Learning in Overdrive: Resources for Understanding the Cyber Landscape

A widespread cybersecurity attack affects millions of people. New reports are available on the impact of AI or metaverses on cybersecurity. A change in cybersecurity laws impacts trade globally. It seems that every day, there’s new information to process in the cybersecurity landscape and industry. Staying on top of crucial news and information is incredibly important, but it can be challenging in an ever-changing landscape.

To break through the noise and compile the best resources for anyone who wants to stay in the know about cybersecurity news, we turned to our 2024 #ShareTheMicInCyber Fellows.

New America’s #ShareTheMicInCyber fellowship is designed to advance diversity and equity in the cybersecurity field. The fellows conduct research on a range of topics that crosscut policy issues in data privacy, trust and safety, emerging technologies, and beyond. These rising leaders must stay on top of the latest and greatest information about cybersecurity—so, we asked them: What resources do they rely on to stay informed about the ever-evolving cybersecurity landscape?

Here’s what they shared.

Elie Alhajar: As a cybersecurity researcher, I regularly follow these outlets:

• