Cyber Uncut

Momentum Media

Cyber Uncut brings you the key decision makers and cutting edge innovators shaping Australia's cyber revolution.

From cyber security to artificial intelligence and information systems, discover how businesses and government are navigating the transition to a digital future.

Join Momentum Media's Phil Tarrant, defence and national security podcaster, Major General (Ret'd) Dr Marcus Thompson AM – former head of the ADF's Information Warfare Division, and Liam Garman, editor of Cyber Daily, as they dive head first into the latest breaking news shaping our interconnected world.

Get in touch, get your questions answered by our experts or share your stories. Contact cyber@momentummedia.com.au

For daily news and analysis visit www.cyberdaily.au

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July 20 · 27 min
AI won't replace security teams – it will decide whether they keep you, with Securonix's Ajay Biyani
Join Cyber Daily's David Hollingworth and Securonix's senior vice president for Asia-Pacific and Japan, Ajay Biyani, to break down why the challenge for organisations isn't replacing analysts – it's giving them the tools they need. Security operations centres are under unprecedented pressure as cyber attacks become faster, more sophisticated and increasingly powered by AI. At the same time, security teams are expected to do more without additional staff or budget. Rather than replacing people, Biyani contends, AI is proving most valuable by filtering out false positives, correlating data across disconnected security tools, and allowing analysts to concentrate on genuine threats, threat hunting and incident response. As AI agents become more common across enterprises, security teams will also need visibility into machine identities and automated systems, creating an entirely new attack surface that demands modern security operations and AI-assisted defence. The message for business leaders is clear: modernise security operations now or risk falling behind attackers already using AI to their advantage. Investing in AI-powered security isn't about reducing headcount – it's about empowering analysts, improving resilience, and ensuring the organisation is prepared for the inevitable cyber incident before it happens. Enjoy, The Cyber Uncut Team
July 14 · 47 min
CONTESTED GROUND: Shots fired! Chinese missile test shatters Australia's "fog of peace", with Mike Pezzullo
As Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese moves to secure the Pacific and ensure continued alignment with Australia, China threw a wrench in the works by conducting a ballistic missile test, effectively firing the starter's gun on a countdown to war. In a chilling diagnosis of the Australian political landscape, the latest Contested Ground podcast presents a blunt thesis: the nation has traded the rigorous, strategic statecraft of the past for a hyper-partisan focus on domestic "household" economics, leaving Australia dangerously unprepared for the brewing realities of global conflict. Hosts Phil Tarrant and Major General (Ret'd) Dr Marcus Thompson sit down with former Department of Home Affairs secretary Mike Pezzullo to unpack a harsh truth. The political class has become obsessed with the "household offer" – the immediate, transactional relief of cost-of-living policies at the expense of long-term strategic vision. Pezzullo argues that modern politics has atrophied its ability to handle global affairs because, quite simply, politicians no longer view deep strategic expertise as a necessary tool in their belt. The conversation takes a sharp turn when Pezzullo, leaning on his decades of experience, offers a sobering assessment of the Indo-Pacific. He posits a 10–15 per cent probability of a major Pacific conflict by 2028, a window tied to China's internal political calendar and the strategic positioning of US combat assets in Australia. This isn't merely academic posturing; it is a call for an integrated national plan that currently does not exist. Pezzullo's warning is clear: while Australia has a "quiet" military culture and lacks the martial fervor of other nations, this complacency is a liability when facing a potential major power confrontation. Perhaps the most provocative thread of the discussion is the challenge to our current leadership's capabilities. When asked if the current political establishment is equipped to manage a national crisis of this magnitude, the consensus is grim. The conversation draws parallels to Yes, Prime Minister, suggesting that while current leaders might try to channel their inner Churchill when pressure mounts, they lack the foundational historical and strategic literacy that defined the era of leaders like Kim Beazley and Gareth Evans. The podcast concludes on a pessimistic but realistic note: proactive leadership is unlikely. Pezzullo suggests that the system is so entrenched in domestic optics that it may take a significant crisis, an event more traumatic than a pandemic or supply chain shock, to force the necessary "overpressure" on government. Until that catalyst arrives, the national security apparatus remains in a holding pattern, hoping for peace but arguably failing to prepare for the strategic storms on the horizon. Enjoy the podcast, The Contested Ground team
