Podcast
Threat Vector by Palo Alto Networks
Hosted by Palo Alto Networks and N2K Networks · EN
Threat Vector is the hit podcast from Palo Alto Networks, with over 1 million downloads and growing. Get inside the minds of top cybersecurity leaders as they break down real threats, smart defenses, and what's coming next.
Each episode features insights from industry experts, customers, and Palo Alto Networks teams. It is built for security pros who want to stay ahead.
48episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Encore: What Happened to Hacker Culture?
Yesterday00:38:02Summary readyEnjoy this encore episode of Threat Vector by Palo Alto Networks. Join David Moulton, Senior Director of Thought Leadership for Unit 42, as he sits down with Kyle Wilhoit,Technical Director of Threat Research at Unit 42, for an intimate conversation about the evolution of hacker culture and cybersecurity. From picking up 2600: The Hacker Quarterly magazines at Barnes & Noble and building beige boxes to leading threat research at Palo Alto Networks, Kyle shares his personal journey into the security community. This conversation explores how AI and automation are lowering barriers for attackers, the professionalization of cybersecurity, and what's been lost and gained in the industry's maturation. Kyle offers practical advice for newcomers who don't fit the traditional mold, emphasizing the importance of curiosity, soft skills, and intellectual humility. Kyle Wilhoit is a seasoned cybersecurity researcher, with more than 15 years of experience studying cybercrime and nation-state threats. He's a frequent speaker at global conferences like Black Hat, FIRST, and SecTor, and has authored two industry-respected books: Hacking Exposed Industrial Control Systems and Operationalizing Threat Intelligence. As a long-standing member of the Black Hat US Review Board and an adjunct instructor, Kyle is deeply involved in shaping both cutting-edge research and the next generation of cybersecurity professionals. Connect with Kyle on LinkedIn Previous appearances on Threat Vector: Inside DeepSeek’s Security Flaws (Mar 31, 2025) https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/resources/podcasts/threat-vector-inside-deepseeks-security-flaws War Room Best Practices (Nov 07, 2024) https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/resources/podcasts/threat-vector-war-room-best-practices Cybersecurity in the AI Era: Insights from Unit 42's Kyle Wilhoit, Director of Threat Research (Jan 11, 2024) https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/resources/podcasts/threat-vector-cybersecurity-in-the-ai-era-insights-from-unit-42s-kyle-wilhoit-director-of-threat-research Learn more about Unit 42's threat research at https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/. Related episodes: For more conversations about AI's impact on cybersecurity, career development in security, and insights from Unit 42 researchers, explore past episodes at: https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/podcasts/threat-vector. Join the conversation on our social media channels: Website: http://www.paloaltonetworks.com/ Threat Research: https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LifeatPaloAltoNetworks/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/palo-alto-networks/ YouTube: @paloaltonetworks Twitter: https://twitter.com/PaloAltoNtwks About Threat Vector Threat Vector, Palo Alto Networks podcast, is your premier destination for security thought leadership. Join us as we explore pressing cybersecurity threats, robust protection strategies, and the latest industry trends. The podcast features in-depth discussions with industry leaders, Palo Alto Networks experts, and customers, providing crucial insights for security decision-makers. Whether you're looking to stay ahead of the curve with innovative solutions or understand the evolving cybersecurity landscape, Threat Vector equips you with the knowledge needed to safeguard your organization. Palo Alto Networks Palo Alto Networks enables your team to prevent successful cyberattacks with an automated approach that delivers consistent security across the cloud, network, and mobile. http://paloaltonetworks.com
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Encore: Reach for What You Preach: Bridging UX and Cybersecurity
1w ago00:33:52Summary readyEnjoy this encore episode of Threat Vector by Palo Alto Networks. In this episode of Threat Vector, David Moulton talks with Dimitry Shvartsman, Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer of Prime Security, about transforming security into a proactive business enabler. Drawing on decades of experience, Dimitry explains why integrating security at the design stage—not after deployment—is key to reducing risk and improving outcomes. The conversation highlights the challenges of scaling secure development and the role of automation in modern application security. If you're interested in aligning product, design, and security teams to build more resilient software, this episode delivers clear insight and practical advice. Join the conversation on our social media channels: Website: https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/ Threat Research: https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LifeatPaloAltoNetworks/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/unit42/ YouTube: @paloaltonetworks Twitter: https://twitter.com/PaloAltoNtwks About Threat Vector Threat Vector by Palo Alto Networks is your premier podcast for security thought leadership. Join us as we explore pressing cybersecurity threats, robust protection strategies, and the latest industry trends. The podcast features in-depth discussions with industry leaders, Palo Alto Networks experts, and customers, providing crucial insights for security decision-makers. Whether you're looking to stay ahead of the curve with innovative solutions or understand the evolving cybersecurity landscape, Threat Vector equips you with the knowledge needed to safeguard your organization. Palo Alto Networks Palo Alto Networks enables your team to prevent successful cyberattacks with an automated approach that delivers consistent security across the cloud, network, and mobile. http://paloaltonetworks.com
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Encore: Frenemies With Benefits
2w ago00:38:57Summary readyEnjoy this encore episode of Threat Vector by Palo Alto Networks. Join Michael Sikorski and Michael Daniel on Threat Vector for a deep dive into cybersecurity collaboration. They discuss how competing companies and governments can work together. Learn about the Cyber Threat Alliance (CTA) and its role in sharing threat intelligence. The episode explores the challenges of trust and incentives. It covers topics from WannaCry to the impact of AI on defenses. Gain insights into responsible vulnerability disclosure. Understand public-private partnerships. Discover why collaboration is vital for global cybersecurity. This discussion offers key takeaways for security leaders. Links: Palo Alto Network blog archive for WannaCry Join the conversation on our social media channels: Website: https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/ Threat Research: https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LifeatPaloAltoNetworks/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/unit42/ YouTube: @paloaltonetworks Twitter: https://twitter.com/PaloAltoNtwks About Threat Vector Threat Vector by Palo Alto Networks is your premier podcast for security thought leadership. Join us as we explore pressing cybersecurity threats, robust protection strategies, and the latest industry trends. The podcast features in-depth discussions with industry leaders, Palo Alto Networks experts, and customers, providing crucial insights for security decision-makers. Whether you're looking to stay ahead of the curve with innovative solutions or understand the evolving cybersecurity landscape, Threat Vector equips you with the knowledge needed to safeguard your organization. Palo Alto Networks Palo Alto Networks enables your team to prevent successful cyberattacks with an automated approach that delivers consistent security across the cloud, network, and mobile. http://paloaltonetworks.com
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Encore: Securing Modern Workforce
3w ago00:32:07Summary readyEnjoy this encore episode of Threat Vector by Palo Alto Networks. Hybrid work has changed the game, but has your security kept up? In this episode of Threat Vector, David Moulton sits down with Harish Singh, Vice President and Global Head of Infrastructure and Application Management at Wipro, to unpack the evolving cybersecurity landscape at the intersection of digital transformation, SaaS expansion, and AI-powered operations. With decades of experience driving infrastructure modernization and risk mitigation across global enterprises, Harish brings a pragmatic lens to today’s most urgent challenges. They explore how context-aware SASE, secure enterprise browsers, and automation can reduce security complexity while enhancing user experience. If you're a security leader navigating app sprawl, unmanaged endpoints, or GenAI blind spots—this is your blueprint for staying ahead. Join the conversation on our social media channels: Website: https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/ Threat Research: https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LifeatPaloAltoNetworks/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/unit42/ YouTube: @paloaltonetworks Twitter: https://twitter.com/PaloAltoNtwks About Threat Vector Threat Vector by Palo Alto Networks is your premier podcast for security thought leadership. Join us as we explore pressing cybersecurity threats, robust protection strategies, and the latest industry trends. The podcast features in-depth discussions with industry leaders, Palo Alto Networks experts, and customers, providing crucial insights for security decision-makers. Whether you're looking to stay ahead of the curve with innovative solutions or understand the evolving cybersecurity landscape, Threat Vector equips you with the knowledge needed to safeguard your organization. Palo Alto Networks Palo Alto Networks enables your team to prevent successful cyberattacks with an automated approach that delivers consistent security across the cloud, network, and mobile. http://paloaltonetworks.com
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Encore: Is the Quantum Threat Closer Than You Think?
