To defend like a human, you first have to think like a hacker.

In this episode, Ron Eddings sits down with Chris Dale, Co-Founder and Chief Hacking Officer at River Security, to explore the human side of hacking, where curiosity, persistence, and vigilance meet defense. Chris shares how the traditional idea of penetration testing has evolved into a continuous journey of discovery, and why reconnaissance and storytelling are critical tools for modern defenders. From real-world breach stories to lessons on trust and responsibility, this episode reveals how thinking like a hacker, and acting like a human can transform the way we approach cybersecurity.

Impactful Moments 00:00 - Introduction 01:00 - The shocking discovery of 266,000 exposed systems 03:30 - Why even trusted systems can become attack points 05:00 - Meet Chris Dale: hacker, educator, and human defender 07:30 - The truth about pen testing and real-world attacks 10:00 - Mapping your digital footprint, what most companies miss 13:00 - How continuous vigilance changes everything 16:00 - The hacker mindset vs. compliance checklists 18:00 - When hacking helps: becoming a company’s “criminal best friend” 21:00 - Storytime: hacking Sketchers and getting free shoes 24:00 - The journalist hack that exposed a bigger issue 28:00 - Building trust through transparency in cybersecurity 31:00 - Lessons from hacking, teaching, and staying human

Links: Connect with our Chris on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisad/

Read the Tech Radar article here: https://www.techradar.com/pro/security/f5-breach-fallout-over-266-000-instances-exposed-to-remote-attacks

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How to See Your Organization Like a Hacker with Chris Dale

Hacker Valley Studio

How to See Your Organization Like a Hacker with Chris Dale