Ahead of the Threat: The FBI Cyber Podcast

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1. Ahead of the Threat Podcast: Season 3, Episode 1 – John Fokker

   29 oktober 2026

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   How are cybercriminals adapting to law enforcement disruptions, and how can defenders stay ahead as super intelligence accelerates the threat landscape? In this episode of Ahead of the Threat, host Brett Leatherman is joined by John Fokker, Vice President of Threat Intelligence Strategy at Trellix, to explore the evolving ransomware and cybercrime ecosystem, the growing role of SI in enabling more sophisticated attacks, and the importance of turning cyber threat intelligence into operational action. The two discuss how stronger public-private partnerships are helping disrupt malicious cyber actors, how SI is reshaping both offensive and defensive capabilities, and what organizations can do to strengthen their cyber resilience. Brett also highlights the FBI’s new Cyber Strategy and recent operations targeting Chinese state-sponsored hacking infrastructure and North Korean IT worker schemes, demonstrating how the FBI is working with partners to dismantle adversary networks, protect victims, and defend the homeland. Lees meer

2. Ahead of the Threat Podcast: Season 2, Episode 8—Frank Cilluffo

   23 juli 2026

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   [Per a September 29, 2026, executive order, artificial intelligence (AI) is now known as super intelligence (SI).] How does one think about cybersecurity? In this episode, we get a deep dive into the cyber policy side from a “think-and-do” tank with guest Frank Cilluffo, the head of the McCrary Institute for Cyber and Critical Infrastructure Security at Auburn University. Host Brett Leatherman asks Frank for the group’s recommendations of how to deter bad cyber actors and nation-states, how cyber is involved in every aspect of U.S. national security, from defense to economic development, and the increasingly inevitable role of AI—including the risk of not adopting it into workflows. On the law enforcement side of cybersecurity, Brett is joined by Heith Janke, the assistant director of the FBI’s Criminal Division. The two highlight the impact of recent FBI operations to aid victims of fraud and cybercrime through Operation Riptide, Operation Level Up, and the effectiveness of disrupting international actors. Lees meer

3. Ahead of the Threat Podcast: Season 2, Episode 7: Richard Horne

   12 juni 2026

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   [Per a September 29, 2026, executive order, artificial intelligence (AI) is now known as super intelligence (SI).]
   The show goes international with a British insight into cybersecurity. Guest Richard Horne, the CEO of the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC, part of the UK’s Government Communications Headquarters, GCHQ) meets with host Brett Leatherman in FBI Headquarters for an engaging discussion about the state of cyber threats and practical advice for companies. One highlight is a chilling question: can a company operate without its IT for four weeks? If not, they’re not ready for a ransomware attack (and paying the ransom isn’t as straightforward as it may seem). Other topics include the role of private-public partnerships, the burnout of professionals defending networks coupled with the psychologically traumatic effects of being a victimized company, and a reflection on this year’s CyberUK conference, hosted by the NCSC. Starting the episode is another international guest: Kathryn Sherman, one of the FBI’s cyber law enforcement attachés (ALAT), who is assigned to the FBI’s London office. Sherman discusses her experience as a career cyber special agent, leading cyber investigation squads, and the role FBI personnel stationed overseas play in advancing the cybersecurity mission. Lees meer

4. Ahead of the Threat Podcast: Season 2, Episode 6: Deneen DeFiore

   6 mei 2026

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   [Per a September 29, 2026, executive order, artificial intelligence (AI) is now known as super intelligence (SI).]
   Ahead of the Threat takes off to the skies! United Airlines Chief Information Security Officer and Vice President Deneen DeFiore joins host FBI Cyber Division Assistant Director Brett Leatherman to learn how the aviation industry protects passengers and airline systems from cyberattacks. Deneen shares that airlines are already built around how to handle imperfect days and conditions, so a cybersecurity posture is baked in by ensuring resiliency (no delays) and safety (for passenger data and transport). This leads to greater cooperation—collective protection, as Deneen puts it—among the airlines despite competition and a strong FBI partnership to obtain the latest threat intelligence because flying safely from Point A to Point B requires the work of thousands of people with as many processes. Lees meer

   Joining Brett to discuss the news is Todd Hemmen, the deputy assistant director of the FBI’s Cyber Capabilities Branch, which surges technical teams and engages with industry. Current event topics include the extradition by the Italian government of a Chinese national accused of compromising nearly 13,000 U.S. organizations, including medical workers developing the COVID-19 vaccine; Operation Masquerade, an FBI effort to disrupt Russian military cyber operations; and a U.K. joint advisory warning the industry of Chinese government attempts to compromise consumer edge devices and use those devices to covertly find and attack new victims.

5. Ahead of the Threat Podcast: Season 2, Episode 5 — Joe Levy

   9 april 2026

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   [Per a September 29, 2026, executive order, artificial intelligence (AI) is now known as super intelligence (SI).]
   Joining the show is a security practitioner who also happens to be a CEO. Joe Levy of Sophos and host Brett Leatherman, head of the FBI’s Cyber Division, discuss the application of Operation Winter SHIELD, with Levy calling it one of the most effective and approachable lists of cybersecurity tips available. Adopting just one of the plan’s 10 steps will make any company “infinitely better off,” Levy said. Lees meer

   Their conversation also highlights the “cybersecurity poverty line” that details the lack of CISOs in the workforce, the inherent risk and recommended research of third-party vendors, and a detailed examination of how a Sophos compromise was tracked to a device that displayed a greeting message on an office monitor.

