Podcast · Tech & Science

DTF Cyber Podcast

by Cyber Podcast · English · Tech & Science

Candid cybersecurity conversations with the people making the calls. Every week, Damian Chung(D), Troy Wilkinson(T) and Fern Rojas(F) break down the biggest hacks, breaches and security news, plus what it actually means for your business, your team and you. Together they bring 50+ years of cyber exp

New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 1 hr 4 min
Latest: 28 Sep 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

28 Sep 2026 · 56 min

When AI Agents Go Wild: The Hugging Face Breach #DTF054

Can we actually control autonomous AI agents once they leave the sandbox? In Episode 54 of the DTF Cyber Podcast, Damian, Troy, and Fern dive into real-world instances of AI models breaking containment and acting beyond human control. From an AI benchmark escaping its isolated test environment to laterally move and hack external infrastructure like Hugging Face, to the viral whistleblower tweet from former OpenAI and Anthropic safety researcher Jacob Coxon warning that labs are "racing straight to self-improving superintelligence", the crew breaks down what this shift means for real-world…

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Earlier episodes 29 most recent

E53 · 8 Sep 2026 · 53 min
153 Million Driver’s Licenses Leaked #DTF053
You can reset a password, but you can't reset your face. In this episode of the DTF Cyber Podcast, Damian, Troy, and Fern break down the massive Nexus / IDScan.net leak exposing over 153 million driver's licenses, travel documents, and medical cards. From rental car counters and Vegas dispensaries to third- and fourth-party vendor liability, we look at how raw UV/IR scans ended up on the dark web—and what consumers and enterprises need to do now. TIMESTAMPS * 00:00 - "You Can't Reset Your Face": The 153M ID Leak * 01:18 - The Numbers: 170M Affected Across the US & Canada * 03:08 - Why…
E52 · 31 Aug 2026 · 56 min
Specialist vs. Generalist: The Ultimate Cyber Career Debate #DTF052
In Episode 52 of the DTF Cyber Podcast, Damian, Troy, and Fern debate the ultimate cybersecurity career question: should you build your path as a deep specialist or a broad generalist? The hosts discuss the harsh realities of aiming for penetration testing on day one, the difficult transition from hands-on keyboard roles to leadership, and why understanding the business is more important than your ego. They also dive into how artificial intelligence is changing the industry and why you need to "skate to where the puck is going" to future-proof your career. Chapter Timestamps: 00:00 - Cold…
E51 · 24 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 9 min
Is Your Employer Spying on You? The Truth About Workplace Monitoring | #DTF051
Are Flock Safety cameras keeping our neighborhoods safe, or are we sleepwalking into an unchecked private surveillance dragnet? When does legitimate workplace Data Loss Prevention (DLP) cross the line into invasive employee bossware? In Episode 51 of the DTF Cyber Podcast, Damian Chung, Troy Wilkinson, and Fern break down the escalating battle between Security and Privacy. From AI-driven license plate recognition (ALPR) grids and 4th Amendment violations to keystroke logging, SOC alert fatigue, and who watches the administrators holding root access, the crew debates where the boundaries must…
E50 · 17 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 12 min
50 Episodes of DTF Cyber: What We Learned & Challenge Coin Giveaway! #DTF050
In this milestone episode, Damian, Troy, and Fern look back on 14 months of podcasting, growing from 1,000 to nearly 7,000 subscribers, and moving into a brand-new studio. We dive deep into the biggest lessons we've learned along the way: how AI has rapidly transformed our workflows and security operations, the unwritten rules of vendor-sponsored CISO dinners, navigating corporate ethics, and what it really takes to break into the cybersecurity industry today. 🪙 EPISODE 50 GIVEAWAY: To thank our listeners for reaching 50 episodes, we are giving away 10 custom, heavy-duty DTF Cyber Challenge…
E49 · 3 Aug 2026 · 46 min
Extortion WITHOUT Encryption: Why Hackers Skipped Ransomware
