Ever wondered what handling deadly anthrax at the US Capitol has in common with battling ransomware in 2025? What if the next big cyber attack isn't from hackers in a basement—but from quantum computers shattering your encryption overnight? In this unmissable episode of Ransomware Rewind, cybersecurity legend Wil Klusovsky spills insider secrets that could save your business from total chaos.

Wil, a 24-year US Marine vet turned cyber strategist (LinkedIn: /wilklu, host of Keyboard Samurai), draws chilling parallels between war and digital battles. From post-9/11 preparedness drills to why most orgs still suck at basics like asset management, he breaks it all down with no-BS advice.

Episode Highlights That'll Keep You Up at Night:

• War-to-Cyber Transition (00:02:01): How Wil's unit cleaned up anthrax and ricin at the Capitol—tying it to cyber incident response: "It's all about preparedness; incidents are inevitable."
• Evolution of Threats (00:06:01): Remember Snort boxes? We've come far, but pen tests aren't auto-wins anymore thanks to segmentation and CISOs. Yet, humans remain the weak link—Gen Z's privacy-for-convenience trade-off fuels phishing.
• Human Trust Traps (00:09:25): "People are too trusting." Attackers mosaic tiny data bits from "low-value" targets (e.g., China's IP theft via small breaches) to build massive wins. Pro tip: "If you didn't make the call, don't give info."
• Real Espionage Stories (00:12:47): Chinese hacks on Alcoa and DuPont (laptop cloning in hotels), backdoors in Cisco hardware, and why state actors like China/Russia are unstoppable.
• Future Nightmares (00:47:12): Quantum will kill encryption; target nuclear/energy for blackouts or autos for terror (hack Teslas remotely via SiriusXM?). Plus, fun riffs on simulation theory, Skynet vs. Matrix, and chemtrail jokes.
• Actionable Defenses (00:08:50): Ditch "best practices" buzzwords—focus on zero trust, attack surface reduction, and educating non-tech folks.

This episode is rocket fuel for CISOs, IT pros, and anyone dodging 2025's AI-powered phishing beasts. Wil's blend of humor, history, and hard truths makes it a must-listen. Catch it now before the next breach hits—because as Wil says, "You're going to deal with an incident; be ready to move fast."

Tune in to Ransomware Rewind for more breakdowns on cyber threats, data breaches, and security solutions. Stay ahead of ransomware attacks, phishing scams, and emerging cyber risks.

Guest: Wil Klusovsky, Cybersecurity Podcaster & IT Advisor

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wilklu/

Links: https://www.wilklu.me/linktree

Keyboard Samarai Pod: https://www.youtube.com/@KeybdSamurai

Hosts: Joe Erle — Cyber Group Practice Leader, C3 Insurance

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joeerle

X/Twitter: https://x.com/joe_erle

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@itscyberjoe

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itscyberjoe

Meta/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joeerle

Questions about cyber insurance? Email joe@c3insurance.com or go to www.c3insurance.com/cyber

Mike Dowdy — Voice AI Developer & Entrepreneur

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikedowdy

Thanks for listening and don't forget to like and subscribe for more episodes like this!

ransomware, cybersecurity, cyber threats, security training, human element in security, cybersecurity strategy, IT risk management, cyber resilience, security program design, business continuity

CISOs, CEOs & Business Owners: What To Say (and NOT Say) When Ransomware Hits – Or You'll Lose Millions in Reputation

90% of companies survive the hack… but die from the crisis communications disaster that follows.

Kevin Dinino (Head of Communications at top cybersecurity PR firm KCD PR) reveals the exact playbook that saved Fortune 500 companies during real breaches — and the fatal mistakes that tanked others.

You'll learn:

✅ The 48-hour rule that saves reputations (and stock prices)

✅ 3 statements that instantly destroy trust & trigger lawsuits

✅ CEO media-training crash course you can run in one afternoon

✅ Why cyber insurers now reject claims without a comms plan

✅ How deepfakes + AI leaks are rewriting breach PR in 2025

✅ Step-by-step ransomware crisis comms playbook + templates

Timestamps:

00:00 – Intro 00:04 – Ransomware Rewind

06:45 – The 48-hour reputation rule

12:30 – Real breach war stories

19:20 – Executive media training

27:40 – Deepfakes & AI crisis nightmare

34:15 – Your 2025 ransomware PR playbook

👤 Guest: Kevin Dinino – Head of Communications, KCD PR

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevindininokcdpr/

Website: https://www.kcdpr.com

🎤 Hosts: Joe Erle – Cyber Insurance Practice Leader, C3 Insurance

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joeerle

X/Twitter: https://x.com/joe_erle

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@itscyberjoe

Instagram: https://instagram.com/itscyberjoe

Need cyber insurance help? → joe@c3insurance.com

Mike Dowdy – Voice AI Developer & Tech Entrepreneur

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikedowdy

🎧 Listen to more episodes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cyber-insiders/id1540640713

👉 Subscribe so you're ready BEFORE the ransom demand lands.

