Human Side of Fraud: Empathy, Education, & Evolution
Easy Prey
People used to think fraud was something that happened in the shadows, rare, distant, and mostly affecting big companies. But after talking to PJ Rohall, it’s clear that fraud is evolving fast, and it’s showing up in places most of us don’t even think to look. In this episode, I sit down with PJ Rohall, Head of Fraud Strategy and Education at SEON and co-founder of About Fraud. PJ’s work is all about staying ahead of scammers and helping businesses and individuals understand how fraud actually works. From synthetic identities and AI-powered scams to account takeovers and refund fraud,...
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Identity Is The New Security Perimeter
Easy Prey
Sometimes it feels like every new technology we adopt comes with a new risk we didn’t see coming. From AI and data breaches to phishing scams and ransomware, it's clear we live in a time when cybersecurity isn’t just a tech issue, it’s a human issue. In this episode, I talk with Jeff Reich, Executive Director of the Identity Defined Security Alliance. Jeff has been in the cybersecurity world since the early days, with decades of experience helping organizations protect what matters most. His passion for identity security and risk management runs deep, and he brings a thoughtful...
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Your Car Is Spying On You What It’s Collecting and Who It’s Telling
Easy Prey
I used to think of my car as just a tool to get from point A to point B. But after this conversation, I can’t help but see it as something else entirely, a powerful data collection device that knows far more about me than I realized. From where I go and who I text to how I drive and even what’s on my phone, today’s vehicles are gathering a staggering amount of personal information. In this episode, I talk with Andrea Amico, the founder of . Andrea is one of the leading voices in automotive data privacy and someone who’s spent years uncovering the hidden ways cars collect, store,...
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Why Everyone’s A Target
Easy Prey
Some scams are so convincing, they’re almost impossible to spot. With phishing emails that look like they’re from your bank, deep fake videos that mimic real people, and AI-generated messages that feel personal, it’s getting harder to know what’s real and what’s a trap. In this episode, I sit down with Gabrielle Hempel, a security operations specialist at Exabeam and a current law student at Purdue University. Gabrielle brings a sharp perspective shaped by years in cybersecurity, a master’s in cybersecurity and global affairs from NYU, and hands-on experience navigating everything...
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Child Exploitation Cyber Investigations
Easy Prey
Technology is a double-edged sword. It can empower us, connect us, and solve problems, but it can also be used to exploit, manipulate, and harm. When it comes to protecting children online, that line gets especially thin. Digital forensics, AI-powered image classification, and global law enforcement collaboration are now essential tools for keeping families safe in a world that moves faster than most of us can keep up. Debbie Garner knows this world intimately. She’s a retired Special Agent in charge with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and former commander of the state’s Internet...
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Reclaiming the Internet
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We may not always understand the evolution of the internet and how tech monopolies exist, but having digital freedom fighters is vital to making conscious change. Today's guest is Cory Doctorow. Cory is a science fiction author, activist, and journalist. He is the author of many books and most recently, Picks and Shovels, The Bezel, and The Lost Cause, a solar punk science fiction novel of hope amidst the climate change emergency. His most recent nonfiction book is the internet con How to Seize the Means of Corruption, a big tech disassembly manual. Other recent books include Red Team...
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Security Gaps Hackers Exploit
Easy Prey
Scammers aren’t just phishing your inbox anymore—they’re impersonating your voice, your face, and even your coworkers. Deep fakes and social engineering have moved beyond clever tricks and become powerful tools that bad actors are using to infiltrate businesses, breach accounts, and dismantle trust at scale. What used to take a hacker hours and expensive tools can now be done in minutes by anyone with a Wi-Fi connection and a little malicious intent. Our guest today is Aaron Painter, CEO of Nametag, a company leading the charge in next-generation identity verification. Aaron’s...
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Cyber Warfare
Easy Prey
Cyber warfare is no longer something that happens behind closed doors or in some far-off digital corner. It's happening now—and reshaping the rules of conflict in real time. Drone strikes controlled by apps, ransomware attacks on hospitals—today's battleground is just as likely to be online as on the ground. That science fiction scenario is now a critical, constant threat-the kind that affects us all globally. I'm really excited to introduce you to Dr. Chase Cunningham. He's a retired Navy chief cryptologist with a wealth of experience in cyber operations for the NSA, CIA, FBI—and more....