What happens when cybercriminals don't even bother encrypting your files, but still demand $5 million? In Episode 49 of DTF Cyber, Damian, Troy, and Fern sit down with former 3x Financial CISO Brian Rosario to break down a terrifying shift in the threat landscape: Extortion Without Encryption. We analyze recent breach news (like Abbott Laboratories) to reveal how bad actors quietly exfiltrate crown jewel data, bypass traditional backup recovery options, and hold reputational/SEC clocks over your head. Plus, we dive into the risks of "Vibe Coding" with AI, unmonitored OAuth tokens, and how to…
E48 · 29 Jun 2026 · 1 hr 13 min
The Top 10 Cybersecurity Metrics Every CISO Should Track
Are you tracking cybersecurity metrics that actually keep your business secure, or are you just reporting "the weather" to your executive board? In Episode 48 of the DTF Cyber Podcast, Damian Chung, Troy Wilkinson, and Fern sit down with enterprise security operations leader Jason Barnes to look past the vanity metrics and deliver a definitive blueprint on the metrics that actually drive decisions. We break down the operational realities of security telemetry across three critical categories: operational speed, corporate risk liability, and the human element. From navigating the true…
E47 · 23 Jun 2026 · 1 hr 7 min
Is Your Entry-Level Cyber Job Officially Dead? | #DTF047
The traditional cybersecurity entry-level pipeline is fundamentally changing. In Episode 47 of the DTF Cyber Podcast, Damian, Troy, and Fern break down the rapid evolution of security operations centers and tackle a stark reality: the traditional Tier-1 SOC analyst job is officially dead. With modern baseline metrics proving that AI platforms are automating over 50% of basic alert triage and log parsing, our hosts debate what this means for university programs, upcoming graduates, and mid-career professionals looking to break into the industry. Fern introduces Jevons Paradox to explain the…
E46 · 15 Jun 2026 · 57 min
Government RECALLS AI Code?! The Fall of Fable 5 | #DTF046
The US government just laid down the hammer, officially recalling frontier AI models Fable 5 and Mythos 5. In Episode 46 of the DTF Cyber Podcast, Damian, Troy, and Fern dive into the chaos. Did a sophisticated prompt jailbreak a vulnerability-chaining machine into a zero-day weapon? What does this sudden regulation mean for corporate security teams, supply chain resiliency, and the blue team vs. red team arms race? We also pull back the curtain on Anthropic's quiet 30-day data retention policy changes and discuss why the entry-level SOC analyst job might be gone in a year. Episode…
E45 · 26 May 2026 · 1 hr 5 min
The 3-Day Patch Trap: Security vs. Operational Chaos | #DTF045
The patching paradigm has officially broken. CISA is considering a massive shift to a mandatory 3-day patch window for active exploits, but is a 72-hour turnaround an operational shield or a localized denial-of-service attack on your own engineering teams? In Episode 45, Damian, Troy, and Fern dive headfirst into the brutal reality of emergency vulnerability management. They tear down the growing chasm between risk-aware CISOs and resource-strapped IT operations, discuss how advanced AI models like Alibaba's newest frontier tech are accelerating multi-stage exploit chaining, and debate why…
E44 · 18 May 2026 · 1 hr
The True Cost of AI Hidden Token Costs and Cloud Charges| #DTF044
Are you caught between a bedrock and a hard place with your organization's cloud budget? In Episode 44 of the DTF Cyber Podcast, Damian, Troy, and Fern break down the massive, unexpected financial and operational risks of enterprise AI deployments. From unmonitored AI agents creating a 100,000 "recursive loop" bill overnight to non-technical employees "vibe coding" insecure software with hardcoded secrets, the team looks past the AI hype to expose the real logistics of Day 2 operations. They also dive into the invisible data lake "IO tax," the legal pitfalls of building side projects on…
E43 · 11 May 2026 · 1 hr 12 min
Agentic SOC: Machine Speed vs. Human Liability| #DTF043
The hackers are already moving at light speed. If you’re still waiting for a human to click "Approve," you’ve already lost the company. But if your autonomous AI nukes a production server during a board meeting, who stands in front of the regulators? In Episode 43, the DTF crew dives into the massive 2026 shift from automated playbooks to Agentic AI. Damian argues that traditional SOAR is dead, Troy warns of the audit trail of a ghost, and Fern wonders if we’re all just vibe coding our way into an existential crisis.In this episode, we cover: - Why Human-in-the-loop is becoming a security…