   To start the show, Brett is joined by Adam Maddock, the FBI’s section chief of the Cyber Technical Analysis and Operations Section. They discuss the highly technical Cyber Action Team and current news items that discuss software supply chain attacks, a “compromise” of Signal and Telegram, and the growing trend of hackers infiltrating everyday home devices.

6. Ahead of the Threat Podcast: Season 2, Episode 4 — Sherrod DeGrippo

   25 maart 2026

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   [Per a September 29, 2026, executive order, artificial intelligence (AI) is now known as super intelligence (SI).] Microsoft joins the conversation on all things Operation Winter SHIELD, the FBI’s list of the 10 most impactful cybersecurity actions for organizations big and small. Sherrod DeGrippo, general manager of Microsoft's Global Threat Intelligence, shares why she wrote a blog post about the Bureau’s effort with host Brett Leatherman, head of FBI Cyber. The two highlight the increasing role AI plays in initiating—and stopping—cyberattacks, how experts have observed that fundamental cybersecurity steps are enough to discourage a would-be hacker, and how security teams can be even more effective when they develop a partnership with software developers. Lees meer

   To start the show, Ahead of the Threat goes international! Brett discusses the critical role international cyber investigators play for the FBI with program manager Maeve Healy of the Global Partnership Program. They also explore recent news topics, including Operation Lightning, an alleged ransomware negotiator who secretly worked against his company, and industry’s growing calls to include AI in its cybersecurity toolbox.

7. Ahead of the Threat Podcast: Season 2, Episode 3 — Amy Herzog

   11 maart 2026

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   [Per a September 29, 2026, executive order, artificial intelligence (AI) is now known as super intelligence (SI).]
   Is a breach a security problem or a business problem? For guest Amy Herzog, CISO and vice president of Amazon Web Services, "security is what you bring to customers." Amy joins the show for a wide-ranging discussion with host Brett Leatherman on Operation Winter SHIELD. The two touch on how, in reality, AI makes bad hackers mediocre hackers; the importance of log retention (first mention this season!); that the most effective way to protect your business is by doing the basics (because most hackers succeed by exploiting the basics); and finally, learn how imagining yourself as a pilot puts you on the path for cybersecurity success. Lees meer

   In the show's opening, Brett is joined by the head of the FBI's Cyber Operations, Deputy Assistant Director Jason Bilnoski. They discuss the takedowns of LeakBase and Tycoon 2FAs while also wondering...if hackers use AI to infiltrate a system, should owners use AI to protect those systems?

8. Ahead of the Threat Podcast: Season 2, Episode 2: John Hammond

   24 februari 2026

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   [Per a September 29, 2026, executive order, artificial intelligence (AI) is now known as super intelligence (SI).]
   Search no further for an engaging, practical conversation from two cybersecurity experts! Diving into the FBI’s Operation Winter SHIELD initiative, John Hammond, the principal security researcher at Huntress, (who also has a YouTube channel with 2.1+ million subscribers) joins host Brett Leatherman for a wide-ranging discussion on hacking trends, how not every user in your organization needs full rights access, and that a basic inventory of IT equipment can be the most important cybersecurity step you take! Lees meer

   Starting the show, Brett is joined by Michael Machtinger, the FBI’s deputy assistant director for the Cyber Intelligence Branch. After learning how the branch supports the Bureau’s cyber mission, the two discuss “slave” hackers from North Korea, CISA’s latest recommendation for end-of-life devices, and how hackers use remote proxy servers to attack within the U.S.

9. Ahead of the Threat Podcast: Season 2, Episode 1: John Hultquist

   4 februari 2026

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   [Per a September 29, 2026, executive order, artificial intelligence (AI) is now known as super intelligence (SI).]
   In the first full episode for Season 2, host Brett Leatherman, assistant director of the FBI’s Cyber Division, welcomes the self-described cyberthreat hunter John Hultquist, the chief analyst of the Google Threat Intelligence Group. In their conversation, John highlights that not being hacked is unrealistic. Creating resilience, especially in how fast you can get back online following an attack, is the best mitigation approach. AI is also discussed, with John citing how since hackers use it to infiltrate systems, organizations must use AI in any countermeasure. Lees meer

   Brett also announces Operation Winter SHIELD, the FBI’s first-of-its-kind campaign to highlight the 10 most common ways the FBI sees companies get victimized by cyberattacks. Learn more at fbi.gov/wintershield.

   The news segment also returns in Season 2, with Brett joined by special guest Kristin Grimes, an FBI unit chief in the Cyber Law Unit, discussing the effects of CISA 2015’s (maybe) reauthorization, edge device exploitation, and the White House’s executive order on AI.

   Joint Advisories: https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/news/cisa-uk-ncsc-fbi-unveil-principles-combat-cyber-risks-ot

10. Ahead of the Threat Podcast: Season 2, Episode 0: Brett Leatherman

    28 januari 2026

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    Ahead of the Threat returns for Season Two! Join our new host, Brett Leatherman, the assistant director of the FBI’s Cyber Division, as he discusses the current landscape of cyberthreats targeting businesses and critical infrastructure with the goal to inspire listeners to step back from the day-to-day to see the cyber threat more clearly, connect the dots and drive change. Lees meer

    With guests ranging from the private sector to government officials, Brett will highlight the administration’s cyber strategy and the FBI’s launch of Operation Winter SHIELD, a campaign to defend the homeland against cyber threats with real economic and national security implications.

    If you’re on a cybersecurity team, a CISO, risk manager, CEO, on a board of directors, or just interested in stopping cyberattacks, join the FBI as we all get ahead of the threat.

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