In episode 159 of Cybersecurity Where You Are, Sean Atkinson is joined by Joshua Palsgraf, Sr. Cyber Threat Intelligence Analyst at the Center for Internet Security® (CIS®), and Randy Rose, Vice President of Security Operations & Intelligence at CIS. Together, they dive into the scariest malware of 2025 in this special Halloween edition.The conversation explores what makes today’s malware truly terrifying, from stealthy threats that hide in plain sight to modular malware that evolves faster than defenses can adapt. The trio also discusses the corporatization of cybercrime, the rise of Malware as a Service, and how generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) is lowering the barrier to entry for cybercriminals.Here are some highlights from our episode:00:42. Introductions to Josh and Randy02:21. What makes the scariest malware of 2025 truly "scary"05:42. Evolution of malware: people, process, and technology09:33. How the corporatization of malware helps to democratize cybercrime11:25. The most "terrifying" malware strains of 202515:49. Malware reincarnation: Old threats with new masks17:20. GenAI as the great equalizer for cybercriminals, especially social engineers23:32. Defense-in-depth and threat-informed strategies24:45. Why incident response playbooks must evolve and become living documents27:02. What incident response looks like for cloud assets in the Fourth Industrial Revolution29:27. Naming malware after horror movie iconsResourcesMulti-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center®Episode 144: Carrying on the MS-ISAC's Character and CultureEpisode 126: A Day in the Life of a CTI AnalystA Short Guide for Spotting Phishing AttemptsThe CIS Security Operations Center (SOC): The Key to Growing Your SLTT's Cyber MaturityEpisode 157: How a Modern, Mission-Driven CIRT OperatesLiving Off the Land: Scheduled TasksCyber defenders sound the alarm as F5 hack exposes broad risksEpisode 134: How GenAI Lowers Bar for Cyber Threat ActorsActive Lumma Stealer Campaign Impacting U.S. SLTTsMS-ISAC Member-Reported Phishing Likely from Tycoon2FA PhaaSClickFix: An Adaptive Social Engineering TechniqueTop 10 Malware Q1 2025CTAs Leveraging Fake Browser Updates in Malware CampaignsItalian police freeze cash from AI-voice scam that targeted business leadersCornCon Cybersecurity ConferenceIf you have some feedback or an idea for an upcoming episode of Cybersecurity Where You Are, let us know by emailing [email protected].

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

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