David Bombal

Big thanks to ThreatLocker for sponsoring my trip to Black Hat USA 2026 and also for sponsoring this video. To start your free trial with ThreatLocker please use the following link: https://www.threatlocker.com/davidbombal

Is Microsoft Defender enough to protect your PC? Malware researcher Leo joins me at Black Hat to discuss antivirus, Windows security and how hackers steal your accounts.

We explore how infostealers target saved passwords and session tokens, why two-factor authentication cannot prevent every account takeover, and how a message from a compromised friend’s account can lead to an infection.

Leo shares practical starting points for investigating your computer, including Autoruns for startup entries, TCPView for linking connections to applications, and Wireshark for examining network traffic. We also discuss password managers, account recovery planning, Windows telemetry and why switching operating systems does not eliminate security risks.

In this interview:
• Microsoft Defender’s strengths and limitations
• Free tools for investigating suspicious Windows activity
• How infostealers and initial access brokers operate
• Stolen session tokens and the limits of 2FA
• Fake download sites, malicious ads and targeted phishing
• Preparing recovery options before your accounts are compromised
• Security and privacy trade-offs across Windows, Linux and macOS

// Leo’s SOCIAL //
YouTube: / @pcsecuritychannel
X: https://x.com/leotday
Discord: / discord

// David's SOCIAL //
Discord: discord.com/invite/usKSyzb
Twitter: www.twitter.com/davidbombal
Instagram: www.instagram.com/davidbombal
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/davidbombal
Facebook: www.facebook.com/davidbombal.co
TikTok: tiktok.com/@davidbombal
YouTube: / @davidbombal
Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/3f6k6gE...
SoundCloud: / davidbombal
Apple Podcast: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...

// MY STUFF //
https://www.amazon.com/shop/davidbombal

// SPONSORS //
Interested in sponsoring my videos? Reach out to my team here: sponsors@davidbombal.com

// MENU //
0:00 - Coming Up
0:35 - Intro
0:48 - Leo's Background & How Malware Has Evolved
03:27 - How to Detect Malware on Your Computer
05:21 - Best Sysinternals Tools for Malware Analysis
08:21 - Windows Device Tracking & Privacy Concerns
10:42 - Would you Recommend Windows in 2026?
11:59 - Privacy Laws & the Future of Tracking
12:50 - How Telemetry Helps Catch Cybercriminals
14:02 - ThreatLocker Sponsor
15:18 - How Hackers Actually Get Into Systems
16:42 - How to Protect Yourself From Getting Hacked
19:12 - Do You Really Need Antivirus?
21:35 - Security Advice for Home Users
25:59 - Why Smart People Still Get Hacked
26:59 - What Happens After Your Credentials Are Stolen
28:06 - Linux vs Mac vs Windows
29:40 - Is Windows Really Targeted More by Malware?
31:18 - Conclusion & Outro

Please note that links listed may be affiliate links and provide me with a small percentage/kickback should you use them to purchase any of the items listed or recommended. Thank you for supporting me and this channel!

#malware #bhusa2026 #microsoftdefender

Big thanks to ThreatLocker for sponsoring my trip to Black Hat USA 2026 and also for sponsoring this video. To start your free trial with ThreatLocker, please use the following link: https://www.threatlocker.com/davidbombal

Is cybersecurity still worth learning in 2026? AI agents are changing vulnerability research, but where does that leave you?

At Black Hat, I’m joined by Arizona State University professor Yan Shoshitaishvili to discuss what AI can actually do, where it falls short, and why he would still choose a career in cybersecurity today.

Yan shares how his lab used AI agents and human-designed workflows to find what he describes as over 1,000 Linux kernel vulnerabilities triggerable by an unprivileged local user. Running 128 agents was only part of the story. Understanding which vulnerabilities to look for and improving the research process proved critical.

We discuss:
• How AI agents test potential vulnerabilities instead of simply reporting suspected bugs
• How agentic AI compares with fuzzing and static analysis
• Why finding new bugs does not automatically prove one tool is better
• Why human expertise still matters in security research
• How to use AI as a learning assistant without skipping the learning
• Free, hands-on cybersecurity training through pwn.college
• Yan’s advice for anyone considering cybersecurity in 2026

// Yan Shoshitaishvili SOCIAL //
LinkedIn: / yan-shoshitaishvili-7024305
ASU website: https://www.asu.edu/

// ThreatLocker’s SOCIAL //
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thre...
X: https://x.com/threatlocker
Instagram: / threatlocker
Website: https://www.threatlocker.com/

// David's SOCIAL //
Discord: discord.com/invite/usKSyzb
Twitter: www.twitter.com/davidbombal
Instagram: www.instagram.com/davidbombal
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/davidbombal
Facebook: www.facebook.com/davidbombal.co
TikTok: tiktok.com/@davidbombal
YouTube: / @davidbombal
Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/3f6k6gE...
SoundCloud: / davidbombal
Apple Podcast: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...

