Cyber Security Uncut

In this episode of the Cyber Uncut podcast, host Liam Garman is joined by Lee Shelford, sales engineering manager and cloud lead at Genetec, to explore how the company uses cutting-edge technology to help law enforcement agencies combat crime and build safer communities. The conversation begins with Genetec's recent success in completing its IRAP assessment – a critical milestone in demonstrating the company's commitment to cyber security and data protection. From there, Shelford shares how Genetec is working alongside some of the world's leading law enforcement organisations to develop next-generation security solutions. Shelford dives into Genetec Cloudrunner, a powerful tool that enables law enforcement to track vehicles across vast distances – significantly aiding investigations and contributing to a reduction in criminal activity. The discussion then shifts to the Genetec Community Connect Program, which brings together a network of CCTV systems from various partners to provide real-time, integrated surveillance feeds to police and emergency services. Finally, Shelford explains how Genetec ensures the security and integrity of these systems, maintaining strong protections across all connected networks. Enjoy the episode, The Cyber Uncut team

In this episode of the Cyber Uncut podcast, David Hollingworth and Daniel Croft get into a deep ethical discussion after an AI-generated deepfake of a murder victim, untangle the deeply confusing saga of the DragonForce ransomware gang's latest evolution, the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) breaches itself, and the insane back and forth between the People's Republic of China and the CIA. Hollingworth and Croft begin with a robust discussion about a new AI development – using the technology to generate a deepfake video of a murder victim to be played in a US court as a victim impact statement. It's a complex issue, and the pair try to find common ground – but they agree it's a complex issue. The pair then get into the weeds, sorting out the truth regarding the DragonForce ransomware-as-a-service operation, which may or may not be taking over the RansomHub gang. Or maybe the gang is joining DragonForce? It's all very confusing, and Hollingworth and Croft do their best to get to the bottom of a very confusing situation. They also discuss more details that have emerged from behind the scenes of the LockBit gang, and an accidental data breach at the Australian Human Rights Commission. Things get wrapped up with the CIA's bizarre move to recruit Chinese spies, and the rather interesting response of some very dedicated and upset Chinese netizens. It's spycraft in the 21st century, but not as you know it. Enjoy the podcast, The Cyber Uncut team

In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, host Liam Garman is joined by Tim Knight, author of the recently released book Gallipoli Soup, to discuss the Gallipoli campaign and how Knight used narrative to bring to life the challenges faced by both Australian and Turkish soldiers in World War I. The pair begin the podcast unpacking Knight's research methodology, and how a passion for understanding led him to write Gallipoli Soup. They discuss how the book was written in a narrative format, with some fictional characters based heavily on memoirs and diary entries from soldiers, to shine a light on the conditions in Gallipoli. Knight shares some of his key lessons of the campaign, including the geopolitical and political events that led to Gallipoli. Enjoy the podcast, The Contested Ground team

In this episode of the Cyber Uncut podcast, David Hollingworth and Daniel Croft discuss Meta's newly launched AI that will be powered by Facebook, DeepSeek is back in the news, a horror week of hacks for some massive UK retail chains, LockBit, and the wonderful day and night that was last week's Australian Cyber Summit and Australian Cyber Awards. Hollingworth and Croft begin by talking about the latest in artificial intelligence news, with Meta announcing it will be building its next AI based upon information shared on the social network by its users, and China's revelations that it will be using DeepSeek to help develop its next generation of fighter aircraft. The pair then run down the week in cyber crime, with ransomware gang DragonForce potentially being behind a string of disruptive attacks on some big UK retailers, including Harrods and Marks & Spencer – and maybe even behind hacking once dominant ransomware giant LockBit. Hollingworth and Croft also discuss Spectrum Medical Imaging's continuing investigation into its January data breach. The pair wrap things up with a recap of the Australian Cyber Summit and Australian Cyber Awards, held last week. It was a great day and night. The two journalists talk about the importance of giving something back to Australians' network defenders and quality of content presented during the day. Enjoy the podcast, The Cyber Uncut team

In this episode of the Cyber Uncut podcast, host Liam Garman is joined by Lumify lead cyber security instructor Louis Cremen and cyber security lead Jeremy Daly. Together, they unpack the essential cyber security skill sets different organisations need – and how businesses can ensure their teams stay ahead of evolving threats. The discussion kicks off with the value of cyber security training and the most in-demand skills among Australian organisations. Cremen and Daly then explore the ongoing debate between certifications versus hands-on experience – and how to strike the right balance." The episode wraps up by questioning whether businesses are investing enough in their people, even as they spend heavily on tools and platforms. Enjoy the episode, The Cyber Uncut team

