Firewalls Don't Stop Dragons Podcast Project Franklin Wants You
Oct 13, 2025
Jake Braun, co-founder of DEF CON Franklin and former acting principal deputy national cyber director, discusses the vulnerabilities in our critical infrastructure, particularly water utilities. He explains how the pandemic increased cyber threats, necessitating volunteer efforts to bolster security. Braun emphasizes the need for civic engagement and shares insights from pilot programs aimed at helping utilities enhance their defenses. He also highlights the challenges small utilities face and encourages listeners to get involved and support these crucial initiatives.
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Adversaries Target Small Towns Too
- Small utilities often underestimate why foreign adversaries would target them, but attackers research even tiny towns.
- Adversaries exploit local staff and social ties, making any small utility a valuable target.
Phishing Attack On A Small Utility
- A volunteer helped a small utility detect a phishing campaign aimed at an employee with a Chinese surname.
- Forensics showed it was an intelligence-style intrusion targeting that tiny town's utility.
Gravity As An Emergency Workaround
- One utility director said his source is elevated so he could 'shut everything off' and rely on gravity.
- The remark showed practical local workarounds and differing risk assumptions in water operations.
