Adventures of Alice & Bob

In today's episode, James Maude dives into the world of cyber warfare, espionage, and hacked satellites with the legendary Chris Kubecka—aka the "Chief Hacktress." From grounding overconfident pilots as one of the first female C-5 loadmasters, to investigating mysterious “vampire satellites” that silently disable spacecraft, Chris has lived a life straight out of a cyber-thriller. She recounts her...

In this episode, host James Maude sits down with Runa Sandvik, a cybersecurity pioneer protecting journalists and vulnerable populations worldwide. From hacking wi-fi enabled rifles to creating secure tip systems for The New York Times, Runa shares the fascinating journey that led her from Norway's tight-knit tech scene to the frontlines of digital security. 

In this episode, cybersecurity veteran, Kymberlee Price joins James and Marc for a riveting conversation that traces her unconventional path from public health to becoming a pioneering force at Microsoft Security. Kymberlee opens up about her classified work tracking down the creators of the infamous Zotob worm, and how that experience helped reshape how companies collaborate with security researc...

In this episode, James Maude chats with industrial cybersecurity expert Lesley Carhart (aka "Hacks for Pancakes"), whose journey from programming on her family farm to protecting critical infrastructure was shaped by curiosity and determination. Lesley reveals how moths accidentally activating a power plant touchscreen led to a late-night "Chinese hackers" investigation, explains why she carries a...

In this episode, James Maude chats with cyber threat intel pro Brian Kime, whose journey from the Army’s infamous “chemical guy” to security expert was partly inspired by Starship Troopers. Brian dishes on his legendary Dell SecureWorks phishing op that hit a wild 50% click rate—by predicting an IPO years ahead of time. He also unpacks why vulnerability management can stall business and how design...

James Maude chats with Roger Grimes, a 36-year cyber veteran and KnowBe4’s Defense Evangelist. From hacking DOS viruses for John McAfee to catching Chinese APT hackers red-handed, Roger’s war stories are unforgettable. But he’s not just here for the drama—he lays out a bold plan to fix Internet security and reveals why social engineering remains our biggest blind spot. Don't miss this episode—it's...

In this episode, James sits down with Sounil Yu, the mind behind the Cyber Defense Matrix and DIE Triad frameworks that have transformed how organizations approach security. From his early days getting stuffed in lockers as a self-described computer geek to becoming a disruptive force at Bank of America and co-founding Gnostic, Sounil shares the mental models that have guided his three-decade jour...

In this episode, James chats with Richard Stiennon—cybersecurity analyst, author, and former aerospace engineer—whose 20+ year journey spans from designing car seats to hacking corporate systems for giants like Dell. Hear how a 1992 magazine article led him to launch his own ISP and rise to prominence at Gartner. Richard shares his personal stories from the frontlines of cybersecurity, his crusade...

Step into the fascinating mind of Keren Elazari—the first Israeli woman to give a TED Talk and a trailblazing force in cybersecurity. Once rejected by her school’s D&D group, she defied expectations to become a globally recognized security analyst, reshaping the narrative around hackers. In this episode, we dive into Keren’s remarkable journey—from a curious young girl armed with an encyclopedia a...

In this episode, James sits down with Tommy DeVoss (aka Doggy G), who went from a teenage hacker dodging federal prison to becoming one of the most successful ethical hackers in the world. Tommy spills raw, unfiltered stories about his wild days in IRC channels, running with the infamous World of Hell hacking group, and somehow managing to turn his life around to rake in over $4 million in bug bou...

Join James as he sits down with Mishaal Khan, a seasoned cybersecurity expert with over 20 years of experience in outsmarting attackers. From his early days hacking PC games to his current mission of safeguarding high-profile individuals, Mishaal offers fascinating insights into the world of open-source intelligence (OSINT) and social engineering. Discover how he’s intentionally erased his digital...

Today, James Maude sits down with Dustin Haywood, better known as Evil Mog, Executive Managing Hacker at IBM's X-Force. Together, they talk about Evil Mog's fascinating journey from telemarketing to becoming a globally recognized expert in password security. He shares stories, including how he managed a high-stakes data center crisis, creatively navigated IBM's corporate culture through social eng...

