No Password Required

No Password Required Podcast Episode 46 — Dr. Diana Burley

Episode Summary

No Password Required Podcast Episode 46 — Dr. Diana Burley Dr. Diana Burley — Vice Provost for Research and Innovation at American University and a researcher of unicorns (the cybersecurity kind) Dr. Diana Burley has nearly 30 years of experience driving digital transformation by leading cross-sector teams to drive education, research, and strategic innovation. As the American University’s chief research officer and innovation officer, she is responsible for establishing the strategic vision and supporting faculty-led scholarship across all disciplines. In this episode, Dr. Burley joins Carlton Fields, P.A.’s Jack Clabby, and KnowBe4’s V.P. of Remote Publishing Teams, Kayley Melton, to discuss her role in educating policymakers and her research into the misconceptions about the cybersecurity workforce. Dr. Burley goes into one of her current research projects, “The Cyber Unicorn Challenge,” a collaboration between Dr. Burley and Cyber Florida. This study aims to gather data to confirm the challenge of finding cyber unicorns, delve into the reasons behind inflated requirements, and understand why the search for cyber unicorns persists. To start the show, Jack and Kayley discuss the Alleged Nigerian cybercriminal arrested for stealing $7.5M from charities. Jack also breaks down the job of an FBI Legal Attaché. You can follow Dr. Diana Burley on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianaburley You can follow Dr. Diana Burley on Twitter here: @dianaburley You can learn more about American University here: https://www.american.edu/

Episode Notes

SummaryThe conversation discusses the arrest of Ola Segun Simpson Adagorin, a Nigerian national facing US federal charges for a business email compromise scheme. The collaboration between the FBI and Ghana is highlighted, along with the role of the legal attache job in solving crimes with international impact. The scheme and indictment details are explored, emphasizing the sophistication of the attack. Dr. Diana Burley, Vice Provost for Research and Innovation at American University, shares insights on cybersecurity education and workforce readiness. The importance of understanding human behavior in cybersecurity is discussed, along with strategies for engaging in conversations and addressing the search for cyber unicorns. In this episode, the importance of password security and the various methods to enhance it are discussed. The conversation covers common password mistakes, the use of password managers, multi-factor authentication, biometric authentication, and the future of password security.

Takeaways

• Collaboration between law enforcement agencies is crucial in solving cybercrime cases with international implications.
• Understanding human behavior is essential in addressing cybersecurity challenges and shaping effective policies.
• Digital literacy and foundational cybersecurity skills should be integrated into education across disciplines.
• Creating a culture of cybersecurity requires a balance between rules and creativity, and a focus on psychological safety.
• Engaging in conversations with strangers can be facilitated by finding common interests and making personal connections. Create strong and unique passwords for each online account.
• Avoid common password mistakes such as using personal information or easily guessable patterns.
• Consider using a password manager to securely store and generate passwords.
• Enable multi-factor authentication whenever possible for an added layer of security.
• Biometric authentication, such as fingerprint or facial recognition, can provide convenient and secure access to devices and accounts.
• Passwordless authentication methods, such as biometrics or hardware tokens, may become more prevalent in the future.
• Stay informed about emerging technologies and best practices in password security.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Arrest of Ola Segun Simpson Adagorin

01:24 Collaboration between FBI and Ghana

03:15 Scheme and Indictment Details

04:44 Legal Attache Job and Collaboration

06:10 Deterrence and Sealed Indictments

07:36 Introduction of Dr. Diana Burley

08:31 Dr. Burley's Background and Role at American University

09:23 Interest in Cybersecurity and Technology

10:21 American University's Role in Educating Policymakers

12:15 Engaging with Leaders and Shaping Policy

13:36 Engaging with Students and Future Leaders

14:28 American University's Focus on Policy and Research

15:27 Misconceptions about the Cybersecurity Workforce

16:23 Digital Literacy and Foundational Cybersecurity Skills

18:45 Retaining Skilled Members in the Academic Environment

19:43 Benefits of Engaging as a University Faculty Member

20:37 Understanding Human Behavior in Cybersecurity

22:05 Insights from Research on Human Behavior

23:25 Understanding Employee Behavior in Cybersecurity

24:47 Creating a Culture of Cybersecurity

27:08 Strategies for Initiating Conversations with Strangers

31:50 The Cyber Unicorn Project

35:08 Addressing the Search for Cyber Unicorns

41:45 Lifestyle Polygraph

50:57 Understanding Irrational Behavior and Self-Awareness

53:37 Engaging in Conversations with Strangers

02:30 The Importance of Password Security

10:15 Common Password Mistakes

18:45 Password Managers

27:10 Multi-Factor Authentication

35:40 Biometric Authentication

44:20 Passwordless Authentication

52:30 Future of Password Security

58:21 Conclusion