July 10 · 28 min
Trust is the new attack surface, with ThreatLocker APAC director of operations Emile Barakat
Cyber criminals and nation-state actors are no longer relying on malware alone – they're exploiting trust. Here's what you need to know to fight back. ThreatLocker's Emile Barakat joins Cyber Daily's David Hollingworth to help Australia's business leaders understand how threat actors target professionals on platforms like LinkedIn – and how it needs to be addressed. Whether it's a fake recruiter, consultant, or business partner, attackers invest weeks or months in building credibility before asking victims to open a file, run code, or share sensitive information. The old advice of "don't click suspicious links" is no longer enough – employees must learn to question suspicious opportunities just as much as suspicious emails. Traditional security awareness training also needs an overhaul. Quarterly phishing exercises remain important, but modern attacks increasingly hide behind legitimate-looking software, trusted open-source tools, and highly personalised AI-driven social engineering. The message for business leaders is simple, says Barakat: assume your organisation is a target, regardless of its size. Enjoy, The Cyber Uncut Team
July 8 · 52 min
CONTESTED GROUND: Lessons from the UK in political polarisation, generational dislocation and intergenerational warfare, with Ben Dullroy, Bravo Delta Advisory
While Australia's level of political atomisation is far from as bad as what is being experienced in the broader Western world, we're not far-off. How we engage with generations of Australians will have dramatic ramifications for our national security in the immediate and longer term. Following mounting political tensions across the Western world, with startling examples in the United Kingdom in recent weeks, Australia and Australians have been watching with bated breath as to how long it will take for those simmering tensions to boil over closer to home. These undercurrents have served to combine with mounting intergenerational hostilities and competition over employment, housing and lifestyle opportunities, with younger Australians increasingly feeling like they were sold a bung deal. Speaking with Ben Dullroy of Bravo Delta Advisory, host Steve Kuper unpacks the rising political isolation, tensions and, for the establishment parties of Australian politics, concern over the rise of populism on both the left and right of the political divide. The pair detail the areas of comparison and contrast between Australia and other similar nations like the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, discussing emerging trends in the respective political discourse and agenda setting and what Australia can do to avoid the same pitfalls as some of our compatriot nations. They also discuss the impact of immigration, declining employment prospects and one of the most overlooked aspects behind social cohesion – the dating scene and the intersections of social and cultural investment and national security. Enjoy the podcast, The Contested Ground team
July 3 · 38 min
Why cyber security's next battle will be won by speed, with Qualys CEO Sumedh Thakar
Qualys' CEO joins the Cyber Uncut podcast to explain why autonomous remediation, smarter patching, and risk-based security will define the next generation of cyber defence. Cyber security is entering a new era as powerful AI models dramatically reduce the time it takes attackers to discover and exploit vulnerabilities. In this episode, Qualys CEO Sumedh Thakar joins Cyber Daily's Liam Garman to explain why businesses need to look beyond the headlines surrounding Anthropic's Mythos and focus on what AI really means for cyber risk. The conversation explores how organisations can turn the tables by using AI to identify and remediate vulnerabilities before attackers strike. From smarter patching to autonomous remediation and risk-based prioritisation, Thakar outlines why speed, not just visibility, is becoming the defining factor in cyber defence. Looking ahead, the pair discuss why AI-driven attacks will demand AI-driven security and why CISOs and business leaders need a roadmap for autonomous remediation. If you want to understand how AI is reshaping both sides of the cyber security battle – and what your organisation should do next – this is an episode you won't want to miss. Please see links to the reports below: Verizon 2026 Data Breach Investigation Report (DBIR) [palink.co] – includes data by Qualys from Section 7 of Qualys TRU's The Broken Physics of Remediation report [palink.co] The Broken Physics of Remediation Enjoy, The Cyber Uncut team
July 1 · 37 min
CONTESTED GROUND: Budget backlash – has Australia lost its political middle ground?
