Paul Melson talks ScumBots

On this week's episode of The Microsoft Threat Intelligence Podcast, Sherrod DeGrippo is joined by former VP of Cybersecurity Solutions at Target Paul Melson. Sherrod and Paul reflect on his experiences in incident response, highlighting the adrenaline rush of detecting and evicting adversaries before they cause harm. Their discussion includes a run down the rabbit hole of open-source intelligence and the creation of the @scumbots twitter feed. They explore the culture at Target's cybersecurity team, emphasizing the importance of hiring for attitude and the potential for new threats like bribery and insider threats. Paul shares insights into his experiences in cybersecurity and his concerns about future threats, emphasizing the need for continued vigilance and innovation in defense strategies. The episode provides valuable insights into the challenges and developments in cybersecurity, offering practical advice for both professionals and organizations navigating the ever-changing threat landscape.      In this episode you’ll learn:       The genesis of the project scumbots and its functionality  Challenges when dealing with commercial threat intelligence companies   The increasing sophistication of cybercrime and the potential for new tactics     Some questions we ask:      How has your time in incident response evolved over the years?  What advice would you give to aspiring cybersecurity professionals  Do you believe organizations can adapt and innovate their defense strategies?    Resources:   Scumbots on Twitter  View Paul Melson on LinkedIn      View Sherrod DeGrippo on LinkedIn     Related Microsoft Podcasts:                    Afternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson  The BlueHat Podcast  Uncovering Hidden Risks        Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts   Get the latest threat intelligence insights and guidance at Microsoft Security Insider The Microsoft Threat Intelligence Podcast is produced by Microsoft and distributed as part of N2K media network.