Hosts Annie-Mei and Anika unpack social engineering or “human hacking”, with insights from books by Chris Hadnagy and Kevin Mitnick. They break down the attack lifecycle, common tactics (phishing, pretexting, tailgating, quid pro quo), and how AI is supercharging scams, then share practical defences: pause-and-verify, reduce digital footprints, and normalise double-checking at work and home. A clear, actionable guide to spotting and resisting manipulation online and off.

Practical takeaways

• Pause and verify: If there’s urgency, slow down. Confirm via a second channel (Teams/Slack/phone) using contact details you already trust.
• Know your own levers: List your motivations and soft spots (travel deals, pets, promotions, family). Expect lures to target them.
• Harden your photos & profiles: Ask permission before posting others; avoid location tags; check backgrounds for whiteboards, monitors, ID, or addresses.
• At the door: Challenge tailgating politely; ask for ID and verify with the office before granting access—even to someone in high-vis.
• At work: Prefer frequent, tailored awareness over once-a-year training; normalise “it’s fine to check with me” in leadership; run realistic simulations.
• At home: Talk with family and friends about what not to share on your behalf.

Resources for further education:

• Chris Hadnagy — Social Engineering: The Science of Human Hacking
• Kevin Mitnick — The Art of Deception; The Art of Invisibility

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Annie-Mei and Anika are joined by Wadzi Nenzou, who is the founder of 'Our Scam Stories'. Wadzi shares her mission of educating people about investment scams to help them build wealth without losing hard-earned money. With over 18 years of experience in financial services, Wadzi discusses the importance of sharing scam survivor stories to reduce stigma and educate the public. The conversation covers the increasing sophistication of scams, common scam tactics, and which demographics most likely to be targeted.

Annie-Mei talks about the time she was scammed in China.

Do you have a scam story that you'd like to share? Make sure to get in touch with Wadzi. Links to the website and her LinkedIn below.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
00:45 Guest Background and Achievements
03:33 Journey to Scam Education
05:27 Impact of Scams and Statistics
06:45 Reasons Behind Scam Vulnerability
08:42 Sophistication of Modern Scams
10:12 Stigma and Empathy for Scam Victims
22:15 Targeting Vulnerable Groups
24:10 Personal Scam Stories and Social Connections
27:57 Men and Scams: A Personal Story
29:17 Risk Aversion in Women and Financial Impact
31:55 Mental Health and Vulnerability to Scams
32:51 The Tragic Reality of Pig Butchering Scams
36:06 Fighting Back: Erin West and Operation Shamrock
37:13 Our Scam Stories: A Platform for Victims
39:43 The Importance of Sharing Scam Stories
45:37 Conclusion and Social Links

Show Links:

Connect with Wadzi on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/wadzanainenzou/

Learn more about Our Scam Stories:

https://www.ourscamstories.com/

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Find us on Instagram and YouTube @thecybersecuritygals

Annie-Mei and Anika discuss their experiences of going to cybersecurity conferences. They talk about what you can expect and how not all conferences are the same. Anika explains her experience at BSides Canberra and doing the CTF challenge. Annie-Mei talks about her first time going to the biggest hacker conference in the world - DEFCON. Spoiler alert: it was awesome.

00:00 Introduction

01:08 First Cybersecurity Conference Experiences

05:52 BSides Canberra: A Community-Focused Event

07:42 The Fun and Challenges of Cybersecurity Conferences

15:52 Speaking at CyberCon Canberra

18:56 DEFCON: The Pinnacle of Cyber Conferences

22:26 Exciting Badge Experience at DEFCON

22:46 Planning Your First DEFCON Visit

23:17 Social Engineering Competition Highlights

24:53 Traditions and Talks at DEFCON

25:48 Navigating the Las Vegas Convention Center

27:34 AI Village and Deep Fake Experience

28:16 After Parties and Networking

33:00 Memorable Talks and Personal Stories

36:13 The Importance of Public Speaking

41:02 Opportunities from Conference Talks

46:02 Encouragement for Aspiring Speakers

48:12 Conclusion and Reflections

Show Links:

