Nerd Out EP 63. CSAM, the 6 by 6, and some Halloween treats

On the latest episode of Nerd Out, Dave and Alec welcome back Hunter Headapohl to deep dive into Cybersecurity Awareness Month and cyber threats.CSAM Key points and why this is important for organizations as well as tips to follow.Cyber threats they are keeping an eye out for.Top of mind concerns and tips.References from the discussion include:After the security nerd discussions, the trio turned to other nerd news with a little Halloween theme.Favorite candiesFavorite Halloween-themed movies or showsThe 3rd season of Star Wars VisionsNew movies they would recommend

On this week's Security Sprint, Dave and Andy covered the following topics:Warm Open• H2OSecCon 2026 Call for Presentations• Critical infrastructure sectors on the most concerning threats – and needed solutions. “With critical infrastructure constantly under myriad threats, sector-focused information sharing and analysis centers and organizations collect, analyze and disseminate actionable cyber and physical threat information to stakeholders and provide them with tools to mitigate risks and enhance resiliency. To mark Cybersecurity Awareness Month, Threat Beat asked: 1) What is the most pressing short-term security concern in your sector? 2) What is one thing the public and/or industry/government can do now to address this?” Responses include DNG-ISAC, E-ISAC, FB-ISAO, Food and Ag-ISAC, Health-ISAC, MS-ISAC, ONE-ISAC, Space ISAC, and WaterISAC.• CISA’s international, industry and academic partnerships slashed. The cuts “create a dangerous void,” said Errol Weiss, chief security officer for the Health Information Sharing and Analysis Center. “The health sector is one of the most targeted and vulnerable, and this is exactly the wrong time to be pulling back federal support.• Kristi Noem pledged to boost the nation’s cybersecurity. She gutted it instead• Trump Administration Cuts Cyberdefense Even as Threats Grow• U.S. Cyberspace Solarium Commission Annual Assessment: America’s Cyber Resiliency in 2025: Lessons from the Fifth CSC 2.0 Annual Assessment & US ‘slipping’ on cybersecurity, annual Cyberspace Solarium Commission report concludes Main Topics:Ransomware recovery perils: 40% of paying victims still lose their data. Paying the ransom is no guarantee of a smooth or even successful recovery of data. But that isn’t even the only issue security leaders will face under fire. Preparation is key.• UK Government: Supply chain resilience against ransomware • JLR hack is costliest cyber attack in UK history, say analystsMelissa becomes third Category 5 hurricane of the extraordinary 2025 season• NHC issuing advisories for the Atlantic on Hurricane Melissa• Key messages regarding Hurricane Melissa (en Español: Mensajes Claves)• Melissa leaps from tropical storm to Category 4 hurricane in 18 hours• Category 5 Hurricane Melissa’s eye is nearing Jamaica and conditions are worseningQuick Hits:• Palo Alto Networks: Why Threat Actors Succeed• LA Metro digital signs taken over by hackers• Chatbots Are Pushing Sanctioned Russian Propaganda

In this week's Security Sprint, Dave and Andy covered the following topics:Warm Open:• The White House fired 176 CISA employees on Friday, with more layoffs fearedLayoffs, reassignments further deplete CISA• Top cyber lawmaker wants answers on CISA workforce reductions• Tech industry unites behind bipartisan effort to urgently reauthorize US cyber threat information sharing law• What They Are Saying: Technology Stakeholders Urge Passage Of Peters & Rounds Bipartisan Bill To Restore Critical Cybersecurity Protections (CISA 2015)Main Topics:F5, AWS, Third Party Risk & Resilience:• AWS: Operational issue - Multiple services (N. Virginia). • AWS: Operational issue - Multiple services (N. Virginia). [RESOLVED] Increased Error Rates and Latencies• What the Huge AWS Outage Reveals About the Internet• AWS outage exposes Achilles heel: central control plane• F5: K000154696: F5 Security Incident• F5, Inc. Form 8K • ED 26-01: Mitigate Vulnerabilities in F5 DevicesRansomware & Data Breaches: • IT-ISAC: Quarterly IT Sector Ransomware Analysis Q3 2025, July -September. PDF.• BlackFog’s 2025 Q3 Ransomware ReportArctic Wolf 2025 Human Risk Report Reveals Escalating Breaches, Overconfidence in Phishing Defenses, and Risky AI Behavior. Key findings from the 2025 Human Risk Behavior Snapshot include:Quick Hits:• AG Platkin Sets Standards for Active-Shooter Readiness • Satellites Are Leaking the World’s Secrets: Calls, Texts, Military and Corporate Data• NCSC Warns Data Centres Face Rising Cybersecurity Threats• Microsoft Dominates Phishing Impersonations in Q3 2025 • UK NCSC - UK experiencing four 'nationally significant' cyber attacks every week• UK NPSA: Protecting our Democratic Institutions: Countering Espionage and Foreign Interference • DDoS Botnet Aisuru Blankets US ISPs in Record DDoS

