Think Like a Hacker Before the Hack Happens with John Hammond

What if the most dangerous hackers are the ones who never touch a keyboard? The real threat isn't just about stolen credentials or ransomware; it's about understanding how attackers think before they even strike. In cybersecurity, defense starts with offense, and the best defenders are those who've walked in the hacker's shoes. In this episode, Ron sits down with John Hammond, principal security researcher at Huntress and one of cybersecurity's most recognizable educators. John shares his journey from Coast Guard enlistee to YouTube creator, building an entire media company around ethical hacking. They dig into the balance between public research and responsible disclosure, the rise of AI-augmented attacks, and why identity is now the biggest attack surface in modern enterprises. Impactful Moments: 00:00 - Introduction 01:00 - AI weaponized in cyber espionage 05:00 - Learning by teaching publicly 09:00 - Balancing curiosity with responsible disclosure 13:00 - Building a creator company 16:00 - Identity as the new frontier 20:00 - AI agents running breach simulations 22:00 - Predictions for cybersecurity in 2026 25:00 - Ron's hacking habit confession   Links: John Hammond LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnhammond010/ John Hammond Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@_JohnHammond Article for Discussion: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russian-defense-firms-targeted-by-hackers-using-ai-other-tactics-2025-12-19/ Check out our upcoming events: https://www.hackervalley.com/livestreams Join our creative mastermind and stand out as a cybersecurity professional: https://www.patreon.com/hackervalleystudio Love Hacker Valley Studio? Pick up some swag: https://store.hackervalley.com Continue the conversation by joining our Discord: https://hackervalley.com/discord Become a sponsor of the show to amplify your brand: https://hackervalley.com/work-with-us/