Be Fearless Podcast By SquareX podcast

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Ever wondered what it takes to reach the top tier of cybersecurity leadership? In this candid conversation, Darren Argyle shares his remarkable path from being a bar manager in the UK to becoming a recognized global CISO and cybersecurity educator. You’ll learn Darren’s 5 principles for reaching a $1M cybersecurity salary, why browser security has become a critical concern for enterprises, and why taking bold risks—like Darren's move from the UK to Australia—can transform both your life. 0:00 Darren's unique career journey from bar owner to cybersecurity 8:18 Five principles to reach a $1M cybersecurity salary 14:55 Authenticity and community in building a personal brand 21:11 Why mentorship is critical for career growth in cybersecurity 25:59 On navigating regulatory demands 29:39 Browser security challenges in financial services 36:39 The AI paradox in cybersecurity 40:50 Darren’s defining career moment: making the risky move to Australia 🔔 Follow Darren and Aleksandra on: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darrenargyle/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/aleksandra-melnikova-1012/ 🔥 Powered by SquareX SquareX helps organizations detect, mitigate, and threat hunt web attacks happening against their users in real-time. Find out more about SquareX at https://sqrx.com/…

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Designer to Defender: Why Diversity Makes Security Stronger | Jane Frankland MBE, Security Leader 46:10

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“You don't have to wait for permission. You don't have to wait for someone to see you, recognize you or whatever. I firmly believe that the world is your oyster.” Join us for an insightful and inspiring conversation with Jane Frankland MBE, a globally recognized cybersecurity leader and author of "INSecurity." In this episode of the Be Fearless Podcast, you’ll hear about Jane’s journey from textile design to cybersecurity, and learn about the importance of diversity in strengthening enterprise security. Jane also shares invaluable insights on current threats, including browser-based attacks, identity security, and the evolving landscape of enterprise cybersecurity. 0:00 Jane’s unconventional journey from textile design to cybersecurity 5:42 Why cybersecurity isn't boring 7:04 On Jane’s work as a cybersecurity influencer 14:42 INSecurity: Jane’s book on why companies need to attract and retain women 18:17 “Men are the problem, and the answer as well” 22:31 Career advice for women entering the field 30:02 Predictions for 2025: Insider threats and shadow AI 35:47 Browser security and modern attack vectors 43:20 Closing thoughts and Jane's greatest achievement 🔔 Follow Jane and Aleksandra on: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janefrankland/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/aleksandra-melnikova-1012/ 🔥 Powered by SquareX SquareX helps organizations detect, mitigate, and threat hunt web attacks happening against their users in real-time. Find out more about SquareX at https://sqrx.com/…

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Building a Global Following Through Security Research | Francis Odum, Founder, SACR 32:33

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As the founder of Software Analyst Cyber Research (SACR), Francis Odum has built a name for himself in cybersecurity research, cutting through the noise with in-depth analyses that resonate across the industry. In this episode with Aleksandra, he breaks down what makes security research impactful, why browser security is becoming an urgent priority for enterprises, and how AI is reshaping security policies and challenges CISOs are facing. 0:00 How Francis got started in cybersecurity and founding SACR 5:13 Francis on his research going viral 10:25 How AI can help (and harm enterprises) 12:46 Mitigating threats with browser-native security 13:54 How heads of security can protect their data 19:15 How browser-native security can complement SASE/SSE solutions 21:52 CISO’s pain points and problems that security vendors can solve 27:16 Closing thoughts: the importance of being curious and loving what you do 🔔 Follow Francis and Aleksandra on: https://www.linkedin.com/in/francis-odum-0a8673100/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/aleksandra-melnikova-1012/ 🔥 Powered by SquareX SquareX helps organizations detect, mitigate, and threat hunt web attacks happening against their users in real-time. Find out more about SquareX at https://sqrx.com/…

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Why Browsers Are the New Battleground in Cybersecurity | John Carse, CISO and Security Leader 58:04