In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, hosts Major General (Ret'd) Dr Marcus Thompson, Phil Tarrant and Liam Garman discuss the application of cyber and information in the modern threat environment, and how the White House is changing voting behaviours across the West. They begin the podcast by unpacking Thomas Rid's Cyber War Will Not Take Place, discussing the intricacies of cyber operations and how cyber continues to adhere to the Clausewitzian principles describing the political and physical dimensions of conflict. The conversation then moves across the cyber spectrum to information operations and how cyber is a carriage of information that can be used to destabilise populations. MAJGEN (Ret'd) Dr Thompson and Tarrant unpack Australia's response to global political uncertainty and the threat of tariffs, and how the White House administration is impacting elections across the globe. The podcast wraps up looking at how democracies can use truth as a competitive advantage in the information space. Enjoy the podcast, The Contested Ground team

In this episode of the Cyber Uncut podcast, Daniel Croft and Liam Garman sit down to unpack whether the federal government's social media age restrictions really address the risks young Australians face online and how governments are looking to create backdoors into social media and tech giants. They begin the podcast by discussing Meta's AI-enabled age verification on Instagram and whether it will actually keep children safe online – before examining alternative social media use cases and the risks they pose for young Aussies. Croft and Garman then discuss the recent cyber incident against UK retail giant M&S and its (lack of) communication strategy. The pair wrap up by discussing how Florida lawmakers are pushing to pass a social media backdoor bill and other examples where this has been floated around the world. Enjoy the podcast, The Cyber Daily team

In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, hosts Phil Tarrant and Major General (Ret'd) Dr Marcus Thompson discuss how businesses can build a culture of security in the modern work environment, protecting critical business IP.  They begin the podcast with a short book review of Stephen Gapps' Uprising: War in the colony of New South Wales, unpacking conflict in colonial Australia – and in particular, the Second Wiradyuri War of Resistance. The conversation turns to information security and the regulation and legislation that guides the storing of personal data by businesses. The hosts then unpack how businesses can develop a culture of security through the development of systems and procedures to protect business IP.  Enjoy the podcast, The Contested Ground team

In this episode of the Cyber Uncut podcast, David Hollingworth and Daniel Croft talk about Chris Krebs' extraordinary decision to step down from SentinelOne in order to fight the Trump administration, an array of hacks both global and local, and the importance of funding the essential CVE Program. And China has made fascinating claims about US activity against the Asian Winter Games earlier this year. Hollingworth and Croft kick things off with Chris Krebs, who announced his resignation from SentinelOne this week following the signing of an executive order revoking his security clearance. He doesn't want to distract from SentinelOne's work, and he plans on taking this fight to the US government. Croft and Hollingworth then catch up on the week in cyber crime, with the 4chan message board getting hacked by a rival board, car rental giant Hertz Australia confirming it was caught up in a global Hertz data breach, and local outfit TMA Group of Companies falling victim to Sarcoma ransomware attack. The podcast wraps up with the pair talking about funding uncertainty involving the vital vulnerability-tracking CVE Program and how important the program is as a frontline tool against hackers and nation-state actors. Enjoy the podcast, The Cyber Uncut team  

In this episode of the Cyber Uncut podcast, David Hollingworth and Daniel Croft chat about emissions, credential stuffing attacks targeting Australian super funds, a ransomware attack on a luxury Sydney hotel, and more Donald Trump chaos. Hollingworth and Croft kick things off with some interesting research that estimates the carbon costs of various AI platforms, with Grok AI coming out on top as the least environmentally punishing chatbot, while ChatGPT generates more than four grams of carbon per prompt. The pair then move on to an alarming week of cyber incidents impacting Australian organisations, from the superannuation hacks that saw both data and retirement funds compromised, Western Sydney University admitting that the data of 10,000 students had been accessed by a hacker, and The Fullerton Hotel Sydney confirming it had been the victim of a ransomware attack last month. Hollingworth and Croft wrap things with a discussion of the impact of AI-based threats that could impact the Australian election, lessons learned from last year's US election from SentinelOne's Chris Krebs, and the news that Krebs earned the ire of the US President and having his security clearance removed. Enjoy the podcast, The Cyber Uncut team

In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, hosts Major General (Ret'd) Dr Marcus Thompson and Phil Tarrant discuss the heroic actions of Australian soldiers in World War II, before turning to the big issues in the upcoming federal election. The pair begin the podcast discussing Joan Beaumont's book, Gull Force, and the treatment of Australian prisoners of war on the islands of Ambon and Hainan. They then discuss the role of Australia's Reserves in warfare, before unpacking the fundamental importance of seizing and holding ground in warfare. Thompson and Tarrant then turn to the upcoming federal election, unpacking some of the big issues facing Australian society, including housing policy and building forward-looking infrastructure for Australia's financial future. Enjoy the podcast, The Contested Ground team

In this episode of the Cyber Uncut podcast, David Hollingworth and Daniel Croft discuss local hacks and the rise of a whole new ransomware evolution. Clayton Utz's Brenton Steenkamp and Debevoise & Plimpton's Luke Dembosky also join in to talk about executive risk and governance. Hollingworth and Croft kick things off with a discussion of a fascinating example of data exposure involving a major Australian taxi company and catch up on the local threat landscape. The pair then talk about the continuing fallout of a very unserious Trump administration and how one of the most important officials serving the White House is using his personal email for important government business. Finally, Hollingworth welcomes two guests to the podcast. Luke Dembosky has been a US federal prosecutor, diplomat in Moscow, and Department of Justice deputy chief. Alongside Clayton Utz partner Brenton Steenkamp, the trio explore emerging executive risks and the challenges of the modern cyber security landscape Enjoy the podcast, The Cyber Uncut team

