Welcome back to the show! Hacker Valley Studio podcast features Host Ron Eddings, as he explores the world of cybersecurity through the eyes of professionals in the industry. We cover everything from inspirational real-life stories in tech, to highlighting influential cybersecurity companies, and we do so in a fun and enthusiastic way. We’re making cybersecurity accessible, creating a whole new form of entertainment: cybertainment.
Episodes
3 days ago
3 days ago
The internet once came this close to crashing—and Microsoft was on the front line.
In this episode, cybersecurity veteran Christopher Budd takes us inside the Microsoft Security Response Center during one of the most chaotic cyber events in modern history. From the Nimda worm of 2001 to ransomware turf wars, and the weird future where threat actors post job ads for ransom note writers, Christopher lays it all out with perspective only decades in the game can bring. If you think AI or ransomware is the endgame, you’re not seeing the whole board.
Impactful Moments:
00:00 - Introduction
04:35 - Breaking down the Nimda attack
07:00 - “We carried 90% of the internet”
10:37 - Ransomware gangs fighting for headlines
15:26 - Secure perimeter is officially dead
17:31 - AI as your cybernetic exosuit
24:00 - Filtering 100,000 security emails with AI
27:05 - Privacy tension in AI-powered defense
32:00 - The inevitable swing back to local control
35:31 - “You will”: when sci-fi became real
Links:
Connect with our guest, Christopher Budd: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherbudd/
Check out our upcoming events: https://www.hackervalley.com/livestreams
Join our creative mastermind and stand out as a cybersecurity professional:
https://www.patreon.com/hackervalleystudio
Love Hacker Valley Studio? Pick up some swag: https://store.hackervalley.com
Continue the conversation by joining our Discord: https://hackervalley.com/discord
Become a sponsor of the show to amplify your brand: https://hackervalley.com/work-with-us/
Friday Mar 21, 2025
Friday Mar 21, 2025
Marco Figueroa is back, and his AI predictions aren’t just coming true—they’re unfolding faster than anyone expected. AI agents aren’t on the horizon—they’re already here, and security teams are scrambling to keep up.
Building on his bold January prediction that 2025 would be the Year of the AI Agent, Marco returns to break down real-world threats, including an insider attack using an infinite logic bomb. From the rise of AI-driven security tools to the biggest risks companies aren’t ready for, this episode is your roadmap to staying ahead in the new AI era.
Impactful Moments:
00:00 - Introduction
02:00 - Insider threat case: Infinite logic bomb attack
06:00 - Why AI will transform security forever
10:00 - AI agents will replace entire workflows
16:00 - The AI pricing war is heating up
22:00 - How to structure AI-driven security workflows
30:00 - The mind-blowing AI coding method you need
38:00 - The future of AI-assisted cybersecurity teams
Links:
Connect with our guest, Marco Figueroa: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marco-figueroa-re/
Check out our upcoming events: https://www.hackervalley.com/livestreams
Join our creative mastermind and stand out as a cybersecurity professional:
https://www.patreon.com/hackervalleystudio
Love Hacker Valley Studio? Pick up some swag: https://store.hackervalley.com
Continue the conversation by joining our Discord: https://hackervalley.com/discord
Become a sponsor of the show to amplify your brand: https://hackervalley.com/work-with-us/
Friday Mar 14, 2025
Friday Mar 14, 2025
The best time to be alive is right now—if you know how to use AI. Marcus J. Carey, Principal Research Scientist at ReliaQuest, is harnessing AI to supercharge creativity, cybersecurity, and career development. In this episode, he shares the workflows he uses that redefine productivity, from dictating books in a week to building a personal AI twin.
In this episode, Ron and Marcus highlight AI’s true power—when used right. They discuss why intuition is the secret ingredient, how AI is reshaping cybersecurity, and why people who master AI will lead the future. Plus, Marcus breaks down how he built his own personal GPT, his approach to learning, and why he sees AI as a tool, not a threat.