// MY STUFF //
https://www.amazon.com/shop/davidbombal

// SPONSORS //
Interested in sponsoring my videos? Reach out to my team here: sponsors@davidbombal.com

// MENU //
0:00 - Coming up
0:34 - Intro
02:10 - Rethinking How Cybersecurity Is Taught
04:35 - AI Agents Are Changing Vulnerability Research
10:11 - Sponsored Section
11:18 - Are AI Agents Really Better at Finding Bugs?
16:00 - AI Agents vs the Linux Kernel
19:30 - Where Human Expertise Still Matters
23:09 - Learning Cybersecurity With AI
25:17 - Will AI Eventually Replace Everyone?
30:26 - Would You Still Choose Cybersecurity?
30:50 - Conclusion & Outro

Please note that links listed may be affiliate links and provide me with a small percentage/kickback should you use them to purchase any of the items listed or recommended. Thank you for supporting me and this channel!

Disclaimer: This video is for educational purposes only.
#aiagents #vulnerabilityresearch #bhusa2026

Big thank you to DeleteMe for sponsoring this video. Use my link join https://joindeleteme.com/Bombal or use the QR code in the video to get 20% off.

Your license plate could reveal more than you think. Flock cameras, vehicle tracking and OSINT can turn information about your car into clues about where you live and your daily routines.

I’m joined by an OSINT expert to discuss how vehicle information can be connected with public records, why surveillance raises privacy concerns and what happens when people trust an incorrect license plate match.

He shares his experiences of locating a missing car after a police search came up short and investigating a hit-and-run using a partial plate and publicly available
information.

We discuss:
• Flock cameras and vehicle identification beyond license plates
• How vehicle data can expose patterns in your movements
• License plate recognition errors and the importance of verification
• How public records can connect a vehicle to a person
• The risks of surveillance access being abused
• Privacy measures, their limitations and the need for accountability
• DeFlock and community scrutiny of surveillance cameras

How much can someone discover about you from the information you leave exposed?

// Mishaal Kahn’s SOCIALS //
LinkedIn: / mish-aal
Website: https://www.mishaalkhan.com/
Tool created: https://www.operationprivacy.com/

// David's SOCIAL //
Discord: discord.com/invite/usKSyzb
Twitter: www.twitter.com/davidbombal
Instagram: www.instagram.com/davidbombal
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/davidbombal
Facebook: www.facebook.com/davidbombal.co
TikTok: tiktok.com/@davidbombal
YouTube: / @davidbombal
Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/3f6k6gE...
SoundCloud: / davidbombal
Apple Podcast: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...

// MY STUFF //
https://www.amazon.com/shop/davidbombal

// SPONSORS //
Interested in sponsoring my videos? Reach out to my team here: sponsors@davidbombal.com

// MENU //
0:00 - Coming Up
0:47 - The Growing Flock Camera Controversy
01:28 - What Are Flock Cameras Actually Collecting?
02:33 - Police Misuse and Abuse of Surveillance Data
03:45 - Mapping and Avoiding Flock Cameras
04:57 - How Personal Data Fuels Scams
06:54 - What Can Police Actually Do With Flock Data?
07:12 - Testing Flock: A Real Missing Vehicle Case
09:09 - How Mishaal Found the Vehicle Himself
10:20 - Drones: The Next Level of Surveillance
11:11 - How Can You Protect Your Privacy?
13:07 - Facial Recognition Is Expanding Everywhere
14:13 - AI Can Rebuild Your Entire Pattern of Life
15:51 - What Can Someone Find From Your License Plate?
17:16 - Solving a Hit-and-Run With a Partial Plate
19:08 - What Could a Rogue Police Officer Do?
20:28 - Is There Any Hope for Privacy?
21:53 - Where to Learn More About Privacy and OSINT

Please note that links listed may be affiliate links and provide me with a small percentage/kickback should you use them to purchase any of the items listed or recommended. Thank you for supporting me and this channel!

Disclaimer: This video is for educational purposes only.
#flockcameras #defcon #privacy

Big thanks to Proton Drive for sponsoring this video. You can use my link http://proton.me/drive/davidbombal to sign up for Proton Drive and get 40% discount.

John DiMaggio created fake identities, profiled ransomware operators and spent approximately 18 months earning the trust of LockBit.

In this interview, John explains how his investigation led to work with the FBI and the UK’s National Crime Agency, contributed to indictments and resulted in death threats against him. He also reveals how the work affected his mental health, relationships and everyday life.

John shares the remarkable story of a young REvil hacker connected to the Kaseya ransomware attack and its $70 million ransom demand. He explains how ransomware operators are recruited, manipulated and sometimes controlled by intelligence agencies.

You will also learn why stolen cryptocurrency is difficult to spend, how Bitcoin tracing and money-laundering mistakes expose cybercriminals and why technical hacking skills do not make someone good at hiding money. Finally, John warns aspiring researchers not to approach ransomware gangs without professional training and support. He discusses his new book, Owned, and how he plans to use his experience to help cybersecurity teams and business leaders prepare for ransomware attacks.

