Blake Sobczak – Medium

Published in README_

·2 days ago

3 cybersecurity takeaways from “Hacker Summer Camp”

From vulnerabilities in Starlink user terminals to fresh iCalendar exploits, this year’s Black Hat and DEF CON conferences offered a fount of cybersecurity knowledge for hackers, policymakers and everyone else who braved the Las Vegas heat and monsoon weather. “We’re all trying to figure out what the fuck is going…

Cybersecurity

5 min read

Published in README_

·3 days ago

Black Hat and DEF CON, stunt hacks and Meta encryption moves

Welcome to Changelog for 8/14/22, published by Synack! Cue the DEF CON is canceled jokes: Heavy rains caused damaging flash flooding in Las Vegas late last week during “Hacker Summer Camp,” forcing many casino patrons to take shelter from streets that became raging rapids, as CNN reported. But despite the…

Hacking

6 min read

Black Hat and DEF CON, stunt hacks and Meta encryption moves

Published in README_

·Aug 7

Crypto heists, TLP updates and emergency alert system vulnerabilities

Welcome to Changelog for 8/7/22, published by Synack! The Black Hat and DEF CON cybersecurity conferences are taking place this week in Las Vegas, and I have serious FOMO. The last time I attended either event was back in 2018, when Parisa Tabriz of Google Chrome fame gave Black Hat’s…

Cryptocurrency

5 min read

Crypto heists, TLP updates and emergency alert system vulnerabilities

Published in README_

·Jul 31

Spyware in the spotlight, UEFI threats and GPS jamming

Welcome to Changelog for 7/31/22, published by Synack! Open source coder John Wiseman rolled out a fascinating map of global GPS interference last week. It shows where aircraft pilots have reported encountering degraded navigation accuracy. GPS jamming is most commonly associated with conflict zones and military activity. But if a…

Cybersecurity

6 min read

Spyware in the spotlight, UEFI threats and GPS jamming

Published in README_

·Jul 24

Cyber hiring woes, biometric threats and a check-in with the IT Army

Welcome to Changelog for 7/24/22, published by Synack! It was a blisteringly hot week for many of us across the U.S. — I’ve hardly ventured outside lately in Washington, D.C., where Mayor Muriel Bowser has declared a heat emergency through Monday. I’m jealous of my colleagues in San Francisco who…

Cybersecurity

6 min read

Cyber hiring woes, biometric threats and a check-in with the IT Army

Published in README_

·Jul 17

A first-of-its-kind Log4j review, TikTok security moves and cyberattacks that weren’t

Welcome to Changelog for 7/17/22, published by Synack! Microsoft’s game of macro musical chairs appears to be over. The company said it’s planning to disable internet macros by default after all, following its decision to pause the change in key Office apps late last month. There are signs cyber criminals…

Log 4 J

6 min read

Published in README_

·Jul 10

Lockdown Mode, mercenary hackers and Finland’s approach to hybrid war

Welcome to Changelog for 7/10/22, published by Synack! Blake here, back after a hiatus for the Fourth of July holiday. Last week brought a mixed bag of cybersecurity news, between Apple’s decision to roll out a “Lockdown Mode” for high-risk users to Microsoft’s (temporary) move to reenable macros by default…

Finland

6 min read

Published in README_

·Jun 26

Post-Roe data risks, BSides consequences and a Russia-Ukraine cyber update

Welcome to Changelog for 6/26/22, published by Synack. It’s me, Blake, back after a break for Juneteenth. Thank you to the R Street Institute for hosting me and four cybersecurity experts for a lively discussion Wednesday on the state of water sector cybersecurity. I hope it’s just the first of…

Roe V Wade

6 min read

Post-Roe data risks, BSides consequences and a Russia-Ukraine cyber update

Published in README_

·Jun 12

RSA recap, an Enigma machine and a warning on China-backed cyberthreats

Welcome to Changelog for 6/12/22, published by Synack! Blake here, en route to Washington, D.C., today after attending another successful RSA security conference in San Francisco. We Synackers spent much of the time at Fogo de Chão hosting hundreds of guests, sponsors and a Journey cover band. …

Cybersecurity

6 min read

RSA recap, an Enigma machine and a warning on China-backed cyberthreats

Published in README_

·Jun 5

A fresh Pwn2Own perspective, Cyber Command’s Ukraine revelation and some personal news

Welcome to Changelog for 6/5/22! It’s me, Blake, and I’m thrilled to announce I’m taking on a new role as editor-in-chief of README and head of communications here at Synack. It’s an exciting but bittersweet moment for me, as it means saying goodbye to README’s founding EIC Mike Farrell, whose…

Cybersecurity

6 min read

A fresh Pwn2Own perspective, Cyber Command’s Ukraine revelation and some personal news