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Get ready for an eye-opening conversation with John Carse, cybersecurity veteran and CISO! Hosted by SquareX Founder and CEO Vivek Ramachandran, this episode takes us through defender-centric topics like the risk of shadow IT, the evolution of the browser as an attack surface and preparing enterprises for the next wave of sophisticated cyber threats. 0:00 How John got into cybersecurity and forensics 7:49 How small mistakes can lead to business losses 9:43 Structuring a security team and programme 15:59 Security awareness in large companies and hybrid working environments 19:41 How shadow SaaS and shadow IT pose a risk to enterprises 30:13 How browsers — and their attack surface — have evolved 48:11 Why aspiring CISOs must understand their business 52:13 Closing thoughts: how the gift of a computer changed John’s and Vivek’s life trajectories 🔔 Follow John and Vivek on: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johncarse/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/vivekramachandran/ 🔥 Powered by SquareX SquareX helps organizations detect, mitigate, and threat hunt web attacks happening against their users in real-time. Find out more about SquareX at https://sqrx.com/…

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Hacker to Founder: Cybersecurity Entrepreneurship with Jeremiah Grossman, Founder, WhiteHat Security 54:29

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In this episode of The Be Fearless Podcast, SquareX founder Vivek Rmachandran sits with cybersecurity legend Jeremiah Grossman — one of the “OGs” of cyber, founder of WhiteHat Security, and now MD at Grossman Ventures. Jeremiah shares his wealth of knowledge and takes us through his security journey, sharing how he went from breaking into Yahoo Mail (and getting a free t-shirt for it) to building some of the most influential cybersecurity companies in the industry. 0:00 Jeremiah’s early days in cybersecurity and hacking Yahoo 4:59 Founding WhiteHat Security and creating a common AppSec lexicon 9:20 How Jeremiah got started presenting in conferences 12:11 How the hacking scene has changed to becoming a vocation 14:44 Making the leap from security researcher to founder 18:49 Advice for founders: the 3 types of people to talk to daily 24:19 After WhiteHat: achieving success with SentinelOne 28:54 Moving on to being a venture capitalist 35:25 Advice to budding cybersecurity entrepreneurs: lock on to that one problem 39:37 Why browser security is at odds with the advertising model 43:34 On being a SquareX advisor and investor 49:23 Final thoughts and where to connect with Jeremiah 🔔 Follow Jeremiah and Vivek on: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grossmanjeremiah/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/vivekramachandran/ 🔥 Powered by SquareX SquareX helps organizations detect, mitigate, and threat hunt web attacks happening against their users in real-time. Find out more about SquareX at https://sqrx.com/…

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Lessons from a Field CISO | Anand Thangaraju, Field CISO, ePlus inc. 39:17

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In our new series, Cybersecurity Community Voices, Anand Thangaraju, Field CISO and cybersecurity expert, shares his journey from engineer to CISO, insights on upcoming threats, advice for aspiring CISOs and more. Packed with practical advice and fresh perspectives, this episode offers valuable lessons for security leaders and practitioners alike. 0:00 Introduction and Anand’s career journey 3:48 What does a field CISO do? 9:09 Addressing browser-based threats, AI in cybersecurity 15:33 Getting buy-in from the boardroom when procuring new solutions 20:50 On creating a new disruptive category in cybersecurity 24:47 How browser threats will evolve and a passwordless future 28:55 Hybrid work and its impact on cybersecurity 32:40 Advice for aspiring leaders 36:19 Closing thoughts: “Always seek learning new things” 🔔 Follow Anand and Aleksandra on: https://www.linkedin.com/in/athangaraju/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/aleksandra-melnikova-1012/ 🔥 Powered by SquareX SquareX helps organizations detect, mitigate, and threat hunt web attacks happening against their users in real-time. Find out more about SquareX at https://sqrx.com/…

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How a CISO Thinks About Risk and Resilience | Andre Shori, APAC CISO, Schneider Electric 1:02:34