// Link to No Starch Website for Jon DiMaggio’s Book //
Order Owned on No Starch: https://nostarch.com/owned
Use Coupon Code OWNED30 for 30% off Owned at NoStarch.com

// Jon DiMaggio’s SOCIALS //
Website: https://arkemcyber.com/
X: https://x.com/Jon__DiMaggio
LinkedIn: / jondimaggio

// David's SOCIAL //
Discord: discord.com/invite/usKSyzb
Twitter: www.twitter.com/davidbombal
Instagram: www.instagram.com/davidbombal
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/davidbombal
Facebook: www.facebook.com/davidbombal.co
TikTok: tiktok.com/@davidbombal
YouTube: / @davidbombal
Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/3f6k6gE...
SoundCloud: / davidbombal
Apple Podcast: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...

// MY STUFF //
https://www.amazon.com/shop/davidbombal

// SPONSORS //
Interested in sponsoring my videos? Reach out to my team here: sponsors@davidbombal.com

// MENU //
0:00 - Coming Up
0:36 - Introduction
01:28 - Infiltrating the LockBit Ransomware Gang
03:45 - Working With the FBI & NCA
04:55 - Sponsor – Proton Drive
06:54 - Stories From the Ransomware Gang
07:35 - Befriending a Hacker
10:21 - The Kaseya Ransomware Attack
12:10 - Arrest, Extradition & a 14-Year Sentence
13:12 - An Unexpected Message From Prison
14:57 - The LockBit Story & the Mental Health Toll
16:30 - Advice for Young People Drawn to Cybercrime
18:09 - Why Hackers Can’t Easily Spend Their Money
19:12 - How to Become a Jon DiMaggio
21:58 - What’s Next for Jon DiMaggio
23:08 - Preparing Companies for Ransomware Attacks
23:52 - Final Thoughts

Please note that links listed may be affiliate links and provide me with a small percentage/kickback should you use them to purchase any of the items listed or recommended. Thank you for supporting me and this channel!

Disclaimer: This video is for educational purposes only.
#lockbit #ransomware #revil

Big thanks to ThreatLocker for sponsoring my trip to Black Hat USA 2026 and also for sponsoring this video. To start your free trial with ThreatLocker please use the following link: https://www.threatlocker.com/davidbombal

Age verification is spreading across the internet. It promises to protect children, but what happens when accessing a website or using your own device requires facial recognition, identity documents or third-party verification?

David speaks with Alexis Hancock from the Electronic Frontier Foundation about the growing privacy risks surrounding age verification and digital ID systems. They examine how these technologies could threaten online anonymity, create new surveillance infrastructure and expose sensitive personal information.

Alexis explains why age verification alone does not teach children how to stay safe online, how data brokers and behavioral advertising contribute to the problem, and why banning VPNs or weakening encryption would make everyone less secure.

They also discuss zero-knowledge proofs, facial recognition, encryption backdoors, government surveillance and the danger of building a digital identity system that could be abused by future governments.

Finally, Alexis shares practical ways to protect your privacy, including using encrypted communication, learning from EFF’s Surveillance Self-Defense guides and contacting elected representatives when harmful legislation is proposed.

// Alexis Hancock’ SOCIAL //
LinkedIn: / alexishancock

// EFF Website REFERENCE //
https://www.eff.org/

// David's SOCIAL //
Discord: discord.com/invite/usKSyzb
Twitter: www.twitter.com/davidbombal
Instagram: www.instagram.com/davidbombal
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/davidbombal
Facebook: www.facebook.com/davidbombal.co
TikTok: tiktok.com/@davidbombal
YouTube: / @davidbombal
Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/3f6k6gE...
SoundCloud: / davidbombal
Apple Podcast: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...

// MY STUFF //
https://www.amazon.com/shop/davidbombal

// SPONSORS //
Interested in sponsoring my videos? Reach out to my team here: sponsors@davidbombal.com

// MENU //
0:00 - Intro
0:41 - Alexis Hancock background // Who are the EFF
01:48 - Eroding privacy & age verification
08:48 - Online safety for children
12:25 - Online monitoring
14:20 - ThreatLocker sponsor segment
15:27 - Big tech vs government
17:49 - How to fight for privacy
20:19 - Online censorship & privacy
26:17 - The push for age verification
29:29 - Age verification "whack-a-mole"
33:03 - Parental control vs age verification
36:24 - What about non-tech savvy people?
41:02 - Zero-knowledge proof
44:48 - Is it too late? // Conclusion

Please note that links listed may be affiliate links and provide me with a small percentage/kickback should you use them to purchase any of the items listed or recommended. Thank you for supporting me and this channel!

Disclaimer: This video is for educational purposes only.
#ageverification #privacy #bhusa2026