In this episode of the Cyber Uncut podcast, host David Hollingworth and journalist Daniel Croft talk about Apple backdoors, Facebook bans, the disastrous Signal chat that exposed the highest levels of the Trump administration as less than security-minded and how we report on exposed databases. Hollingworth and Croft get the ball rolling with a news wrap-up focusing on malware posing as Chinese chatbot DeepSeek, Papua New Guinea's new trial Facebook ban, and behind-closed-door deliberations on the UK's efforts to get a backdoor into Apple devices. After a short break, the pair get to the biggest story of the week – a leaked Signal chat between senior Trump administration officials that somehow had an American journalist added to the chat. Hollingworth and Croft talk about the security implications, the proper use of apps like Signal, and the alarming revelation that JD Vance may have been the smartest person in the room. To round things out for the week, Croft talks about a recent database exposure suffered by a popular Australian hardware chain, why reporting on data leaks and breaches can be a difficult thing to cover, and why not all data leaks are equal. Enjoy the podcast, The Cyber Uncut team.

In this episode of the Cyber Uncut podcast, Raj Samani, senior vice president and chief scientist at Rapid7, joins host Liam Garman to unpack how nation-state threats are actively targeting Australian organisations - and how we can proactively prepare for future attacks. They begin the podcast by looking at those groups that are most actively targeting Australian organisations and how their strategies are different from traditional cyber crime. Samani then unpacks some of the most common mistakes he sees from Australian organisations that are leaving them vulnerable to ransomware, before diving into the operating models of these threat actors, from negotiations to double extortion tactics. The pair then wrap up the podcast by looking at how companies can improve their post-breach response and resilience and the actionable steps they must take to stay ahead of emerging risks. To listen to Samani's previous appearance on the Cyber Uncut podcast, click here. Enjoy the podcast, The Cyber Uncut team.

In this episode of the Cyber Uncut podcast, 4walls founder and managing director Nik Devidas sat down with host Liam Garman to discuss the technological knowledge gap between company boards and strong cyber security and how 4walls is closing it. The podcast starts by outlining how boards can be overwhelmed with technical language and information when dealing with cyber security. The pair then discuss the concept of maintaining and updating an understanding of cyber security to keep up with an ever-evolving landscape. Speaking of a changing landscape, Devidas and Garman finish up by weighing up the impact of AI on the cyber security landscape and how organisations are adopting the technology without introducing protective controls. Enjoy the podcast, The Cyber Uncut team

In this episode of the Cyber Uncut podcast, Aaron Bugal, field chief technology officer at Sophos, sits down with host Liam Garman to talk about the fight against ransomware, the growing threat to Australian businesses, and what can be done to tackle the problem. The podcast opens with a discussion of ransomware trends and how cyber criminals choose their targets based on vulnerability and opportunity. Bugal then expands on how AI is a tool both for malicious actors and cyber defenders and explains how Sophos is deploying AI to help businesses better protect themselves from an array of threats. Garman and Bugal wrap up the podcast with some practical advice for Australian businesses and how they can prepare to face a critical cyber incident. Enjoy the podcast, The Cyber Uncut team

In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, hosts Major General (Ret'd) Dr Marcus Thompson, Phil Tarrant and Liam Garman unpack the risk of alliance abandonment in the face of moves from the White House and their implications for a changing Asia-Pacific region. The podcast begins with an analysis into how fears of alliance abandonment have led to renewed commitments to national security collaboration between European powers. They then unpack whether "deal making" is a strong enough consideration to overcome ideological and philosophical partnerships in the competition for global power. Dr Thompson, Tarrant and Garman wrap up the podcast looking at hedging and balancing strategies in the Indo-Pacific, and whether realpolitik will take centre stage as nations continuously manoeuvre their alliance structures. Enjoy the podcast, The Contested Ground team

In this episode of the Cyber Uncut podcast, host David Hollingworth and journalist Daniel Croft talk about AI in Chinese electric vehicles (EVs), a horrible week for Aussie healthcare organisations, and unspeakable deepfake videos. Hollingworth and Croft begin by catching up on a report from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute on the possible dangers posed by Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers adopting DeepSeek for in-car AI. The pair then run down the latest news in Australian cyber crime, with three healthcare organisations – including the fertility clinic Genea – getting targeted by hackers, and discuss the implications of medical data going public and the very real dangers it poses to patients. Then, to round out the week, Hollingworth and Croft try not to cry while talking about a ludicrous AI-generated video illustrating Donald Trump's holiday resort fantasy for Gaza and a horrifying deepfake of Trump and Elon Musk in an awkwardly intimate encounter. Enjoy the podcast, The Cyber Uncut team

In this episode of the Cyber Uncut podcast, host David Hollingworth and journalist Daniel Croft discuss the week that was with DeepSeek versus South Korea, the latest ransomware news, and two malware campaigns spreading their payloads via video games. Hollingworth and Croft open with what is becoming a regular chat about the trials and travails of Chinese AI DeepSeek, which this week violated South Korean data privacy laws. The pair also discuss Elon Musk's attempt to buy out OpenAI and his efforts to ban chat-up Signal on his X platform. Hollingworth then discusses how ransomware-as-a-service operations are driving a sharp increase in ransomware attacks. The pair then discuss some of the more alarming Australian hacks this week: the Australian National University and IVF clinic Genea. Finally, it's time to talk video games, with game distribution platform Steam pulling a game that was spreading an info stealer, and a seemingly Russian campaign that was installing crypto-mining malware via torrented games. Enjoy the podcast, The Cyber Uncut team

In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, host Liam Garman welcomes Cyber Daily's David Hollingworth, a cyber security expert and Cyber Uncut podcast host, to unpack the latest in hacking and cyber security in the new era of grey-zone warfare and nation-state cyber attacks. They begin the podcast examining real world examples of warfare-motivated hacking, threat actors for hire, the impact of cyber threats and incidents for nations around the world. They then discuss the differences between "smash-and-grab" ransomware attacks with persistent and embedded state-sponsored cyber attacks. The podcast wraps up examining the increasing speed, accuracy and impact of cyber attacks on industry and government infrastructure across international lines. Enjoy the podcast, The Contested Ground team

In this episode of the Cyber Uncut podcast, host David Hollingworth talks about all the latest AI and cyber news with journalist Daniel Croft - more local ransomware attacks, more data breaches, and scams to watch out for. Hollingworth and Croft open once again with all the latest AI news, from more bans of the Chinese chatbot DeepSeek to Elon Musk and a whole bunch of venture capitalists wanting to buy OpenAI to Sam Altman's promise that AI will inevitably get cheaper over time. The pair then discuss the week of cyber attacks against Australian organisations. From medical imaging data of Aussies being posted to the dark web to a ransomware gang taking responsibility for hacking an Australian university, it's been a grim week in cyber crime. Finally, it's Valentine's Day, and scammers will be out in force, so Hollingworth runs through some common scams to watch out for. Croft then discusses a win for Australian investigators against a Russian hosting service facilitating hackers targeting local companies and individuals. Enjoy the podcast, The Cyber Uncut team

In this episode of the Cyber Uncut podcast, host Liam Garman quizzes Cyber Daily's deputy editor, David Hollingworth, on geopolitics, cyber crime reporting, and the latest hacking news. Garman and Hollingworth begin with a discussion about DeepSeek and its geopolitical implications, as well as its biases and possible advantages over other GenAI products – and the fact that it probably cannot be trusted. Hollingworth then goes into a deep dive about cyber crime reporting: why it matters, how companies should include media response as part of their planning for attacks, and some of the ways companies can do better when handling that first phone call from a journalist planning on writing a story. The pair finish up by talking about North Korean hackers using LinkedIn to lure their victims into installing a swathe of malware and a general look at the state of cyber politics. Enjoy the podcast, The Cyber Uncut team

In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, hosts Major General (Ret'd) Dr Marcus Thompson, Liam Garman and Phil Tarrant unpack the latest in the AI race, and how the United States is seeking to use tariffs to regain the economic edge. They begin the podcast examining the DeepSeek phenomenon, why Nvidia share prices took a hit, and looking under the hood to see if the tech is as good as advertised. They then look at the recent threats and imposition of tariffs and how this will impact the US, and whether a strengthening US dollar is indicative of growing consumer optimism. The podcast wraps up examining the relationship between foreign aid and national security and moves in the US to suspend aid. Enjoy the podcast, The Contested Ground team

In this episode of the Cyber Uncut podcast, hosts David Hollingworth and Daniel Croft look back on their week reporting on cyber crime in Australia and abroad. Croft opens the show with a round-up of the biggest story of the week – Chinese AI platform DeepSeek. From how it works, why it's trashed NVIDIA's stock, and the very real security concerns, DeepSeek is going to be a story for some time. Hollingworth then looks at the recent spate of ransomware posts made by the Clop gang – it promised last year that it had stolen a lot of data via vulnerabilities in Cleo's file transfer software, and over the weekend, the gang posted the details of 60 victims, including three Australian firms. Finally, after talking about the dangers of mistaken identity in cyber crime reporting, the pair talk about infamous hacker IntelBroker and his decision to retire from the role of admin on a popular hacking forum. Enjoy the podcast, The Cyber Uncut team

