CTFs
mnemonic security podcast
01/20/25
•44m
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In this episode of the mnemonic security podcast, Robby is joined by Eirik Nordbø and Marius Kotlarz from Equinor, as well as Haakon Staff from mnemonic.
Together, they discuss the world of Capture the Flag (CTF) competitions, exploring their origins, structure, and benefits. CTFs, as they explain, are “hacking” contests featuring challenges such as cryptography and reverse engineering, where participants solve tasks to uncover "flags" and earn points.
The discussion highlights the educational value of CTFs, particularly in helping developers, pentesters, and other IT professionals refine their skills and master advanced techniques. The group also addresses the logistical challenges of hosting a CTF—such as the Equinor CTF—from infrastructure setup to stress testing, while emphasizing the passion and expertise required to organize a successful event. Finally, they explore how CTFs can serve as a valuable recruitment tool for identifying and attracting top security talent.
Previous Episode
Reverse Engineering
January 6, 2025
•52m
To kick off 2025, Robby chats with Duncan Ogilvie, a renowned expert in Reverse Engineering (RE), the creator of x64dbg (a popular open-source x64/x32 debugger for Windows), and the mind behind 100+ other cool projects.
Their conversation covers the evolving field of RE, discussing common challenges, practical techniques, and how professionals navigate the landscape. Duncan also shares his insights on the current tools shaping the field, explores the role of "AI" in RE, and speculates on what the future might hold for the industry niche.
Listeners will also get a sneak peek into Duncan’s upcoming course, scheduled for February 20-21 in Oslo. The course will focus on using LLVM for binary analysis and is designed to help intermediate reverse engineers sharpen their skills. If you’re interested, sign up here!
https://www.mnemonic.io/resources/events-webinars/exclusive-training-with-duncan-ogilvie-LLVM-IR-and-binary-lifting/
Next Episode
n-days
February 3, 2025
•42m
In this episode of the mnemonic security podcast, Robby is joined by Dustin Childs, Head of Threat Awareness at Trend Micro’s Zero Day Initiative (ZDI). Dustin explains the ZDI’s role in purchasing and analysing vulnerabilities to provide early protection for customers and how zero days – previously unknown vulnerabilities – become "n-days" once disclosed or patched.
The conversation highlights the critical importance of timely patching, the risks posed by bad patches, and the concept of virtual patching as a defence strategy. Dustin also delves into attack surface monitoring, the evolving threat landscape, and the ongoing challenges of balancing security and usability in modern networks.
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