Ahead of the Threat Transistor (https://transistor.fm) https://feeds.transistor.fm/ahead-of-the-threat On Ahead of the Threat, Bryan Vorndran, assistant director of the FBI’s Cyber Division, and Jamil Farshchi—a strategic engagement advisor for the FBI who also works as Equifax’s executive vice president and chief information security officer—discuss emerging cyber threats and the enduring importance of cybersecurity fundamentals. Featuring distinguished guests from the business world and government, Ahead of the Threat will confront some of the biggest questions in cyber: How will emerging technology impact corporate America? How can corporate boards be structured for cyber resilience? What does the FBI think about generative artificial intelligence? © 2026 Federal Bureau of Investigation 7dd36477-23cf-5f41-93bf-06dda821a654 yes en Thu, 09 Apr 2026 13:58:55 -0400 Thu, 09 Apr 2026 13:59:28 -0400 https://www.fbi.gov/aheadofthethreat https://img.transistorcdn.com/EWZAAJ9NPVfZupg_Y0QK38AFjkX1rGmLbweB_m3lCOU/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9hZDBi/ZWVmNDI1NjBhNjVl/NjI1YzU1N2JjZWIw/ZGJlMC5wbmc.jpg Ahead of the Threat https://www.fbi.gov/aheadofthethreat episodic Federal Bureau of Investigation On Ahead of the Threat, Bryan Vorndran, assistant director of the FBI’s Cyber Division, and Jamil Farshchi—a strategic engagement advisor for the FBI who also works as Equifax’s executive vice president and chief information security officer—discuss emerging cyber threats and the enduring importance of cybersecurity fundamentals. Featuring distinguished guests from the business world and government, Ahead of the Threat will confront some of the biggest questions in cyber: How will emerging technology impact corporate America? How can corporate boards be structured for cyber resilience? What does the FBI think about generative artificial intelligence? On Ahead of the Threat, Bryan Vorndran, assistant director of the FBI’s Cyber Division, and Jamil Farshchi—a strategic engagement advisor for the FBI who also works as Equifax’s executive vice president and chief information security officer—discuss emerging cyber threats and the enduring importance of cybersecurity fundamentals. Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, government, cybersecurity, cyber, cyber defense, cyber threats, cyber literacy, business, cyber security, intelligence, law enforcement, business Federal Bureau of Investigation No No Season 2, Episode 5: Joe Levy 17 17 Season 2, Episode 5: Joe Levy full 6234d781-4ef8-4b0e-8c55-ddc1f9a32db1 https://share.transistor.fm/s/905d7e48 Joining the show is a security practitioner who also happens to be a CEO. Joe Levy of Sophos and host Brett Leatherman, head of the FBI’s Cyber Division, discuss the application of Operation Winter SHIELD, with Levy calling it one of the most effective and approachable lists of cybersecurity tips available. Adopting just one of the plan’s 10 steps will make any company “infinitely better off,” Levy said.

Their conversation also highlights the “cybersecurity poverty line” that details the lack of CISOs in the workforce, the inherent risk and recommended research of third-party vendors, and a detailed examination of how a Sophos compromise was tracked to a device that displayed a greeting message on an office monitor.

To start the show, Brett is joined by Adam Maddock, the FBI’s section chief of the Cyber Technical Analysis and Operations Section. They discuss the highly technical Cyber Action Team and current news items that discuss software supply chain attacks, a “compromise” of Signal and Telegram, and the growing trend of hackers infiltrating everyday home devices.

Listen to Ahead of the Threat episodes, read the transcripts, and find related material at fbi.gov/aheadofthethreat. 

Subscribe to Ahead of the Threat wherever you get your podcasts:

And follow us on social media:

]]> Joining the show is a security practitioner who also happens to be a CEO. Joe Levy of Sophos and host Brett Leatherman, head of the FBI’s Cyber Division, discuss the application of Operation Winter SHIELD, with Levy calling it one of the most effective and approachable lists of cybersecurity tips available. Adopting just one of the plan’s 10 steps will make any company “infinitely better off,” Levy said.

Their conversation also highlights the “cybersecurity poverty line” that details the lack of CISOs in the workforce, the inherent risk and recommended research of third-party vendors, and a detailed examination of how a Sophos compromise was tracked to a device that displayed a greeting message on an office monitor.

To start the show, Brett is joined by Adam Maddock, the FBI’s section chief of the Cyber Technical Analysis and Operations Section. They discuss the highly technical Cyber Action Team and current news items that discuss software supply chain attacks, a “compromise” of Signal and Telegram, and the growing trend of hackers infiltrating everyday home devices.

Listen to Ahead of the Threat episodes, read the transcripts, and find related material at fbi.gov/aheadofthethreat. 

Subscribe to Ahead of the Threat wherever you get your podcasts:

And follow us on social media:

]]> Thu, 09 Apr 2026 13:58:55 -0400 Federal Bureau of Investigation Federal Bureau of Investigation 4722 Joining the show is a security practitioner who also happens to be a CEO. Joe Levy of Sophos and host Brett Leatherman, head of the FBI’s Cyber Division, discuss the application of Operation Winter SHIELD, with Levy calling it one of the most effective and approachable lists of cybersecurity tips available. Adopting just one of the plan’s 10 steps will make any company “infinitely better off,” Levy said.

Their conversation also highlights the “cybersecurity poverty line” that details the lack of CISOs in the workforce, the inherent risk and recommended research of third-party vendors, and a detailed examination of how a Sophos compromise was tracked to a device that displayed a greeting message on an office monitor.

To start the show, Brett is joined by Adam Maddock, the FBI’s section chief of the Cyber Technical Analysis and Operations Section. They discuss the highly technical Cyber Action Team and current news items that discuss software supply chain attacks, a “compromise” of Signal and Telegram, and the growing trend of hackers infiltrating everyday home devices.

Listen to Ahead of the Threat episodes, read the transcripts, and find related material at fbi.gov/aheadofthethreat. 

Subscribe to Ahead of the Threat wherever you get your podcasts:

And follow us on social media:

]]> Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, government, cybersecurity, cyber, cyber defense, cyber threats, cyber literacy, business, cyber security, intelligence, law enforcement, business No Season 2, Episode 4: Sherrod DeGrippo 16 16 Season 2, Episode 4: Sherrod DeGrippo full ff73441e-bc85-4a9b-aa02-f78a00c82a1f https://share.transistor.fm/s/46264e31 Microsoft joins the conversation on all things Operation Winter SHIELD, the FBI’s list of the 10 most impactful cybersecurity actions for organizations big and small. Sherrod DeGrippo, general manager of Microsoft's Global Threat Intelligence, shares why she wrote a blog post about the Bureau’s effort with host Brett Leatherman, head of FBI Cyber. The two highlight the increasing role AI plays in initiating—and stopping—cyberattacks, how experts have observed that fundamental cybersecurity steps are enough to discourage a would-be hacker, and how security teams can be even more effective when they develop a partnership with software developers.  

To start the show, Ahead of the Threat goes international! Brett discusses the critical role international cyber investigators play for the FBI with program manager Maeve Healy of the Global Partnership Program. They also explore recent news topics, including Operation Lightning, an alleged ransomware negotiator who secretly worked against his company, and industry’s growing calls to include AI in its cybersecurity toolbox.

Listen to Ahead of the Threat episodes, read the transcripts, and find related material at fbi.gov/aheadofthethreat. 

Subscribe to Ahead of the Threat wherever you get your podcasts:

And follow us on social media:

]]> Microsoft joins the conversation on all things Operation Winter SHIELD, the FBI’s list of the 10 most impactful cybersecurity actions for organizations big and small. Sherrod DeGrippo, general manager of Microsoft's Global Threat Intelligence, shares why she wrote a blog post about the Bureau’s effort with host Brett Leatherman, head of FBI Cyber. The two highlight the increasing role AI plays in initiating—and stopping—cyberattacks, how experts have observed that fundamental cybersecurity steps are enough to discourage a would-be hacker, and how security teams can be even more effective when they develop a partnership with software developers.  