As the global economy and political environment continue to become increasingly unpredictable, hosts Phil Tarrant, Major General (Ret'd) Dr Marcus Thompson and Liam Garman unpack what's in store for 2025 using diplomacy, information, military and economic (DIME) analysis. This podcast represents the second of two episodes, where the hosts provide insight into the latest military and economic events, and how they impact us at home in Australia. The trio begin examining the recent appointment of Pete Hegseth as the US Secretary of Defense and how the incoming administration will shape the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific. They then look at the global economy, and whether the US economy will undergo a resurgence with a strengthening US dollar and an ambition to reduce the government's $36 trillion debt. Enjoy the podcast, The Contested Ground team

In this episode of the Cyber Uncut podcast, hosts David Hollingworth and Daniel Croft look back on their week reporting on cyber crime in Australia and abroad. Croft and Hollingworth talk about a hack that really wasn't – the 2023 Dymocks data breach is commonly resold on hacking forums, and Croft has found another instance of an enterprising type trying to make money from a previous compromise, and it did not end well for them. Finally, the pair discuss how hacktivists crave publicity in return for very little actual hacking and Hewlett Packard Enterprise's (HPE) most recent investigation into another alleged data breach, before talking about the state of cyber crime reporting in the first month of 2025. Buckle in; it's going to be one heck of a year. Enjoy the podcast, The Cyber Uncut team

As the global economy and political environment continue to become increasingly unpredictable, hosts Phil Tarrant, Major General (Ret'd) Dr Marcus Thompson and Liam Garman unpack what's in store for 2025 using diplomacy, information, military and economic (DIME) analysis. This podcast represents the first of two episodes, where the hosts provide insight into the latest diplomatic and information events, and how they impact us at home in Australia. The trio begin by examining the recent ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, and whether it will likely hold in the current environment. They then turn to the Ukraine War and Britain's 100-year pledge. They then look at the incoming White House's approach to TikTok, and whether information should be considered a military domain. Stay tuned for the next episode, where the trio unpack military and economic power. Enjoy the podcast, The Contested Ground team

In this episode of the Cyber Uncut podcast, hosts David Hollingworth and Daniel Croft take yet another look back at a year of cyber incidents and talk about how 2024 saw incidents rise by almost half again. The pair also look at a hacktivist group targeting Australian websites, the still ongoing UnitedHealth saga, a dangerous hacking that may be on the horizon, and the latest in ransomware attacks on Australian organisations. Hollingworth and Croft kick off the chat with Check Point Software Technologies' look back at the year that was, with 2024 seeing 44 per cent more cyber incidents than the previous year. The pair talk about how that matches their expectations, from nation-state actors to hacktivists and, of course, ransomware and cyber crime. Croft then goes into his own investigations into the RipperSec hacktivist group, while Hollingworth looks into vulnerabilities impacting a popular firewall device that has been extensively exploited in the past and could well be about to be hacked en masse again. Finally, Croft looks at the latest chapter in the UnitedHealth hack from last year and some rather disturbing allegations that the giant insurance company is not entirely being above board with its reporting. The pair then look back at the week that just passed and the nearly half-dozen ransomware attacks targeting organisations in the ANZ region. It's been a busy start to the year. Enjoy the podcast, The Cyber Uncut team

How might the recent threat from US President-elect Donald Trump impact practitioners in this space? In this recent crossover episode of the Contested Ground podcast, Jerome Doraisamy, editor of Lawyers Weekly, sat down with The Shipping Lawyer, Alison Cusack, to discuss the shipping law landscape in 2024 and what was learnt from that year, the recent threat from Donald Trump to take back control of the Panama Canal and the history of the canal (and lessons from the Suez Canal experience). Cusack also discusses the frequency with which shipping lawyers have to adapt to geopolitical shifts and navigate client expectations. Enjoy the podcast, The Contested Ground team

In this episode of the Cyber Uncut podcast, hosts David Hollingworth and Daniel Croft wonder if they can fill a podcast with just four days of news in the new year, and of course, they can. From a hacker with a habit of going after big political targets to some of the big numbers of the previous year to geopolitics and terrorist data breaches, 2025 has kicked off with a bang. Hollingworth starts things off with notorious hacker Natohub's latest exploits – leaking the recruitment data of around 42,000 recruitment forms belonging to the United Nations' International Civil Aviation Organization. It's far from the hacker's first rodeo, so Hollingworth and Croft go over some of past exploits as well. Croft talks up the curious case of the hacker who managed to breach the terrorist organisation ISIS. Meanwhile, Hollingworth goes over some cyber incident statistics from 2024, including the fact that Europe was the most hacked region on the planet, mostly driven by the war in Ukraine. The pair also discuss a Ukrainian success story following the total disruption of a Russian ISP by Ukrainian hackers. The pair round things up with a playful look at a recent case of the European Union fining itself over a GDPR violation, and some exciting news for the Cyber Daily website. Enjoy the podcast, The Cyber Uncut team

