Your Best Defense against Social Engineering: The Gray-Matter Firewall

Hello to all our Cyber Pals! Join host Selena Larson and guest hosts, Sarah Sabotka and Tim Kromphardt, both Senior Threat Researchers from Proofpoint, as they dive into the realities of current social engineering schemes —especially during high-risk times like tax season. Cybercriminals exploit fear, urgency, and excitement to manipulate victims, from IRS impersonation scams and fraudulent tax payment requests to deepfake cons and TikTok frauds.Our hosts dive into real-world examples, including:tax-themed phishing attackstech support scams targeting the elderlyjob scams leveraging Taylor Swift’s tourThey explore how AI is reshaping fraud tactics, why scammers still rely on outdated schemes like overseas financial windfalls, and how platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram play a role in modern cybercrime.Tune in to learn how these scams work, why they succeed, and—most importantly—how you can protect yourself. Check out our show notes for additional resources, and don’t forget to share this episode with friends and colleagues!For more information about Proofpoint, check out our website.Subscribe & Follow:Stay ahead of emerging threats, and subscribe! Happy hunting!

Hello to all our Cyber Pals! Join host Selena Larson and guest host, Sarah Sabotka, as they speak with Kyle Eaton, Senior Security Research Engineer at Proofpoint.They explore the evolving world of image-based threat detection and the deceptive tactics cybercriminals use to evade defenses. From image lures embedded in emails, PDFs, and Office documents to the surprising ways attackers reuse visuals across campaigns, this conversation break down how detection engineering is adapting to counter new threats.There is also examination of how AI is shaping both cyber deception and detection, raising the question of how generative AI is influencing image-based security.Listeners will gain insights into real-world detection successes, persistent threats like TA505 and Emotet, and the role of instincts in cybersecurity—because, as Selena notes, sometimes good detection is all about the vibes. Key Topics Covered:Characteristics of Image-Based ThreatsGroups like TA505 and Emotet historically using recognizable image luresOneNote-Based Malware Detection (2023) & the Challenges with OneNoteShift to PDF-Based ThreatsPDF Object Hashing for Attribution & DetectionImage-Based Threat Detection InsightsGenerative AI’s Impact on Image-Based ThreatsJoin us as we uncover real-world detection wins, explore persistent threats like TA505 and Emotet, and dive into the importance of instincts in cybersecurity—because, as our guest puts it, sometimes good detection is all about the vibes.Resources mentioned:https://github.com/target/halogenhttps://www.proofpoint.com/us/blog/threat-insight/onenote-documents-increasingly-used-to-deliver-malwareFor more information about Proofpoint, check out our website.Subscribe & Follow:Don't miss out on future episodes—subscribe to the Discarded Podcast on your favorite platform.

Hey Cyber Pals! This week we are doing a very special spotlight on a recent episode from Only Malware in the Building. Our very own, Selena Larson, also co-hosts on this fabulous podcast. Be sure to check it out and enjoy!Find more OMIB: https://thecyberwire.com/podcasts/only-malware-in-the-building/9/notes—------------------------------------------------Welcome in! You’ve entered, Only Malware in the Building. Join us each month to sip tea and solve mysteries about today’s most interesting threats. 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 N2K Networks Dave Bittner and Rick Howard to uncover the stories behind notable cyberattacks.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 and since it is February (the month of love as Selena calls it), we talk about romance scams known throughout the security world as pig butchering. And, Rick's experiencing a bit of a Cyber Groundhog Day in his newly-realized retirement.

Hello to all our Cyber Magicians! Join host Selena Larson and guest host, Joshua Miller, as they speak with Kristina Walter, the Chief of NSA’s Cybersecurity Collaboration Center.  They explore the cutting-edge collaborations between the NSA and industry partners to combat cyber threats, with a deep dive into the NSA’s Cybersecurity Collaboration Center (Triple C).Kristina sheds light on the growing awareness around cyber hygiene, the importance of collective defense, and the role of partnerships between government and private sectors in tackling malicious activity. She also offers practical advice for those looking to break into government cybersecurity roles, dispelling myths about the need for a STEM background and highlighting the relevance of "core skills" like public speaking, decision-making, and risk management.Key Topics Covered:Public-private partnership success storiesNSA’s approach to global collaborationThe shift from information consumption to actionable intelligence sharingThe average American's cybersecurity concernsInsights into the collaborative efforts needed to counter cyber threatsNaming malware campaignsThe episode wraps up with tips on staying current in the fast-paced world of cybersecurity, from leveraging NSA advisories to building communities for information sharing. Whether you're an aspiring cybersecurity professional or an industry veteran, this episode is packed with actionable advice and thought-provoking perspectives.Resources mentioned:https://www.nsa.gov/Press-Room/Press-Releases-Statements/Press-Release-View/Article/3805947/nsa-announces-kristina-walter-as-the-new-chief-of-cybersecurity-collaboration-c/https://www.nsa.gov/Press-Room/News-Highlights/https://www.nsa.gov/Press-Room/Press-Releases-Statements/Press-Release-View/Article/3669141/nsa-and-partners-spotlight-peoples-republic-of-china-targeting-of-us-critical-i/https://www.nsa.gov/about/cybersecurity-collaboration-center/For more information about Proofpoint, check out our website.Subscribe & Follow:Don't miss out on future episodes—subscribe to the Discarded Podcast on your favorite platform.

Hello to all our Cyber Magicians! Join host Selena Larson and guest host,Tim Kromphardt, as they speak with Hannah Rapetti, the Takedown Services Manager at Proofpoint. Hannah shares her fascinating journey from librarian to cybersecurity expert, detailing her path into the industry through certifications, CTFs (Capture the Flag), and the Women in Cybersecurity (WiCyS) community.The conversation dives into real-world examples, techniques, and strategies used to identify, track, and eliminate malicious domains.Key Topics Covered:Collaborative Efforts: How teams work together to identify scam websites, gather evidence, and escalate for takedown.Tools and Techniques: Using tools like domain search, backend kits identification, and IP-based connections to uncover related sites.Challenges in Takedowns: Managing lists of hundreds of domains across multiple providers, verifying live activity, and the need for ongoing monitoring.Threat Actor Behavior: How threat actors use multiple registrars or re-register domains to evade detection.Best Practices for Organizations:Preemptively purchasing lookalike domains.Monitoring new domain registrations for suspicious activity.Educating users to identify and avoid malicious domains.Ethical Considerations: Balancing infrastructure disruption with the need for ongoing research, particularly for cyber espionage threats.Favorite Wins: Memorable investigations, such as takedowns during the Super Bowl, fake Olympics ticket scams, and real-time disruption of pig-butchering schemes.The episode highlights the importance of domain takedowns not just for individual companies but for contributing to a safer internet ecosystem. It’s a mix of practical advice, real-life stories, and insights into the ongoing battle against cybercrime.Resources mentioned:Genina Po Discarded Episodehttps://www.proofpoint.com/us/blog/threat-insight/pig-butchers-join-gig-economy-cryptocurrency-scammers-target-job-seekers https://www.wicys.org/ https://www.proofpoint.com/us/blog/threat-insight/pig-butchers-join-gig-economy-cryptocurrency-scammers-target-job-seekers https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/discarded-tales-from-the-threat-research-trenches/id1612506550?i=1000677061400 https://www.proofpoint.com/us/blog/threat-insight/security-brief-scammers-create-fraudulent-olympics-ticketing-websitesFor more information about Proofpoint, check out our website.Subscribe & Follow:Don't miss out on future episodes—subscribe to the Discarded Podcast on your favorite platform.

Hello to all our Cyber Pals! Join host Selena Larson and guest, ransomware expert, Allan Liska, CSIRT at Recorded Future, drops by to share his creative take on cyber-themed graphic novels, proving there’s nothing ransomware can’t inspire—even superheroes. In this episode, we uncover the shadowy ecosystem driving ransomware attacks, from the industrialization of cybercrime to the rise of "small-batch" threat actors redefining chaos. Explore how Operation Endgame dealt a devastating blow to malware powerhouses like Pikabot and SmokeLoader, shaking trust within underground networks and leaving cybercriminals scrambling to regroup.We’ll also decode the evolving tactics of ransomware gangs, from slick AI-powered voice disguises to the surprising shift toward consumer scams. Plus, we’ll discuss whether law enforcement’s crackdown will make ransomware too expensive for crooks, forcing them to rethink their game plans—or at least settle for less glamorous schemes like crypto theft.Don’t miss the Champagne pick that pairs perfectly with ransomware disruptions! 🥂Resources mentioned:https://www.chainalysis.com/blog/2024-crypto-crime-mid-year-update-part-1/https://www.marketplace.org/shows/marketplace-tech/how-scammers-hijack-their-victims-brains/https://www.cisa.gov/resources-tools/resources/review-attacks-associated-lapsus-and-related-threat-groups-reporthttps://www.proofpoint.com/us/blog/threat-insight/major-botnets-disrupted-global-law-enforcement-takedownhttps://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/us-charges-russian-national-developing-and-operating-lockbit-ransomwarehttps://therecord.media/russian-national-in-custody-extraditedhttps://www.cisa.gov/news-events/cybersecurity-advisories/aa24-241ahttps://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/north-korean-threat-group-play-ransomware/https://therecord.media/chamelgang-china-apt-ransomware-distractionhttps://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.recordedfuture.com/research/outmaneuvering-rhysida-advanced-threat-intelligence-shields-critical-infrastructure-ransomware__;!!ORgEfCBsr282Fw!pYnNQZUQJLJTFlj5w7PcWRjyr6rh-logFnqo03_Mz19RUrK4rftQU1qbTj_iql3KNjn4Ub7a5LsDLpCJgdJQSA$For more information about Proofpoint, check out our website.Subscribe & Follow:Don't miss out on future episodes—subscribe to the Discarded Podcast on your favorite platform.

