Episode 102

Former U.S. Secret Service Special Agent Shares Cyber Criminal Secrets

Published on: 2nd December, 2025

Former U.S. Secret Service Special Agent Richard LaTulip joins Craig Duckworth to reveal the hidden world of cyber criminal networks and infrastructure attacks.

Drawing from his undercover work infiltrating dark web forums and catching some of the world's most sophisticated threat actors, Richard breaks down why traditional security approaches fail, how ransomware attacks actually cost organizations millions if not billions beyond the ransom payment itself, and why the timeline between compromise and detection has shrunk from months to minutes.

He shares jaw-dropping statistics on vulnerability management failures, explains how adversaries are using AI to become exponentially more dangerous, and provides actionable insights for building resilient security programs that protect what matters most to your business.

Whether you're defending critical infrastructure or managing security for a manufacturing organization, this conversation offers a rare insider perspective on the evolving threat landscape and what it takes to stay ahead of increasingly sophisticated cyber criminals.

Chapters:

  • (00:00:00) - Meet the Ex-Secret Service Agent Who Infiltrated Underground Cyber Criminal Networks
  • (00:03:00) - Inside Operation Carder Kaos: Going Undercover in the Dark Web
  • (00:06:00) - The Real Price Tag: Why Ransomware Costs Go Far Beyond the Ransom
  • (00:11:00) - When Production Lines Go Dark: The Hidden Costs of Manufacturing Downtime
  • (00:14:00) - Reality Check: How Prepared Is Your Organization for a Cyber Attack?
  • (00:17:00) - The AI Arms Race: How Adversaries Are Weaponizing Artificial Intelligence
  • (00:21:00) - 2027 Threat Landscape: What Keeps a Field CISO Up at Night
  • (00:24:00) - Follow the Bitcoin: How Cyber Criminals Launder Billions Through Cryptocurrency
  • (00:31:00) - Why Speed Matters: The Critical Window for Law Enforcement Notification
  • (00:33:00) - The Security Leader's Playbook: Threat Intelligence + Business Context

Links And Resources:

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About the Podcast

Industrial Cybersecurity Insider
Everything You Need to Know to 'Get Safer Sooner'
Industrial Cybersecurity Insider offers a thorough look into the field of industrial cybersecurity for manufacturing and critical infrastructure. The podcast delves into key topics, including industry trends, policy changes, and groundbreaking innovations. Each episode will feature insights from key influencers, policy makers, and industry leaders. Subscribe and tune in weekly to stay in the know on everything important in the industrial cybersecurity world!

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Hector Santiesteban