uncovering Hidden Risks        Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts     Get the latest threat intelligence insights and guidance at Microsoft Security Insider    The Microsoft Threat Intelligence Podcast is produced by Microsoft and distributed as part of N2K media network.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the season finale of CSO Perspectives, Ethan Cook and Kim Jones reflect on a season of conversations exploring what it means to lead security in a rapidly evolving “brave new world.” From the realities behind AI hype and the slow-burn impact of quantum computing to the business forces shaping cybersecurity innovation, they revisit key lessons and lingering challenges facing today’s CISOs. The episode closes with an optimistic—but candid—look at why fundamentals, critical thinking, and leadership still matter as the industry moves forward. Want more CISO Perspectives? Check out companion ⁠⁠blog post⁠⁠s by our very own Ethan Cook, where he breaks down key insights, shares behind-the-scenes context, and highlights research that complements episodes throughout the season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While our team is out on winter break, please enjoy this episode of Data Security Decoded from our partners at Rubrik. In this episode of Data Security Decoded, host Caleb Tolin sits down with Hayden Smith, CEO of Hunted Labs, as he breaks down how software supply chain attacks really work, why open source dependencies create unseen exposure, and what modern threat actors are doing to exploit trust at scale. Caleb and Hayden dive deep into real-world attacks, emerging TTPs, AI-powered threat hunting, and what organizations must do today to keep pace. Listeners walk away with a clear picture of the problem—and a practical blueprint for reducing supply chain risk. What You’ll Learn  How modern attackers infiltrate open source ecosystems through fake accounts and counterfeit package contributions. Why dependency chains dramatically amplify both exposure and attacker leverage. How to use threat intelligence and threat hunting to proactively evaluate upstream packages before adoption. Where AI-powered code analysis is changing the ability to discover hidden vulnerabilities and suspicious patterns. Why dependency pinning, SBOM discipline, and continuous monitoring now define a strong supply chain posture. Episode Highlights 00:00 — Welcome + Why Software Supply Chain Risk Matters 02:00 — Hayden’s Non-Cyber Passion + Framing Today’s Topic 03:00 — Why Open Source Powers Everything—and Why That Creates Exposure 06:00 — The Real Attack Vector: Contribution as Initial Access 08:00 — Inside the Indonesian “Fake Package” Campaign 10:30 — How to Evaluate Code + Contributor Identity Together 12:00 — Threat Hunting and AI-Enabled Code Interrogation 15:00 — The Challenge of Undisclosed Vulnerabilities in Widely Used Components 16:30 — How Recovery Works When Malware Is Already in Your Stack 19:00 — Continuous Monitoring as the Foundation of Modern Supply Chain Security 22:00 — Pinning, Maintainer Analysis, and Code Interrogation Best Practices 24:00 — Where to Learn More About Hunted Labs Episode Resources Hunted Labs — https://huntedlabs.com Hunted Labs Entercept Hunted Labs “Hunting Ground” research blog Open Source Malware (Paul McCarty) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While our team is out on winter break, please enjoy this episode of Career Notes. Threat intelligence analyst at Recorded Future, Charity Wright, shares her story from the army to her career today. Transitioning from the army to cybersecurity was an exciting change for her. During college she was recruited by the U.S. army where she started her journey and learned new skills paving her pathway to threat intelligence where she is now. She shares that she works with a great team of junior analysts who are constantly checking each others' biases which helps keep Charity grounded in her work. Charity spends her days keeping an eye on threats around the world where she says there is never a dull day in her line of work. We thank Charity for sharing her story with us. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While our team is out on winter break, please enjoy this episode of Research Saturday. This week, we are joined by ⁠Tom Hegel⁠, Principal Threat Researcher from ⁠SentinelLabs⁠ research team, to discuss their work on "Ghostwriter | New Campaign Targets Ukrainian Government and Belarusian Opposition." The latest Ghostwriter campaign, linked to Belarusian government espionage, is actively targeting Ukrainian military and government entities as well as Belarusian opposition activists using weaponized Excel documents. SentinelLabs identified new malware variants and tactics, including obfuscated VBA macros that deploy malware via DLL files, with payload delivery seemingly controlled based on a target’s location and system profile. The campaign, which began preparation in mid-2024 and became active by late 2024, appears to be an evolution of previous Ghostwriter operations, combining disinformation with cyberattacks to further political and military objectives. The research can be found here: ⁠Ghostwriter | New Campaign Targets Ukrainian Government and Belarusian Opposition Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While our team is out on winter break, please enjoy this Special Edition episode. Cybersecurity is no longer confined to the digital world or just a technical challenge, it’s a global imperative. The ⁠NightDragon Innovation Summit⁠ convened a group of industry leaders to discuss how public and private entities can work together to address emerging threats and harness the power of AI, cybersecurity, and innovation to strengthen national defense. In this special edition podcast, we capture a glimpse into the knowledge and expertise shared at the NightDragon Innovation Summit. We are joined by ⁠NightDragon⁠ Founder and CEO ⁠Dave DeWalt⁠, ⁠DataBee⁠ CEO ⁠Nicole Bucala⁠, ⁠Liberty Mutual Insurance⁠ EVP and