Bare Metal Cyber

The Bare Metal Cyber — Friday Edition is your end-of-week cybersecurity intelligence wrap, turning five days of breaking threats into one fast, actionable update. For the week ending October 17th, 2025, we unpack everything from nation-state intrusions and zero-day exploits to record-setting DDoS attacks, policy moves, and vendor fallout — all explained in plain English for business leaders, defenders, and technology teams...

In this episode, we dive into the unsettling paradox of Schrödinger’s Firewall—where your data is both safe and already compromised in the looming quantum era. Listeners will learn why today’s trusted encryption methods like RSA and ECC may soon resemble digital Swiss cheese, how Q-Day could arrive faster than expected, and what industries—from finance to healthcare to defense—stand to lose the most. We also unpack the rac...

This week’s wrap cuts through the noise. We break down North Korea’s multi-billion-dollar crypto theft problem, the Salesforce-adjacent extortion wave targeting customer exports, and active exploitation against Oracle E-Business Suite. We also cover a critical Redis flaw with app-wide blast radius, Cisco edge firewall abuse with public exploit code, Zimbra’s KEV-listed email bug, GoAnywhere MFT ransomware activity, mass sc...

In this episode, we take on the fatigue that often comes with Zero Trust—those endless logins, rigid rules, and culture-draining compliance routines. Listeners will discover how to simplify security without weakening defenses, turn routine practices into engaging challenges, and humanize policies with humor and empathy. Through vivid examples and practical strategies, the episode shows how Zero Trust can shift from being s...

This is the Friday Rollup for September 29th through October 3rd, 2025. It was a week of edge-device pressure, identity weak spots, and evolving email tradecraft. We cover Red Hat’s internal GitLab intrusion, Outlook’s move to block inline SVG lures, and a critical DrayTek router RCE. We track Allianz Life’s SSN breach and CERT-UA’s CABINETRAT via Excel XLLs, plus a broader pivot from Office macros to ZIP-packed LNK files....

Ransomware is no longer just about malicious code—it’s about business models, negotiation tactics, and the psychology of fear. In this episode, we break down how ransomware gangs operate like startups, with affiliates, commissions, customer service desks, and even loyalty programs. You’ll learn how they choose victims, manipulate negotiations with countdown clocks and empathy language, and sustain their criminal economy th...

In this episode, we expose the illusion of security created by SMS-based multi-factor authentication. Listeners will learn why text-message codes fail to deliver true two-factor protection, how attackers exploit SIM swaps, phishing kits, and MFA fatigue, and why compliance checkboxes don’t equal resilience. The episode unpacks the vulnerabilities in telecom infrastructure, the psychology attackers weaponize, and the step-b...

In this episode, we explore the strange yet critical world of adversarial machine learning—where tiny, unseen manipulations can fool AI systems into making dangerous and bizarre mistakes. From autonomous cars misinterpreting road signs to AI-driven medical devices misdiagnosing patients, we uncover real-world scenarios illustrating how subtle digital tweaks can create major real-life consequences.

We’ll also discuss how cyb...

Will AI trigger the first white-collar recession—or just change what those jobs look like? This episode follows the quiet early tells—executive hiring freezes, six-figure postings sliding, silent software seat cuts, and a surge of offboarding tickets—to explain how task-level automation can thin openings, flatten wages, and hollow out the rungs juniors used to climb. We separate headline panic from real indicators and show...

In this episode of BareMetalCyber, we delve into the shadowy world of state-sponsored cyber sabotage, examining how nations increasingly leverage digital attacks for espionage, economic disruption, and geopolitical advantage. We explore sophisticated hacking tactics—from zero-day exploits and psychological warfare to supply chain infiltration—and reveal why attribution remains so notoriously difficult in today's digital co...

In this episode of BareMetalCyber, we narrate the article Ctrl+Alt+Comply: The Wild World of Cyber Regulations, taking you through the tangled web of international cybersecurity compliance. From the rigid power moves of the EU’s GDPR to the complex demands of China’s PIPL and the legislative chaos of U.S. state laws, we explore how the world governs digital risk—and how organizations are expected to keep up.

We break down ...

In today's episode, we dive into the dark side of our increasingly connected world, exploring how ordinary IoT devices—like coffee makers, fish tanks, and even printers—have turned sinister, unleashing unexpected chaos on unsuspecting networks. We'll examine unforgettable stories of IoT gone rogue, like the Mirai botnet's internet-crashing exploits, the casino hacked through an innocent-looking fish tank, and how everyday ...

In today's episode, we explore how ChatOps—the integration of collaboration and operations through platforms like Slack and Teams—has reshaped modern workplaces, delivering unprecedented speed and agility. But these powerful productivity tools come with hidden dangers, attracting cyber intruders eager to exploit casual conversations, misplaced trust, and overlooked configurations to breach security unnoticed.

We’ll uncover...

In today's episode, we're tackling one of cybersecurity's biggest challenges: the human factor. Employees, often considered the weakest link in an organization's cyber defenses, don't have to remain vulnerabilities. Instead, they can become powerful cybersecurity allies—transforming from click-happy risks into vigilant cyber warriors. We'll explore how engaging, humor-driven training methods, realistic simulations, and pro...

In this episode of BareMetalCyber, we dive deep into the emerging frontlines of digital warfare, where traditional weapons have given way to malicious code and covert cyber operations. As nations increasingly turn to cyber espionage, sabotage, and sophisticated AI-driven attacks, the lines between crime, warfare, and espionage blur—placing everyday citizens and critical infrastructure directly in the crossfire.

Join us as w...

In today's episode, we explore one of the most challenging cybersecurity issues organizations face—the insider threat. Unlike external cyberattacks, these threats emerge from trusted employees, each driven by distinct motivations ranging from personal grievances and financial incentives to outright sabotage. We'll delve deeply into the psychology behind insider threats, recognize digital footprints of betrayal, and share s...

In today's episode, we dive deep into the sinister and rapidly evolving world of deepfake cybercrime. Once relegated to harmless internet pranks, deepfake technology now poses significant threats—from sophisticated financial frauds to espionage operations targeting major corporations. We'll explore how deepfakes deceive both humans and technology, and discuss key strategies your organization must employ to defend itself ef...

In today's episode of the Bare Metal Cyber podcast, we dive deep into an often-overlooked crisis in cybersecurity: analyst burnout in the Security Operations Center. We'll examine why SOC analysts are increasingly overwhelmed by endless alerts, high-stakes decision-making, and relentless workloads—and why relying solely on automation as a cure can sometimes lead to unintended consequences.

Then, we'll explore practical str...