In this special in-person episode of Modern Cyber, Jeremy sits down with cybersecurity icon Mikko Hypponen at RSA Conference 2025 in San Francisco. Surrounded by the energy of the industry’s biggest event, the conversation dives into the current state of AI in security, LLMs discovering vulnerabilities, and the emerging threat of AI-powered ransomware gangs. Mikko also shares insights on geopolitics in cybersecurity—from North Korean developer infiltration to Russian ransomware operations—and reflects on Europe’s shifting trust in U.S. tech. This episode blends deep technical insight with broader industry trends and personal reflections, recorded steps away from the Moscone Center. About Mikko Hypponen: Mikko Hyppönen is a globally recognized cybersecurity expert and the Chief Research Officer at WithSecure. With over 30 years of experience in the industry, Mikko has analyzed some of the most significant malware outbreaks in history, such as Love Letter, Melissa, and Stuxnet. He is a sought-after speaker at international conferences, a TED Talk veteran, and the author of the acclaimed book If It’s Smart, It’s Vulnerable. Passionate about cybersecurity education, Mikko has been a driving force behind initiatives like the Museum of Malware Art, showcasing how digital threats can inspire artistic creativity. Mikko's Website: https://mikko.com/ WithSecure Website: https://www.withsecure.com/en/home Mikko's Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hypponen/ Mikko's X: https://twitter.com/mikko
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31:14
Justin Rende of Rhymetec
In this episode of Modern Cyber, Jeremy is joined by Justin Rende, founder and CEO of Rhymetec, to unpack the critical differences between proactive and reactive security strategies. They dive into the realities of SaaS security, the role of compliance as both a sales enabler and a security foundation, and the importance of building security into an organization from the very beginning. With insights from thousands of audits and assessments, Justin shares practical guidance on vendor risk, developer awareness, and why a checkbox approach to compliance simply doesn’t cut it. About JustinJustin Rende is the founder and CEO of Rhymetec, a cybersecurity firm providing cybersecurity, compliance and data privacy needs to SaaS companies. With more than 20 years of experience in cybersecurity, Justin has focused exclusively on developing the most innovative and customizable cybersecurity solutions for modern SaaS-based companies. Since founding the company in 2015, Justin has led Rhymetec’s growth to more than 35 full-time employees, without outsourcing any of its services, and has served more than 1,000 clients ranging from startups to large enterprises. Rhymetec Website - https://rhymetec.com/ Justin on Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-rende/
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32:12
Joe Erle of the Ransomware Rewind Podcast
In this special crossover episode of Modern Cyber and the Ransomware Rewind podcast, Jeremy teams up with Joe Erle for a wide-ranging discussion on API security, ransomware threats, and the changing landscape of cyber insurance. From dissecting real-world examples like the MOVEit vulnerability to breaking down how ransomware negotiations really work, this episode blends technical insight with practical guidance. Whether you're a defender thinking about supply chain risk or a business leader evaluating your cyber insurance policy, this one’s packed with useful takeaways.About Joe ErleJoe Erle is the host of the Ransomware Rewind podcast and a cybersecurity insurance expert at C3 Insurance. With years of experience helping organizations navigate the complexities of cyber risk, Joe brings deep knowledge of incident response, policy coverage, and ransomware negotiation. Through his podcast and professional work, he provides actionable insights on current threats, trends, and how companies can better protect themselves.Ransomware Rewind Podcast - https://www.youtube.com/@UC8UYB3xzRVdm6QypQ8SZBwwC3 Insurance - https://c3insurance.com/Joe on Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/joeerle/
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49:19
Danny Allan of Snyk
In this episode, Jeremy welcomes Danny Allan, Chief Technology Officer at Snyk, for a wide-ranging conversation on how AI is transforming software development and cybersecurity. From productivity boosts to the growing sophistication of AI-powered attacks, Danny shares his perspective on the evolving responsibilities of developers, the implications of "vibe coding," and why security guardrails are more critical than ever. They also dig into how AI is being used to filter noise in vulnerability data, what realistic productivity gains might look like, and how Snyk is helping developers build securely by default.About Danny AllanDanny Allan is the Chief Technology Officer at Snyk, where he leads the strategic direction of the company’s developer-first security platform. Before joining Snyk, Danny served as CTO at Veeam and Desktone (acquired by VMware), and as Director of Security Research at IBM. With deep experience across security, infrastructure, and cloud, Danny is a champion for making security accessible and scalable for developers. A proud Canadian, he’s also an avid scuba diver, cyclist, and hockey enthusiast.www.snyk.io
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40:11
Breach Series 4 - Adam Burns of BlackVeil
In this Breach Series episode of Modern Cyber, Jeremy speaks with Adam Burns, CEO of BlackVeil, about a real-world ransomware incident that struck one of Adam’s MSP clients. Adam shares how the breach was initially detected, the role phishing played in the attack, and the team’s recovery efforts—including narrowly saving the client’s backups. The conversation also touches on CrowdStrike’s 2023 outage and key lessons learned from both incidents, including the importance of fundamentals like email security, air-gapped backups, and response readiness.About Adam BurnsAdam Burns is the CEO of BlackVeil, a New Zealand-based company focused on simplifying email security for businesses of all sizes. With a career rooted in the MSP space, Adam has worked across support, engineering, and project delivery roles. Drawing on years of experience responding to cybersecurity incidents, he now helps organizations protect against common vulnerabilities—especially phishing and email-based threats.BlackVeil Website: https://www.blackveil.co.nz
Welcome to Modern Cyber with Jeremy Snyder, a cutting-edge podcast series where cybersecurity thought leaders come together to explore the evolving landscape of digital security. In each episode, Jeremy engages with top cybersecurity professionals, uncovering the latest trends, innovations, and challenges shaping the industry.
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