To start the show, Ahead of the Threat goes international! Brett discusses the critical role international cyber investigators play for the FBI with program manager Maeve Healy of the Global Partnership Program. They also explore recent news topics, including Operation Lightning, an alleged ransomware negotiator who secretly worked against his company, and industry’s growing calls to include AI in its cybersecurity toolbox.

Listen to Ahead of the Threat episodes, read the transcripts, and find related material at fbi.gov/aheadofthethreat. 

Subscribe to Ahead of the Threat wherever you get your podcasts:

And follow us on social media:

]]> Wed, 25 Mar 2026 13:21:00 -0400 Federal Bureau of Investigation Federal Bureau of Investigation 4901 Microsoft joins the conversation on all things Operation Winter SHIELD, the FBI’s list of the 10 most impactful cybersecurity actions for organizations big and small. Sherrod DeGrippo, general manager of Microsoft's Global Threat Intelligence, shares why she wrote a blog post about the Bureau’s effort with host Brett Leatherman, head of FBI Cyber. The two highlight the increasing role AI plays in initiating—and stopping—cyberattacks, how experts have observed that fundamental cybersecurity steps are enough to discourage a would-be hacker, and how security teams can be even more effective when they develop a partnership with software developers.  

To start the show, Ahead of the Threat goes international! Brett discusses the critical role international cyber investigators play for the FBI with program manager Maeve Healy of the Global Partnership Program. They also explore recent news topics, including Operation Lightning, an alleged ransomware negotiator who secretly worked against his company, and industry’s growing calls to include AI in its cybersecurity toolbox.

Listen to Ahead of the Threat episodes, read the transcripts, and find related material at fbi.gov/aheadofthethreat. 

Subscribe to Ahead of the Threat wherever you get your podcasts:

And follow us on social media:

]]> Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, government, cybersecurity, cyber, cyber defense, cyber threats, cyber literacy, business, cyber security, intelligence, law enforcement, business No Season 2, Episode 3: Amy Herzog 15 15 Season 2, Episode 3: Amy Herzog full 49809ee4-a979-42d8-83b2-c85098fd6b29 https://share.transistor.fm/s/a127c30f Is a breach a security problem or a business problem? For guest Amy Herzog, CISO and vice president of Amazon Web Services, "security is what you bring to customers." Amy joins the show for a wide-ranging discussion with host Brett Leatherman on Operation Winter SHIELD. The two touch on how, in reality, AI makes bad hackers mediocre hackers; the importance of log retention (first mention this season!); that the most effective way to protect your business is by doing the basics (because most hackers succeed by exploiting the basics); and finally, learn how imagining yourself as a pilot puts you on the path for cybersecurity success.

In the show's opening, Brett is joined by the head of the FBI's Cyber Operations, Deputy Assistant Director Jason Bilnoski. They discuss the takedowns of LeakBase and Tycoon 2FAs while also wondering...if hackers use AI to infiltrate a system, should owners use AI to protect those systems?

Listen to Ahead of the Threat episodes, read the transcripts, and find related material at fbi.gov/aheadofthethreat. 

Subscribe to Ahead of the Threat wherever you get your podcasts:

And follow us on social media:

]]> Is a breach a security problem or a business problem? For guest Amy Herzog, CISO and vice president of Amazon Web Services, "security is what you bring to customers." Amy joins the show for a wide-ranging discussion with host Brett Leatherman on Operation Winter SHIELD. The two touch on how, in reality, AI makes bad hackers mediocre hackers; the importance of log retention (first mention this season!); that the most effective way to protect your business is by doing the basics (because most hackers succeed by exploiting the basics); and finally, learn how imagining yourself as a pilot puts you on the path for cybersecurity success.

In the show's opening, Brett is joined by the head of the FBI's Cyber Operations, Deputy Assistant Director Jason Bilnoski. They discuss the takedowns of LeakBase and Tycoon 2FAs while also wondering...if hackers use AI to infiltrate a system, should owners use AI to protect those systems?

Listen to Ahead of the Threat episodes, read the transcripts, and find related material at fbi.gov/aheadofthethreat. 

Subscribe to Ahead of the Threat wherever you get your podcasts:

And follow us on social media:

]]> Wed, 11 Mar 2026 13:38:09 -0400 Federal Bureau of Investigation Federal Bureau of Investigation 3915 Is a breach a security problem or a business problem? For guest Amy Herzog, CISO and vice president of Amazon Web Services, "security is what you bring to customers." Amy joins the show for a wide-ranging discussion with host Brett Leatherman on Operation Winter SHIELD. The two touch on how, in reality, AI makes bad hackers mediocre hackers; the importance of log retention (first mention this season!); that the most effective way to protect your business is by doing the basics (because most hackers succeed by exploiting the basics); and finally, learn how imagining yourself as a pilot puts you on the path for cybersecurity success.

In the show's opening, Brett is joined by the head of the FBI's Cyber Operations, Deputy Assistant Director Jason Bilnoski. They discuss the takedowns of LeakBase and Tycoon 2FAs while also wondering...if hackers use AI to infiltrate a system, should owners use AI to protect those systems?

Listen to Ahead of the Threat episodes, read the transcripts, and find related material at fbi.gov/aheadofthethreat. 

Subscribe to Ahead of the Threat wherever you get your podcasts:

And follow us on social media:

]]> Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, government, cybersecurity, cyber, cyber defense, cyber threats, cyber literacy, business, cyber security, intelligence, law enforcement, business, FBI Cyber, FBI Cyber Division, Brett Leatherman, Ahead of the Threat, Ahead of the Threat Podcast, AOTT, aott, ahead of the threat, CISO, CEO, business, private sector, risk management, risk manager, board of directors, critical infrastructure, national security, natsec, nat sec, economic security, homeland security, cyber risk No Season 2, Episode 2: John Hammond 14 14 Season 2, Episode 2: John Hammond full 09357ead-5e8a-48f1-85d2-a65366c579e6 https://share.transistor.fm/s/bfe0e2aa Search no further for an engaging, practical conversation from two cybersecurity experts! Diving into the FBI’s Operation Winter SHIELD initiative, John Hammond, the principal security researcher at Huntress, (who also has a YouTube channel with 2.1+ million subscribers) joins host Brett Leatherman for a wide-ranging discussion on hacking trends, how not every user in your organization needs full rights access, and that a basic inventory of IT equipment can be the most important cybersecurity step you take! Starting the show, Brett is joined by Michael Machtinger, the FBI’s deputy assistant director for the Cyber Intelligence Branch. After learning how the branch supports the Bureau’s cyber mission, the two discuss “slave” hackers from North Korea, CISA’s latest recommendation for end-of-life devices, and how hackers use remote proxy servers to attack within the U.S.

Listen to Ahead of the Threat episodes, read the transcripts, and find related material at fbi.gov/aheadofthethreat. 

Subscribe to Ahead of the Threat wherever you get your podcasts:

And follow us on social media:

]]> Search no further for an engaging, practical conversation from two cybersecurity experts! Diving into the FBI’s Operation Winter SHIELD initiative, John Hammond, the principal security researcher at Huntress, (who also has a YouTube channel with 2.1+ million subscribers) joins host Brett Leatherman for a wide-ranging discussion on hacking trends, how not every user in your organization needs full rights access, and that a basic inventory of IT equipment can be the most important cybersecurity step you take! Starting the show, Brett is joined by Michael Machtinger, the FBI’s deputy assistant director for the Cyber Intelligence Branch. After learning how the branch supports the Bureau’s cyber mission, the two discuss “slave” hackers from North Korea, CISA’s latest recommendation for end-of-life devices, and how hackers use remote proxy servers to attack within the U.S.

Listen to Ahead of the Threat episodes, read the transcripts, and find related material at fbi.gov/aheadofthethreat. 

