Cyberside Chats: Cybersecurity Insights from the Experts

AI-generated deepfakes and voice phishing attacks are rapidly evolving, tricking even the most tech-savvy professionals. In this episode of Cyberside Chats, we break down real-world cases where cybercriminals used deepfake videos, voice clones, and trusted platforms like YouTube, Google, and Apple to bypass security defenses. Learn how these scams work and what IT and security leaders can do to protect their organizations. 

Takeaways: 

• Educate Staff on Deep Fake & Voice Cloning Threats – Train employees to recognize red flags in AI-generated phishing attempts, including voice calls that sound slightly robotic, rushed password reset requests, and unexpected changes in vendor communications. 

• Verify Before You Trust – Encourage employees to independently verify unexpected requests, even if they appear to come from trusted platforms (e.g., YouTube, Apple, Google). Use known contacts, not the contact information in the suspicious message. 

• Strengthen MFA Policies – Require phishing-resistant MFA methods (e.g., FIDO2 security keys) and educate users on MFA fatigue attacks, where criminals bombard them with authentication requests to wear them down. 

• Limit Publicly Available Information – Reduce exposure by minimizing executives' and employees' personal and professional information online, as attackers use this data to create convincing deepfakes and social engineering schemes. 
• Monitor Trusted Platforms for Abuse – Attackers are exploiting YouTube, Google Forms, and other legitimate services to distribute phishing content. Set up alerts and regularly review security logs for unusual access attempts or fraudulent messages. 

Tune in to understand the impact of digital deception and discover practical steps to safeguard against these innovative yet insidious attacks affecting individuals and businesses alike.

#Deepfakes #Phishing #SocialEngineering #CISO #Cyberattacks #VoicePhishing #Cybersecurity #VoiceCloning #CybersideChats

Recent telecom breaches have exposed a critical security risk for businesses everywhere. Nation-state hackers and cybercriminals are stealing metadata, tracking high-profile targets, and even intercepting calls—all without breaking into corporate networks. In this episode, we analyze major telecom hacks, including the Salt Typhoon breach, and share practical strategies for IT leaders to protect their organizations from targeted attacks using telecom data. 

Key Takeaways: 

• Strengthen authentication for financial transactions. Don’t rely on the phone!  

• Train staff to recognize spoofed calls and phishing texts that mimic trusted partners. Stay aware – assume telecom metadata can be weaponized 

• Limit what employees share over calls and texts. Consider using encrypted communications, such as Signal, for any highly sensitive conversations.  

• Require telecom service providers to disclose security practices and past breaches 

• Have a contingency plan for telecom outages, including backup communication channels and alternative ways to verify urgent requests. 

Don't forget to follow our podcast for fresh, weekly cybersecurity news!

#Cybersecurity #TelecomSecurity #SaltTyphoon #Spoofing #Metadata #Infosec #Phishing #CyberThreats #NationStateHackers #BusinessSecurity #CybersideChats #EncryptedCommunications #ITSecurity

The March 2025 Microsoft Outlook outage left thousands of organizations scrambling. But this wasn’t just an isolated event—recent outages from CrowdStrike, AT&T, and UK banks highlight the systemic risks businesses face. In this episode, we break down the latest Microsoft outage, discuss its impact on cyber insurance, and provide actionable steps to help organizations reduce the risk of business disruption.

Join Sherri Davidoff and Matt Durrin as they discuss the broader implications of such outages, emphasizing the importance of effective risk management, especially for organizations heavily reliant on cloud services.

Actionable Takeaways:

• Develop a Communications Plan – Ensure employees have backup communication methods for cloud service outages.
• Strengthen Vendor Risk Management – Assess dependencies on critical providers and establish alternative solutions.
• Test Business Continuity Plans (BCP) – Run outage simulations to improve response time and decision-making.
• Evaluate Cyber Insurance Coverage – Confirm policies include business interruption coverage, not just cyberattacks.
• Monitor for Early Warnings – Set up alerts for vendor status updates and cybersecurity advisories.
• Reduce Single Points of Failure – Implement multi-cloud or hybrid infrastructure to avoid total reliance on a single provider.

Links & References:

• Microsoft’s Global Outage Coverage (CNBC)
• Cyber Insurance Report – Business Interruption Trends (AM Best)
• CrowdStrike Q4 2025 Earnings Report
• UK Banking System Outage (The Times)
• World Economic Forum Cybersecurity Outlook 2025

#microsoft #microsoftoutage #cybersecurity #cyberaware #businesscontinuityplanning #businesscontinuity #cyberinsurance #LMGsecurity #CybersideChats

Do you think your old cloud storage is harmless? Think again. This week on Cyberside Chats, Sherri and Matt dive into shocking new research from Watchtowr that reveals how hackers can take over abandoned Amazon S3 buckets—and use them to infiltrate government agencies, Fortune 500 companies, and critical infrastructure. We’ll break down real-world examples of how this risk can be exploited, including malware-laced software updates, hijacked VPN configurations, and compromised open-source dependencies. Plus, we’ll share practical strategies to protect your organization from this growing cybersecurity threat!