Join hosts James Maude and Marc Maiffret as they dive into a captivating conversation with industry legend Morey Haber. With over two decades of experience—going back before CVEs were even a thing—Morey delivers a bold look at the security threats of 2025 and beyond. Is AI on the verge of bursting its hype bubble? Are hidden paths to privilege the next battleground? The group discusses how today’s...

Join host James Maude as he talks all things cryptography with Sophie Schmieg, a Staff Information Security Engineer at Google. In this episode, Sophie shares her journey from pure mathematics to applied cryptography, revealing how her background in algebraic geometry provides a distinctive approach to modern security challenges. From discovering major vulnerabilities in AWS to creating solutions...

Today, Marc and James welcome Brooke Denney, a rising star in cybersecurity who brings a dynamic, cloud-first perspective to the ever-evolving industry. Brooke shares her inspiring journey from aspiring veterinarian to accomplished security engineer, offering insights into the fascinating world of AI-powered phishing, modern security challenges, and safeguarding critical infrastructure. As a senio...

In this episode, Marc and James plunge into the world of identity security with DJ Morimanno. From his early days pf dumpster diving for computer parts to becoming a powerhouse Director of Identity and Access Management Technologies, DJ’s cybersecurity journey is what legends are made of. They dig deep into the evolution of identity security, the pivotal role of human behavior in staying cyber-saf...

In today's episode, host James welcomes Anna Aslanishvili, the visionary founder and CEO of Pine Risk Management. Anna takes us behind the scenes of high-stakes security assessments, from testing executive protection during a CEO's morning jog to uncovering faulty panic buttons—and even dealing with the threat of mailed anthrax. With captivating stories and expert insights, Anna reveals how pushin...

Today, Marc and James have the pleasure of sitting down with Omar Aviles, a seasoned expert in DFIR, threat hunting, and malware analysis. Omar takes us on a journey through his early days of dismantling computers out of sheer curiosity to the high-stakes world of battling ransomware in real-time. He delves into the growing dangers of corporate espionage, nation-state attacks, and the ever-evolvin...

This episode follows the fascinating journey of Gary Bowser, a tech industry veteran whose life has been shaped by his passion for hacking and modding. From his early days tinkering with Texas Instruments computers to becoming a key figure in the controversial world of game console hacking, Gary's story is one of innovation, legal battles, and personal redemption. Host James Maude explores Gary's...

In this episode, Greg Pickett takes Marc on a thrilling journey from his early days of war dialing and hacking a bank (complete with hiding under a desk to avoid detection!) to exposing credential misuse on bulletin boards and uncovering a massive security breach tied to the Chinese military—all while tackling the challenges of corporate security and internal politics.

In this episode, Marc engages in an eye-opening conversation with Robert RSnake Hansen, a true legend in the cybersecurity realm. RSnake takes us on a journey through his transformation from a mischievous hacker to a revered security expert, revealing the high-stakes moments that defined his career. He dives deep into his experience with the groundbreaking Hack the Pentagon program, where his rele...

In today's episode, James and Marc explore the devastating ransomware attack that crippled the Town of Truckee, shutting down phones, internet, and critical data access behind the town's firewall. With special guests Chris Hardy and Logan McDonald, you'll gain an insider's perspective on the relentless challenges they faced, the innovative strategies they used for recovery, and a surprising twist—...

Over its 11 years in publication, the BeyondTrust Microsoft Vulnerabilities Report has been downloaded over 16,000 times, aiding thousands in enhancing their cyber defenses with detailed data analysis and expert insights. This year's report not only examines 2023 Microsoft vulnerabilities but also evaluates their use in identity-based attacks, highlights significant CVEs (9.0+ CVSS scores), and di...

This week, Marc Maiffret sits down with Mark Weatherford to discuss his role in responding to the Moonlight Maze incident, one of the first major cyber espionage operations targeting U.S. government systems in the late 1990s. Mark talks about how Moonlight Maze highlighted significant vulnerabilities and reshaped cybersecurity strategies within the government and beyond. Mark also discusses broade...

This week James sits down with Michael Daniel, former Cybersecurity Coordinator at the White House and current President and CEO of the Cyber Threat Alliance. With over 20 years of cybersecurity experience, Michael shares insider insights into some of the most significant cyber incidents in recent history, including the notorious OPM breach. From budgeting to policy-making, he offers a candid look...