In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, hosts Phil Tarrant and Liam Garman are joined by Momentum Media's senior defence and national security analyst and government relations manager, Steve Kuper, to discuss the latest geopolitical developments. The trio discuss the key developments over the Christmas and New Year period that are setting the scene for a truly transformative midway point for the 2020s. They also discuss: Ongoing diplomatic efforts by the incoming Trump administration to resolve the Russia–Ukraine war and the situation on the ground. The Boxing Day revelation of apparent sixth-generation fighter aircraft by the People's Republic of China and Beijing's ambitious ship commissioning schedule for 2025, which will dramatically reshape the balance of power. The implications of the incoming Trump administration on the global geopolitical and economic environment. Enjoy the podcast, The Contested Ground team

In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, Phil Tarrant, Major General (Ret'd) Marcus Thompson and Liam Garman discuss the fall of Bashar al-Assad and the ongoing Israel–Hamas war. They begin the podcast debating whether the unfolding Israel–Hamas conflict will have the same level of strategic significance for Israel as the Yom Kippur War or the Six-Day War. Tarrant, Thompson and Garman then discuss how the conflict has altered the balance of power in the Middle East, severing Iran's crescent of influence by weakening Hamas and Hezbollah, coupled with the fall of Assad. They wrap up the podcast examining what nations, if any, might assume the role of a security benefactor in the Middle East with a weakened Iran, and emerging open-source intelligence (OSINT) collection vectors. Enjoy the podcast, The Contested Ground team

In this episode of the Cyber Uncut podcast, hosts David Hollingworth and Daniel Croft take a look back at some of the biggest and most intriguing stories of the year, from CrowdStrike's outage and amazing response to the takedown of ransomware giant LockBit. Croft kicks off with the epic story of the Change Healthcare hack, which saw the data of about a third of the population of the United States compromised. But it wasn't just the scale of the hack; it was also the behind-the-scenes manoeuvering between greedy ransomware-as-a-service operators, hacker affiliates just wanting to get paid, and a company realising that it really does have to pay an exorbitant ransom. The pair then discuss the takedown of ransomware giant LockBit and the remarkably sassy response of the law enforcement agencies behind the operation, before looking back at another ransomware operation that turned out to be nothing but an extensive scam. Lastly, Croft and Hollingworth look back at July's CrowdStrike outage, both its wide-ranging impact and what turned out to be an excellent and comprehensive response from CrowdStrike itself, before turning the gaze forward to wonder what they might see in 2025. Enjoy the podcast, The Cyber Uncut team

In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, Phil Tarrant, Major General (Ret'd) Dr Marcus Thompson and Liam Garman discuss the ongoing war in Ukraine and the future of warfighting in the information domain. They begin the podcast unpacking major national security developments for 2024 and how global powers have continued to exploit the grey zone, before unpacking an absence of ownership of the information domain in Australia when examining the DIME construct – diplomacy, information, military, and economic. The trio then discuss Ukraine's exploitation of the information environment, and how the modern battlefield nevertheless reflects the Clauswitzian notion that the nature of war never changes. Tarrant, Thompson and Garman then predict how the incoming US administration will impact the conflict. Enjoy the podcast, The Contested Ground team

In this episode of the Cyber Uncut podcast, hosts David Hollingworth and Daniel Croft discuss a widespread hacking campaign by a network of hacktivist groups and an alleged data breach impacting United States Marine Corps personnel. The pair also catch up on the evolving case of the apparent assassination of UnitedHealthcare's CEO and talk about the threat of Chinese espionage operations against telecommunications companies. Hollingworth and Croft begin by breaking down a campaign by a raft of pro-Russian and pro-Palestine hacktivist groups that recently targeted more than 60 Australian organisations, taking websites offline, defacing others, and even getting into a handful of operational technology environments. Croft then breaks down an alleged data breach that saw the personal details of thousands of US Marine Corps personnel leaked on a popular hacking forum. He also goes into some detail about the challenges of reporting and investigating data leaks. Finally, Hollingworth and Croft catch up on the latest developments in the case of the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson and then share stories from a pair of recent discussions with experts from CrowdStrike and BlackBerry regarding the insidious threat of Chinese espionage efforts in the telecommunications sector. Enjoy the podcast, The Cyber Uncut team

In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, special host Steve Kuper is joined by co-host Major General (Ret'd) Marcus Thompson and AMP's chief economist, Shane Oliver, to discuss the latest economic data and what it means for the nation's economic and national security. The trio discuss the recently released Australian gross domestic product figures and the impact of Australia's ailing economy on national security. They also discuss: Australia's collapsing productivity and the growth of record government spending on the national economy and the baked-in, long-term structural deficits that will characterise the future fiscal outlook for the country. The need to boost economic complexity and diversity to better prepare the nation to face the mounting geopolitical and “whole-of-nation” efforts being leveraged against Australia in this new multipolar world and how best to deliver such a monumental change. The urgent need for a serious national debate with the Australian public about the future of the country and its economic future and the intersection of national security. Enjoy the podcast, The Contested Ground team

