Podcasts

This Discarded episode unpacks one of the strangest malware investigations of the year: TrustConnect RAT. What started as a seemingly legitimate remote management tool quickly unraveled into a bizarre, fast-evolving ecosystem of “vibe-coded” malware.

This episode of Discarded features our expert malware researchers. As a team, they offer a balanced look at AI’s growing influence in cybersecurity—showing how intelligent tools can amplify analyst effectiveness while reinforcing that expertise and critical thinking remain central to effective malware defense.

This episode of Proofpoint Discarded features Dr. Bob Hausmann, Lead Cognitive Scientist of Human Risk Management at Proofpoint. He and the Discarded team discuss whether cybersecurity training truly changes behavior.

To kick off Discarded in 2026, host Selena Larson and co-host Tim Kromphardt chat with Rich Gonzalez, Director of Emerging Threats at Proofpoint. Their discussion gives listeners a behind-the-scenes look at how emerging threats are detected, tracked, and turned into real-world protections for defenders.

In this Discarded episode, host Selena Larson chats with Daniel Blackford, VP of Threat Research at Proofpoint, for an end-of-year look at how the cyber threat landscape evolved—and what defenders should be preparing for in 2026.

Host Selena Larson and co-guest ho-ho-ho hosts, Tim Kromphardt and Sarah Sabotka, unwrap the surprising (and sometimes clever) ways cybercriminals use seasonal themes to trick both consumers and enterprises.

On this episode of Discarded, Selena Larson and Tim Kromphardt sit down with Tony Robinson, senior security research engineer and self-proclaimed “rule magician” from Proofpoint’s Emerging Threats team. Listen as Tony breaks down how his open-source tool, IoT Hunter, helps researchers and defenders cover hundreds of CVEs — from long-forgotten exploits to newly discovered zero-days

On this episode of Discarded, the team is joined by Andrew Brandt, Founder and Executive Director of Elect More Hackers—a nonprofit on a mission to get more cybersecurity and tech-minded thinkers into elected office.

On this Discarded episode, we share practical tips for staying safe online—closing suspicious tabs, using MFA, blocking unsolicited links, and even taking mindful breaks from the digital world. Listen to understand the chaos of the digital underworld and stay one step ahead—without throwing your phone into the woods.

It’s Cybersecurity Awareness Month — and what better way to recognize it than with a deep dive into the human side of cyber threats? In this Discarded episode, we break down why social engineering is at the heart of so many attacks.