As Australia faces a populist political surge and the established political parties continue to lose ground, can Australia's "sensible" centre hold, or will decades of failed policies, broken promises and declining economic opportunities finally come home to roost? In a departure from its usual international focus, Contested Ground turns to domestic tensions sparked by the federal budget. The hosts argue that this has become a sustained point of public frustration rather than a short-term political issue. Hosts Phil Tarrant and Major General (Ret'd) Dr Marcus Thompson question whether Australia is moving away from its traditional "sensible centre" towards greater political polarisation. A central theme of the discussion is the declining level of trust between Australians and the political class. Dr Thompson argues that governments increasingly risk creating division through policies and political strategies that focus on wedge issues rather than building consensus. The conversation references debates, including the Voice referendum and responses to international crises, as examples of issues that have contributed to heightened social tension. The discussion also turns to housing, taxation and the economic pressures facing younger Australians. Tarrant raises concerns that government policy settings, including changes affecting self-managed super funds and capital gains tax arrangements, may have unintentionally reduced investment capacity and worsened housing supply pressures. The hosts question whether Australia is continuing to promote an outdated version of the "Australian Dream" while younger generations face record debt levels, higher living costs and greater financial uncertainty. Ultimately, the episode explores a bigger question: is Australia experiencing a fundamental shift in its national identity and political culture? The hosts suggest the country may be moving away from the traditional "sensible centre" that has defined much of modern Australian politics towards a more divided environment, where competing extremes increasingly dominate public debate. They warn that maintaining social cohesion will become harder if political leadership continues to prioritise short-term political advantage over long-term national unity. The episode concludes with a call for a renewed style of leadership – one focused less on political point-scoring and more on honesty, transparency and bringing Australians together to confront the economic and strategic challenges ahead. Enjoy the podcast, The Contested Ground team
June 26 · 42 min
CONTESTED GROUND: Australia's sovereign capability reckoning – why the system is no longer fit for purpose
Host Steve Kuper is joined by former navy logistician Dave Grosvenor and chair of the Gravity Group Steve Hayes for a wide-ranging discussion on Australia's sovereign capability, industrial resilience and the growing gap between strategic risk and national preparedness in this episode of the Contested Ground podcast. The conversation opens with a blunt assessment of Australia's strategic vulnerability, with the argument that it is no longer theoretical but "empirically established" through a growing body of evidence. The panel examines what concrete indicators – ranging from supply chain fragility to operational dependence on external partners – most clearly demonstrate this exposure, and why existing frameworks such as the Defence Strategic Review did not go far enough in diagnosing the scale of the challenge. A key theme is urgency. The guests argue that incremental reform and repeated reviews are insufficient, making a comprehensive national audit of sovereign capability essential now rather than later. They explore how wargaming outcomes and scenario analysis increasingly point to Australia's limited resilience in the face of prolonged disruption, particularly across critical supply chains and industrial dependencies. The discussion then turns to the structural limits of market-driven solutions. The panel outlines how market failures, foreign subsidies and competing international industrial strategies distort outcomes for Australian industry. They also unpack the "theory of the second best" in practical policy terms, arguing that partial reforms in a distorted global system can sometimes worsen outcomes rather than improve them. The debate extends to the real-world cost of inaction, framed not just in economic terms but in strategic and operational risk. Attention shifts to what a national audit would need to deliver, including whole-of-government visibility, cross-sector integration and measurable outcomes rather than another cyclical report. The guests stress the importance of avoiding bureaucratic capture and ensuring the process translates into actionable reform rather than analysis paralysis. The conversation then explores the policy tools available to government, including long-term procurement, sovereign industry funds, and strategic industrial zones. Particular focus is given to the most under-utilised levers in Australia's current policy toolkit and the skills gaps that continue to undermine sovereign capability ambitions. International comparisons feature prominently, with the Republic of Korea highlighted as the most relevant model for Australia. The panel discusses Korea's long-term policy consistency, export-driven industrial strategy and state-enabled industrial scaling while questioning how much of that approach is realistically transferable to the Australian context. Institutional reform is another focal point, with discussion of proposals for a dedicated Ministry of Sovereign Industry. The guests examine how such an institution might interact with Defence, Treasury and industry departments, and whether Australia can maintain continuity of strategy across electoral cycles without a dedicated anchor for sovereign capability policy. The episode also addresses public trust and communication challenges, emphasising the need for transparency in how sovereign risk is communicated to avoid unnecessary alarm while strengthening social cohesion and democratic engagement. Finally, the panel considers implementation realities – what can be achieved within a single parliamentary term, how bipartisan consensus might be built, and the respective roles of states, territories and private capital in delivering large-scale industrial transformation. In closing, the discussion returns to first principles: what motivated the push for a national audit, how lived experience in procurement and logistics shapes the analysis, and what success would look like for Australia if it meaningfully closes its sovereign capability gap over the next decade. Enjoy the podcast, The Contested Ground team
June 26 · 33 min
Beware AI and influencers, NSW Rural Fire Service hacked, and say goodbye to the Essential Eight!