Subscribe to Ahead of the Threat wherever you get your podcasts:

And follow us on social media:

]]> Wed, 25 Feb 2026 12:24:52 -0500 Federal Bureau of Investigation Federal Bureau of Investigation 4342 Search no further for an engaging, practical conversation from two cybersecurity experts! Diving into the FBI’s Operation Winter SHIELD initiative, John Hammond, the principal security researcher at Huntress, (who also has a YouTube channel with 2.1+ million subscribers) joins host Brett Leatherman for a wide-ranging discussion on hacking trends, how not every user in your organization needs full rights access, and that a basic inventory of IT equipment can be the most important cybersecurity step you take! Starting the show, Brett is joined by Michael Machtinger, the FBI’s deputy assistant director for the Cyber Intelligence Branch. After learning how the branch supports the Bureau’s cyber mission, the two discuss “slave” hackers from North Korea, CISA’s latest recommendation for end-of-life devices, and how hackers use remote proxy servers to attack within the U.S.

Listen to Ahead of the Threat episodes, read the transcripts, and find related material at fbi.gov/aheadofthethreat. 

Subscribe to Ahead of the Threat wherever you get your podcasts:

And follow us on social media:

]]> Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, government, cybersecurity, cyber, cyber defense, cyber threats, cyber literacy, business, cyber security, intelligence, law enforcement, business, FBI Cyber, FBI Cyber Division, Brett Leatherman, Ahead of the Threat, Ahead of the Threat Podcast, AOTT, aott, ahead of the threat, CISO, CEO, business, private sector, risk management, risk manager, board of directors, critical infrastructure, national security, natsec, nat sec, economic security, homeland security, cyber risk No Season 2, Episode 1: John Hultquist 13 13 Season 2, Episode 1: John Hultquist full 9182ecd7-478d-4543-99eb-662a5970d6a4 https://share.transistor.fm/s/2213c3e6 In the first full episode for Season 2, host Brett Leatherman, assistant director of the FBI’s Cyber Division, welcomes the self-described cyberthreat hunter John Hultquist, the chief analyst of the Google Threat Intelligence Group.

In their conversation, John highlights that not being hacked is unrealistic. Creating resilience, especially in how fast you can get back online following an attack, is the best mitigation approach. AI is also discussed, with John citing how since hackers use it to infiltrate systems, organizations must use AI in any countermeasure.

Brett also announces Operation Winter SHIELD, the FBI’s first-of-its-kind campaign to highlight the 10 most common ways the FBI sees companies get victimized by cyberattacks. Learn more at fbi.gov/wintershield.

The news segment also returns in Season 2, with Brett joined by special guest Kristin Grimes, an FBI unit chief in the Cyber Law Unit, discussing the effects of CISA 2015’s (maybe) reauthorization, edge device exploitation, and the White House’s executive order on AI. Joint Advisories: https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/news/cisa-uk-ncsc-fbi-unveil-principles-combat-cyber-risks-ot

Listen to Ahead of the Threat episodes, read the transcripts, and find related material at fbi.gov/aheadofthethreat. 

Subscribe to Ahead of the Threat wherever you get your podcasts:

And follow us on social media:

]]> In the first full episode for Season 2, host Brett Leatherman, assistant director of the FBI’s Cyber Division, welcomes the self-described cyberthreat hunter John Hultquist, the chief analyst of the Google Threat Intelligence Group.

In their conversation, John highlights that not being hacked is unrealistic. Creating resilience, especially in how fast you can get back online following an attack, is the best mitigation approach. AI is also discussed, with John citing how since hackers use it to infiltrate systems, organizations must use AI in any countermeasure.

Brett also announces Operation Winter SHIELD, the FBI’s first-of-its-kind campaign to highlight the 10 most common ways the FBI sees companies get victimized by cyberattacks. Learn more at fbi.gov/wintershield.

The news segment also returns in Season 2, with Brett joined by special guest Kristin Grimes, an FBI unit chief in the Cyber Law Unit, discussing the effects of CISA 2015’s (maybe) reauthorization, edge device exploitation, and the White House’s executive order on AI. Joint Advisories: https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/news/cisa-uk-ncsc-fbi-unveil-principles-combat-cyber-risks-ot

Listen to Ahead of the Threat episodes, read the transcripts, and find related material at fbi.gov/aheadofthethreat. 

Subscribe to Ahead of the Threat wherever you get your podcasts:

And follow us on social media:

]]> Wed, 04 Feb 2026 15:59:37 -0500 Federal Bureau of Investigation Federal Bureau of Investigation 4864 In the first full episode for Season 2, host Brett Leatherman, assistant director of the FBI’s Cyber Division, welcomes the self-described cyberthreat hunter John Hultquist, the chief analyst of the Google Threat Intelligence Group.

In their conversation, John highlights that not being hacked is unrealistic. Creating resilience, especially in how fast you can get back online following an attack, is the best mitigation approach. AI is also discussed, with John citing how since hackers use it to infiltrate systems, organizations must use AI in any countermeasure.

Brett also announces Operation Winter SHIELD, the FBI’s first-of-its-kind campaign to highlight the 10 most common ways the FBI sees companies get victimized by cyberattacks. Learn more at fbi.gov/wintershield.

The news segment also returns in Season 2, with Brett joined by special guest Kristin Grimes, an FBI unit chief in the Cyber Law Unit, discussing the effects of CISA 2015’s (maybe) reauthorization, edge device exploitation, and the White House’s executive order on AI. Joint Advisories: https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/news/cisa-uk-ncsc-fbi-unveil-principles-combat-cyber-risks-ot

Listen to Ahead of the Threat episodes, read the transcripts, and find related material at fbi.gov/aheadofthethreat. 

Subscribe to Ahead of the Threat wherever you get your podcasts:

And follow us on social media:

]]> Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, government, cybersecurity, cyber, cyber defense, cyber threats, cyber literacy, business, cyber security, intelligence, law enforcement, business, FBI Cyber, FBI Cyber Division, Brett Leatherman, Ahead of the Threat, Ahead of the Threat Podcast, AOTT, aott, ahead of the threat, CISO, CEO, business, private sector, risk management, risk manager, board of directors, critical infrastructure, national security, natsec, nat sec, economic security, homeland security, cyber risk No Season Two, Episode Zero: Brett Leatherman 12 12 Season Two, Episode Zero: Brett Leatherman full cd78072f-6267-4d99-8854-4b099dea0292 https://share.transistor.fm/s/f1b732b3 Ahead of the Threat returns for its second season! Join our new host, Brett Leatherman, the assistant director of the FBI’s Cyber Division, as he discusses the current landscape of cyberthreats targeting businesses and critical infrastructure with the goal to inspire listeners to step back from the day-to-day to see the cyber threat more clearly, connect the dots and drive change. 

With guests ranging from the private sector to government officials, Brett will highlight the administration’s cyber strategy and the FBI’s launch of Operation Winter SHIELD, a campaign to defend the homeland against cyber threats with real economic and national security implications.  

If you’re on a cybersecurity team, a CISO, risk manager, CEO, on a board of directors, or just interested in stopping cyberattacks, join the FBI as we all get ahead of the threat.   

Listen to Ahead of the Threat episodes, read the transcripts, and find related material at fbi.gov/aheadofthethreat. 

Subscribe to Ahead of the Threat wherever you get your podcasts:

And follow us on social media:


]]> Ahead of the Threat returns for its second season! Join our new host, Brett Leatherman, the assistant director of the FBI’s Cyber Division, as he discusses the current landscape of cyberthreats targeting businesses and critical infrastructure with the goal to inspire listeners to step back from the day-to-day to see the cyber threat more clearly, connect the dots and drive change. 

With guests ranging from the private sector to government officials, Brett will highlight the administration’s cyber strategy and the FBI’s launch of Operation Winter SHIELD, a campaign to defend the homeland against cyber threats with real economic and national security implications.  

If you’re on a cybersecurity team, a CISO, risk manager, CEO, on a board of directors, or just interested in stopping cyberattacks, join the FBI as we all get ahead of the threat.   

Listen to Ahead of the Threat episodes, read the transcripts, and find related material at fbi.gov/aheadofthethreat. 

Subscribe to Ahead of the Threat wherever you get your podcasts:

And follow us on social media:


]]> Wed, 28 Jan 2026 11:36:44 -0500 Federal Bureau of Investigation Federal Bureau of Investigation 357 Ahead of the Threat returns for its second season! Join our new host, Brett Leatherman, the assistant director of the FBI’s Cyber Division, as he discusses the current landscape of cyberthreats targeting businesses and critical infrastructure with the goal to inspire listeners to step back from the day-to-day to see the cyber threat more clearly, connect the dots and drive change. 