E42 · 4 May 2026 · 47 min
200,000 Laptops Wiped in Minutes: The Stryker Attack & The Match Group Leak| #DTF042
In this episode of the DTF Cyber Podcast, Damian, Troy, and Fern tackle the terrifying reality of 2026: Identity is the new weapon of mass destruction. From the architectural suicide pact that allowed a 200,000-device wipe at Stryker to the personal blackmail engines fueled by the Match Group data breach, the team explores why your own IT tools are being turned against you. Timestamps 00:00 – The "Architectural Suicide Pact" (Stryker & Match overview). 00:44 – Vegas Recording: Fern introduces the location (Findlay Automotive Group conference room). 03:00 – The 2026 Trend: Troy explains why…
E41 · 27 Apr 2026 · 1 hr 7 min
Your Resume is Boring. Here’s Why You’re Still Stuck in Entry-Level | #DTF041
Is your resume landing in the trash before a human even sees it? This week on the DTF Cyber Podcast, Troy, Damian, and Fern get brutally honest about the cybersecurity job market. We aren't just talking about certifications; we're talking about why the standard advice is failing the next generation of cyber professionals. Troy reveals why he trashed 48 resumes in one morning, Damian explains why a GitHub repo is worth more than a degree, and Fern asks the questions every job-seeker is thinking but is too afraid to ask. If you're stuck in the entry-level trap, this episode is your roadmap…
E40 · 13 Apr 2026 · 53 min
Anthropic Mythos: The AI That Just Fired Its CISO? | #DTF#040
Anthropic just changed the rules of the game with "Mythos"—a frontier-tier model that doesn't just find vulnerabilities; it reasons through a 23,000-word "Living Constitution" to decide if it even wants to help you. In this milestone Episode 40, Damian, Troy, and Fern dive into Project Glasswing, the secret group of 12 companies given early access to this "digital nuke," and debate whether we are heading toward a future of AI-on-AI warfare. From 72% exploit success rates to AI toilets, we cover the technical, the tactical, and the hysterical. Timestamps: •⁠ ⁠00:00 – Intro •⁠ ⁠02:15 – Project…
E39 · 6 Apr 2026 · 50 min
Your AI Just Spent $50,000: The Shadow AI Agent Nightmare | #DTF039
In this episode, Damian, Troy, and Fern dive into the 'Wild West' of 2026: Shadow AI. From autonomous agents paying unapproved invoices to the rinse and repeat of the 2010 cloud revolution, the team debates whether AI agents are productivity miracles or a liability nightmare for the modern CISO. Timestamps: ⁠00:00 - The $50k Shadow Agent Invoice 01:02 - Fern’s Nightmare Scenario: The AI Agent in Production 02:15 - 2010 vs. 2026: Why Shadow AI is the new Shadow IT 04:14 - Damian’s Technical Deep Dive: The Permission Explosion & Admin Entitlements ⁠11:08 - The State of the Union: CISO Mandates…
E38 · 16 Mar 2026 · 1 hr 5 min
The Life and Death Stakes of Healthcare Cybersecurity | #DTF038
In Episode 38 of the DTF Cyber Podcast, Fern and Troy welcome Healthcare CISO, Bob Schlotfelt. We dive into why an incident at a hospital is fundamentally different from a retail breach. While Damian is out, Bob brings decades of insight into protecting patient safety over just protecting data. We discuss the nightmare of unpatchable medical devices, why compliance doesn't equal security, and the hilarious (but effective) ways to get a nurse's attention for security training. Chapter Markers: •⁠ ⁠00:00 - Intro: Netflix vs. Banks vs. Hospitals •⁠ ⁠01:46 - Introducing Bob, Healthcare CISO •⁠…
E37 · 9 Mar 2026 · 1 hr 6 min
Cybersecurity Salaries 2026: The "AI Squeeze" is Here | #DTF037
Is the "Cyber Skills Gap" a myth? In this episode, Damian, Troy, and Fern strip away the HR fluff and talk about the cold, hard reality of the 2026 job market. From entry-level SOC roles being "squeezed" by AI to $3.5M CISO roles that come with massive personal liability, we’re breaking down what you’re actually worth and why your resume is likely being ghosted by a bot. If you aren't negotiating your insurance and building your own AI tools, you're falling behind. THE DEEP DIVE: •⁠ ⁠00:00 – Intro •⁠ ⁠01:11 – Fern’s 2026 Job Hunt: Why 50 applications led to zero interviews. •⁠ ⁠04:20 – The…
