Ransomware Gangs, MSP security, and Cyber Predictions, with Dmitry Smilyanets

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In this episode we’re excited to host Dmitry Smilyanets, the Director of Product Management at threat intel company Recorded Future. Prior to that Dmitry was a Russia-based hacker who was indicted and extradited to the United States for his role in a cybercrime scheme – he was the manager of the largest hacking group ever prosecuted in the United States. Having been both a black hat and a white hat, he has fascinating perspectives which we uncover during this month’s release of the Cyber Insider. 

When asked about his unique background, Dmitry had this to say: "I think that my background gives me a unique perspective on the world of cybercrime. I understand the motivations and tactics of hackers in a way that many cybersecurity experts do not. At the same time, I have seen the consequences of these actions firsthand and know how important it is to protect against them." 

One of the most surprising things about the world of cybercrime is how organized and business-like it can be. Dmitry described some of the groups he encountered as having entire offices, complete with marketing teams, HR departments, and money laundering operations. This level of organization makes it all the more difficult to track and prosecute cybercriminals.   

When it comes to cybercrime, the role of governments can be complex and varied. Some governments actively encourage hacking groups, while others turn a blind eye. Dmitry noted that in Russia, the government is unlikely to actively protect cybercriminals, but will prosecute them if they commit crimes within the country: "Russia will not prosecute you if you hit America, but if you accidentally use Russian infrastructure or stole some credit cards from Russians or even used stolen credit cards in Russia, they'll have enough to prosecute you, put you for two, three years in pretrial detention." 

All this and much more is discussed in this episode of The Cyber Insider podcast by Emsisoft, the award-winning cybersecurity company delivering top-notch security solutions for over 20 years.  

Be sure to tune in and subscribe to The Cyber Insider to get your monthly inside scoop on cybersecurity. 
 
Hosts:  
Luke Connolly – partner manager at Emsisoft  
Brett Callow – threat analyst at Emsisoft  
 
Intro/outro music: “Intro funk” by Lowtone.