Links & Resources: 

• Watchtowr’s Research on Abandoned S3 Buckets: https://labs.watchtowr.com/8-million-requests-later-we-made-the-solarwinds-supply-chain-attack-look-amateur/ 

• How Encryption Works by Sherri: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALsXbShTWJk 

• LMG Security’s Cloud Security Audits: https://www.LMGsecurity.com/services/advisory-compliance/cloud-security-assessment/ 

Like what you heard? Subscribe to Cyberside Chats for more expert cybersecurity insights every week. 

#cybersecurity #databreach #AWS #S3 #CISO #Cloud #AWSsecurity #Hackers #Infosec #IncidentResponse

In this episode of Cyberside Chats, we dive into the world of ransomware, focusing on the notorious Ghost Ransomware Gang. Recently flagged by the FBI and CISA, Ghost has targeted organizations in over 70 countries. We explore their methods of infiltration, with a spotlight on outdated software vulnerabilities, and discuss how organizations can fortify their defenses.

We'll also provide insights into the broader ransomware landscape, including trends and statistics for 2024, and offer practical advice on protecting against these cyber threats. Lastly, we delve into the operations of the RansomHub group, revealing their so-called 'ethical' hacking practices.

Join Sherri Davidoff and Matt Durrin as they unravel these cyber threats and equip you with strategies to safeguard your organization.

#ransomware #ransomwareattacks #cybersecurity #cyberaware #GhostRansomware #CISA

Zero-day exploits are hitting faster than ever—are you ready? This week, we dive into the U.S. Treasury breach, which we now know involved multiple zero-days, including a newly discovered flaw in BeyondTrust’s security software. Attackers aren’t just targeting IT systems anymore—they’re coming for security tools themselves to gain privileged access. 

We also cover new zero-days in Microsoft, Apple, and Android, and why time-to-exploit has dropped from 32 days to just 5. Plus, we’ll share key defensive strategies to help you stay ahead. 

The race between attackers and defenders is accelerating—don’t get left behind. 

Takeaways: How You Can Defend Against These Threats 

• Patch Faster—Automate Where Possible 
  With zero-days being exploited in days, manual patching isn’t fast enough. Automate patching for high-risk, internet-exposed systems. 

• Monitor Known Exploits & Zero-Days 
  Stay ahead of threats with the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog: https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog. 

• Strengthen Privileged Access & Network Segmentation 
  Security tools like BeyondTrust are high-value targets—lock them down. Limit exposure: if attackers breach one system, they shouldn’t be able to pivot everywhere. 

• Threat Hunt for Exploitation Attempts 
  Don’t wait for alerts—assume exploitation is happening. Look for privilege escalations, odd script executions, and unexpected admin account changes. 

• Assess & Limit Third-Party Risks 
  Security vendors are part of your attack surface—evaluate them like you would any other software provider. Make sure they follow secure development practices, have clear incident response plans, and communicate openly about vulnerabilities and patches.  

Helpful Links & Resources 

• CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog: https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog 
  LMG’s Software Supply Chain Webinar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cB8iriZJ57k 

• Google’s Cybersecurity Forecast 2025 report: https://cloud.google.com/security/resources/cybersecurity-forecast 

In this episode of Cyberside Chats, Sherri and Matt dive into a shocking new cybersecurity controversy at the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). A rogue email server, installed outside normal security controls, has raised alarms about data security risks to millions of federal employees.

We compare this developing situation to the infamous 2015 OPM hack, in which state-sponsored attackers stole the personal records of over 22 million individuals. Are we witnessing history repeat itself—this time with even more catastrophic consequences?

Topics Covered:

• Flashback to 2015: How weak security and stolen credentials led to one of the worst data breaches in U.S. history.
• The New OPM Scandal: How an unauthorized email server could open the door to ransomware, espionage, and phishing attacks.
• Cybersecurity Risks: Data exfiltration, credential theft, security bypassing, and compliance failures.
• Lessons for IT Leaders: How to detect rogue devices, enforce Zero Trust policies, and prevent a breach before it happens.

If the rogue OPM server isn’t secured, millions of federal employees could face serious risks. Listen to learn more. Do you think history is repeating itself with cybersecurity lapses going unchecked? What do you think? Drop your thoughts in the comments.

Tune in again next Tuesday for another episode of Cyberside Chats!

DeepSeek or DeepRisk?

A new AI powerhouse is making waves—DeepSeek has skyrocketed in popularity, rivaling top AI models at a fraction of the cost.

But with data stored in China and unknown security safeguards, is your organization at risk? In this episode of Cyberside Chats, Sherri Davidoff and Matt Durrin break down the cybersecurity implications of AI tools like DeepSeek. You'll learn about:

▪ DeepSeek's unique IP exposure risks and cybersecurity challenges.
▪ The growing threat of "Shadow AI" in your organization and supply chain.
▪ How to update your policies, vet vendors, and protect sensitive data in an era of rapidly evolving AI risks.

Join Sherri and Matt as they provide an in-depth look at DeepSeek's cybersecurity risks and explain why your organization must communicate clear acceptable use policies with employees and partners.

Don’t forget to follow us for weekly Cyberside Chats security updates!

🔗 Here’s the LMG Security AI Readiness Checklist we reference in the video:
https://www.LMGsecurity.com/resources/adapting-to-ai-risks-essential-cybersecurity-program-updates

#DeepSeek #cybersecurity #cyberaware #cybersecurityawareness #ciso #cybersecure #aithreats #ai #DeepSeekSecurity