#Ransomware #CrisisCommunications #CyberBreach #ReputationManagement #CyberInsurance #CISOTips #DataBreach #PublicRelations #ExecutiveMediaTraining #Deepfakes #Cybersecurity2025

ransomware crisis communication, cyber breach PR, what to say during ransomware attack, CEO media training, cyber insurance requirements 2025, deepfake crisis, KCD PR, Kevin Dinino, Joe Erle, Ransomware Rewind

What happens when a brutal ransomware attack flips your entire career upside down—and launches you into the front lines of the biggest cyber war of our time?

In this explosive episode, cybersecurity advisor Nick Oles (Entoo Security) pulls back the curtain on his wild origin story: the day ransomware hit him personally, ignited an obsession, and ultimately birthed his must-read book, How to Catch a Phish.

Nick doesn't hold back. We dive deep into:

• How phishing has mutated into a terrifyingly sophisticated beast in 2025
• Why remote and hybrid work handed attackers the keys to the kingdom
• The AI arms race: how bad guys are weaponizing ChatGPT & Co. to craft undetectable attacks… and how the good guys are fighting back even harder
• Real-world war stories that will make you rethink every email you've ever opened
• Dead-simple, no-BS tactics you can implement TODAY to bulletproof yourself and your team

Whether you're a seasoned CISO or someone who just wants to stop being low-hanging fruit, this conversation is pure rocket fuel—packed with eye-opening insights, laugh-out-loud moments, and immediately actionable defenses.

Hit play now and turn your "it won't happen to me" into "try me."

🔗 Guest

Nick Oles Cybersecurity Advisor

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-o-8b5b6349

Website: https://www.entoosecurity.com/

Support Nick by purchasing his book here on Amazon

🎙 Hosts

Joe Erle, Cyber Group Practice Leader at C3 Insurance

X: /joe_erle

https://x.com/joe_erle

TikTok: /itscyberjoe

https://www.tiktok.com/@itscyberjoe

Instagram: /itscyberjoe

https://www.instagram.com/itscyberjoe/

Meta: /joeerle

https://www.facebook.com/joeerle/

LinkedIn: /joeerle

https://www.linkedin.com/in/joeerle/

Questions about cyber insurance?

📩 Email: joe@c3insurance.com or request a quote at www.c3insurance.com/cyber

Mike Dowdy, Voice AI Developer & Entrepreneur

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikedowdy/

cybersecurity, phishing, how to catch a phish, nick oles, entoo security, ransomware rewind, cyber insurance, cyber insurance podcast, cyber threats, cybersecurity podcast, cybersecurity training, phishing awareness, ciso, cybersecurity for small business, cyber risk, ransomware, cyber attacks, incident response,, remote work security, AI cybersecurity, joe erle, c3 insurance, mike dowdy, cyber podcast, cyber security expert interview

In this episode of Ransomware Rewind, Joe and Mike sit down with Andrew Klucsarits, Director and IT Security and Risk Manager at IT Solutions to talk Cybersecurity including modern ransomware trends and operational security for enterprise business.

They analyze high-impact supply-chain attacks (including discussion of the Dragon Force incident and vendor risks tied to tools like ConnectWise).

In addition, they outline how adversaries exploit human and vendor weaknesses through social engineering exploits.

Lastly, they provide pragmatic guidance for building resilient defenses using data-driven security programs and third-party risk assessments.

Disaster recovery planning and AI risk mitigation is also covered in this info-packed episode.

Guest: Andrew Klucsarits

LinkedIn / https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewklucsarits/

Hosts: Joe Erle, Cyber Group Practice Leader at C3 Insurance

X / /joe_erle

Tiktok / / itscyberjoe

Insta / / itscyberjoe

Meta / / joeerle

LinkedIn / / joeerle

Questions about cyber insurance?

Email joe@c3insurance.com

Mike Dowdy, Voice AI Developer & Entrepreneur

LinkedIn / / mikedowdy

Thanks for listening and don't forget to subscribe.

ransomware, supply chain attack, Dragon Force, ConnectWise, third party risk, third party vendor security, disaster recovery, backup strategy, AI security, social engineering, incident response, cybersecurity podcast, data driven security, vendor risk assessment, ransomware recovery, cyber resilience

Kevin O'Neill, founder and CEO of CYVA Research Corporation dives deep into the current challenges surrounding data privacy and control, advocating for a paradigm shift towards self-protecting and self-governing data systems. He shares his vision for a more secure digital future where individuals have control over their personal information, irrespective of the device or platform.

