Hello? Is it malware you’re looking for?

Hello? Is it malware you’re looking for?

Author: DISCARDED | N2K Networks April 1, 2025 Duration: 34:37
Welcome in! You’ve entered, Only Malware in the Building. Join us each month to sip tea and solve mysteries about today’s most interesting threats. Your host is Selena Larson, Proofpoint intelligence analyst and host of their podcast DISCARDED. Inspired by the residents of a building in New York’s exclusive upper west side, Selena is joined by N2K Networks Dave Bittner —and our newest totally unbiased co-host, Archy, a highly sophisticated AI robot who swears they have no ulterior motives (but we’re keeping an eye on them just in case). Being a security researcher is a bit like being a detective: you gather clues, analyze the evidence, and consult the experts to solve the cyber puzzle. On this episode, our hosts discuss Telephone-Oriented Attack Delivery (TOAD), also known as callback phishing. In this type of attack, an attacker sends a seemingly benign email, often containing an invoice or payment notification, along with a phone number. When the victim calls, they speak with the attacker, who convinces them to install remote access tools, leading to malware installation, phishing, and financial theft. Tune in as we explore how this deceptive tactic works and ways to protect yourself from falling victim to it.

Each month on Only Malware in the Building, a trio of cyber-savvy partners-in-crime dissects the surprising and often alarming connections between the digital threats we face and the cinematic stories we watch. This podcast emerges from a collaboration between N2K CyberWire and the Proofpoint DISCARDED podcast, bringing together distinct expertise. Host Selena Larson, a Threat Researcher at Proofpoint, Dave Bittner of the CyberWire Daily podcast, and Keith Mularski, whose background includes serving as an FBI Cyber Division Unit Chief, provide a unique lens. They uncover the secrets behind some of the most notorious cyber incidents, using film and television as a framework to explore real-world tactics, motivations, and consequences. Listeners will hear detailed breakdowns of how fictional plots mirror actual malware campaigns, social engineering schemes, and geopolitical hacking operations. The conversation is grounded in technical reality but elevated by a shared appreciation for narrative, making complex security topics accessible and engaging. It’s for anyone curious about the intersection of our digital vulnerabilities and our cultural storytelling, where an analysis of a heist film might reveal the mechanics of a ransomware gang, or a spy thriller could illustrate state-sponsored espionage. The tone is conversational and deep-dive, blending insider knowledge with pop culture critique. You’ll come away with a sharper understanding of the threat landscape and a new perspective on your favorite screens.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 26

Only Malware in the Building
Podcast Episodes
RATs in the tunnel: Uncovering the cyber underworld. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:05
Welcome in! You’ve entered, Only Malware in the Building. Join us each month to sip tea and solve mysteries about today’s most interesting threats. Your host is Selena Larson, Proofpoint intelligence analyst and host of…
AI: The new partner in cybercrime? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:50
Welcome in! You’ve entered, Only Malware in the Building. Join us each month to sip tea and solve mysteries about today’s most interesting threats. Your host is Selena Larson, Proofpoint intelligence analyst and host of…
Operation Endgame: The ultimate troll patrol. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:34
Welcome in! You’ve entered, Only Malware in the Building. Join us each month to sip tea and solve mysteries about today’s most interesting threats. Your host is Selena Larson, Proofpoint intelligence analyst and host of…
The curious case of the missing IcedID. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:58
Welcome in! You’ve entered, Only Malware in the Building. Join us each month to sip tea and solve mysteries about today’s most interesting threats. Your host is Selena Larson, Proofpoint intelligence analyst and host of…
Trailer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:36
Trailer