With guests ranging from the private sector to government officials, Brett will highlight the administration’s cyber strategy and the FBI’s launch of Operation Winter SHIELD, a campaign to defend the homeland against cyber threats with real economic and national security implications.  

If you’re on a cybersecurity team, a CISO, risk manager, CEO, on a board of directors, or just interested in stopping cyberattacks, join the FBI as we all get ahead of the threat.   

Listen to Ahead of the Threat episodes, read the transcripts, and find related material at fbi.gov/aheadofthethreat. 

Subscribe to Ahead of the Threat wherever you get your podcasts:

And follow us on social media:


]]> Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, government, cybersecurity, cyber, cyber defense, cyber threats, cyber literacy, business, cyber security, intelligence, law enforcement, business, FBI Cyber, FBI Cyber Division, Brett Leatherman, Ahead of the Threat, Ahead of the Threat Podcast, AOTT, aott, ahead of the threat, CISO, CEO, business, private sector, risk management, risk manager, board of directors, critical infrastructure, national security, natsec, nat sec, economic security, homeland security, cyber risk No Episode Ten - Hugh Thompson 11 11 Episode Ten - Hugh Thompson full 2f15caff-9319-4f01-92aa-7cb7b6f44a80 https://share.transistor.fm/s/45fa6e2c The show is on the road! Filming on location at the annual RSAC Conference in San Francisco, hosts Bryan Vorndran and Jamil Farshchi welcome Dr. Hugh Thompson, the executive chairman of RSAC and the program coordinator of the RSAC Conference. The annual conference gathers thousands of cybersecurity officials from the private and public sector to discuss ways to thwart attacks and institute best practices. In this episode, Dr. Thompson highlights the importance of government participation, how to keep the relationships and knowledge-sharing going throughout the year, and the importance of being community-oriented to ensure effective cybersecurity postures against criminal adversaries. 

Listen to Ahead of the Threat episodes, read the transcripts, and find related material at fbi.gov/aheadofthethreat. 

Subscribe to Ahead of the Threat wherever you get your podcasts:

And follow us on social media:

]]> The show is on the road! Filming on location at the annual RSAC Conference in San Francisco, hosts Bryan Vorndran and Jamil Farshchi welcome Dr. Hugh Thompson, the executive chairman of RSAC and the program coordinator of the RSAC Conference. The annual conference gathers thousands of cybersecurity officials from the private and public sector to discuss ways to thwart attacks and institute best practices. In this episode, Dr. Thompson highlights the importance of government participation, how to keep the relationships and knowledge-sharing going throughout the year, and the importance of being community-oriented to ensure effective cybersecurity postures against criminal adversaries. 

Listen to Ahead of the Threat episodes, read the transcripts, and find related material at fbi.gov/aheadofthethreat. 

Subscribe to Ahead of the Threat wherever you get your podcasts:

And follow us on social media:

]]> Wed, 21 May 2025 18:02:05 -0400 Federal Bureau of Investigation Federal Bureau of Investigation 1943 The show is on the road! Filming on location at the annual RSAC Conference in San Francisco, hosts Bryan Vorndran and Jamil Farshchi welcome Dr. Hugh Thompson, the executive chairman of RSAC and the program coordinator of the RSAC Conference. The annual conference gathers thousands of cybersecurity officials from the private and public sector to discuss ways to thwart attacks and institute best practices. In this episode, Dr. Thompson highlights the importance of government participation, how to keep the relationships and knowledge-sharing going throughout the year, and the importance of being community-oriented to ensure effective cybersecurity postures against criminal adversaries. 

Listen to Ahead of the Threat episodes, read the transcripts, and find related material at fbi.gov/aheadofthethreat. 

Subscribe to Ahead of the Threat wherever you get your podcasts:

And follow us on social media:

]]> FBI, Federal Bureau of Investigation, podcast, Ahead of the Threat, cyber, cyber security, cybersecurity, intelligence, law enforcement, government, FBI Cyber, FBI Cyber Division, Hugh Thompson, Bryan Vorndran, Jamil Farshchi, RSAC, RSA No Episode Nine - Meredith Griffanti 10 10 Episode Nine - Meredith Griffanti full 1146fd9a-5413-462c-bf61-3506d10627b3 https://share.transistor.fm/s/863a3c01 Are you an expert in communications? Do you need communications help? Are you ready for how to communicate to employees, the government, or your customers if a crisis happens? Many agencies believe they have it covered, but when a crisis does happen, the reality comes into focus that communications is a more nuanced and involved part of a response. Meredith Griffanti and her team do this “all day, every day.” As FTI’s senior managing director for cybersecurity and data privacy communications, Griffanti discusses her observations about the industry, common pitfalls and some changing attitudes about communications with hosts Bryan Vorndran, FBI assistant director of the Cyber Division, and Jamil Farshchi, an FBI strategic engagement advisor. Kicking off this episode’s Top Three segment with a look at current cybersecurity news, Bryan and Jamil assess the return of the LockBit ransomware group, a new tactic of “microransoms” targeting everyday users, and an FBI advisory warning people about fake FBI agents claiming to be from the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). You can read the full public service announcement from IC3 at ic3.gov/PSA/2025/PSA250418.

Listen to Ahead of the Threat episodes, read the transcripts, and find related material at fbi.gov/aheadofthethreat. 

Subscribe to Ahead of the Threat wherever you get your podcasts:

And follow us on social media:

]]> Are you an expert in communications? Do you need communications help? Are you ready for how to communicate to employees, the government, or your customers if a crisis happens? Many agencies believe they have it covered, but when a crisis does happen, the reality comes into focus that communications is a more nuanced and involved part of a response. Meredith Griffanti and her team do this “all day, every day.” As FTI’s senior managing director for cybersecurity and data privacy communications, Griffanti discusses her observations about the industry, common pitfalls and some changing attitudes about communications with hosts Bryan Vorndran, FBI assistant director of the Cyber Division, and Jamil Farshchi, an FBI strategic engagement advisor. Kicking off this episode’s Top Three segment with a look at current cybersecurity news, Bryan and Jamil assess the return of the LockBit ransomware group, a new tactic of “microransoms” targeting everyday users, and an FBI advisory warning people about fake FBI agents claiming to be from the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). You can read the full public service announcement from IC3 at ic3.gov/PSA/2025/PSA250418.

Listen to Ahead of the Threat episodes, read the transcripts, and find related material at fbi.gov/aheadofthethreat. 

Subscribe to Ahead of the Threat wherever you get your podcasts:

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]]> Wed, 30 Apr 2025 16:01:43 -0400 Federal Bureau of Investigation Federal Bureau of Investigation 3071 Are you an expert in communications? Do you need communications help? Are you ready for how to communicate to employees, the government, or your customers if a crisis happens? Many agencies believe they have it covered, but when a crisis does happen, the reality comes into focus that communications is a more nuanced and involved part of a response. Meredith Griffanti and her team do this “all day, every day.” As FTI’s senior managing director for cybersecurity and data privacy communications, Griffanti discusses her observations about the industry, common pitfalls and some changing attitudes about communications with hosts Bryan Vorndran, FBI assistant director of the Cyber Division, and Jamil Farshchi, an FBI strategic engagement advisor. Kicking off this episode’s Top Three segment with a look at current cybersecurity news, Bryan and Jamil assess the return of the LockBit ransomware group, a new tactic of “microransoms” targeting everyday users, and an FBI advisory warning people about fake FBI agents claiming to be from the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). You can read the full public service announcement from IC3 at ic3.gov/PSA/2025/PSA250418.

Listen to Ahead of the Threat episodes, read the transcripts, and find related material at fbi.gov/aheadofthethreat. 

