Microsoft Threat Intelligence Podcast

This week on the Microsoft Threat Intelligence Podcast, host⁠ ⁠⁠Sherrod DeGrippo speaks with Danny Adamitis, Distinguished Engineer at Lumen Technologies’ Black Lotus Labs who break down how the Russian state-linked threat actor Forest Blizzard is exploiting home and small office routers to hijack DNS traffic, enabling large-scale surveillance and targeted credential theft. The conversation highlights how this low-cost approach scales globally, why unmanaged routers have become a critical weak point, and how tactics, from brute force to token theft to DNS hijacking continue to evolve. 

In this episode you’ll learn:      


How Forest Blizzard exploits home routers to intercept DNS traffic 


Why unmanaged routers are a major blind spot in modern security 


How tactics have evolved from brute force to token-based access 

Some questions we ask:     


What defines Forest Blizzard and how they operate? 


How does this impact machine-to-machine or service account security? 


What are the broader third-party or downstream risks? 

Resources:  


View Danny Adamitis on LinkedIn  


View Sherrod DeGrippo on LinkedIn  


Justice Department Conducts Court-Authorized Disruption of DNS Hijacking Network Controlled by a Russian Military Intelligence Unit 


FrostArmada: All thriller, no (malware) filler 

 

Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts  

 

Get the latest threat intelligence insights and guidance at Microsoft Security Insider 

 

The Microsoft Threat Intelligence Podcast is produced by Microsoft, Hangar Studios and distributed as part of N2K media network.

In this episode of the Microsoft Threat Intelligence Podcast, host⁠ ⁠⁠Sherrod DeGrippo speaks with Maurice Mason and Jackie Burns-Koven to explore how cybercrime has shifted into a highly organized, marketplace-driven ecosystem. They break down the growing convergence between criminal networks and nation-state actors, highlighting how shared tools, infrastructure, and cryptocurrency have blurred traditional boundaries. 

The conversation dives into the rise of as-a-service cybercrime models, where access, malware, and infrastructure can be easily bought and sold, lowering barriers to entry and increasing attack volume. They also examine how blockchain intelligence is becoming a critical tool for tracking illicit activity, improving attribution, and disrupting operations. 

In this episode you’ll learn:      


How cybercrime has evolved into a scalable, marketplace-driven ecosystem 


Why initial access brokers are lowering the barrier to entry for attackers 


How proactive disruption and collaboration can reduce ransomware impact and payments 

Some questions we ask:     


What role does crypto intelligence play in prevention and detection? 


Why are threat actors shifting to alternative cryptocurrencies? 


How can defenders better protect themselves against these threats? 

 

Resources:  

View Maurice Mason on LinkedIn  

View Jackie Burns-Koven on LinkedIn  

View Sherrod DeGrippo on LinkedIn  

 

Related Microsoft Podcasts:                   


Afternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson 


The BlueHat Podcast 


Uncovering Hidden Risks     

 

Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts  

 

Get the latest threat intelligence insights and guidance at Microsoft Security Insider 

 

The Microsoft Threat Intelligence Podcast is produced by Microsoft, Hangar Studios and distributed as part of N2K media network.

In this episode of the Microsoft Threat Intelligence Podcast, host⁠ ⁠⁠Sherrod DeGrippo speaks with Cynthia Kaiser to unpack the progression of ransomware from isolated attacks into a sophisticated global criminal ecosystem. Drawing on her two decades at the FBI and current role at Halcyon, Cynthia explains how cybercrime has scaled through organized networks, improved tactics, and increasing speed, with some attacks now unfolding in under an hour.  

The conversation explores how law enforcement strategies have shifted from targeting low-level actors to disrupting entire ecosystems, leading to more impactful takedowns. Cynthia also highlights the real-world consequences of ransomware, including its growing impact on critical infrastructure like hospitals and the potential for loss of life. The episode examines how AI is shaping both attacker and defender capabilities, accelerating phishing and access while also enabling stronger defensive responses.  

In this episode you’ll learn:      


How ransomware evolved into a global organized criminal ecosystem 


Why modern ransomware attacks are faster, more scalable, and harder to stop 


The real-world impact of ransomware, including risks to critical infrastructure 

Some questions we ask:     


How has ransomware shifted into a larger ecosystem over time? 


What are companies getting wrong about cyber insurance and recovery? 


Are autonomous AI-driven attacks a real threat yet? 

Resources:  

View Cynthia Kaiser on LinkedIn 

View Sherrod DeGrippo on LinkedIn  

 

Related Microsoft Podcasts:                   


Afternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson 


The BlueHat Podcast 


Uncovering Hidden Risks     

 

Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts  

 

Get the latest threat intelligence insights and guidance at Microsoft Security Insider 

 

The Microsoft Threat Intelligence Podcast is produced by Microsoft, Hangar Studios and distributed as part of N2K media network.

In this episode of the Microsoft Threat Intelligence Podcast, host⁠ ⁠⁠Sherrod DeGrippo speaks with Jarrod Forgues Schlenker of the FBI’s Cyber Division about the pattern's investigators see in cyber incidents and how initiatives like Operation Winter Shield aim to close the gap between knowing what to do and actually implementing it.  

They discuss the importance of foundational controls like phishing-resistant authentication, secure logging, and strong identity protection, as well as the role threat intelligence and prevention play in strengthening organizational defenses. The conversation highlights how small, practical security improvements can significantly disrupt attackers and help organizations reduce risk before an incident occurs. 

In this episode you’ll learn:      


How the FBI identifies recurring patterns in cyber-attacks across investigations 


Why phishing-resistant authentication and MFA are critical for stopping credential theft 


What Operation Winter Shield is and how it encourages organizations to move from awareness to action 

 Some questions we ask:     


Which security control themes in the program stand out to you the most? 


Why are log retention and protection so critical during investigations? 


How can threat intelligence programs help organizations strengthen their defenses? 

 

Resources:  

View Jarrod Forgues Schlenker on LinkedIn

View Sherrod DeGrippo on LinkedIn  

 

Related Microsoft Podcasts:                   


Afternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson 


The BlueHat Podcast 


Uncovering Hidden Risks     

 

Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts  

 

Get the latest threat intelligence insights and guidance at Microsoft Security Insider 

 

The Microsoft Threat Intelligence Podcast is produced by Microsoft, Hangar Studios and distributed as part of N2K media network.

In this episode of the Microsoft Threat Intelligence Podcast, host⁠ ⁠⁠Sherrod DeGrippo is joined by Greg Schlomer and Vlad H. to discuss new research on Jasper Sleet, a North Korean–aligned threat actor incorporating AI into active operations. 

The conversation examines how AI is being integrated across the attack lifecycle — from highly tailored phishing lures and fabricated job applicant personas to accelerating malware development and refining operational workflows. Rather than treating AI as a novelty, Jasper Sleet is using it to increase speed, scale, and adaptability while reducing many of the friction points that once slowed campaigns. 

They also explore what this shift means for defenders. As AI compresses iteration cycles and lowers barriers to entry, traditional attribution signals evolve, influence operations become more convincing, and defensive teams must tighten the loop between intelligence, detection, and response. This is less about experimentation and more about the operationalization of AI as part of modern tradecraft. 

In this episode you’ll learn:      


How AI is changing the speed at which cyber operations evolve 


Why jailbreaking AI models is often trivial for motivated adversaries 


 The strategic implications of AI leveling the playing field between threat actors 

Some questions we ask:     


Is there resistance among experienced malware authors to adopting AI? 


Are we seeing fully AI-written malware in the wild? 


What stands out about Jasper Sleet’s use of AI? 

 

Resources:  

View Greg Schloemer on LinkedIn  

View Sherrod DeGrippo on LinkedIn  

 

Related Microsoft Podcasts:                   


Afternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson 


The BlueHat Podcast 


Uncovering Hidden Risks     

Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts  

Get the latest threat intelligence insights and guidance at Microsoft Security Insider 

 

The Microsoft Threat Intelligence Podcast is produced by Microsoft, Hangar Studios and distributed as part of N2K media network.