4w ago00:44:41Summary readyIn honor of AAPI Heritage Month, and as attackers increasingly stockpile encrypted data today to decrypt once quantum computing makes it possible, we're revisiting this episode. Quantum computing is advancing fast, and with it comes a major cybersecurity risk—the potential to break today’s encryption standards. In this episode of Threat Vector, host David Moulton speaks with Richu Channakeshava, Senior Product Manager at Palo Alto Networks, about the urgent need for organizations to prepare for a post-quantum world. They discuss the risks of "harvest now, decrypt later" attacks, the painfully slow process of cryptographic migration, and the steps security leaders must take today to protect sensitive data. If your organization relies on encryption for long-term data security, this episode is a must-listen. Learn why waiting could be a critical mistake and how to start your transition to quantum-resistant cryptography now. Join the conversation on our social media channels: Website: https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/ Threat Research: https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LifeatPaloAltoNetworks/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/unit42/ YouTube: @paloaltonetworks Twitter: https://twitter.com/PaloAltoNtwks About Threat Vector Threat Vector by Palo Alto Networks is your premier podcast for security thought leadership. Join us as we explore pressing cybersecurity threats, robust protection strategies, and the latest industry trends. The podcast features in-depth discussions with industry leaders, Palo Alto Networks experts, and customers, providing crucial insights for security decision-makers. Whether you're looking to stay ahead of the curve with innovative solutions or understand the evolving cybersecurity landscape, Threat Vector equips you with the knowledge needed to safeguard your organization. Palo Alto Networks Palo Alto Networks enables your team to prevent successful cyberattacks with an automated approach that delivers consistent security across the cloud, network, and mobile. http://paloaltonetworks.com
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Follow the Crypto
May 2100:35:55Summary readyEvery threat actor leaves a financial signature. Ransomware operators, state-sponsored hackers, fraud networks — they all need to move money, and when they do, the blockchain records it permanently. Jackie Burns Koven leads cyber threat intelligence at Chainalysis, where she tracks how criminal and nation-state actors use cryptocurrency to fund attacks, launder proceeds, and pay for the tools and infrastructure that power the underground economy. Before Chainalysis, she worked in the U.S. Intelligence Community on nuclear proliferation. She also serves on the Ransomware Task Force, the cross-sector coalition working to disrupt the financial ecosystem that makes ransomware profitable. In this conversation recorded live at the Links conference in New York, guest host Michael Sikorski, CTO of Unit 42, talks with Jackie about how blockchain intelligence works as a threat intelligence discipline, why open-source cryptocurrency is more exposed than most defenders realize, and what the financial signatures of threat actors can reveal that traditional IOCs cannot. You’ll learn: How blockchain intelligence connects wallets to threat actors, criminal networks, and nation-state operations Why cryptocurrency is relevant to every organization, even those that don’t pay ransoms or custody crypto What North Korea’s $2 billion in stolen cryptocurrency tells us about the scale of state-sponsored crypto crime How financial signatures can track a threat actor across rebrands, gang changes, and evolving crime types What most CTI analysts are missing by not having a blockchain tracing capability in their toolkit This episode is essential listening if you’re a threat intelligence analyst, incident responder, or security leader trying to understand the financial infrastructure that funds the attacks hitting your industry. Related Episodes: Muddled Libra: From Spraying to Preying in 2025 Lessons from the Underground #ThreatIntelligence #Ransomware About Threat Vector Threat Vector by Palo Alto Networks is your premier podcast for security thought leadership. Join us as we explore pressing cybersecurity threats, robust protection strategies, and the latest industry trends. The podcast features in-depth discussions with industry leaders, Palo Alto Networks experts, and customers, providing crucial insights for security decision-makers. Whether you're looking to stay ahead of the curve with innovative solutions or understand the evolving cybersecurity landscape, Threat Vector equips you with the knowledge needed to safeguard your organization. Palo Alto Networks Palo Alto Networks enables your team to prevent successful cyberattacks with an automated approach that delivers consistent security across the cloud, network, and mobile. http://paloaltonetworks.com.