Impactful Moments:
00:00 - Introduction
01:18 - Meet Marcus J. Carey
03:00 - Using AI to write a book fast
06:00 - Creating a personal AI twin
09:00 - AI’s impact on cybersecurity defense
15:00 - The power of intuition in AI
22:00 - Why learning fundamentals still matters
30:00 - AI-enhanced workflows for coding
36:00 - The reality of AI "hallucinations"
39:00 - Final thoughts on mastering AI
Links:
Connect with our guest, Marcus J. Carey: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcuscarey/
Grab a copy of Marcus’ book, “Hacker, Inc.: Mindset For Your Career” here: https://a.co/d/8i7waDc
Check out our upcoming events: https://www.hackervalley.com/livestreams
Join our creative mastermind and stand out as a cybersecurity professional:
https://www.patreon.com/hackervalleystudio
Love Hacker Valley Studio? Pick up some swag: https://store.hackervalley.com
Continue the conversation by joining our Discord: https://hackervalley.com/discord
Become a sponsor of the show to amplify your brand: https://hackervalley.com/work-with-us/
Friday Mar 07, 2025
Friday Mar 07, 2025
We’re already in World War III—just not the kind you’re thinking of. Cyber warfare is here, and the battlefield is your inbox, your bank account, and your digital identity. So why are we still acting like it’s peacetime?
Dr. Eric Cole, cybersecurity pioneer and former CIA hacker, joins the show to drop hard truths about the state of cyber warfare, AI’s role in our digital future, and why most people are sleepwalking through a war they don’t even realize they’re in. From the rise of deepfakes to North Korea’s billion-dollar hacking economy, this episode is one you can’t afford to ignore.
Impactful Moments:
00:00 - Introduction
02:00 - Dr. Eric Cole’s journey from the CIA to cybersecurity leadership
07:20 - The fundamentals of hacking and why they still matter
11:00 - AI is only as smart as the data we give it
17:00 - The rise of deepfakes and digital deception
19:45 - Cyber warfare: How North Korea funds its economy through hacking
23:50 - The problem with America’s peacetime mentality
30:00 - Should we be worried about AI replacing humans?
36:10 - The key to success: mastering people skills, not just tech skills
40:30 - Final thoughts and where to follow Dr. Eric Cole
Connect with Dr. Eric Cole on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericcole1/
Check out Dr. Eric Cole’s books –
Cyber Crisis: Protecting Your Business from Real Threats in the Virtual World: https://www.amazon.com/Cyber-Crisis-Protecting-Business-Threats/dp/B093X3YNPT
Online Danger: How to Protect Yourself and Your Loved Ones from the Evil Side of the Internet:
https://www.amazon.com/Online-Danger-Protect-Yourself-Internet-ebook/dp/B078WK39TT
Check out our upcoming events: https://www.hackervalley.com/livestreams
Join our creative mastermind and stand out as a cybersecurity professional:
https://www.patreon.com/hackervalleystudio
Love Hacker Valley Studio? Pick up some swag: https://store.hackervalley.com
Continue the conversation by joining our Discord: https://hackervalley.com/discord
Become a sponsor of the show to amplify your brand: https://hackervalley.com/work-with-us/
Friday Feb 28, 2025
Friday Feb 28, 2025
AI isn’t just evolving—it’s sprinting, and cybersecurity needs to keep up.
Ron Eddings is joined again by cybersecurity leader Marco Figueroa, Program Manager for Gen AI at the ODIN Bug Bounty Program, who called it in January: 2025 is the year of AI agents, and the early signs are already here. From Grok 3’s speed advantage to AI-powered red teaming for $25K, this is the reality check security leaders need. No more six-month security projects—it’s all about speed, automation, and staying ahead.
Impactful Moments:
00:00 - Introduction
01:45 - Breaking down Palantir’s stock drop
07:15 - Why Grok 3 is a game-changer
10:24 - The real difference between GPT-4 and Grok
17:25 - AI-powered red teaming for $25K?
22:00 - The death of six-month security projects
26:24 - OpenAI’s Operator: The future or a gimmick?
34:22 - How AI is eliminating busywork
36:55 - Next month’s prediction: Agents building agents
Links:
Connect with our guest, Marco Figueroa: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marco-figueroa-re/
Check out our upcoming events: https://www.hackervalley.com/livestreams
Join our creative mastermind and stand out as a cybersecurity professional:
https://www.patreon.com/hackervalleystudio
Love Hacker Valley Studio? Pick up some swag: https://store.hackervalley.com
Continue the conversation by joining our Discord: https://hackervalley.com/discord
Become a sponsor of the show to amplify your brand: https://hackervalley.com/work-with-us/