The Art of Frustrating Hackers: Diving Into the DEaTH Cycle with Randy Pargman

DISCARDED: Tales From the Threat Research Trenches

Hello, Cyber Stars! In today's episode of the Discarded Podcast, hosts Selena Larson and Sarah Sabotka are joined by Randy Pargman, Director of Threat Detection at Proofpoint. Randy shares his extensive experience in cybersecurity, from working at the FBI and understanding law enforcement’s role in cyber defense, to endpoint detection and response, to his current role at Proofpoint.
We explore the relentless cat-and-mouse game between cyber defenders and threat actors. Randy discusses the importance of Detection Engineering and Threat Hunting (DEATH) and how these disciplines work together to outsmart cybercriminals. He also highlights the significance of log data retention and how investing in longer retention periods can drastically improve the efficacy of detection measures.
Randy touches on the upcoming DEATHCon, a must-attend event for cybersecurity professionals. He shares fascinating stories and analogies, making complex cybersecurity concepts accessible and engaging.
We also talk about:

• the concept of the "pyramid of pain" and how spending too much time on IOCs can be a losing battle against agile threat actors
• the value of empathy and collaboration among security teams
• practical steps for building shared lab environments

Resources mentioned:

DeathCON
Operation Endgame
Clipboard to Compromise Blog: https://www.proofpoint.com/us/blog/threat-insight/clipboard-compromise-powershell-self-pwn
DFIR Report Labs: https://thedfirreport.com/services/dfir-labs/
For more information about Proofpoint, check out our website.
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