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The Human Side of Threat Intelligence
May 1400:34:40Summary readyIngrid Parker, Director of Intel Response at Unit 42, has a background that doesn't fit the mold: art student, Army linguist, systems administrator deployed to Afghanistan, co-author of 11 Strategies of a World-Class Cybersecurity Operations Center. In this conversation, she and David dig into what it actually feels like to do threat intelligence at the highest levels — how you build the kind of thinking that lets you get inside an adversary's head, what you look for when you're hiring for that skill, and what the job quietly costs the people who do it well. Related Episodes: The Art of Threat Hunting — Ryan Chapman on how threat hunters develop instincts and expertise Transform Your SOC and Get Ahead of the Threats — Clay Brothers on SOC transformation and what makes teams resilient Designing Human-Centered Security Operations — Liz Pinder and Patrick Bayle on analyst burnout, focus, and what the SOC owes its people #ThreatIntelligence #CyberDefense About Threat Vector Threat Vector by Palo Alto Networks is your premier podcast for security thought leadership. Join us as we explore pressing cybersecurity threats, robust protection strategies, and the latest industry trends. The podcast features in-depth discussions with industry leaders, Palo Alto Networks experts, and customers, providing crucial insights for security decision-makers. Whether you're looking to stay ahead of the curve with innovative solutions or understand the evolving cybersecurity landscape, Threat Vector equips you with the knowledge needed to safeguard your organization. Palo Alto Networks Palo Alto Networks enables your team to prevent successful cyberattacks with an automated approach that delivers consistent security across the cloud, network, and mobile. http://paloaltonetworks.com.
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AI in the Wrong Hands
May 700:39:56Summary readyAI is the most powerful tool defenders have ever had. It's also the most dangerous weapon attackers have ever had. Assaf Keren, CSO at Qualtrics and author of Lessons from the Frontlines, has seen AI reshape both sides of the threat equation. In this conversation, he gets specific about what happens when powerful tools fall into the wrong hands, and what leaders need to do before they get caught off-guard. You'll learn: How attackers are using AI to move faster, scale wider, and go deeper than ever before Why the moment you deploy AI, your security posture fundamentally changes What curiosity-driven leadership looks like when the threat landscape won't sit still How to close the gap between the security team's understanding of AI and the rest of the organization What Assaf learned from 25+ years on the frontlines that still applies in the AI era #CyberSecurity #AIRisk Related Episodes: The Good, the Bad, the Ugly of AI Inside AI Runtime Defense Securing AI in the Enterprise About Threat Vector Threat Vector by Palo Alto Networks is your premier podcast for security thought leadership. Join us as we explore pressing cybersecurity threats, robust protection strategies, and the latest industry trends. The podcast features in-depth discussions with industry leaders, Palo Alto Networks experts, and customers, providing crucial insights for security decision-makers. Whether you're looking to stay ahead of the curve with innovative solutions or understand the evolving cybersecurity landscape, Threat Vector equips you with the knowledge needed to safeguard your organization. Palo Alto Networks Palo Alto Networks enables your team to prevent successful cyberattacks with an automated approach that delivers consistent security across the cloud, network, and mobile. http://paloaltonetworks.com.