In this episode of the Cyber Uncut podcast, hosts Liam Garman and Daniel Croft discuss recent changes in Australian cyber policy and recent cyber crime activity. The two debate the controversial social media ban and the use of AI in university assessments, before discussing a website defacement case that could be the start of something much bigger, as well as the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. The podcast begins with a discussion of Sydney University's move to allow students to use AI tools for assessments, one that Croft believes could prepare students for a future AI workplace, while Garman thinks it deprives students of higher, critical thought. The two then debate the recently passed social media age ban, what it means for young people's mental health on and offline and the way it was approached by the government. Croft then outlines a case of website defacement on an Australian disability service provider, which could be the start of a wider campaign, as the threat group has begun forming alliances with other cyber criminals, all with their sights on Australia. Finally, Garman and Croft don their tinfoil hats to speculate on theories as to why the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, which had suffered a massive ransomware attack this year, was gunned down in New York. Enjoy the podcast, The Cyber Uncut team

In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, special host Steve Kuper is joined by Jennifer Parker, expert associate at the National Security College, Australian National University and a former Navy officer, to discuss the growing need for an Australian Coast Guard. The pair discuss the mounting level of hybrid and grey zone warfare in the maritime commons and economic exclusion zones across the Indo-Pacific and Southeast Asia, which has prompted a radical shift among regional nations seeking to secure their maritime interests. The pair also discuss: The impact on the naval surface fleet as it is increasingly called upon to engage in maritime border patrol and security missions across Australia's vast maritime area of responsibility. The regional trend towards establishing a formalised Coast Guard to ease the burden on regional navies and a variety of models available for Australian consideration. The history of Australia's push towards developing a Coast Guard and the opportunity to provide an additional contributing capability for national security in the event of conflict in the region. Enjoy the podcast, The Contested Ground team

In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, Major General (Ret'd) Dr Marcus Thompson, Liam Garman and Phil Tarrant unpack findings from the Australian Signals Directorate's (ASD) Annual Cyber Threat Report 2023-2024 and the challenge of building a governance framework that disrupts the purveyors of disinformation.  The trio unpack findings from the ASD, in particular the ongoing risk Australia's critical infrastructure providers face at the hand of adversarial nation-state actors, and how Australia must prepare for this growing risk.  They then discuss what governance frameworks the government can implement to disrupt the proliferation of disinformation and misinformation online, while being careful to protect liberal values such as freedom of expression.  Enjoy the podcast, The Contested Ground team 

In this episode of the Cyber Uncut podcast, hosts David Hollingworth and Daniel Croft break down the last week in the cyber world. We talk politics, policy, and the truly terrible legislation that is the social media ban, before moving on to talk about recent ransomware attacks and data breaches impacting Australian businesses. The podcast begins with Croft unpacking the new Cyber Security Act that passed into law this week, before both joining in for a discussion with Hollingworth about the social media age ban that is being more or less rammed through Parliament. The pair lay out their objections to the legislation, the harm it might do the children it is trying to protect, and how it might be enforced. Croft then outlines a data breach that may be impacting up to 47,000 Telstra employees, while Hollingworth launches into some background on a new ransomware gang, SafePay, that has been targeting Australian businesses. Finally, the pair wrap up with a general discussion on some of the pitfalls of cyber security reporting. Enjoy the podcast, The Cyber Uncut team

In this episode of the Cyber Uncut podcast, independent cyber security executive Tony Vizza and Lumify lead cyber security trainer Louis Cremen join host Liam Garman to discuss whether boards truly understand cyber security risks – and whether they are doing enough to manage them.  They begin the podcast by unpacking how boards can have a greater understanding of the risk of cyber incidents to organisations and how they differ from other elements of risk that face businesses.  Vizza and Cremen then discuss whether board members are told the full story by management and whether they should undertake their own cyber security training. The podcast wraps up by analysing the security implications of AI and how businesses can prepare their incident response plans. Enjoy the podcast, The Cyber Uncut team

In this episode of the Cyber Uncut podcast, Genetec's Asia-Pacific sales engineering and services manager, Lee Shelford, joins host Liam Garman to discuss the world of physical security and how Genetec's software-as-a-service (SaaS) solution is keeping public and private organisations safe.  The podcast begins analysing the evolution of physical security, from rudimentary alarm systems to today's SaaS-enabled physical control solutions.  Shelford then discusses how this solution keeps businesses safe: from using data analytics to streamline access control to automating endpoint cyber security.  The pair then discuss the myth of the airgap, and the company's expansion into the Australia-New Zealand market, with Australia proving to be a world leader in this technology. They wrap up by discussing how Genetec helps businesses on their journey, whether they want cloud-enabled physical security devices or on-premises capabilities.  Enjoy the podcast, The Cyber Uncut team

In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, shadow minister for communications and federal member for Banks David Coleman joins host Liam Garman to discuss the recent misinformation bill that will leave free speech and political discourse in Australia. They begin the podcast with a recap of what's in the bill, including how the government will determine what constitutes misinformation or disinformation. Coleman and Garman then unpack some unforeseen consequences of the bill, including how it may impact religious freedoms and genuine political discourse. The podcast wraps up discussing the government's push to remove under-16s from social media. Enjoy the podcast, The Contested Ground team