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In this episode, Andre Shori, CISO at Schneider Electric, shares his thoughts about building security culture, incidence response, as well as the evolving role of technology, including AI, in defending against sophisticated cyber threats. Hosted by Aleksandra from the SquareX founder’s office, this episode offers a glimpse into the thought process behind a CISO whose duty is to safeguard the enterprise and stakeholders. 0:00 Introduction and Andre’s route to being a cybersecurity leader 6:40 Cultivating security culture with a risk-informed approach (as opposed to compliance for its own sake) 18:23 How to stay ahead of attackers 24:05 Communicating a breach to stakeholders and the benefits of sharing intelligence 34:30 Andre’s thoughts on securing the browser and the implications of AI 41:00 Approaching data leakage from a data management perspective 44:55 On insider threats: trust + technological backstop 47:44 Andre’s thoughts on malicious extensions, “free services” and how mistakes improve security culture 52:50 Making security culture part of the company DNA 55:53 Three pieces of advice for aspiring CISOs, closing thoughts 🔔 Follow Andre and Aleksandra on: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreshori/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/aleksandra-melnikova-1012/ 🔥 Powered by SquareX SquareX helps organizations detect, mitigate, and threat hunt web attacks happening against their users in real-time. Find out more about SquareX at https://sqrx.com/…

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Breaches Are Inevitable, so Aim for Resilience | Shishir Singh | Be Fearless Podcast EP 28 48:41

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It’s not if your enterprise will get hacked, it’s when. In this episode, Shishir Singh, CISO of Advance Intelligence Group, explains what it takes to stay ahead of evolving cyber threats. From leveraging AI for anomaly detection and fraud prevention to building a security-first culture that resonates across diverse teams, Shishir provides a behind-the-scenes look at tackling real-world cybersecurity challenges. 0:00 Introduction and Shishir’s work at Advanced Intelligence Group 8:55 Harnessing AI for cybersecurity as an AI-powered company 12:54 The right way to conduct security awareness training 16:45 Insider threat: how a simple mistake led to a ransom demand 25:25 If Shishir could implement only one improvement to browser security, it’d be… 30:44 On being the company’s interim Data Privacy Officer 36:32 Keeping the team motivated throughout challenges 41:37 Advice for security leaders and professionals 46:08 Closing thoughts and why cyber resilience matters 🔔 Follow Shishir and Aleksandra on: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shissingh/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/aleksandra-melnikova-1012/ 🔥 Powered by SquareX SquareX helps organizations detect, mitigate, and threat hunt web attacks happening against their users in real-time. Find out more about SquareX at https://sqrx.com/…

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Building Security Culture in Startups | Tobias Klingel | Be Fearless Podcast EP 27 1:00:49

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In this episode of the Be Fearless Podcast, Tobias Klingel, Head of Information Security at Aspire, shares his journey from working at multinational corporations like Siemens to navigating the fast-paced startup world. Hosted by Aleksandra from the SquareX Founder’s Office, Tobias shares how his global experiences shaped his approach to cybersecurity and explains the challenges of balancing fast growth with strong security in startups. Whether it’s managing third-party risks, implementing lightweight security solutions, or leveraging AI to enhance productivity, this conversation offers actionable insights for organizations of all sizes. 0:00 Tobias’s cybersecurity journey from Siemens to startups 7:13 A day in Tobias’s life 9:56 Cybersecurity in the financial industry 15:35 The most popular cybersecurity attacks on enterprises 20:12 Building security culture with internal champions 23:34 The benefits and security risks of GenAI 30:19 How the browser is today’s largest attack surface 41:15 How large companies can improve security posture 46:28 Standing out as a job candidate 52:41 Are cybersecurity certifications necessary? 🔔 Follow Tobias and Aleksandra on: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tobiasklingel/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/aleksandra-melnikova-1012/ 🔥 Powered by SquareX SquareX helps organizations detect, mitigate, and threat hunt web attacks happening against their users in real-time. Find out more about SquareX at https://sqrx.com/…