BSides Canberra: https://www.bsidesau.com.au/

DEFCON: https://defcon.org/

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Find us on Instagram and YouTube @thecybersecuritygals

Annie-Mei and Anika are joined by cybersecurity professional Rodman Ramezanian. Rodman shares insights into his 14-year career, touching on his beginnings at Apple as an iOS specialist, his role in cybersecurity across various sectors, and his position as the Director of Events and Professional Development for ISACA Canberra. He also dives into the unexpectedly transferable skills from DJing to his professional life, the importance of communication and mentorship, and his experiences at events like DEFCON. Rodman highlights the multifaceted nature of cybersecurity careers and the value of involvement in community and professional development activities. This episode offers a comprehensive look at a dynamic career path in cybersecurity, blending hands-on expertise with personal passion and community engagement.

00:00 Introduction and Special Guest Announcement

00:36 Is Rodman's name inspired by the famous NBA player?

01:38 Rodman's Cybersecurity Journey

03:33 Working at Apple: A Unique Experience

06:27 The Apple Store Culture

08:04 Transitioning to Cybersecurity

18:52 Mentorship and Career Growth

29:52 Reflecting on Personal Growth and Mentorship

31:28 The Importance of Pre-Sales in Customer Experience

38:37 Balancing a Career in Cybersecurity with DJing

42:53 Networking and Community Building in Cybersecurity

50:05 Joining a Board and Professional Development

59:10 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Connect with Rodman on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rodman-r/

Listen to Rodman on SoundCloud:
https://soundcloud.com/rodman1919

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Find us on Instagram and YouTube @thecybersecuritygals

In this episode of Lost in Cyberia, hosts Annie-Mei and Anika explore the question of whether you need a cybersecurity degree to work in the field. With varied personal experiences, they provide insights into the current job market, entry-level challenges, and the importance of hands-on skills versus formal education. They discuss alternative pathways like bootcamps, networking, certifications, and transferable skills from other industries. The conversation also touches on the importance of following your gut and not conforming to rigid career expectations.

00:00 Introduction and Hosts' Backgrounds
01:21 The Cybersecurity Job Market
03:19 Importance of Skills Over Degrees
05:07 University Experience and Employability
08:55 Personal Journeys and Career Decisions
11:09 Challenges in Cybersecurity Education
14:13 Real-World Experience vs. Academic Learning
28:39 Diverse Career Paths and Mentorship
31:45 Parental Expectations and Career Choices
33:32 The Reality of Cybersecurity Careers
35:47 Transferring Skills to Cybersecurity
37:24 Networking and Continuous Learning
39:14 The Importance of Following Your Passion
44:52 Overcoming Self-Doubt and Comparison
56:09 Conclusion: Trusting Your Gut

Apple Security Bounty:

https://security.apple.com/bounty/

Linux Vulnerability:

https://www.akamai.com/blog/security-research/critical-linux-backdoor-xz-utils-discovered-what-to-know

This Is How They Tell Me The World Ends:

https://www.amazon.com.au/This-They-Tell-World-Will/dp/1635576059

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Find us on Instagram and YouTube @thecybersecuritygals

In this episode of Lost in Cyberia, hosts Annie-Mei and Anika are joined by Veronika Kolek Netolická, the co-founder of Women4Cyber Czechia and current cyber attachée for the Indo-Pacific at the National Cyber and Information Security Agency. The discussion takes place at the Czech Embassy in Canberra, looking at Veronika's extensive background in cybersecurity, her education, and her various roles and initiatives. The conversation explores the importance of diversity and inclusivity in cybersecurity, the foundation and growth of Women4Cyber Czechia, and the challenges of bringing more women and underrepresented groups into the fold. The episode also touches on the significance of public policy in cybersecurity and the need for greater public awareness. Veronika shares insights from her experience living in Canberra, her commitment to continuous learning, and the value of mentorship and constructive criticism. The podcast concludes with practical advice for those aspiring to a career in cybersecurity and diplomacy.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