In this week's Security Sprint, Dave and Andy covered the following topics:Main Topics:Russia, China and North Korea are using ChatGPT to influence you — here’s how. A new report from OpenAI found foreign adversaries are increasingly using artificial intelligence to power hacking and influencing operations. The report found they were using OpenAI’s popular tool ChatGPT. The report showed those adversaries include Russia, China and North Korea. “AI-enabled attacks are becoming more capable and harder to detect,” Daryl Lim, affiliate at the Center for Socially Responsible Artificial Intelligence at Penn State University, told Straight Arrow News. “Adversaries can personalize attacks, evade filters and iterate faster than before.”• The Case for AI Loss of Control Response Planning and an Outline to Get Started• Can Humans Devise Practical Safeguards That Are Reliable Against an Artificial Superintelligent Agent?The true cost of cyber attacks - and the business weak spots that allow them to happen. What makes companies like Jaguar Land Rover and Marks & Spencer particularly vulnerable is the way in which their supply chains work.• UK NCSC: UK experiencing four 'nationally significant' cyber attacks every week• Cyber attack contingency plans should be put on paper, firms told• Policyholder Plot Twist: Cyber Insurer Sues Policyholder’s Cyber Pros• The Ransomware Pricing Paradox: An Empirical Study of the Six Stages of Ransomware Negotiations. PDF• Paying off cyber criminals no guarantee stolen data won’t be published – studySevere Weather: Hurricane Season continues18 Oct: No Kings nationwide protestsQuick Hits:• Peace in Israel and Gaza?• Sen. Peters tries another approach to extend expired cyber threat information-sharing law & Peters & Rounds Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Restore Critical Cybersecurity Protections• Yet another shutdown and its impact on cybersecurity professionals• Experts: Shutdown Strains Healthcare Cyber Defenses• Is the government shutdown impacting info sharing for healthcare cyber threats? • ICYMI! Gate 15 Weekly Security Sprint EP 130. The Evangelist has returned! Cybersecurity Awareness Month and more! • Poland says cyberattacks on critical infrastructure rising, blames Russia• Anatomy of a Hacktivist Attack: Russian-Aligned Group Targets OT/ICS• Critical networks face unprecedented threat as DDoS attacks are getting shorter and more intense• Belgian PM reported to be among targets of ‘jihad-inspired’ drone plot• Oracle E-Business Suite Zero-Day Exploited in Widespread Extortion Campaign

In this special (and now maybe annual!) episode of The Gate 15 Interview, live from the floor of TribalNet 2025, Andy speaks with TribalHub’s Senior Marketing & Communications Manager, Michelle Bouschor, as they catch up and talk incident response, why non-IT leaders need to be part of the conversation, and what’s trending across the conference. Plus, Michelle throws out a fun popup question: what would Andy do if he weren’t working in tech? Listen on Spotiy, Apple or the TribalHub page at podbean!Relevant to their conversation: Tribal-ISAC Unveils Cybersecurity Report. The Tribal Information Sharing and Analysis Center (Tribal-ISAC) released its first-ever report, The Pulse – The State of Cybersecurity Within Tribal Nations, during the Annual TribalNet Conference and Tradeshow in early September. The report was produced by the Tribal-ISAC with assistance from TribalHub, and features cybersecurity insights, trends and more gathered from three key sources: Tribal-ISAC’s 2025 “Tribal Cybersecurity” Survey, TribalHub’s “How Prepared is Your Tribe for AI?” Survey, and Gate 15’s CHIEF and NATIVE Reports.More than two-thirds report zero or only one dedicated cybersecurity staff member, despite facing similar regulatory pressures as larger entities.Budget allocations remain modest, with more than 60% dedicating less than 20% of their technology budget to cybersecurity.73% of respondents anticipate increased cybersecurity spending in 2026, and 1% expect a decrease, signaling a shift toward resilience and threat mitigation.74% of organizations received no federal or state cybersecurity grants in 2025.Additional selected links:⁠TribalNet 2025⁠⁠Tribal-ISAC⁠⁠The Pulse⁠ – Tribal-ISAC’s new annual cybersecurity report!

On this week's episode of the Security Sprint, Andy is joined by the Cybersecurity Evangelist herself, Jennifer Walker as well as Sadie Anne Jones! Together they covered the following topics:Warm Open:• Tribal-ISAC Unveils Cybersecurity Report & Tribal-ISAC cybersecurity report delivers data, insights into risks• (TLP:CLEAR) WaterISAC Physical Security Advisory Committee: Insider Threat Management – Fact Sheet.• Colin Wood on Bluesky: “October isn't only cyber awareness month. It's also National Popcorn Poppin' Month, National Adopt a Shelter Dog Month and Eczema Awareness Month. There's something for everyone, really” It's also National Pizza Month!Main Topics:CISA: Cybersecurity Awareness Month - Building a Cyber Strong America. October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month! This year’s theme is Building a Cyber Strong America, highlighting the need to strengthen the country's infrastructure against cyber threats, ensuring resilience and security. • Cybersecurity Awareness Month Toolkit• DHS and CISA Announce Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2025• Article: DHS, CISA kick off Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2025 to protect critical services, boost national resilienceCybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015 (CISA 2015): • CISA 2015 sunsets: Cyber Threat sharing without a net? • CISA Liability Protections Terminate - What Legal & InfoSec Need to Know Before Sharing Cyber Threat Information• Cyber Threat Information Sharing at Risk: What Companies Should Consider if the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015 Is Not Renewed• Cyber defenders on edge amid shutdown furloughs, expired authorities• Information sharing under CISA 2015 in limbo after government shuts downQuick Hits:• Judge temporarily blocks use of National Guard in Portland• USNORTHCOM statement regarding protection of federal property and personnel in the Portland Area• Trump says US is in ‘armed conflict’ with drug cartels after ordering strikes in the Caribbean• Venezuela says it detected 5 US ‘combat planes’ flying 75km from its coast, calls it a ‘provocation’• Clop extortion emails claim theft of Oracle E-Business Suite data• Active exploitation of vulnerability affecting Oracle E-Business Suite• Oracle Security Alert Advisory - CVE-2025-61882• CISA and UK NCSC Release Joint Guidance for Securing OT Systems• Shutdown guts U.S. cybersecurity agency at perilous time• CISA to furlough 65% of staff if government shuts down this week• UK NPSA - Manchester Incident • Security boost for Irish Jews after Manchester synagogue attack• Global Exposure of 180,000 ICS/OT Devices Raises Safety Concerns

In this week's Security Sprint, Dave and Andy covered the following topics:Warm Open:• TribalNet 2025: Cybersecurity Is Central to IT Modernization for Tribes • Cyberattacks remain big threat for tribes: survey • CISA to furlough 65% of staff if government shuts down this week• Cyber shutdown showdownMain Topics:Domestic Hostile Events:• Deadly attack on Michigan church leaves investigators searching for motive• Michigan church shooter was Marine veteran who White House official says "hated people of the Mormon faith"• Update from FBI Detroit on Shooting and Fire at a Michigan Church• Michigan church shooting suspect went on anti-LDS tirade, political candidate said• Armed man busted after plowing car through police barricade outside Michigan church day after deadly shooting, blaze• Iraq War veteran Thomas Sanford ID’d as gunman who attacked Grand Blanc LDS church, killing 4 and setting it ablaze• What we know about Michigan church shooter Thomas Sanford. Authorities have provided no motive for the attack.• Who is Michigan church attacker Thomas Jacob Sanford: Iraq war vet 'suffered from PTSD' and wore 'Make Liberals Cry Again' shirt• A List of Notable Shooting Attacks on Houses of Worship in the US in the Past 20 Years• Marine veteran in custody after 3 killed, at least 8 injured in shooting at a waterfront bar in North Carolina, officials say & Southport mass shooting: Suspect identified in gunfire from boat that killed 3, injured 8, officials say• Eagle Pass casino shooting: 2 killed, 5 hurt; suspect in custody, authorities say & Two dead, six hurt in shooting at Texas tribal casino; suspect in custodyRansomware• 'You'll never need to work again': Criminals offer reporter money to hack BBC• Co-op says cyber-attack cost it £206m in lost sales Quick Hits:• CISA Directs Federal Agencies to Identify and Mitigate Potential Compromise of Cisco Devices• Threat Insights: Active Exploitation of Cisco ASA Zero Days • CISA - SonicWall Releases Advisory for Customers after Security Incident• Widespread Supply Chain Compromise Impacting npm Ecosystem• Russia dares NATO to shoot • New Kremlin-Linked Influence Campaign Targeting Moldovan Elections Draws 17 Million Views on X and Infects AI Models• Bot Networks Are Helping Drag Consumer Brands Into the Culture Wars• Outrage Cycle: Cracker Barrel and its CEO Targeted Amidst Logo Controversy• CISA Releases Advisory on Lessons Learned from an Incident Response Engagement• Helping OT Organizations to Establish Defensible Architecture and More Resilient Operations• Designating Antifa as a Domestic Terrorist Organization• Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Designates Antifa as a Domestic Terrorist Organization• Ranking Member Thompson Statement on Trump Incorrectly Designating ‘Antifa’ as a Domestic Terrorism Organization• DHS Issues Statement on Targeted Attack on Dallas ICE Facility3 people shot at Dallas ICE field office: ICE official • Trump Says He Is Ordering Troops to Portland, Escalating Domestic Use of Military• Trump Says He’s Sending Troops To ‘War Ravaged’ America City — Authorizes ‘Full Force’• Pentagon calls up 200 National Guard troops after Trump Portland announcement• Oregon leaders object to Trump’s deployment of 200 National Guard troops in the state• Feds march into downtown Chicago; top border agent says people are arrested based on ‘how they look’• ICE tactics inflame tensions in New York, Chicago and other cities• Shane Tamura, gunman in shooting at NFL headquarters, had CTE: Medical examiner

On the latest episode of Nerd Out, Dave and Alec talked about the following topics:The Charlie Kirk assassination and what it means for outdoor events.Politically motivated violence.The Michigan church attack - vehicle ramming, active shooter, and arson - and extending the perimeter.The North Carolina boat attack and considering all types of scenarios.Other Nerd topics to include what we are watching, the Mandalorian and Grogu trailer, and more.Some of the articles reference in the pod included:America Must Reclaim the Center Before Political Violence Becomes the Norm - https://thesoufancenter.org/intelbrief-2025-september-26/A look at research on Americans' changing attitudes toward political violence - https://www.npr.org/2025/09/12/nx-s1-5538063/a-look-at-research-on-americans-changing-attitudes-toward-political-violence10 Political Violence Experts on What Comes Next for America - https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2025/09/12/charlie-kirk-political-violence-exp[…]ysis-00558638?utm_content=user/politico&utm_source=flipboardLeft-Wing Terrorism and Political Violence in the United States: What the Data Tells Us - https://www.csis.org/analysis/left-wing-terrorism-and-political-violence-united-states-what-data-tells-us#h2-left-wing-terror[…]ents-are-on-the-riseAnalysis: What data shows about political extremist violence - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/right-wing-extremist-violence-is-more-frequent-and-deadly-than-left-wing-violence-data-shows'People are scared': Congress grapples with increasing political violence - https://www.npr.org/2025/09/16/g-s1-89053/people-are-scared-congress-grapples-with-increasing-political-violence

In this week's Security Sprint, Dave and Andy covered the following topics:Warm Open:• TribalNet: Casino-systems suppliers protecting operations from cyberattacks • TribalNet: AI main focus of tribal technology conference• TribalNet 2025: Cybersecurity Is Central to IT Modernization for Tribes• The Gate 15 Interview EP 62: Justine Bone, Executive Director, Crypto ISACMain Topics:U.S. Secret Service dismantles imminent telecommunications threat in New York tristate area. The U.S. Secret Service dismantled a network of electronic devices located throughout the New York tristate area that were used to conduct multiple telecommunications-related threats directed towards senior U.S. government officials, which represented an imminent threat to the agency’s protective operations. This protective intelligence investigation led to the discovery of more than 300 co-located SIM servers and 100,000 SIM cards across multiple sites. In addition to carrying out anonymous telephonic threats, these devices could be used to conduct a wide range of telecommunications attacks. This includes disabling cell phone towers, enabling denial of services attacks and facilitating anonymous, encrypted communication between potential threat actors and criminal enterprises. While forensic examination of these devices is ongoing, early analysis indicates cellular communications between nation-state threat actors and individuals that are known to federal law enforcement.Ransomware!• EU cyber agency says airport software held to ransom by criminals • A Cyberattack on Jaguar Land Rover Is Causing a Supply Chain Disaster • Rising cyberattacks on K-12 schools prompt concern as Uvalde CISD grapples with ransomwareCyber threat information law hurtles toward expiration, with poor prospects for renewal• Rand Paul's last-minute demands push key cybersecurity law to the brink• Peters Urges Senate to Quickly Extend Critical Cybersecurity Protections That Expire on October 1st• Health-ISAC CSO: A Looming Deadline: The Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015• RER and Coalition Urges TRIA Reauthorization• Commentary: Shrinking cyber budgets and rising threats: Why public-private partnerships are now mission-criticalUS threats and violence• MN man threatened people via email as retaliation for Charlie Kirk's death: Charges• NH Man Arrested for Allegedly Plotting to Kill Republican Governor Kelly Ayotte With Pipe Bombs• NCTC Supports U.S. Law Enforcement, First Responders by Sharing Intel Product Aimed at Deterring Attacks by Al-Qa’ida• ISIS calls for slaughter of Christians and Jews in UK attacks – 'shoot, stab, and ram' Quick Hits:• FBI PSA: Threat Actors Spoofing the FBI IC3 Website for Possible Malicious Activity• NHC issuing advisories for the Atlantic on Hurricane Gabrielle• UK NPSA: Vehicle Security Barriers at Event Venues • TikTok: Statement from ByteDanceo Deal to Keep TikTok in U.S. Is Near. These Are the Details.o Trump expected to approve TikTok deal via executive order later this week, WSJ reports• OpenAI admits AI hallucinations are mathematically inevitable, not just engineering flaws

In this episode of The Gate 15 Interview, Andy Jabbour speaks with Justine Bone, Executive Director, Crypto ISAC. She has worked at the intersection of technology, governance, and investment for over twenty years from her start in the intelligence community with the New Zealand GCSB and the U.S. NSA, and has since spanned CEO roles, multinational board appointments, and global advisory positions. Today she serves as Executive Director of the Crypto ISAC, leading global collaboration at the nexus of digital assets, cybersecurity, and governance, and working with public and private stakeholders to build trust and resilience in international markets. She has also held leadership roles at Dow Jones, Bloomberg, and MedSec, and worked with public–private collaborations alongside the FDA, DHS, and DOD. Learn more about Justine on LinkedIn.In the discussion Justine and Andy cover:Justine’s background.Crypto ISAC’s mission and community.Threats to the blockchain and crypto industry, including the threat from North Korea.Personal and organizational crypto security considerations.What’s ahead in 2026.Resilience and the power of information sharing.We play 3 Questions!“there’s a lot that’s the same, but there’s a lot that’s different”Selected links:Crypto ISAC(TLP:CLEAR) North Korea IT Worker Threat Report: Threat Overview and Mitigation. This report is a collaboration that incorporates analysis from several leading Information Sharing and Analysis Centers (ISACs), including Crypto ISAC, Oil and Natural Energy ISAC (ONE-ISAC), Real Estate ISAC, Tribal ISAC, WaterISAC, the Faith-Based Information Sharing and Analysis Organization (ISAO), and Gate 15