In this episode of the Cyber Uncut podcast, host Liam Garman is joined by Aaron Bugal, field chief technology officer at Sophos, to unpack how businesses can keep themselves safe in the face of an ever-evolving threat environment.  The pair begin the podcast by examining recent research from the company's X-Ops division and how professionals should prioritise disrupting criminal networks with a reminder that ransomware is merely a means to an end for attackers.  They then examine how AI is being used to detect threats and the need for businesses to adopt zero-trust security modes. Bugal and Garman then wrap up by looking at the evolving characteristics of ransomware and how businesses can employ geo-blocking.  Enjoy the podcast, The Cyber Uncut team  

In this episode of the Cyber Uncut podcast, Dawn Cappelli, head of OT-CERT at Dragos, joins host Liam Garman to unpack how governments and the industry are responding to current and emerging ICS/OT threats. The pair begin the podcast by examining how operational technology is becoming more interconnected with the digital world and what emerging vulnerabilities providers should be aware of for the future. Cappelli and Garman then look into whether government regulations are keeping pace with evolving threats and whether artificial intelligence is transforming the world of operational technology. They wrap up the podcast by discussing some pertinent case studies, zero trust, and what the landscape of operational technology security will look like over the next decade. Enjoy the podcast, The Cyber Uncut team  

In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, Liam Garman is joined by senator for Queensland Matthew Canavan to discuss resource and food security, international politics and Australian domestic policy. The pair begin the podcast discussing voting trends in Australia and the results of the recent Queensland election. They then examine the need for a robust policy platform that supports Australia's resources industry, protecting national sovereignty, delivering jobs and economic growth. Senator Canavan and Garman then unpack the economic impact of trade embargoes on Australia's finances, before examining the need for effective biosecurity legislation to protect Australian farmers. Finally, the pair discuss the intersection between resources and building a skilled workforce. Enjoy the podcast, The Contested Ground team

In this episode of the Cyber Uncut podcast, Sadiq Iqbal, sales engineering lead and evangelist, office of the CTO at Check Point Software, joins host Liam Garman to discuss platformisation in cyber security and the importance of interoperability for cyber security tools. The pair begin the podcast by looking at recent developments in cyber security and why businesses continue to be breached despite the wide range of cyber security solutions available today. They then examine how to ensure that third-party tools can collaborate to provide holistic security and how Check Point's Infinity platform can keep users safe. They wrap up the podcast by discussing how Infinity can ensure regulatory compliance and how Check Point has been able to leverage lessons from its reverse engineering department to support clients. Enjoy the podcast, The Cyber Uncut team

In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, interviewer Defence Connect senior journalist Robert Dougherty is joined by former Australian prime minister Scott Morrison. Morrison, non-executive vice chairman of American Global Strategies, has recently announced a new role as chairman of Space Centre Australia, a planned spaceport in far north Queensland. He has also recently concluded a lecture at the Yomiuri International Economic Society in Tokyo in September. The pair discuss: The Australian government's priorities for space and support of domestic space industry. The sudden blooming of interest in space innovation and its increasingly contested environment between international players. The AUKUS and QUAD alliances in regard to the Indo-Pacific. The upcoming US presidential election on 5 November and forecasts for Australian policy under a Republican or Democratic victory. Enjoy the podcast, The Contested Ground team

In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, co-host Liam Garman is joined by Steve Kuper, senior analyst and government relations manager at Defence Connect, to unpack deepening social tensions in the United States ahead of the US election. The pair begin the podcast discussing whether modern journalism, with a focus on opinion over reporting, has worsened the political divide in the US. Kuper and Garman then discuss Russian interference during the 2016 election and give insight into the Senate's findings on how protest movements were exploited to achieve Russia's political objectives. Enjoy the podcast, The Contested Ground team

In this episode of the Cyber Uncut podcast, Seamus Lennon, vice president of operations for EMEA at ThreatLocker, joins host Liam Garman to unpack why businesses need to strengthen their endpoint security and implement a zero-trust strategy in today's security environment. The pair begin the podcast by looking at today's cyber security environment, unpacking why businesses have overlooked endpoint security and the need for zero trust. They then examine ThreatLocker's future innovation and how it will continue defending businesses amid increasing sophistication from threat actors, including current ransomware trends. They wrap up the podcast by discussing the company's continued Australian growth, including helping local organisations implement the Essential Eight. Enjoy the podcast, The Cyber Uncut team

In this episode of the Cyber Uncut podcast, Michael Mestrovich, chief information security officer at data security firm Rubrik, joins host Liam Garman to examine the nature of modern cyber security threats, how much easier it is to become a cyber criminal, and keeping up with changing regulations. The pair begin the podcast with a discussion on the evolution of ransomware and the intersection of state financially motivated cyber crime. Mestrovich and Garman then examine the role of zero trust as the backbone of cyber security and the importance of cyber resilience. The podcast wraps up with a deep dive into data security posture management and looks at some of the challenges the sector will to face in the coming years. Enjoy the podcast, The Cyber Uncut team