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DDoS Attacks
Easy Prey
Scammers are getting smarter, understanding the psychology behind social engineering and the challenges companies face every day can help keep networks secure. This episode will show how to anticipate these threats and secure networks against ever-changing vulnerabilities. We’ll focus on practical, real-world solutions to protect data and trust. Dr. Jared Smith joins us to share his insights from his role leading research and development at SecurityScorecard. He also co-founded UnCat, a B2B accounting technology company serving thousands of customers and teaches as an adjunct professor at...
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Safe AI Implementation
Easy Prey
Red models associated with AI technologies highlight real-world vulnerabilities and the importance of proactive security measures. It is vital to educate users about how to explore the challenges and keep AI systems secure. Today’s guest is Dr. Aditya Sood. Dr. Sood is the VP of Security Engineering and AI Strategy at Aryaka and is a security practitioner, researcher, and consultant with more than 16 years of experience. He obtained his PhD in computer science from Michigan State University and has authored several papers for various magazines and journals. In this conversation, he will shed...
info_outlineCybersecurity isn't just a concern for large corporations. It's vital for businesses of all sizes. It's essential for companies to know how to protect sensitive data, restore from backups, and regularly test their systems with internal pen tests to keep their teams safe. Today's guest is Bryce Austin. Bryce is the CEO of TCE Strategy, a cybersecurity advisory firm. They provide vulnerability scans, penetration tests, fractional CISO services, and incident response services. He is also a professional speaker on ransomware. Bryce is the fractional CISO to many companies, including one on the S&P 500.
We talk about the key aspects of cybersecurity for businesses, and how to be proactive with patching, training and strong password management. He shares his experiences with major cyber incidents including ransomware, phishing and the Target breach, and how defense in depth, backups and financial controls are key. Bryce also mentioned the use of password managers, regular vulnerability scanning and external monitoring to increase cyber resilience. We share practical tips for all businesses to protect against ever changing cyber threats.
Show Notes:
- [00:59] Bryce started TCE Strategy in 2016. It's their goal to keep their clients one step ahead of cybercriminal risk.
- [01:32] He has a degree in chemistry. Technology was just for fun. He ended up working in the payroll space which was ripe for cyber security concerns.
- [03:00] He was really pushing cybersecurity and then their company was purchased by Wells Fargo. It ended up being amazing training for starting his own cybersecurity business.
- [05:24] Bryce shares how he was affected by the Target security breach. He ended up unemployed and was deeply affected by food stamp requirements for his family.
- [07:34] He wanted to make sure he would never go through this again and started his company.
- [08:19] His public speaking began in 2011.
- [09:17] He was indirectly affected by the Target breach, and he also shares his indirect personal one.
- [12:59] Bryce was actually spearfished in 2018.
- [14:36] Incident response is when something happens from a cybersecurity standpoint and damage has occurred. Oftentimes data is encrypted. This is a ransomware attack.
- [17:18] Bryce tells the story about how a hotel was hacked and a large payment was able to be intercepted.
- [18:31] Phishing attacks are where someone clicks on a bad link.
- [20:38] His biggest Christmas gift was none of his clients getting hacked.
- [21:05] They also had a ransom demand where they had to pay a million dollars.
- [23:02] If they would have been looking harder this wouldn't have happened.
- [26:26] Issues with hooking up to the Internet and having default passwords.
- [28:07] Why it's impractical to make ransomware illegal.
- [31:12] Even criminals have a reputation to uphold and usually hand over the encryption key.
- [33:56] Bryce talks about some of the preventative things that people can do.
- [34:47] Be proactive and have diligent patching.
- [35:37] Don't use the same passwords over and over. Use a password keeper.
- [36:54] Have offline backups.
- [38:09] Follow all processes and procedures when moving money. Use unique passwords.
- [39:27] It's important to encrypt your backups.
Thanks for joining us on Easy Prey. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave a nice review.