E36 · 2 Mar 2026 · 1 hr 13 min
Why Your Tech Won’t Save You: The Human ROI of Cyber Security | Dom Vogel #DTF036
Chances are you’ve got the best tech money can buy, the latest AI, and the biggest firewalls—but you’re still losing. In this episode of the DTF Cyber Podcast, Damian and Fern sit down with Vancouver-based leadership coach and "positivity troll" Dom Vogel to discuss why the weakest link in cybersecurity isn’t a line of code, it’s the person behind the keyboard. We’re ignoring the hardware today to focus on the Human Side of Security. Dom shares his 20+ years of experience transitioning from corporate burnout to coaching cyber leaders on empathy, branding, and "connected leadership" in the AI…
E35 · 23 Feb 2026 · 1 hr 4 min
72 Hours to Report or Else: The New Compliance Nightmare
In this episode, Damian, Troy, and Fern dive into the heated controversy surrounding new federal reporting mandates. We explore the "Feds vs. Firewalls" dynamic: does mandatory reporting actually help stop the bad guys, or is it just a massive resource drain on teams already fighting for their lives? We break down the 72-hour reporting window for significant incidents and the even tighter 24-hour requirement if you decide to pay a ransom. From the ambiguity of what defines a "significant incident" to the personal liability risks for CISOs, we’re looking at the real-world implications of…
E34 · 16 Feb 2026 · 57 min
OpenClaw: The Dangerous Evolution of Autonomous AI Agents
In this episode of the DTF Cyber Podcast, Damian, Troy , and Fern dive into the rapid and often confusing shift from tools like Clawdbot to Moltbot and finally OpenClaw. They discuss why these autonomous agents are more than just a productivity trend—they represent a significant new attack surface for the modern enterprise. From the "Toddler with a Chainsaw" analogy to the risk of "Shadow AI" in the workplace, we break down the security implications of giving AI bots unfettered access to your network and credentials. 00:00 – Intro 01:19 – The rebranding maze: From Clawdbot to OpenClaw 02:35…
E33 · 2 Feb 2026 · 1 hr 22 min
When the World is on Fire: Mental Health and Cyber Incidents
Is the constant wave of alerts keeping you up at 3 a.m.? In this episode of the DTF Cyber Podcast, industry veterans Damian, Troy, and Fern dive deep into the reality of mental health and burnout in the cybersecurity industry. Special guest CISO, Vito Rocco jumps deep into this conversation. With 78% of professionals feeling stressed out and 62% citing alert overload as a primary cause, it's clear the industry needs a culture shift. We discuss the pressures of catastrophic risk , the fear of missing critical alerts, and actionable strategies for leaders and analysts to combat fatigue—from…
E32 · 19 Jan 2026 · 1 hr 18 min
8 Ways to Jumpstart Your Cybersecurity Career in 2026 | #DTF032
2026 is here, and the cybersecurity job market is evolving. Whether you are trying to break into the industry or land your next senior role, the playbook has changed. In this episode of the DTF Cyber Podcast, Fern and Troy are joined by Gary Perkins (CISO at CISO Global) to break down 8 actionable steps you can take right now to jumpstart your career. From building public red team projects to mastering new attack toolchains like the Flipper Zero, we cover the technical and soft skills that hiring managers actually look for. We also dive into why networking is your #1 asset, how to contribute…
E31 · 24 Dec 2025 · 49 min
2026 Cyber Predictions: AI Agents, Record Ransomware & Deepfake Disasters | DTF#031
Is 2026 the year AI takes over everything—including the crimes? 🤖💸 In the final episode of 2025, Damian and Troy break down their Top 8 Cyber Predictions for 2026. From AI agents executing 90% of breaches to ransomware payouts potentially hitting half a billion dollars, the future of cybersecurity is moving fast. We also discuss the "Harvest Now, Decrypt Later" threat, why your LinkedIn profile picture might already be a lie, and the new $150k entry-level salary standard. Plus, we’re ending the year with a GIVEAWAY! 🎁 Drop your 2026 prediction in the comments—for every 10 predictions we…
E30 · 17 Dec 2025 · 59 min
The Ultimate Cybersecurity Gift Guide (Under $100, $200 & Unlimited) #DTF030