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]]> FBI, Federal Bureau of Investigation, podcast, Ahead of the Threat, cyber, cyber hygiene, cyber security, cybersecurity, ransomware, IC3, Internet Crime Complaint Center, Internet Crime Complaints Center, intelligence, law enforcement, government, FBI Cyber, FBI Cyber Division, Meredith Griffanti, FTI, data privacy, LockBit, Lockbit, Bryan Vorndran, Jamil Farshchi No Episode Eight - Scott Aaronson 9 9 Episode Eight - Scott Aaronson full d825518d-f190-45ff-b7ed-544da6a83f80 https://share.transistor.fm/s/dd3d9939 Class is in session! Professor Scott Aaronson, a leading researcher in quantum computers, takes time away from his teaching at the University of Texas at Austin to give Ahead of the Threat a detailed overview of quantum theory and the applications of what a quantum computer could do—when one is invented. Though a real quantum computer remains unlikely for a few more years, its potential to unravel nearly all known encryption has led to the development of post-quantum encryption to protect sensitive data.

In the episode’s Top Three segment that highlights current cybersecurity news, hosts Bryan Vorndran, assistant director of the FBI’s Cyber Division, and Jamil Farshchi, FBI strategic engagement advisor, discuss Google’s acquisition of the cloud computing company Wiz for $32 billion; the European Union's Artificial Intelligence Act, and a new ransomware attack at Jaguar Land Rover.

You can read an FBI Joint Cybersecurity Advisory on Medusa Ransomware at cisa.gov/news-events/cybersecurity-advisories/aa25-071a. You can also read NIST’s Post-Quantum Cryptography Standardization Overview at csrc.nist.gov/projects/post-quantum-cryptography.

Listen to Ahead of the Threat episodes, read the transcripts, and find related material at fbi.gov/aheadofthethreat. 

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]]> Class is in session! Professor Scott Aaronson, a leading researcher in quantum computers, takes time away from his teaching at the University of Texas at Austin to give Ahead of the Threat a detailed overview of quantum theory and the applications of what a quantum computer could do—when one is invented. Though a real quantum computer remains unlikely for a few more years, its potential to unravel nearly all known encryption has led to the development of post-quantum encryption to protect sensitive data.

In the episode’s Top Three segment that highlights current cybersecurity news, hosts Bryan Vorndran, assistant director of the FBI’s Cyber Division, and Jamil Farshchi, FBI strategic engagement advisor, discuss Google’s acquisition of the cloud computing company Wiz for $32 billion; the European Union's Artificial Intelligence Act, and a new ransomware attack at Jaguar Land Rover.

You can read an FBI Joint Cybersecurity Advisory on Medusa Ransomware at cisa.gov/news-events/cybersecurity-advisories/aa25-071a. You can also read NIST’s Post-Quantum Cryptography Standardization Overview at csrc.nist.gov/projects/post-quantum-cryptography.

Listen to Ahead of the Threat episodes, read the transcripts, and find related material at fbi.gov/aheadofthethreat. 

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]]> Wed, 26 Mar 2025 12:20:08 -0400 Federal Bureau of Investigation Federal Bureau of Investigation 4044 Class is in session! Professor Scott Aaronson, a leading researcher in quantum computers, takes time away from his teaching at the University of Texas at Austin to give Ahead of the Threat a detailed overview of quantum theory and the applications of what a quantum computer could do—when one is invented. Though a real quantum computer remains unlikely for a few more years, its potential to unravel nearly all known encryption has led to the development of post-quantum encryption to protect sensitive data.

In the episode’s Top Three segment that highlights current cybersecurity news, hosts Bryan Vorndran, assistant director of the FBI’s Cyber Division, and Jamil Farshchi, FBI strategic engagement advisor, discuss Google’s acquisition of the cloud computing company Wiz for $32 billion; the European Union's Artificial Intelligence Act, and a new ransomware attack at Jaguar Land Rover.

You can read an FBI Joint Cybersecurity Advisory on Medusa Ransomware at cisa.gov/news-events/cybersecurity-advisories/aa25-071a. You can also read NIST’s Post-Quantum Cryptography Standardization Overview at csrc.nist.gov/projects/post-quantum-cryptography.

Listen to Ahead of the Threat episodes, read the transcripts, and find related material at fbi.gov/aheadofthethreat. 

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]]> Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, government, cybersecurity, cyber defense, cyber threats, cyber literacy, business, cyber security, intelligence, law enforcement, FBI cyber podcast, FBI cyber, Ahead of the Threat Podcast, ahead of the threat, business, cyber, Bryan Vorndran, Jamil Farshchi, Google, Wiz, EU, European Union, Artificial Intelligence Act, Medusa Ransomware, ransomware, NIST, quantum, physics, quantum cryptography, quantum theory, encryption, University of Texas at Austin No Episode Seven - Paul Proctor 8 8 Episode Seven - Paul Proctor full f3e4222f-0cb6-4e51-a885-eddc8d2adea0 https://share.transistor.fm/s/690c240a Paul Proctor, a Gartner analyst for 20 years, joins the show to discuss practical approaches businesses can apply to make cybersecurity more effective. Through thousands of hours of outreach, Proctor sees a broken system that can improve with better communication and partnership between executives and chief information security officers to create strategies based on “outcome-driven metrics.” One example is identifying the cost to return systems online in a specific time frame following a breach, while understanding that cutting funds to that effort jeopardizes the timeline.

Hosts Bryan Vorndran, assistant director of the FBI’s Cyber Division, and Jamil Farshchi, FBI strategic engagement advisor, discuss the importance of cybersecurity 'fundamentals' and how measured approaches can lead to more success in a field more complicated than many think. Commenting on current events in the 'Top Three' segment, Vorndran and Farshchi highlight DeepSeek AI, the new updates to United HealthGroup’s breach, and new reporting requirements for critical infrastructure cyber incidents (Cyber Incident Reporting for Critical Infrastructure Act, or CIRCIA).

Listen to Ahead of the Threat episodes, read the transcripts, and find related material at fbi.gov/aheadofthethreat.

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]]> Paul Proctor, a Gartner analyst for 20 years, joins the show to discuss practical approaches businesses can apply to make cybersecurity more effective. Through thousands of hours of outreach, Proctor sees a broken system that can improve with better communication and partnership between executives and chief information security officers to create strategies based on “outcome-driven metrics.” One example is identifying the cost to return systems online in a specific time frame following a breach, while understanding that cutting funds to that effort jeopardizes the timeline.

Hosts Bryan Vorndran, assistant director of the FBI’s Cyber Division, and Jamil Farshchi, FBI strategic engagement advisor, discuss the importance of cybersecurity 'fundamentals' and how measured approaches can lead to more success in a field more complicated than many think. Commenting on current events in the 'Top Three' segment, Vorndran and Farshchi highlight DeepSeek AI, the new updates to United HealthGroup’s breach, and new reporting requirements for critical infrastructure cyber incidents (Cyber Incident Reporting for Critical Infrastructure Act, or CIRCIA).

Listen to Ahead of the Threat episodes, read the transcripts, and find related material at fbi.gov/aheadofthethreat.

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]]> Wed, 12 Feb 2025 13:13:31 -0500 Federal Bureau of Investigation Federal Bureau of Investigation 2998 Paul Proctor, a Gartner analyst for 20 years, joins the show to discuss practical approaches businesses can apply to make cybersecurity more effective. Through thousands of hours of outreach, Proctor sees a broken system that can improve with better communication and partnership between executives and chief information security officers to create strategies based on “outcome-driven metrics.” One example is identifying the cost to return systems online in a specific time frame following a breach, while understanding that cutting funds to that effort jeopardizes the timeline.

Hosts Bryan Vorndran, assistant director of the FBI’s Cyber Division, and Jamil Farshchi, FBI strategic engagement advisor, discuss the importance of cybersecurity 'fundamentals' and how measured approaches can lead to more success in a field more complicated than many think. Commenting on current events in the 'Top Three' segment, Vorndran and Farshchi highlight DeepSeek AI, the new updates to United HealthGroup’s breach, and new reporting requirements for critical infrastructure cyber incidents (Cyber Incident Reporting for Critical Infrastructure Act, or CIRCIA).

Listen to Ahead of the Threat episodes, read the transcripts, and find related material at fbi.gov/aheadofthethreat.