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Customer Success as the Key to Cybersecurity Growth | Rahul Kashyap | Be Fearless Podcast EP 26 47:50

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“Remember, your best champion is your customer, and nothing else. It’s as simple as that.” In this two-part series, Rahul Kashyap (President & CEO at Awake Security, VP/GM & CISO at Arista Networks), shares his thoughts with Vivek and Aleksandra from SquareX. Rahul shares his approach to building companies, the importance of a customer-focused mindset, and provides actionable insights into what it takes to grow a successful cybersecurity startup. Rahul also discusses the latest trends in cybersecurity, from browser security to the rise of AI, and emphasises the importance of staying positive in a rocky job market. 0:00 Part One with Vivek: Rahul’s cybersecurity and entrepreneurship journey 10:48 Advice is overrated; be decisive 13:12 Macro trends in cybersecurity startups 16:13 Standing out with clarity of value prop, customer success, and execution 18:36 On building company culture and the importance of transparency 21:50 “Your best champion is your customer” 24:03 Challenges in browser security today 26:34 AI and cybersecurity: thinking deeper than GenAI and copilots 31:58 How the odds are always against defenders and implications for cybersecurity education 35:16 Unearthing CISOs’ top-level concerns and opportunities in vulnerability management/DLP 40:43 Part Two with Aleksandra: Consistently keep your customer happy 44:33 Staying positive in a rocky job market 🔔 Follow Rahul, Vivek and Aleksandra on: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rckashyap/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/vivekramachandran/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/aleksandra-melnikova-1012/ 🔥 Powered by SquareX SquareX helps organizations detect, mitigate, and threat hunt web attacks happening against their users in real-time. Find out more about SquareX at https://sqrx.com/…

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Why Browser-Native Security is the New Must-Have for Enterprises | Inside SquareX 20:58

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Shourya, principal software engineer at SquareX, joins Sasha from our Founder’s Office to discuss why enterprises need to have a security solution that runs directly in the browser. Shourya explains how traditional secure web gateways and endpoint detection tools often fall short against sophisticated client-side web attacks like Last Mile Reassembly Attacks. He shares how browser-native solutions can bridge these gaps, providing the visibility and control enterprises need to manage complex threats. Shourya also explores common vulnerabilities organizations face, such as malicious QR codes and advanced phishing tactics, and explains how SquareX’s browser-native solution detects and neutralizes these threats. From insights on BYOD security to the importance of tracking user journeys when investigating incidents, this conversation offers a comprehensive summary on the importance of browser-native security. 0:00 Common enterprise security stacks and their limitations 1:45 Advantages of browser-native security 3:59 File Chunking and Last Mile Reassembly Attacks 8:15 How browser-native solutions provide essential visibility for security teams 11:56 Malicious files and SquareX’s privacy-friendly, in-browser file scanning 13:27 Three prevalent attacks that existing solutions have trouble solving 15:57 Securing BYOD when employees use unmanaged devices 17:57 Why granularity is necessary to mitigate data loss through generative AI tools 20:02 Closing thoughts and future cybersecurity trends 🔔 Follow Shourya and Aleksandra on: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shouryaps/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/aleksandra-melnikova-1012/ 🔥 Powered by SquareX SquareX helps organizations detect, mitigate, and threat hunt web attacks happening against their users in real-time. Find out more about SquareX at https://sqrx.com/…

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Secrets to Success in Cybersecurity Marketing with Varun Kohli | Be Fearless Podcast EP 25 45:43

