Joe Brinkley aka The Blind Hacker

Summary

In this episode, Joe Brinkley, also known as the blind hacker, joins Phillip Wylie to discuss his hacker origin story and offer advice for breaking into offensive security and pen testing. They also explore the commoditization of pen testing, the evolution of the industry, and the challenges of testing complex environments. Joe shares his insights on the different generations of hackers and the role of automation and AI in pen testing. He also talks about his work with the Mentor Village and offers resources for those interested in starting their own cybersecurity brand or company.

Takeaways

• Joe Brinkley, also known as the blind hacker, shares his hacker origin story and offers advice for breaking into offensive security and pen testing.
• The commoditization of pen testing has led to a shift in the industry, with companies seeking budget-friendly alternatives and rotating vendors frequently.
• Automation and AI play a significant role in pen testing, allowing for faster and more efficient testing, but human expertise is still crucial for in-depth analysis and finding vulnerabilities that automated tools may miss.
• The industry is currently in the sixth or seventh generation of hackers, with increased access to education and tools, but also more complex environments to test.
• Joe Brinkley is actively involved in the Mentor Village, offering mentoring, education, and resources to those interested in cybersecurity.
• He encourages individuals to build their own cybersecurity brand and consider starting their own cybersecurity company, emphasizing the importance of branding and networking in the industry.

Sound Bites

• "I don't care who you go to, learn something."
• "Long-term security is the value we provide"
• "People are looking for a budget-friendly alternative because compliance and insurance now require yearly security activities."

Resources

https://www.linkedin.com/in/brinkleyjoseph/

https://x.com/TheBlindHacker

https://x.com/deadpixelsec

https://deadpixelsec.com/

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

06:24 Advice for Breaking into Offensive Security

10:39 The Commoditization of Pentesting

15:53 The Impact of Compliance and Cyber Insurance

22:03 Challenges Faced by Practitioners in Limited Time Windows

25:33 The Evolution of Hackers and Accessibility of Education and Tools

30:36 The Role of Automation, Orchestration, and AI in Modern Pentesting

36:23 Building Cybersecurity Brands and the Mentor Village

41:14 Conclusion

41:52 Phillip Wylie Show Outro Video.mp4