S2 E1: Cybersecurity Adventures with Dan Reardon - Memes, Blogging, and Community Insights
About this episode
Join hosts Josh Mason and Wade Wells in this episode of Simply Defensive as they welcome cybersecurity meme-maker and SOC analyst, Dan Reardon, also known as The HaircutFish.
Discover Dan's unconventional journey into cybersecurity, from creating influential memes about prominent figures like Jon Hammond and John Strand to writing insightful blogs on Medium. Dan shares his experiences at Wild West Hacking Fest, overcoming personal challenges, and the importance of networking within the cybersecurity community.
Learn about the reality of working as a SOC analyst, the tools of the trade such as Vim, VS Code, and Wireshark, and the rewarding nature of thwarting cyber attacks. This episode emphasizes the power of community, the significance of balancing work with family life, and the benefits of giving back through knowledge sharing.
Don't miss these valuable insights, and expect more exciting discussions in future episodes!
Connect with our guest, Dan Reardon, on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danrearden
00:00 Welcome to Simply Defensive
00:10 Meet Dan Reardon aka Haircutfish
00:51 Dan's Journey into Cybersecurity
01:14 The Art of Meme Making
02:15 Connecting Through Memes
06:20 Dan's Blogging Adventures
11:50 Learning and Adapting in Cybersecurity
14:21 Dan's Hacker Origin Story
17:07 Getting Started with TryHackMe and Blue Teaming
17:48 First Security Job Experience
18:19 Expectations vs Reality in SOC Roles
20:30 Favorite Tools and Utilities
25:16 The Importance of Community in Cybersecurity
33:08 Final Thoughts and Recommendations for Blue Teamers
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Connect with your hosts:
Josh Mason: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuacmason
Wade Wells: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wadingthrulogs
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Sponsored by ThreatLocker @ThreatLocker
Allow what you need, block everything else... Including ransomware. Zero trust Endpoint Protection Platform from ThreatLocker. Learn more at https://simplycyber.io/threatlocker
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https://SimplyCyber.io/Socials
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