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Operation Winter SHIELD: What the FBI Wants Industry to Do Now
Apr 3000:37:17Summary readyThe FBI sees every breach. You see yours. Adam Maddock, Section Chief of the FBI's Cyber Technical Analytics and Operations Section, and Jarrod Schlenker, Assistant Section Chief leading the FBI Cyber Division's private-sector engagement, join David Moulton to walk through Operation Winter SHIELD, the FBI's public campaign built on what investigators see repeated across hundreds and thousands of cases. Ten defenses. All of them rooted in real intrusions. Most of them still missing from too many organizations. You'll learn: Why SMS-based MFA is no longer enough, and what phishing-resistant authentication actually looks like in practice How end-of-life SOHO routers and IoT devices become obfuscation infrastructure for attacks against targets that never knew they were involved Why calling the FBI early in an incident changes what's possible, and what you lose if you wait What the FBI means when it says industry is a "critical ally," not a passive recipient of intelligence Why you don't need to have your act together before you call your local FBI field office, and why trying to might actually hurt the investigation This episode is essential listening if you're: a CISO or security leader wondering what law enforcement actually needs from you, an executive who doesn't yet have a relationship with your local FBI field office, or a practitioner trying to understand which defensive investments move the needle most. Resources: Operation Winter SHIELD at fbi.gov Operation Winter SHIELD One-Pager Related Episodes: Lessons from the Underground with Keith Mularski, former FBI special agent and Chief Global Ambassador at Qintel Inside the Mind of State-Sponsored Cyberattackers with Lior Rochberger, Unit 42 Risk, Resilience, and Real Talk with Sam Ainscow #Cybersecurity #CriticalInfrastructure About Threat Vector Threat Vector by Palo Alto Networks is your premier podcast for security thought leadership. Join us as we explore pressing cybersecurity threats, robust protection strategies, and the latest industry trends. The podcast features in-depth discussions with industry leaders, Palo Alto Networks experts, and customers, providing crucial insights for security decision-makers. Whether you're looking to stay ahead of the curve with innovative solutions or understand the evolving cybersecurity landscape, Threat Vector equips you with the knowledge needed to safeguard your organization. Palo Alto Networks Palo Alto Networks enables your team to prevent successful cyberattacks with an automated approach that delivers consistent security across the cloud, network, and mobile. http://paloaltonetworks.com.
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Breach School
Apr 2300:34:03Summary readyWhat does it take to go from staring at forensic images to sitting across from a CEO whose company is on fire? Steve Elovitz has spent his entire career in the room when things go wrong. He started in forensics and eDiscovery at PwC, moved to Booz Allen doing government work, then spent a decade at Mandiant before joining Unit 42 to lead North America consulting and incident response. The throughline across all of it: empathy. In this conversation, Steve reflects on what two decades of incident response actually teaches you about the people on the other side of a breach. The executives fighting for their jobs. The CISOs trying to communicate while everything's on fire. The analysts who need someone to have their backs. You'll hear how Steve's understanding of the job evolved as he moved from technical analyst to executive advisor, what the shift from forensic imaging to real-time response felt like from inside it, why identity keeps showing up in nearly every postmortem, and what briefing a board looks like when you get 15 minutes instead of the hour you planned for. Steve has advised Fortune 500 boards and C-suites through some of the most damaging breaches of the past two decades. His biggest lesson turned out to be the one no certification teaches. This episode is essential listening if you're a security professional trying to grow from analyst to advisor, or a leader building a team that can sustain this kind of work over a career. Related Episodes: Speaking Security in Board Language Cybersecurity Metrics and Reporting to the Board Transform Your SOC and Get Ahead of the Threats #IncidentResponse #Cybersecurity About Threat Vector Threat Vector by Palo Alto Networks is your premier podcast for security thought leadership. Join us as we explore pressing cybersecurity threats, robust protection strategies, and the latest industry trends. The podcast features in-depth discussions with industry leaders, Palo Alto Networks experts, and customers, providing crucial insights for security decision-makers. Whether you're looking to stay ahead of the curve with innovative solutions or understand the evolving cybersecurity landscape, Threat Vector equips you with the knowledge needed to safeguard your organization. Palo Alto Networks Palo Alto Networks enables your team to prevent successful cyberattacks with an automated approach that delivers consistent security across the cloud, network, and mobile. http://paloaltonetworks.com.
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