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Most companies today would have to pay millions for a spot on national TV, but Varun Kohli pulled it off for only $200 – for a B2B enterprise mobile security company, no less! In this episode, SquareX Founder and CEO Vivek speaks to Varun – Chief Marketing Officer at Cequence Security – about his journey from a computer science background to becoming a leading CMO with a track record of successful exits. Varun discusses how he chooses the companies he works with, the value of a technical background in marketing, creating memorable brand narratives in cybersecurity and more! Filled with memorable quotes (like “do not have data without a story, do not have story without data”), insights and practical advice, Varun provides valuable takeaways for any founder or marketer facing the challenges of a crowded cybersecurity market. 0:00 Varun’s journey from IIT graduate to being a cybersecurity CMO with multiple successful exits 6:57 People, investors, market size and product: what Varun looks at for companies 8:40 The transition from tech to marketing, and the importance of a strong technical underpinning 13:35 B2B marketing advice: buyer personas and the golden ratio for marketeers 18:46 The best way to close leads from conferences 21:32 Leveraging AI for marketing 25:02 Varun’s work in Cequence and using AI for cybersecurity 32:03 Discussing the importance of browser security and adversary techniques 41:48 Why marketers should not live in the past or present, but focus on the future 43:38 Closing thoughts and understanding the human factor in marketing 🔔 Follow Varun and Vivek on: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kohlivarun/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/vivekramachandran/ 🔥 Powered by SquareX SquareX helps organizations detect, mitigate, and threat hunt web attacks happening against their users in real-time. Find out more about SquareX at https://sqrx.com/…

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Making Cybersecurity Education Affordable and Accessible | Prashant KV | Be Fearless Podcast EP 24 23:50

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In this episode, Aleksandra from the SquareX Founder’s Office sits with Prashant KV, Co-Founder of Seasides - also known as India’s Most Loved Conference. Prashant shares his motivations and mission for founding the conference, his work with OWASP’s Bay Area chapter and discusses trends in browser security. From success stories of Seaside attendees who advanced their careers to the lessons learned in cybersecurity over the past two decades, this episode offers both insights and inspiration for those looking to make a difference in the field. 0:00 Introduction and how Seasides makes cybersecurity education more accessible for everyone 6:04 Success stories from Seasides and giving back to the community 7:54 Contributing to the Bay Area OWASP chapter 9:43 Prashant’s research on SCAGoat 11:16 Cybersecurity in the retail industry and compliance vs security 14:18 Using memes to market the Seasides conference 16:36 On browser security and the Aurora Attack on Google 22:06 Why client-side attacks are harder to detect 23:28 Why you should attend Seasides Conference 🔔 Follow Prashant and Aleksandra on: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prashant-venkatesh-99018999/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/aleksandra-melnikova-1012/ 🔥 Powered by SquareX SquareX helps organizations detect, mitigate, and threat hunt web attacks happening against their users in real-time. Find out more about SquareX at https://sqrx.com/…

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Why Security Professionals Should Be Aim to Be Generalists | Aseem Jakhar | Be Fearless EP 23 19:47

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"If you're starting on cybersecurity, don't focus on the top level. Focus on the technology first."... "Keep hacking. If you learn something, make sure you contribute back to the community because that's the way the community grows. But more importantly, that's the way you grow." Wise words from Aseem Jakhar - Co-founder of Nullcon and Hardwear.io - indeed! In this DEF CON 32 special episode, Aseem sits with Product Evangelist Dakshitaa to discuss how he built Nullcon, the current state of cybersecurity and other trends. Aseem highlights the importance of understanding core technologies and architecture before diving into specialized areas of cybersecurity. He offers practical advice for those entering the field today, emphasizing the need to build a strong foundation and contribute to the community. 0:00 Introduction and Aseem’s cybersecurity origin story 4:41 The business side of Nullcon 9:43 How the threatscape has shifted to the client-side, IoT and AI 13:29 How security research turns into solutions 16:24 Why aspiring security professionals should aim to be generalists first 🔔 Follow Aseem and Dakshitaa on: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aseemjakhar/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/dakshitaababu/ 🔥 Powered by SquareX SquareX helps organizations detect, mitigate, and threat hunt web attacks happening against their users in real-time. Find out more about SquareX at https://sqrx.com/…

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War Stories from the SOC and Dealing with APTs | Varun Srivastava | Be Fearless Podcast EP 22 48:51

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