00:44 Veronika's Background and Achievements

01:57 Women for Cyber Czechia

02:47 Diversity in Cybersecurity

09:37 Public Policy and Cybersecurity

11:37 Role of Cyber Attache

16:22 Global Cybersecurity Perspectives

22:05 Cultural Differences and Security Mindsets

27:45 Living in Canberra: A Unique Experience

28:20 Navigating Social Life in Canberra

30:11 Balancing Academia and Work

32:16 The Importance of Communication in Academia

34:42 Diverse Perspectives and Real-World Applications

38:24 Cybersecurity Conferences and Initiatives

41:58 Career Advice for Aspiring Professionals

45:39 The Role of Criticism and Mentorship

49:55 Final Thoughts and Farewell

Women4Cyber Czechia LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/women4cyber-czechia/

Women4Cyber Czechia Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/women4cyber.cz/

Send us a text

Find us on Instagram and YouTube @thecybersecuritygals

In this episode, Harriet and Annie-Mei have a chat over wine and ice-cream sundaes from a hotel room in Sydney before heading to a Gracie Abrams concert. They explore Harriet's journey as the founder of Mileva Security Labs, an AI security company that addresses security risks to AI systems. Harriet shares insights into the challenges of starting and running a business, especially as a young woman in a male-dominated field. The discussion delves into issues of bias, gender, and ageism in the professional world, and the importance of resilience and adaptability. The conversation also touches on public speaking, the benefits of networking, and the need for social interactions. With anecdotes from their careers and personal lives, Harriet and Annie-Mei paint a vivid picture of the entrepreneurial landscape and the personal growth that comes with it.

Show links:

Mileva Security Labs: https://milev.ai

Harriet's AI Security podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0BJiuvMBqVKKBW2XyID6Bz

00:00 Introduction and Greetings
00:53 Excitement for Gracie Abrams Concert
01:19 Harriet's Company: Mileva Security Labs
03:26 Challenges of Being a Female Founder
07:10 Ageism and Bias in Professional Settings
10:43 The Reality of Running a Startup
14:02 Balancing Work and Personal Life
19:25 Frustrations with Traditional Work Culture
20:05 The Potential of AI in the Workforce
20:21 Struggles with Nine-to-Five Jobs
21:54 Public Sector Work Dynamics
23:53 Starting a Company in AI Security
25:41 Overcoming Fear of Public Speaking
27:28 Building Confidence and Making Friends
31:46 The Importance of Networking
34:18 The Need for Face-to-Face Interaction
35:59 Wrapping Up and Final Thoughts

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In this episode of Lost in Cyberia, hosts Annie Mei and Anika are joined by Alaina Lawson, a Perth-based cybersecurity consultant. Alaina discusses her journey into cybersecurity, starting from her interest in IT during high school, influenced by her family background in IT. She shares how asking a simple question to a customer when she was working in a bakery changed her entire career trajectory. Alaina also shares her experiences navigating a male-dominated field, the encouragement she received from mentors, and her various roles in cloud engineering, technical writing, and governance, risk, and compliance (GRC). The conversation touches on the importance of encouraging women in STEM, the challenges in cybersecurity documentation, and the future complexities of GRC with advancing technology and data storage concerns.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

00:32 Alaina's Background and Early Career

02:09 High School Experiences in IT

04:58 University and Early Work Experience

12:41 Diverse Roles in Cybersecurity

14:20 The Importance of Technical Writing

22:28 The Importance of Learning Different Forms of Writing and Speaking

23:02 Introduction to Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC)

23:35 Misconceptions and Realities of GRC

25:09 Challenges in GRC Documentation and Compliance

27:13 The Role of Cybersecurity in GRC

36:33 The Future of GRC and Data Management

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Find us on Instagram and YouTube @thecybersecuritygals