Subscribe to Ahead of the Threat wherever you get your podcasts:

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]]> Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, government, cybersecurity, cyber defense, cyber threats, cyber literacy, business, cyber security, intelligence, law enforcement, fbi cyber podcast, fbi cyber, ahead of the threat podcast, ahead of the threat, business, cyber, fbi, fbi podcast, fbi podcasts, fbi cyber, fbi cyber division, bryan vorndran, jamil farshchi, paul proctor, gartner, deepseek, ai, artificial intelligence, CIRCIA, cyber incident reporting for critical infrastructure act, critical infrastructure, cyber incidents No Ahead of the Threat Podcast: Episode Six - Charles Carmakal 7 7 Ahead of the Threat Podcast: Episode Six - Charles Carmakal full 19a0af16-cc92-4d61-a6aa-f0d42e645b63 https://share.transistor.fm/s/60164739 For our first episode of 2025, Charles Carmakal joins the show to discuss all things Scattered Spider. As the chief technology officer at Mandiant, Charles details a disturbing trend of compromises through seemingly unsophisticated, yet highly effective approaches, including hackers who trick organization help desks into granting them system access. Hosts Bryan Vorndran, the assistant director of the FBI's Cyber Division, and Jamil Farshchi, an FBI strategic engagement advisor, discuss mitigation techniques that companies, such as Mandiant, recommend to clients. In the episode’s Top Three segment, Bryan and Jamil discuss the breaches of BeyondTrust and Data School and give an update on Salt Typhoon.

Listen to Ahead of the Threat episodes, read the transcripts, and find related material at fbi.gov/aheadofthethreat.

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]]> For our first episode of 2025, Charles Carmakal joins the show to discuss all things Scattered Spider. As the chief technology officer at Mandiant, Charles details a disturbing trend of compromises through seemingly unsophisticated, yet highly effective approaches, including hackers who trick organization help desks into granting them system access. Hosts Bryan Vorndran, the assistant director of the FBI's Cyber Division, and Jamil Farshchi, an FBI strategic engagement advisor, discuss mitigation techniques that companies, such as Mandiant, recommend to clients. In the episode’s Top Three segment, Bryan and Jamil discuss the breaches of BeyondTrust and Data School and give an update on Salt Typhoon.

Listen to Ahead of the Threat episodes, read the transcripts, and find related material at fbi.gov/aheadofthethreat.

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]]> Wed, 15 Jan 2025 09:37:46 -0500 Federal Bureau of Investigation Federal Bureau of Investigation 3835 For our first episode of 2025, Charles Carmakal joins the show to discuss all things Scattered Spider. As the chief technology officer at Mandiant, Charles details a disturbing trend of compromises through seemingly unsophisticated, yet highly effective approaches, including hackers who trick organization help desks into granting them system access. Hosts Bryan Vorndran, the assistant director of the FBI's Cyber Division, and Jamil Farshchi, an FBI strategic engagement advisor, discuss mitigation techniques that companies, such as Mandiant, recommend to clients. In the episode’s Top Three segment, Bryan and Jamil discuss the breaches of BeyondTrust and Data School and give an update on Salt Typhoon.

Listen to Ahead of the Threat episodes, read the transcripts, and find related material at fbi.gov/aheadofthethreat.

Subscribe to Ahead of the Threat wherever you get your podcasts:

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]]> Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, government, cybersecurity, cyber, cyber defense, cyber threats, cyber literacy, business, cyber security, intelligence, law enforcement, business, Ahead of the Threat, ahead of the threat, Ahead of the Threat podcast, FBI Cyber podcast, FBI Cyber, cyber, Scattered Spider, encryption, scattered spider, Charles Carmakal, Mandiant, salt typhoon, Salt Typhoon, No Episode Five: Rachel Lavender 6 6 Episode Five: Rachel Lavender full 89e51a19-5db3-4b44-82d8-8fa6e8f42e59 https://share.transistor.fm/s/abea8524 For our last episode until 2025, FBI Assistant Director Bryan Vorndran and FBI Strategic Engagement Advisor Jamil Farshchi speak to Rachel Lavender, managing director of the cyber practice at Marsh McLennan. As a seasoned cyber-insurance broker, Rachel discusses the partnership between a company and a cyber-insurance service, working together to build and implement effective cybersecurity measures over time. She also highlights act-of-war clauses and the growing information the insurance industry has obtained in a short time by servicing victim clients, resulting in better coverage and recommendations. For the episode’s Top Three segment recounting recent events, Bryan and Jamil discuss the unsealing of charges against members of Scattered Spider, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s cybersecurity reporting rules, and reasonably managed encryption.

Listen to Ahead of the Threat episodes, read the transcripts, and find related material at fbi.gov/aheadofthethreat.

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]]> For our last episode until 2025, FBI Assistant Director Bryan Vorndran and FBI Strategic Engagement Advisor Jamil Farshchi speak to Rachel Lavender, managing director of the cyber practice at Marsh McLennan. As a seasoned cyber-insurance broker, Rachel discusses the partnership between a company and a cyber-insurance service, working together to build and implement effective cybersecurity measures over time. She also highlights act-of-war clauses and the growing information the insurance industry has obtained in a short time by servicing victim clients, resulting in better coverage and recommendations. For the episode’s Top Three segment recounting recent events, Bryan and Jamil discuss the unsealing of charges against members of Scattered Spider, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s cybersecurity reporting rules, and reasonably managed encryption.

Listen to Ahead of the Threat episodes, read the transcripts, and find related material at fbi.gov/aheadofthethreat.

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]]> Wed, 18 Dec 2024 14:43:58 -0500 Federal Bureau of Investigation Federal Bureau of Investigation 3412 For our last episode until 2025, FBI Assistant Director Bryan Vorndran and FBI Strategic Engagement Advisor Jamil Farshchi speak to Rachel Lavender, managing director of the cyber practice at Marsh McLennan. As a seasoned cyber-insurance broker, Rachel discusses the partnership between a company and a cyber-insurance service, working together to build and implement effective cybersecurity measures over time. She also highlights act-of-war clauses and the growing information the insurance industry has obtained in a short time by servicing victim clients, resulting in better coverage and recommendations. For the episode’s Top Three segment recounting recent events, Bryan and Jamil discuss the unsealing of charges against members of Scattered Spider, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s cybersecurity reporting rules, and reasonably managed encryption.

Listen to Ahead of the Threat episodes, read the transcripts, and find related material at fbi.gov/aheadofthethreat.

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]]> Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, government, cybersecurity, cyber, cyber defense, cyber threats, cyber literacy, business, cyber security, intelligence, law enforcement, business, Ahead of the Threat, ahead of the threat, Ahead of the Threat podcast, FBI Cyber podcast, FBI Cyber, cyber, Rachel Lavender, Marsh McLennan, Marsh & McLennan Companies, Marsh McLennan Companies, cyber insurance, cybersecurity insurance, insurance, SEC, Scattered Spider, encryption No Episode Four - Wendi Whitmore 5 5 Episode Four - Wendi Whitmore full 7e4cdba0-d387-494b-a31e-b80cd5cd4c91 https://share.transistor.fm/s/126d1246 This week on Ahead of the Threat, FBI Assistant Director Bryan Vorndran and FBI Strategic Engagement Advisor Jamil Farshchi speak to Wendi Whitmore, senior vice president of Palo Alto Networks’ Unit 42. Drawing on her experience with cyber threat intelligence and incident response, Wendi talks about the growing sophistication of the cybercriminal business model and the need to have visibility across all company networks and infrastructure. She also highlights a growing trend in which companies have a “pre-built” environment that they would potentially move towards in case of a cyberattack. At the start of the episode, Bryan and Jamil discuss trending topics like the North Korean information technology worker threat, the Blue Yonder compromise, and the latest social engineering scheme from the cybercriminal group Black Basta.

Listen to Ahead of the Threat episodes, read the transcripts, and find related material at fbi.gov/aheadofthethreat.

