In this episode of The Adversarial Podcast, Jerry Perullo, Mario Duarte, and Sounil Yu discuss the latest developments in cybersecurity, geopolitical threats, and emerging trends as 2025 approaches.

00:00 Introduction

02:06 Trump 2.0's effect on security

03:25 Future of CISA

09:00 Future of SEC cyber reports

15:57 Possible Trump 2.0 priorities

19:40 Spying on US Telco

20:20 What is SS7?

24:04 SS7 vs. SMS interception

25:40 Privacy impact of SS7 attacks

30:12 National security

31:17 CISA's guidance for telco

36:58 DPRK targets DAO network, $50M heist using macOS malware

46:30 DOJ indicts 14 DPRK nationals

The Future of SEC/CISA under Trump 2.0. With Trump returning to office, the hosts discuss possible changes to SEC-mandated cybersecurity disclosures and the potential of priorities shifting away from CISA as Jenny Easterly’s resignation looms.

References: https://www.cfodive.com/news/sec-cybersecurity-enforcement-outlook-uncertain-as-trump-returns/735728/, https://www.bankinfosecurity.com/cisa-faces-uncertain-future-under-trump-a-26829

China, Russia, and Iran spying on US Telco networks. Adversaries are abusing SS7 vulnerabilities and are hacking into Telco networks to spy on U.S. citizens. The hosts unpack CISA's new recommendations for encrypted communications and discuss the history of SS7 vulnerabilities.

References: https://www.404media.co/dhs-says-china-russia-iran-and-israel-are-spying-on-people-in-us-with-ss7/, https://www.reuters.com/technology/cybersecurity/china-affiliated-actors-compromised-networks-multiple-telecom-companies-us-says-2024-11-13/, https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/2024-12/guidance-mobile-communications-best-practices.pdf

DPRK Targets macOS hosts in $50M heist from DAO network. The hosts discuss recent DPRK-aligned Mac malware involved in a $50M cryptocurrency heist. The team discusses the sophistication of the attack, parallels to the attacks against US financial services companies, and why the crypto space remains a goldmine for state-sponsored cybercriminals.

References: https://medium.com/@RadiantCapital/radiant-capital-incident-update-e56d8c23829e

DOJ indicts 14 DPRK nationals for fraudulent worker scheme and extortions. We return to the ongoing surge in DPRK-funded actors illegallying work in IT roles within the US using false identities. The hosts unpack raise questions about insider threats and remote work challenges.

References: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/fourteen-north-korean-nationals-indicted-carrying-out-multi-year-fraudulent-information?&web_view=true

In this episode of The Adversarial Podcast, Jerry, Mario, and Sounil bring their adversarial insights to a packed discussion of the latest topics in enterprise cybersecurity.

- East Coast vs. West Coast CISOs: The trio explores the divide between East Coast and West Coast CISOs. Is the East too focused on risk? Does the West overfit to AppSec and "shift-left" practices?

- 2024 CISO Budget Report: Where are CISOs spending their increasing budgets in 2024? The hosts chat about the increasing expenses in identity management and generative AI security.

- AI and Crypto Regulation: A discussion of AI and crypto regulation, emphasizing the need for clarity in regulatory goals while raising questions about their broader implications.

- The GitHub Security Gap: The hosts discuss securing GitHub environments in increasingly BYOD environments.

- Pegasus Malware: The group examines modern attack vectors, from sophisticated supply chain threats to Pegasus malware's unexpected victims.

- Deep Fakes and Vishing: Staying on the topic of mobile attacks, the hosts debate how to best hinder deep fake-powered vishing attacks.

- South Korean CEO arrested for adding DDoS feature to satellite receivers: A discussion of a recent story involving supply chain injection of DDoS features in Korea.

In this episode of The Adversarial Podcast, former CISOs Jerry Perullo, Mario Duarte, and Sounil Yu explore critical topics shaping the cybersecurity landscape.

1. Crosspoint Capital’s RSA Innovation Sandbox Model The hosts discuss Crosspoint Capital's controversial $5 million SAFE investment requirement for Innovation Sandbox finalists. They examine the implications for startups, founders, and the cybersecurity ecosystem as a whole, weighing its potential to drive innovation against the risks of stifling participation.

Reference: RSA’s Innovation Sandbox: Cybersecurity Startups Must Accept $5 Million Investment - https://www.securityweek.com/rsa-conference-will-take-equity-in-innovation-sandbox-startup-finalists/

2. The Effectiveness of Phishing Simulations and Training Phishing simulations are dissected, from their role in training effectiveness to their limitations. The hosts share personal experiences, propose smarter testing methods, and stress the need for customized, relevant security awareness programs.

Reference: Understanding the Efficacy of Phishing Training in Practice - https://www.computer.org/csdl/proceedings-article/sp/2025/223600a076/21B7RjYyG9q

3. Insights from a CISA Red Team Report A recent CISA red team assessment of critical infrastructure prompts discussions on systemic security flaws, logging and monitoring challenges, and the importance of infrastructure segmentation. The team critiques current approaches and highlights the risks of improper cleanup after penetration testing.

Reference: Enhancing Cyber Resilience: Insights from CISA Red Team Assessment of a US Critical Infrastructure Sector Organization - https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/cybersecurity-advisories/aa24-326a

4. Cookie Theft and FBI Warnings The conversation shifts to session cookie theft, a rising threat targeting big identity providers like Google and Microsoft. The hosts explore technical solutions like device-bound session cookies and discuss why such attacks bypass MFA, affecting both enterprises and public users.

Reference: https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/atlanta/news/cybercriminals-are-stealing-cookies-to-bypass-multifactor-authentication