00:00 Introduction to Data Control

01:33 The Evolution of Data Protection

02:03 Ralph Nader and Data Safety

02:58 Welcome to the Podcast

05:15 Privacy and Data Ownership

07:32 The Role of Public Cloud

14:09 Concerns Over Data Consolidation

23:01 Whistleblowing and Corporate Ethics

24:51 Confronting the Colonel

26:14 The Birth of a New Data Control Concept

27:09 Introducing the Personal Information Agent

28:22 Business Applications and Trustworthiness

30:49 The Data Broker Industry and Privacy Concerns

32:35 Challenges in Implementing Privacy Solutions

33:52 Quantum Computing and Security

35:19 The Need for Better Data Management Tools

42:25 Frustrations with Venture Capital and Big Tech

42:53 The Role of Hospitals and Privacy

44:23 Final Thoughts and Call to Action

Guest: Kevin O'Neil

Website / http://www.cyva.com/

LinkedIn / https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-o-neil-cissp-b121849/

Hosts:

Joe Erle, Cyber Group Practice Leader at C3 Insurance

X / https://x.com/joe_erle

Tiktok / https://www.tiktok.com/@itscyberjoe

Insta / https://www.instagram.com/itscyberjoe/

Meta / https://www.facebook.com/joeerle/

LinkedIn / https://www.linkedin.com/in/joeerle/

Questions about cyber insurance? Email joe@c3insurance.com

Get the 14 Steps to protect your data here: https://c3insurance.com/secure-your-companys-data/

Mike Dowdy, Cloud Solutions Consultant

LinkedIn / https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikedowdy/

Thanks again for listening to the show - Don't forget to Like, Comment, and Subscribe!

00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction

00:49 Recent Ransomware and Privacy Breaches

01:36 Regulations and Privacy Laws Overview

03:37 Challenges in Privacy Compliance

05:20 Blockchain and Privacy Compliance

07:05 Privacy Lock and Mitigating Breach Fallout

11:04 Costs and Fines for Privacy Breaches

16:29 Healthcare Data Privacy

28:33 Consumer Privacy Rights and Future Trends

32:46 Conclusion and Contact Information

Guest: David Ritter

Website / https://www.myprivacylock.io

LinkedIn / https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidritter1984boulder

Host:

Joe Erle, Cyber Group Practice Leader at C3 Insurance

X / https://x.com/joe_erle

Tiktok / https://www.tiktok.com/@itscyberjoe

Insta / https://www.instagram.com/itscyberjoe/

Meta / https://www.facebook.com/joeerle/

LinkedIn / https://www.linkedin.com/in/joeerle/

Questions about cyber insurance? Email joe@c3insurance.com

Get the 14 Steps to protect your data here: https://c3insurance.com/secure-your-companys-data/

Co-Host:

Mike Dowdy, Cloud Solutions & AI Consultant

LinkedIn / https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikedowdy/

Thanks again for listening to the show - Don't forget to Like, Comment, and Subscribe!

In this episode, we sit down with Chris Hood, a seasoned customer experience expert, to discuss the critical steps management should take in the event of a cybersecurity breach. Chris offers valuable insights into building and maintaining customer trust, effective communication during crises, and leveraging AI to enhance cybersecurity.

Perfect for business leaders, technology enthusiasts, and anyone interested in the intersection of cybersecurity and customer experience. Don't miss this engaging conversation filled with practical advice and real-world examples.

00:00 Introduction to the Ransomware Rewind Podcast

00:03 Meet Chris Hood: Customer Experience Expert

00:57 Understanding the Human Side of Cybersecurity

04:06 The Importance of Customer Trust During a Breach

05:36 Challenges in Rebuilding Trust Post-Incident

08:09 Examples of Good and Bad Customer Experiences

13:24 The Role of Call Centers in Customer Experience

18:07 Leveraging AI in Cybersecurity

20:07 The Concept of Zero-Factor Authentication

23:13 Password Security and Best Practices

26:08 Career Opportunities in Cybersecurity

26:46 Cybersecurity Summer Camp Experience

27:34 Proud Parent Moments and Financial Challenges

27:57 Where to Buy the Books

28:22 Target Audience for the Books

29:47 Favorite Stories from the Books

32:40 Advice for Leaders After a Breach

34:25 Importance of Backups in Cybersecurity

39:57 Good Customer Experience Examples

44:53 The Cost of Customer Churn

45:24 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Hosts:

Joe Erle, Cyber Group Practice Leader at C3 Insurance

X / https://x.com/joe_erle

Tiktok / https://www.tiktok.com/@itscyberjoe

Insta / https://www.instagram.com/itscyberjoe/

Meta / https://www.facebook.com/joeerle/

LinkedIn / https://www.linkedin.com/in/joeerle/

Questions about cyber insurance?

Email joe@c3insurance.com

Get the 14 Steps to protect your data here: https://c3insurance.com/secure-your-companys-data/

Mike Dowdy, Cloud Solutions Consultant

LinkedIn / https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikedowdy/

Chris Hood

Website / https://chrishood.com

Insta / https://www.instagram.com/chrishood.ig/?hl=en

LinkedIn / https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrishood