Topic: Symantec

Eric Chien of Symantec discusses the importance of patching home routers to prevent them from being harnessed for large-scale cyberattacks. The segment also reviews the "Real to Reel" newsletter from Hollywood Health & Society, which lists upcoming focus areas for TV writers, including HIV risk in youth, geriatric independence, and vulnerabilities in U.S. military space systems.

CrowdStrike and Dragos announced a joint venture to provide security for industrial control system environments. This partnership is highlighted as an example of how cybersecurity firms capitalize on news cycles regarding state-sponsored hacking. Similar reports of Russian attempts to hack the UK national grid from 2017 are cited to suggest that much of the current "cyber weapon" news is recycled for marketing purposes.

President Trump pardoned Navy submariner Christian Saucier, who was court-martialed for taking unauthorized photos inside a nuclear submarine. The discussion touches on the history of microcomputing in the Navy, specifically Gordon Eubanks, a former submarine commander who developed C-Basic and later led Symantec. The hosts clarify the distinction between the ranks of commander and captain in naval tradition.

Major corporations including Hertz, MetLife, and Symantec have ended their discount programs for NRA members following the Parkland shooting. The hosts discuss whether these boycotts will have a significant economic impact on the NRA or if they will backfire on the companies involved. The segment also critiques the NRA's marketing strategy, noting that many members were unaware these discounts even existed.

The "Regin" (or "Regen") malware framework is identified as a highly sophisticated spying tool likely operated by US and British intelligence (GCHQ). The malware was famously discovered within the systems of Belgian telecommunications provider Belgacom. Symantec reports that the tool uses a five-stage attack process to monitor targets in the energy, research, and hospitality sectors.

John C. Dvorak recounts his personal history with John McAfee, describing him as a marketing genius who popularized the concept of computer viruses. The discussion follows McAfee's trajectory from tech wealth to his legal troubles in Belize and his recent public appearances.

The credibility of reports regarding the Stuxnet and Flame viruses is questioned, despite analysis from firms like Kaspersky Lab. Meanwhile, security companies such as Symantec and McAfee warn of a shortage of cybersecurity experts in the United States. This talent gap is presented as a potential boon for students looking to enter the federal workforce to pay off educational debts.

An in-depth analysis of the Stuxnet worm reveals its complexity and its specific targeting of Siemens industrial control systems. The hosts examine a Symantec report that links the virus to the 1979 execution of an Iranian Jewish businessman, suggesting a Mossad connection. They also discuss reports that the worm may have disabled an Indian satellite, INSAT-4B.

The European Union's presentation of twelve principles for internet governance in Lithuania is linked to the emergence of the Stuxnet threat. Technical details regarding Siemens Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) and Windows print spooler vulnerabilities are discussed. The hosts look up Symantec's stock price, noting a slight rise in September possibly linked to the antivirus company's role in identifying the worm.

Gilead Sciences, the developer of Tamiflu, reportedly terminated its agreement with Roche regarding marketing rights. The hosts also discuss blog reports claiming the swine flu virus shows signs of being engineered. They draw a parallel between biological viruses and the computer antivirus industry, suggesting companies may create problems to sell solutions.

The Wall Street Journal reported that cyber spies have penetrated the U.S. electrical grid, a story the hosts characterize as a plant to secure stimulus funding for the "smart grid." The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) is identified as the source of the security warnings. Skepticism is expressed regarding why critical infrastructure is connected to the public internet at all.

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano appointed Philip Reitinger, a Microsoft security strategist, to lead the protection of US government networks. The hosts question the wisdom of hiring from Microsoft given its history of operating system vulnerabilities. They also discuss the close ties between the government and security firms like Symantec.