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]]> This week on Ahead of the Threat, FBI Assistant Director Bryan Vorndran and FBI Strategic Engagement Advisor Jamil Farshchi speak to Wendi Whitmore, senior vice president of Palo Alto Networks’ Unit 42. Drawing on her experience with cyber threat intelligence and incident response, Wendi talks about the growing sophistication of the cybercriminal business model and the need to have visibility across all company networks and infrastructure. She also highlights a growing trend in which companies have a “pre-built” environment that they would potentially move towards in case of a cyberattack. At the start of the episode, Bryan and Jamil discuss trending topics like the North Korean information technology worker threat, the Blue Yonder compromise, and the latest social engineering scheme from the cybercriminal group Black Basta.

Listen to Ahead of the Threat episodes, read the transcripts, and find related material at fbi.gov/aheadofthethreat.

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]]> Wed, 04 Dec 2024 16:57:24 -0500 Federal Bureau of Investigation Federal Bureau of Investigation 3135 This week on Ahead of the Threat, FBI Assistant Director Bryan Vorndran and FBI Strategic Engagement Advisor Jamil Farshchi speak to Wendi Whitmore, senior vice president of Palo Alto Networks’ Unit 42. Drawing on her experience with cyber threat intelligence and incident response, Wendi talks about the growing sophistication of the cybercriminal business model and the need to have visibility across all company networks and infrastructure. She also highlights a growing trend in which companies have a “pre-built” environment that they would potentially move towards in case of a cyberattack. At the start of the episode, Bryan and Jamil discuss trending topics like the North Korean information technology worker threat, the Blue Yonder compromise, and the latest social engineering scheme from the cybercriminal group Black Basta.

Listen to Ahead of the Threat episodes, read the transcripts, and find related material at fbi.gov/aheadofthethreat.

Subscribe to Ahead of the Threat wherever you get your podcasts:

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]]> Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, government, cybersecurity, cyber, cyber defense, cyber threats, cyber literacy, business, cyber security, intelligence, law enforcement, business, Ahead of the Threat, ahead of the threat, Ahead of the Threat podcast, FBI Cyber podcast, FBI Cyber, Wendi Whitmore, Palo Alto Networks, Unit 42, cyber threat intelligence, threat intelligence, incident response, cyber No Episode Three - Chris Cwalina 4 4 Episode Three - Chris Cwalina full 34846d48-d3fd-4bb4-aad3-f728e9157727 https://share.transistor.fm/s/925cf784 On this episode of Ahead of the Threat, FBI Assistant Director Bryan Vorndran and FBI Strategic Engagement Advisor Jamil Farshchi speak to Chris Cwalina, global head of cybersecurity and privacy at Norton Rose Fulbright. Chris and his team of lawyers advise clients on how to minimize damage from sophisticated data breaches and cybersecurity incidents.

Chris reveals why many companies have a false sense of readiness and security before a breach. He also talks about fostering a security culture and the importance of having clear lines of decision-making when it comes to risk management.

At the start of the episode, Bryan and Jamil discuss trending topics like the Fortinet VPN zero-day, the extradition of the Phobos ransomware administrator, and the sentencing of U.S.-based co-conspirators behind the Bitfenix cryptocurrency exchange theft.

Listen to Ahead of the Threat episodes, read the transcripts, and find related material at fbi.gov/aheadofthethreat.

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]]> On this episode of Ahead of the Threat, FBI Assistant Director Bryan Vorndran and FBI Strategic Engagement Advisor Jamil Farshchi speak to Chris Cwalina, global head of cybersecurity and privacy at Norton Rose Fulbright. Chris and his team of lawyers advise clients on how to minimize damage from sophisticated data breaches and cybersecurity incidents.

Chris reveals why many companies have a false sense of readiness and security before a breach. He also talks about fostering a security culture and the importance of having clear lines of decision-making when it comes to risk management.

At the start of the episode, Bryan and Jamil discuss trending topics like the Fortinet VPN zero-day, the extradition of the Phobos ransomware administrator, and the sentencing of U.S.-based co-conspirators behind the Bitfenix cryptocurrency exchange theft.

Listen to Ahead of the Threat episodes, read the transcripts, and find related material at fbi.gov/aheadofthethreat.

Subscribe to Ahead of the Threat wherever you get your podcasts:

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]]> Wed, 20 Nov 2024 12:39:53 -0500 Federal Bureau of Investigation Federal Bureau of Investigation 3396 On this episode of Ahead of the Threat, FBI Assistant Director Bryan Vorndran and FBI Strategic Engagement Advisor Jamil Farshchi speak to Chris Cwalina, global head of cybersecurity and privacy at Norton Rose Fulbright. Chris and his team of lawyers advise clients on how to minimize damage from sophisticated data breaches and cybersecurity incidents.

Chris reveals why many companies have a false sense of readiness and security before a breach. He also talks about fostering a security culture and the importance of having clear lines of decision-making when it comes to risk management.

At the start of the episode, Bryan and Jamil discuss trending topics like the Fortinet VPN zero-day, the extradition of the Phobos ransomware administrator, and the sentencing of U.S.-based co-conspirators behind the Bitfenix cryptocurrency exchange theft.

Listen to Ahead of the Threat episodes, read the transcripts, and find related material at fbi.gov/aheadofthethreat.

Subscribe to Ahead of the Threat wherever you get your podcasts:

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]]> Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, government, cybersecurity, cyber, cyber defense, cyber threats, cyber literacy, business, cyber security, intelligence, law enforcement, business, Ahead of the Threat, ahead of the threat, Ahead of the Threat podcast, FBI Cyber podcast, FBI Cyber, Chris Cwalina, cyber law, law, lawyer, lawyers, cyber breach, Norton Rose Fulbright No Episode Two - Kevin Mandia 3 3 Episode Two - Kevin Mandia full e62f84bb-8ca8-4429-994c-3186bc9ed4a0 https://share.transistor.fm/s/8a482ff7 On this episode of Ahead of the Threat, FBI Assistant Director Bryan Vorndran and FBI Strategic Engagement Advisor Jamil Farshchi speak to Kevin Mandia, founder and CEO of Mandiant, one of the world’s leading cyberthreat intelligence and incident-response firms.

Drawing on his vast industry experience, Kevin talks about game-changing breaches and the history of cybersecurity, the increasing prevalence of voice cloning and other artificial intelligence tools in social engineering schemes, and the changing role of the chief information security officer (CISO). Kevin also shares the top four questions every CEO or corporate board should ask their CISO to assess cyber readiness.

At the start of the episode, Bryan and Jamil discuss trending topics like Sophos’ acquisition of Secureworks, the cyberattack on American Water, and the new CISO hire at UnitedHealth Group.

Listen to Ahead of the Threat episodes, read the transcripts, and find related material at fbi.gov/aheadofthethreat.

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]]> On this episode of Ahead of the Threat, FBI Assistant Director Bryan Vorndran and FBI Strategic Engagement Advisor Jamil Farshchi speak to Kevin Mandia, founder and CEO of Mandiant, one of the world’s leading cyberthreat intelligence and incident-response firms.

Drawing on his vast industry experience, Kevin talks about game-changing breaches and the history of cybersecurity, the increasing prevalence of voice cloning and other artificial intelligence tools in social engineering schemes, and the changing role of the chief information security officer (CISO). Kevin also shares the top four questions every CEO or corporate board should ask their CISO to assess cyber readiness.

At the start of the episode, Bryan and Jamil discuss trending topics like Sophos’ acquisition of Secureworks, the cyberattack on American Water, and the new CISO hire at UnitedHealth Group.

Listen to Ahead of the Threat episodes, read the transcripts, and find related material at fbi.gov/aheadofthethreat.

Subscribe to Ahead of the Threat wherever you get your podcasts:

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]]> Wed, 06 Nov 2024 16:32:31 -0500 Federal Bureau of Investigation Federal Bureau of Investigation 3775 On this episode of Ahead of the Threat, FBI Assistant Director Bryan Vorndran and FBI Strategic Engagement Advisor Jamil Farshchi speak to Kevin Mandia, founder and CEO of Mandiant, one of the world’s leading cyberthreat intelligence and incident-response firms.

