Some of the most serious cyber risks can enter through systems, suppliers and processes you do not directly control.

This week, Steve looks at the ConnectWise Cloud Backup incident affecting Microsoft 365 environments, altered Ledger hardware wallets, North Korean remote IT workers using laptop farms and commercial spyware delivered through targeted online advertising.

Also covered are the cyber incident disrupting the federal Bankruptcy Noticing Center, Proofpoint’s proposed acquisition of Varonis, new Android scam protections and an unusually busy Monday patch list.

In “My Take,” Steve explains why dependency risk is operational, not simply contractual, and offers four practical questions every organization should be asking about its suppliers, applications, people and equipment.

Subscribe to What Matters in Cyber for a practical weekly look at the IT and cybersecurity stories that genuinely matter.

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This week, cyberattacks are moving faster, but many defensive processes are still stuck waiting for maintenance windows, approvals and someone to confirm that a patch was actually installed.

Steve examines the FBI breach reportedly linked to an unpatched third party system, the FortiBleed campaign targeting exposed Fortinet devices, and the use of AI agents in attacks against South Korean financial institutions. We also look at the disruption of infrastructure connected to Flax Typhoon, the ASOS social engineering breach, and important Citrix, SonicWall and Cisco updates in the Monday Patch List.

Finally, Steve shares his take on the growing speed mismatch between attackers and defenders, and why organizations need faster verification, stronger identity controls and better oversight of the vendors managing their critical systems.

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Trust sits at the center of almost every cybersecurity decision. We trust vendors, platforms, accounts, software updates and increasingly, AI agents. But what happens when that trust is misplaced or quietly exploited?

In this week’s episode of What Matters in Cyber, Steve follows up on the Kiteworks security story, examines a breach affecting a contractor supporting the Pentagon’s Defense Manpower Data Center, and looks at the takeover of Microsoft’s Clippy account on X to promote cryptocurrency scams.

We also cover Warlock ransomware attacks targeting vulnerable SharePoint environments, the essential items on this week’s Monday Patch List, and new research showing AI agents attempting SQL injection while carrying out seemingly routine tasks.

Finally, Steve shares his take on the common thread connecting these stories: trust should never be treated as permanent. It must be limited, monitored and continually verified.

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What happens when waiting becomes the biggest cybersecurity risk?

In this week’s episode of What Matters in Cyber, Steve examines the decisions organizations make when threats are developing, information is incomplete and the consequences of getting it wrong can be significant.

We look at Kiteworks’ unusual decision to recommend a precautionary shutdown following intelligence about a possible imminent attack, and why acting before a breach is confirmed may sometimes be the responsible choice.

Also in this episode:

• ShinyHunters returns with renewed attacks against Oracle PeopleSoft
• How attackers bypassed temporary firewall protections with one encoded character
• The actively exploited vulnerabilities that deserve attention this Monday
• Why aircraft communication systems remain vulnerable to interception, spoofing and jamming
• A new proposal for strengthening US telecommunications security
• Whether voluntary cybersecurity standards are enough for critical infrastructure

Steve also shares his take on the common thread connecting these stories: the cost of waiting.

What security risk is your organization currently containing, postponing or accepting that it should actually be fixing?

Subscribe to What Matters in Cyber and join the conversation.

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Who has access to your business through the apps and services you trust?

In the first full episode of What Matters in Cyber, Steve looks at how a stolen third party app key exposed customer information, what Boston Scientific’s cyber incident reveals about operational disruption, and why CISA is changing how it prioritizes vulnerabilities. He also shares his take on a new AI security testing service and whether it could help teams find and fix the weaknesses that matter most.

Four stories, one practical question: would you know quickly if a trusted connection was being misused?

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Welcome to What Matters in Cyber. I’m Steve, and in this short introduction, I share why I started the podcast and what you can expect each week.

We’ll look beyond the headlines at cyberattacks, emerging threats, new technology, and changes across the industry. I’ll explain what happened, why it matters, and what you might want to watch or do next, drawing on my experience working with security teams and business leaders.

Have a story I should cover or a perspective I should hear? Join the conversation, and subscribe for new episodes every Monday.

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