The 2025 Cyber Christmas List That Actually Gets You Hired Happy holidays, nerds! Your mom just spent $79 on a “hacker hoodie” that says “Trust Me” in Comic Sans… …while real juniors are out here making six figures with a $29 Yubikey and a Raspberry Pi. In Episode 30, Damian, Troy & Fern save your Christmas with the only cyber gifts worth buying in 2025: • Under $50 stocking stuffers that turn into paychecks • $50–$150 tools that get you interviews • $150–$300 big wins that scream “I’m serious” • Free gifts that slap harder than anything paid • And the absolute coal you should burn before…
E29 · 9 Dec 2025 · 1 hr 4 min
Your Google Account Just Got Hacked – And You Didn’t Click Anything
2.5 billion daily account-takeover attempts. That’s one every 34 microseconds. Damian, Troy & Fern go full send-it mode on the 2025 ATO playbook: SIM swaps, session-token theft, MFA fatigue bombing, rogue QR codes, deep-fake family scams, and the OAuth tokens you granted in 2017 that are still wide open. Timestamps 00:00 – Intro 05:20 – SIM swaps & losing your phone number in minutes 09:40 – Why password resets are useless (session tokens survive) 14:20 – MFA fatigue / push-notification bombing 19:10 – OAuth & old third-party app tokens nobody revokes 24:30 – Rogue QR codes at restaurants &…
E28 · 27 Nov 2025 · 1 hr 3 min
AI Just Hacked the World With Almost No Humans Involved
Anthropic’s new report is a wake-up call: hackers turned Claude into a near-autonomous espionage agent that handled 90% of the attack chain by itself. The future is officially here… and it’s terrifying. We go deep on how they did it, why current defenses are cooked, and what defenders need to do yesterday. Timestamps 00:00 – The scariest line Anthropic has ever published 01:17 – “Set it and forget it” – the new AI attack paradigm 04:04 – Breaking attacks into tiny, undetectable chunks 13:48 – Attackers flipped the script: 90% AI, 10% human 17:26 – Why defense has to 10x its speed right now…
E27 · 17 Nov 2025 · 54 min
60+ Cybersecurity Tools Per Company: Fix Tool Sprawl Chaos Now
The average company now runs 60+ cybersecurity tools — more apps than most people have on their phone. Is this making us safer… or just creating chaos, alert fatigue, and million-dollar shelf ware? In this episode, Damian, Troy, and Fern rip apart the tool sprawl epidemic: why CISOs are drowning in overlapping platforms, how 7% of IT budget became the “standard,” when best-of-breed actually beats single-vendor, and how to start consolidating before you go insane. Real talk from three practitioners who’ve lived the nightmare. Timestamps (short & sweet edition) 00:00 – 60+ tools per company……
E26 · 10 Nov 2025 · 1 hr 16 min
CEO Teams Scam EXPOSED: $106M Louvre Heist Used Password ‘louvre’
In this eye-opening episode of the DTF Cyber Podcast, hosts Damian, Troy, and Fern tackle the theme of trust in cybersecurity. From external hackers spoofing CEOs in Microsoft Teams to incident response firms secretly double-dipping in ransomware negotiations, and a shocking $106M heist at the Louvre enabled by the password “louvre,” the crew explores real-world threats and defenses. Plus, tips on security training, OSINT risks, mental health in cyber, and protecting against title fraud. Whether you’re in security or just curious, this episode reminds us: trust but verify—or pay the price.…
E25 · 3 Nov 2025 · 1 hr 2 min
Do You Need Cybersecurity Certs for a 6-Figure Job? #DTF025
Dive into the wild world of cybersecurity certifications on this episode of the DTF Cyber Podcast! Hosts Damien, Troy, and Fern break down whether certs are the golden ticket to a six-figure cyber career, or if passion, experience, and networking matter more. From entry-level tips like CompTIA Security+ to gold standards like CISSP, they share real talk on getting hired, avoiding burnout, and building a standout resume in today's tough job market. Perfect for newbies, mid-career pros, or anyone pivoting into cyber. 🔥 Key Topics: Do you really need certs to break into cyber? Best beginner…

About DTF Cyber Podcast

DTF Cyber Podcast is a English tech & science podcast from Cyber Podcast. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: Cyber Podcast
Language: English
Category: Tech & Science
New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 1 hr 4 min
Latest episode: 28 Sep 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1827159962

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