Drawing on his vast industry experience, Kevin talks about game-changing breaches and the history of cybersecurity, the increasing prevalence of voice cloning and other artificial intelligence tools in social engineering schemes, and the changing role of the chief information security officer (CISO). Kevin also shares the top four questions every CEO or corporate board should ask their CISO to assess cyber readiness.

At the start of the episode, Bryan and Jamil discuss trending topics like Sophos’ acquisition of Secureworks, the cyberattack on American Water, and the new CISO hire at UnitedHealth Group.

Listen to Ahead of the Threat episodes, read the transcripts, and find related material at fbi.gov/aheadofthethreat.

Subscribe to Ahead of the Threat wherever you get your podcasts:

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]]> Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, government, cybersecurity, cyber, cyber defense, cyber threats, cyber literacy, business, cyber security, intelligence, law enforcement, business, Ahead of the Threat, ahead of the threat, Ahead of the Threat podcast, FBI Cyber podcast, FBI Cyber, Kevin Mandia, CISO, Mandiant No Episode One: Aron Ain 2 2 Episode One: Aron Ain full 25ace676-a837-489a-a002-2a750472f90f https://share.transistor.fm/s/f4d0d936 In December 2021, UKG Kronos was hit with a ransomware attack that impacted thousands of business customers. On this episode of Ahead of the Threat, FBI Assistant Director Bryan Vorndran and FBI Strategic Engagement Advisor Jamil Farshchi speak to Aron Ain, former CEO and current executive chair at UKG, who gives a firsthand account of what it’s like to lead a multinational technology company during a major cyber incident. Learn how Aron handled the extreme pressure of the situation, prioritized transparency to rebuild customer trust, and made enduring structural reforms to supply-chain security and cybersecurity at the board level.

At the start of the episode, Bryan and Jamil discuss trending topics like Iran’s brazen effort to interfere in the 2024 U.S. presidential election, the Salt Typhoon hack of U.S. telecoms, and recent supply chain compromises.

Watch FBI Director Christopher Wray’s announcement on the Iranian election interference indictment at fbi.gov/video-repository/director-wray-on-indictment-of-iranian-cyber-actors-092724.mp4/view. You can read the indictment itself at justice.gov/opa/pr/three-irgc-cyber-actors-indicted-hack-and-leak-operation-designed-influence-2024-us.

Listen to Ahead of the Threat episodes, read the transcripts, and find related material at fbi.gov/aheadofthethreat.

Subscribe to Ahead of the Threat wherever you get your podcasts:

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]]> In December 2021, UKG Kronos was hit with a ransomware attack that impacted thousands of business customers. On this episode of Ahead of the Threat, FBI Assistant Director Bryan Vorndran and FBI Strategic Engagement Advisor Jamil Farshchi speak to Aron Ain, former CEO and current executive chair at UKG, who gives a firsthand account of what it’s like to lead a multinational technology company during a major cyber incident. Learn how Aron handled the extreme pressure of the situation, prioritized transparency to rebuild customer trust, and made enduring structural reforms to supply-chain security and cybersecurity at the board level.

At the start of the episode, Bryan and Jamil discuss trending topics like Iran’s brazen effort to interfere in the 2024 U.S. presidential election, the Salt Typhoon hack of U.S. telecoms, and recent supply chain compromises.

Watch FBI Director Christopher Wray’s announcement on the Iranian election interference indictment at fbi.gov/video-repository/director-wray-on-indictment-of-iranian-cyber-actors-092724.mp4/view. You can read the indictment itself at justice.gov/opa/pr/three-irgc-cyber-actors-indicted-hack-and-leak-operation-designed-influence-2024-us.

Listen to Ahead of the Threat episodes, read the transcripts, and find related material at fbi.gov/aheadofthethreat.

Subscribe to Ahead of the Threat wherever you get your podcasts:

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]]> Wed, 23 Oct 2024 17:41:53 -0400 Federal Bureau of Investigation Federal Bureau of Investigation 2637 In December 2021, UKG Kronos was hit with a ransomware attack that impacted thousands of business customers. On this episode of Ahead of the Threat, FBI Assistant Director Bryan Vorndran and FBI Strategic Engagement Advisor Jamil Farshchi speak to Aron Ain, former CEO and current executive chair at UKG, who gives a firsthand account of what it’s like to lead a multinational technology company during a major cyber incident. Learn how Aron handled the extreme pressure of the situation, prioritized transparency to rebuild customer trust, and made enduring structural reforms to supply-chain security and cybersecurity at the board level.

At the start of the episode, Bryan and Jamil discuss trending topics like Iran’s brazen effort to interfere in the 2024 U.S. presidential election, the Salt Typhoon hack of U.S. telecoms, and recent supply chain compromises.

Watch FBI Director Christopher Wray’s announcement on the Iranian election interference indictment at fbi.gov/video-repository/director-wray-on-indictment-of-iranian-cyber-actors-092724.mp4/view. You can read the indictment itself at justice.gov/opa/pr/three-irgc-cyber-actors-indicted-hack-and-leak-operation-designed-influence-2024-us.

Listen to Ahead of the Threat episodes, read the transcripts, and find related material at fbi.gov/aheadofthethreat.

Subscribe to Ahead of the Threat wherever you get your podcasts:

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]]> Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, government, cybersecurity, cyber, cyber defense, cyber threats, cyber literacy, business, cyber security, intelligence, law enforcement, business No Episode Zero 1 1 Episode Zero full 8d064876-a782-4fba-b46f-abf98b727056 https://share.transistor.fm/s/f2497f7c On Ahead of the Threat, Bryan Vorndran, assistant director of the FBI’s Cyber Division, and Jamil Farshchi—a strategic engagement advisor for the FBI who also works as Equifax’s executive vice president and chief information security officer—discuss emerging cyber threats and the enduring importance of cybersecurity fundamentals.

Featuring distinguished guests from the business world and government, Ahead of the Threat will confront some of the biggest questions in cyber: How will emerging technology impact corporate America? How can corporate boards be structured for cyber resilience? What does the FBI think about generative artificial intelligence? Listen to new episodes biweekly and stay Ahead of the Threat.

Listen to Ahead of the Threat episodes, read the transcripts, and find related material at fbi.gov/aheadofthethreat.

Subscribe to Ahead of the Threat wherever you get your podcasts:

And follow us on social media:

]]> On Ahead of the Threat, Bryan Vorndran, assistant director of the FBI’s Cyber Division, and Jamil Farshchi—a strategic engagement advisor for the FBI who also works as Equifax’s executive vice president and chief information security officer—discuss emerging cyber threats and the enduring importance of cybersecurity fundamentals.

Featuring distinguished guests from the business world and government, Ahead of the Threat will confront some of the biggest questions in cyber: How will emerging technology impact corporate America? How can corporate boards be structured for cyber resilience? What does the FBI think about generative artificial intelligence? Listen to new episodes biweekly and stay Ahead of the Threat.

Listen to Ahead of the Threat episodes, read the transcripts, and find related material at fbi.gov/aheadofthethreat.

Subscribe to Ahead of the Threat wherever you get your podcasts:

And follow us on social media:

]]> Wed, 16 Oct 2024 12:25:13 -0400 Federal Bureau of Investigation Federal Bureau of Investigation 455 On Ahead of the Threat, Bryan Vorndran, assistant director of the FBI’s Cyber Division, and Jamil Farshchi—a strategic engagement advisor for the FBI who also works as Equifax’s executive vice president and chief information security officer—discuss emerging cyber threats and the enduring importance of cybersecurity fundamentals.

Featuring distinguished guests from the business world and government, Ahead of the Threat will confront some of the biggest questions in cyber: How will emerging technology impact corporate America? How can corporate boards be structured for cyber resilience? What does the FBI think about generative artificial intelligence? Listen to new episodes biweekly and stay Ahead of the Threat.

Listen to Ahead of the Threat episodes, read the transcripts, and find related material at fbi.gov/aheadofthethreat.

Subscribe to Ahead of the Threat wherever you get your podcasts:

And follow us on social media:

]]> Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, government, cybersecurity, cyber, cyber defense, cyber threats, cyber literacy, business, cyber security, intelligence, law enforcement, business No