CISO ⁠Katie Jenkins⁠, Sophos CEO ⁠Joe Levy⁠, and ⁠Dataminr⁠ VP of Sales Engineering ⁠Michael Mastrole⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While our team is out on winter break, please enjoy this episode of Only Malware in the Building. Welcome in! You’ve entered, Only Malware in the Building. Wrap yourself in a warm blanket, pour your favorite mug of tea, and join us each month as we unwrap the season’s juiciest cyber mysteries. Your host is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Selena Larson⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Proofpoint⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ intelligence analyst and host of their podcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠DISCARDED⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Inspired by the residents of a building in New York’s exclusive upper west side, Selena is joined by her co-hosts ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠N2K Networks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dave Bittner⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Keith Mularski⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, former FBI cybercrime investigator and now Chief Global Ambassador at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Qintel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Being a security researcher is a bit like being a detective: you gather clues, analyze the evidence, and consult the experts to solve the cyber puzzle. On this episode, we explore Remote access, real cargo: cybercriminals targeting trucking and logistics. From clever schemes to protect shipments to the tools cybercriminals use, our guests discuss how organizations can safeguard physical goods in an increasingly connected world—because even during the season of hustle and bustle, the threats don’t take a holiday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today’s episode, we dig into the Electronic Frontier Foundation’s annual Breachies, highlighting some of the year’s most avoidable, eye-opening, and sometimes head-shaking data breaches. From companies collecting far more data than they need to third-party missteps and quiet misconfigurations, the Breachies offer a revealing look at how familiar privacy failures keep repeating—and why they matter for users. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Miss an episode? Sign-up for our daily intelligence roundup, Daily Briefing, and you’ll never miss a beat. And be sure to follow CyberWire Daily on LinkedIn. CyberWire Guest Today’s we have a CyberWire holiday favorite: The 12 Days of Malware — with Dave and a lineup of cybersecurity friends gleefully rewriting The 12 Days of Christmas to celebrate malware, mishaps, and life online, one verse at a time. Share your feedback. What do you think about CyberWire Daily? Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts with us by completing our brief listener survey. Thank you for helping us continue to improve our show. Want to hear your company in the show? N2K CyberWire helps you reach the industry’s most influential leaders and operators, while building visibility, authority, and connectivity across the cybersecurity community. Learn more at sponsor.thecyberwire.com. The CyberWire is a production of N2K Networks, your source for strategic workforce intelligence. © N2K Networks, Inc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The White House bans foreign-made drones. African law enforcement agencies crackdown on cybercrime. A new phishing campaign targets Russian military personnel and defense-related organizations. A University of Phoenix data breach affects about 3.5 million people. A pair of Chrome extensions covertly hijack user traffic. Romania’s national water authority suffered a ransomware attack. A cyberattack in France disrupts postal, identity, and banking services for millions of customers. NIST and MITRE announce a $20 million partnership for AI research centers. A think-tank says the U.S. needs to go on the cyber offensive. Tim Starks from CyberScoop discusses the passage of the defense Authorization Bill and a look back at 2025. In high school, it’s no child left unscanned. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Miss an episode? Sign-up for our daily intelligence roundup, Daily Briefing, and you’ll never miss a beat. And be sure to follow CyberWire Daily on LinkedIn. CyberWire Guest Today we are joined by Tim Starks from CyberScoop discussing the passage of the Defense Authorization Bill and a look back at 2025. Selected Reading Trump Administration Declares Foreign-Made Drones a Security Threat (The New York Times) Hundreds of Arrests as Operation Sentinel Recovers $3m (Infosecurity Magazine) Cyber spies use fake New Year concert invites to target Russian military (The Record) University of Phoenix Data Breach - 3.5 Million+ Individuals Affected (CybersecurityNews) Malicious extensions in Chrome Web store steal user credentials (BleepingComputer) Ransomware Hits Romanian Water Authority, 1000 Systems Knocked Offline (Hackread) Cyberattack knocks offline France's postal, banking services (BleepingComputer) NIST, MITRE announce $20 million research effort on AI cybersecurity (CyberScoop) US Must Go on Offense in Cyberspace, Report Warns (Govifosecurity) AI Bathroom Monitors? Welcome To America's New Surveillance High Schools (Forbes) Share your feedback. What do you think about CyberWire Daily? Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts with us by completing our brief listener survey. Thank you for helping us continue to improve our show. Want to hear your company in the show? N2K CyberWire helps you reach the industry’s most influential leaders and operators, while building visibility, authority, and connectivity across the cybersecurity community. Learn more at sponsor.thecyberwire.com. The CyberWire is a production of N2K Networks, your source for strategic workforce intelligence. © N2K Networks, Inc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices