Talos Takes

Attackers have always had a bottleneck. Stealing massive amounts of data is easy, but identifying which victims are truly worth the effort can be slow, tedious work. That changed with the discovery of the VOLTA-AUTODOXER.In this episode, Amy chats with Ryan Fetterman, creator of the CAIRN research framework, to break down a newly discovered infostealer. Unlike traditional stealers, VOLTA integrates LLMs to analyze stolen credentials in real-time, effectively turning raw data into a prioritized, high-value dossier for the attacker. We discuss:How VOLTA uses session replay to go beyond simple password theft and into your personal Gmail inbox and DoorDash order historiesThe unsettling way attackers are outsourcing analytical work to AI to rank victims by their potential monetization valueThe multi-model resilience that allows this stealer to bypass AI safety refusalsPractical steps for defenders and individuals to harden their defensesResources:Read the full research blog: https://blog.talosintelligence.com/appraisal-by-ai-model-driven-victim-prioritization-in-the-volta-infostealerWIRED coverage: https://www.wired.com/story/kernel-panic-volta-autodoxer-ai-infostealer-malware/Learn more about CAIRN: https://blog.talosintelligence.com/introducing-cairn-frontier-tracking-for-ai-integrated-malware/

Network segmentation is a fundamental security practice, yet many organizations struggle to move past the conceptual stage. Craig Jackson from Talos IR joins Amy to explain how to build a segmentation strategy that serves both as a preventative barrier and a functional tool for incident response.We also cover the rising industry interest in AI kill switches, looking at how security teams can plan to stop erratic AI applications or AI-augmented malware before they cause widespread operational damage.The Fine Art of Frustrating the Adversary: https://blog.talosintelligence.com/the-fine-art-of-frustrating-the-adversary/

It’s time to start having fun and messing with your attackers. For Cybersecurity Awareness Month, Martin Lee joins Amy to discuss the fine art of making life on your network a complete nightmare for adversaries. Simple, low-maintenance decoys — like fake credentials, empty honeypots, and ghost systems — can turn your infrastructure into a minefield that keeps attackers guessing and wastes their resources.Join us to learn how to turn the tables, gain threat intel on who is trying to get into your network, and have a bit of a laugh at their expense. (And trust us, you don't want to miss Martin's Winston Churchill impression.)

In this episode of Talos Takes, Amy sits down with researcher Vanja Svajcer to break down a sophisticated, multi-stage infection chain that leverages a combination of ClickFix social engineering, WebDAV, and decentralized infrastructure.Vanja walks us through how threat actors are repurposing legitimate user behaviors — like solving CAPTCHAs — to gain unauthorized access, and how they utilize blockchain smart contracts as bulletproof storage for malicious code. We also explore the divergence in final payloads, ranging from remote access tools to crypto-stealing malware. Tune in for actionable behavioral patterns that your security teams can monitor to detect these incidents before they progress.Vanja's blog: https://blog.talosintelligence.com/clearfake-webdav-infection-chain/

Ah, the crisp fall air, brand-new books and backpacks, and the quiet irony of cybercriminals turning on each other to steal a few extra bucks.Security Engineer Sean Gallagher joins Amy to break down a scam where threat actors are weaponizing greed to turn amateur cybercriminals against themselves. This browser-based attack tricks targets into injecting malicious code into their own sessions under the guise of exploiting a fictional vulnerability to earn crypto-profits.While this current operation mostly targets the amateur dark-web circuit, the underlying use of the Google Visualization API as a command-and-control channel is a red flag for the future of web security. Tune in to hear why it’s only a matter of time before these techniques turn from petty crypto-scams toward our enterprise supply chains, and how to protect your organization.Blog: https://blog.talosintelligence.com/clickfix-moves-into-the-browser/

As the new academic year begins, school districts face a surge in cybersecurity threats, from phishing attacks and ransomware to student experimentation with network devices. In this episode, Amy sits down with Cisco Talos expert Pierre Cadieux to discuss practical strategies for IT practitioners. How do you strengthen your defenses while managing the delicate balance between security and classroom usability? Here are the most high-priority steps to keep your district safe this semester.Prioritizing patches episode: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2018149/episodes/19360999

What happens when a  QR code leads to a major security incident? In this episode, Amy sits down with Senior Incident Response Consultant Terryn Valikodath to break down a recent, high-stakes breach at an Australian medical center. Attackers are ditching traditional malware for "cloud-native" tactics — using personalized QR code phishing to bypass corporate defenses and operate entirely within the cloud.Beyond the technical details, Amy and Terryn chat about the pressure of defending environments where patient care is on the line and why a blameless culture is a great defense. Take a listen for some practical, down-to-earth advice on how to audit your own logs and keep your team prepared for when things go sideways.Talos IR Trends Q2 2026: https://blog.talosintelligence.com/ir-trends-q2-2026/

In this episode, Amy and analyst Lexi DiScola unpack the trends Talos IR saw on the frontlines in Q2 2026. From creative phishing lures that slip past email gateways to the weaponization of legitimate remote management tools, we explore why traditional defenses are falling short and the practical things you can do to reclaim the advantage.What configuration changes and visibility gaps  could be the difference between a minor incident and a full-scale breach? How can you harden your environment with limited resources? Tune into this episode to stay one step ahead of an evolving threat landscape.Talos IR Quarterly Trends Report: https://blog.talosintelligence.com/ir-trends-q2-2026Find Talos at Black Hat: https://blog.talosintelligence.com/preview-cisco-talos-at-black-hat-usa-2026/

MFA and password resets aren't always enough.That’s terrifying for security teams today. In this episode of Talos Takes, we dive deep into ARToken, a sophisticated phishing/BEC-as-a-service platform that steals credentials, bypasses MFA entirely, and leverages primary refresh tokens (PRTs) to maintain persistence in your environment long after a password reset. This turns a simple phishing click into a long-term breach.It’s time to rethink your defenses. Join us as Cisco Talos Threat Researcher Michael Kelley breaks down how this new breed of automated attack works and, more importantly, how you can spot it. From hunting for suspicious device authorization grants to securing your cloud infrastructure, don't miss this critical look at the new frontier of business email compromise. Blog: https://blog.talosintelligence.com/artoken-inside-an-eviltokens-affiliate-panel-targeting-microsoft-365/

While the Component Object Model (COM) is a fundamental Windows technology that allows software to communicate and function, it's also a powerful tool for threat actors looking to move laterally, maintain persistence, and evade traditional security measures.Joining us is Vanya Svajcer, who shares his expertise on how to cut through the noise and identify malicious signals within COM-based binaries. Whether you are a seasoned researcher or just starting your journey into reverse engineering and malware analysis, here's some practical advice on how to start hunting for COM-based threats and making your next investigation a little more effective.Vanja's blog: https://blog.talosintelligence.com/introduction-to-com-usage-by-windows-threats