Mar 04, 2025 1 min read Podcast

The Adversarial Podcast Ep. 18 - CISA cuts, North Koreans steal $1.5B in crypto, planning for RSA Conference

💰 Budget cuts hit CISA, and election security programs might be first on the chopping block. The team debates whether these cuts were expected, what they mean for cybersecurity, and whether some programs were outside CISA’s core mission in the first place.

Reference: https://www.scworld.com/perspective/a-sober-look-at-the-recent-cuts-at-cisa

⚔️ A sudden shift in cyber warfare strategy—USCYBERCOM has reportedly been asked to halt offensive cyber operations against Russia. The guys discuss what this means for national security, cyber deterrence, and whether it signals a political deal in the making.

Reference: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/defense-secretary-pete-hegseth-orders-halt-offensive-cyber-operations-rcna194435

💸 A massive crypto heist exposes software supply chain vulnerabilities. North Korean attackers allegedly compromised a JavaScript library to drain $1.5 billion. The team breaks down what happened, what it means for the future of crypto security, and whether cybercriminals will use the same techniques elsewhere.

Reference: https://docsend.com/view/s/rmdi832mpt8u93s7

🔄 When a company gets hacked, how do CISOs rebuild trust? The conversation explores the difference between trust and transparency, why some companies handle breaches better than others, and what lessons CISOs can learn from past incidents.

Reference: https://www.csoonline.com/article/3825447/how-cisos-can-rebuild-trust-after-a-security-incident.html

🤖 GenAI tools want access to everything—but should security teams allow it? The team debates whether CISOs should fight the inevitable, or if they should negotiate smarter ways to control AI access while still allowing business teams to benefit.

🎟️ RSA Conference survival guide! How do you maximize networking, avoid vendor overload, and make sure the week is productive?