This week, Cyber Uncut looks at important tax time advice, a string of Aussie hacks that have exposed sensitive personal information, and the Australian Signals Directorate's decision to retire the Essential Eight. CPA Australia has a warning this tax time, and that is to be very aware of taking tax advice from AI chatbots and financial influencers. An AI hallucination could cost you real money, so this is something to pay attention to! It's been a terrible week for data breaches in Australia, with the NSW Rural Fire Service warning its members of a data breach, and a ransomware actor dumping teacher and student data from the Reynella East College breach onto the dark web. Right now, cyber criminals are no doubt combing through the data, making this breach one that parents should pay attention to. Finally, the ASD has said that, as good as the Essential Eight is, it's no longer fit for purpose in the AI age. Find out what's going to replace it, and then stay tuned for an update on the alleged distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack that took down a One Nation website a couple of weeks ago. Just another week in cyber security. Enjoy, The Cyber Uncut team
June 19 · 43 min
Anthropic blocks Fable 5, Mackay Sugar tackles cyber attack, and the AFP gets tough on cyber crime
This week, Cyber Uncut looks at the launch – and the blocking – of Anthropic's latest AI models, a raft of cyber attacks on Aussie organisations, and praises the Australian Federal Police for its work at home and abroad. AI giant Anthropic had a tough week recently. It launched its most advanced AI model yet, only to have the US government force it to block access. Cyber Daily's David Hollingworth and Daniel Croft work through what happened and its implications for organisations in the Asia-Pacific region. And it's been a tough week – a tough month, really, for cyber criminals targeting Australian entities, and even government bodies, both state and federal, were not immune. But it also seems some cyber criminals may have been exaggerating just a little bit. Find out what happened to the NSW government and the Australian Productivity Commission – and how it impacted Aussie journalists! Finally, the AFP has been very busy, assisting in an international takedown operation targeting vital criminal infrastructure and working with Five Eyes law enforcement agencies to combat organised cyber crime groups targeting vulnerable youth. Just another week in cyber security. Enjoy, The Cyber Uncut team
June 15 · 41 min
CONTESTED GROUND: Fortune favours the bold – building a national security strategy for the 21st century, with Marc Ablong
When Opposition Leader Angus Taylor announced a Coalition government would develop and implement a national security strategy, many shouted, "Finally!", but delivering a strategy that is fit for purpose is more political than most would think. Since the release of the nation's first whole-of-nation national security strategy in 2013, successive Australian governments have sought to mask the nation's lack of preparedness with individual but isolated strategies from across government. Championed tirelessly but ultimately unsuccessfully by the late Jim Molan, a national security strategy has often been viewed as solely the remit of a narrow clique of public policy professionals with access to security briefings and the levers of power. But as host Steve Kuper and geostrategic analyst Marc Ablong unpack, a truly encompassing, whole-of-nation national security strategy presents immense opportunities not just for the nation but also for the political party that recognises the challenges we face need to be overcome. This conversation comes at a time when political upheaval, atomisation and social cohesion continue to challenge established and insurgent political movements at home and across the broader Western world. The pair discuss the immense opportunity for the political party that understands and develops a strategy incorporating a distinct and inescapable but seemingly forgotten factor: national security begins with the individual. They discuss just what makes a "good" national security strategy in the modern context, the lessons Australia can learn from the Scandinavian nations, the United States and other like-minded countries that have recognised the challenges and opportunities presented by the return of multipolar, great power competition. Finally, they discuss a question, only just starting to re-emerge in the public and political consciousness: "What sort of country do we want Australia to be?" Enjoy the podcast, The Contested Ground team
June 12 · 20 min
ThreatLocker's Emile Barakat talks Essential Eight, cyber policy, and security as a human challenge
ThreatLocker's APAC director of operations, Emile Barakat, joins Cyber Daily's David Hollingworth to discuss what makes the Essential Eight so essential, the federal government's budget spend on cyber security, and the Australian outlook on cyber crime and why it happens here. This week on the Cyber Uncut podcast, Cyber Daily deputy editor David Hollingworth speaks with Emile Barakat, the head of cyber security firm ThreatLocker's operations in the Asia-Pacific region. ThreatLocker – and its boss, Danny Jenkins – is a big fan of Australia's Essential Eight cyber security standard, but what really makes that tick, and why is it so important? The pair discuss just why it's one of the gold standards of cyber protection and why other countries should take note. Then it's time to consider this year's budget and the role of government in securing businesses, economies, and consumers in a world of growing cyber threats. Finally, Hollingworth and Barakat get to grips with the local threat landscape and the human challenges of cyber security. "Typically, an organisation will run security awareness training every quarter. Some will do it less frequently, unfortunately," Barakat says. "Even with that training, you'll see compromises and, at times, the same employees make the same mistakes." Enjoy, The Cyber Uncut team
