Podcasts
DISCARDED
DISCARDED: Tales from the Threat Research Trenches is a podcast for security practitioners, intelligence analysts, and threat hunters looking to learn more about the threat behaviors and attack patterns.
Ho-Ho-Hold Up—Is That Message Real? Bad Santas Are Sending Seasonal Scams
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.
Dec 9, 2025
0:33:54
From Toasters to Botnets: Securing Everyday IoT
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
Nov 18, 2025
0:37:40
Elect More Hackers: Tech Skills for Real-World Change
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.
Nov 10, 2025
0:54:41
From Web Injects to Info Stealers: How Cyber Criminals Stay Ahead
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.
Oct 21, 2025
1:00:53
When Being Aware of Cybersecurity Means Knowing You're Human
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.
Oct 8, 2025
0:48:24
Hot sauce and hot takes: An Only Malware in the Building special
Welcome in! You’ve entered Only Malware in the Building. But this time, it’s not just another episode. This is a special edition you won’t want to miss. For the first time, our hosts are together in-studio — and they’re turning up the heat. Literally.
Sep 25, 2025
0:35:00
Freighty Cats: RFQ Phishing Comes to A Warehouse Near You
On this episode of DISCARDED, Selena Larson welcomes back guest and part-time co-host Tim Kromphardt. Freshly back from DEFCON,Tim explores the world of request-for-quote (RFQ) fraud—a growing scam targeting small- to medium-sized businesses with fake purchase requests and net financing schemes.
Sep 9, 2025
Direct Send Exploitation & URL Rewrite Attacks: What Security Teams Must Know
On this episode of DISCARDED, host Selena Larson and Proofpoint Principal Research Engineer Jason Ford dive into two resurging email attack techniques—Microsoft 365 Direct Send abuse and
Aug 26, 2025
0:43:05
Phish, Chips & Voldemort: Inside China’s Cyber Targeting of Taiwan
In this extra-packed episode of DISCARDED, host Selena Larson and guest host Sarah Sabotka reunite with Staff Threat Researcher Mark Kelly to dive deep into China-aligned espionage activity—this time with a focus on Taiwan’s semiconductor ecosystem and the strange, stealthy tools threat actors are using to get in.
Aug 12, 2025
0:42:53
Threat Actor Theater: TA2541, TA558, and the Cyber Heist Crew TA582
In this episode of DISCARDED, host Selena Larson and co-host Tim Kromphardt are joined by Joe Wise, Threat Researcher at Proofpoint, for a deep dive into the chaotic brilliance of mid-tier eCrime actors—including the elusive TA582.
Jul 29, 2025
0:37:54