Hello to all our Cyber Frogs! Join host Selena Larson and guest host, Sarah Sabotka, explore the evolving tactics of China-based nation-state threat actors with guest Mark Kelly, Staff Threat Researcher at Proofpoint. They focus on TA415 (APT41 or Brass Typhoon), examining its combination of cybercrime and state-sponsored espionage. From the Voldemort malware campaign to targeting critical infrastructure, Mark sheds light on how these actors leverage tools like Google Sheets for command and control, exploit vulnerabilities, and adapt to evade detection.The discussion also highlights:the strategic importance of edge devices, pre-positioning for geopolitical escalations, and the intersection of espionage, gaming, and cybercrime Operational Relay Boxes (ORBs), covert networks used by Chinese Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) groups to mask cyber activities exploitation of non-traditional systems and vulnerabilitiesthe impact of compromised consumer devices on global cybersecurityResources mentioned:https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/26/us/politics/salt-typhoon-hack-what-we-know.htmlhttps://cyberscoop.com/salt-typhoon-us-telecom-hack-earth-estries-trend-micro-report/https://www.proofpoint.com/us/blog/threat-insight/malware-must-not-be-named-suspected-espionage-campaign-delivers-voldemorthttps://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/state-hackers-turn-to-massive-orb-proxy-networks-to-evade-detection/For more information about Proofpoint, check out our website.Subscribe & Follow:Don't miss out on future episodes—subscribe to the Discarded Podcast on your favorite platform.

Hello to all our Cyber Pals! Join host Selena Larson and guest, Genina Po, Threat Researcher at Emerging Threats at Proofpoint. She shares how she tackles emerging cyber threats, breaking down the process of turning data into detection signatures. Using tools like Suricata to create detections for malicious activity, she maps out her approach to writing rules that identify and block these threats.The goal? Equip companies to stay secure, and encourage listeners with the skills to spot and prevent scams on their own. Genina shares her journey tracking pig butchering scams through thousands of domains and URLs. She reveals patterns—certain headers and markers—that help identify these sites amid a flood of data, and she describes the challenges in detection, as scammers increasingly vary their setups to evade filters. Also discussed:proactive measures against phishing and fraud sites, with Proofpoint using "takedown" services to remove malicious domains, disrupting scams before they impact usersthe importance of questioning biases, particularly in cyber threat intelligence where assumptions can shape classifications and responsescollaboration with Chainalysis to connect various scams through cryptocurrency wallets, showing cross-over between different fraud typesResources mentioned:Book: Why Fish Don’t Exist by Lulu MillerFor more information about Proofpoint, check out our website.Subscribe & Follow:Don't miss out on future episodes—subscribe to the Discarded Podcast on your favorite platform.

A note to our listeners, this episode contains some content our listeners might find upsetting including mentions of human trafficking. Hello to all our Pumpkin Spice Cyber Friends! Join host Selena Larson  and guest host, Sarah Sabotka as they chat with senior threat researcher and fraud expert Tim Kromphardt. They talk about the world of pig butchering and crypto romance scams, where Tim discusses how these scams manipulate victims' feelings, making it incredibly hard to escape, even when presented with evidence of the scam. And how these threat actors have expanded their enterprises to include job scamming. He explains the challenges of tracking funds through cryptocurrency systems, and why these scams are so profitable.  The episode highlights the need for victims to speak out and share their stories without shame, breaking the cycle and raising awareness.Also discussed:how psychological manipulation can be just as damaging as technical vulnerabilitiesresources for victims, and how people can identify hallmarks of these types of scams the role of automation and AI in scaling scamsResources mentioned:globalantiscam.orgFor more information about Proofpoint, check out our website.Subscribe & Follow:Don't miss out on future episodes—subscribe to the Discarded Podcast on your favorite platform.

Hello to all our Cyber Ghosts! Join host Selena Larson  as she chats with Eilon Bendet– Cloud Threat Researcher from Proofpoint. ​​From account takeovers to state-sponsored hacks, they uncover how cybercriminals are outsmarting traditional defenses – and why even multi-factor authentication might not be enough to keep them out. Together, they discuss the complexities of cloud threat detection, including the role of User and Entity Behavior Analytics (UEBA) in identifying suspicious activities and preventing account takeovers (ATO). Eilon breaks down two primary ATO threat vectors—credential-based brute force attacks and precision-targeted phishing campaigns. Also discussed:how these groups exploit cloud environmentsconcerning trends such as the rise of reverse proxy-based toolkits and MFA bypass techniquesthe importance of identity-focused defense strategies and how threat actors customize tools to infiltrate cloud systems, steal data, and monetize compromised accountsResources mentioned:MACT or malicious applications blog: https://www.proofpoint.com/us/blog/cloud-security/revisiting-mact-malicious-applications-credible-cloud-tenantsFor more information about Proofpoint, check out our website.Subscribe & Follow:Don't miss out on future episodes—subscribe to the Discarded Podcast on your favorite platform.