June 5 · 46 min
AI profitability, hacker targets Aussie organisations, and Cyber Daily gets given Shirt of Invisibility
This week's essential cyber security podcast uncovers a new threat actor targeting a raft of Australian organisations and asks the important question: Is AI profitable yet? Hint – it is not. Cyber Daily's David Hollingworth and Daniel Croft open the podcast with the good news that Anthropic's Mythos platform is, in fact, coming to Australia, and they talk to the man behind the website that asks – and illustrates – the question of our time: who is actually making money from AI? It's also been a shocker of a week for data breaches in Australia, and it looks like one threat actor is behind most of the activity. Organisations such as the ACMI, the Melbourne International Film Festival, and a corporate catering service have all been allegedly hacked. Find out what's happening in cyber crime in Australia, right here. Just another week in cyber security. Enjoy, The Cyber Uncut team
May 29 · 22 min
Genetec's Mathieu Chevalier on tricking AI and what Claude Mythos really means for the industry
Genetec's lead security architect joins the Cyber Uncut podcast to unpack the impact of AI on vulnerability hunting, prompt injection, and how to become invisible with one simple trick. This week on the Cyber Uncut podcast, host David Hollingworth speaks with Genetec's lead security architect, Mathieu Chevalier, about how AI is dramatically impacting both physical and cyber security, the hidden costs of Anthropic's Claude Mythos, and why AI speed must always be matched with human intelligence. But first, Chevalier shares his simple trick to appear invisible to AI with the assistance of just one page of text – or maybe just a T-shirt! The pair then dive into how AI empowers Genetec's security platforms, the rising costs of every AI prompt, and the true power of vulnerability hunting in a post-Mythos world. "I would say the best practices are not established now. It's still so new, and changing so fast," Chevalier says. "So we're kind of trying to learn all together, as a cyber security community, how to do this." Enjoy, The Cyber Uncut team
May 27 · 18 min
CONTESTED GROUND: Assessing the fallout and implications of the latest Trump–Xi meeting for Iran, Taiwan and Australia
When the leaders of the world's two major powers meet, the world stops to take notice and nowhere is this clearer than in the recent meeting between US President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping. There is no escaping the fact that the US–China relationship will be the defining factor of the 21st century, for good or for ill. Join Contested Ground hosts, Steve Kuper and Major General (Ret'd) Dr Marcus Thompson, as they deep dive into the real-world ramifications and fallout following the meeting between US President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping. The pair discuss the shared US–China interest in preventing a renewed trade war and keeping the fragile trade truce intact. Strategically, Taiwan remains the most sensitive and unresolved issue. Xi Jinping frames it as the central risk in the bilateral relationship and warns of the consequences of mismanagement, while Trump largely avoids escalation during formal engagements, later suggesting continued engagement on the issue without committing to a clear stance. Across the wider strategic agenda, the pair cover discussions on military posture, technology restrictions, sanctions and third-party conflicts such as Ukraine, Iran and the Middle East. The pair also discuss the state mutual preference to avoid escalation amid broader global instability, including energy security concerns and supply chain fragility. Finally, they discuss Xi's messaging, which emphasises long-term great-power coexistence, multipolar stability and opposition to bloc confrontation. This presents China as a steady global actor advocating managed competition alongside the traditional Trump approach of more transactional realpolitik, centred on trade, investment flows and market stability, with an emphasis on maintaining flexibility and direct leader-to-leader communication. Enjoy the podcast, The Contested Ground team
May 22 · 37 min
Don't let AI control your bank account, Qilin hackers target Australia, and law enforcement strikes back!
Daniel Croft and David Hollingworth tackle the challenges of linking your finances to an AI agent, break down the Qilin ransomware group's Aussie rampage, the ransom payment dilemma, and round up a week of wins for fighting cyber crime. Australians may soon be able to link their banking details directly with platforms like OpenAI, but is that wise? Croft has recently uncovered a stellar example of why you may want to think twice before clicking "Yes". The pair have been investigating a trio of Qilin ransomware attacks this week, and the victims are all investigating the hackers' claims – but Qilin is acting very strange and not sharing any details of the hacks themselves. Hollingworth and Croft have some suspicions, making this a threat intelligence assessment not to miss. The podcast closes out with a week of law enforcement wins, with cyber criminals both abroad and at home getting their just deserts. You love to see it. Just another week in cyber security. Enjoy, The Cyber Uncut team

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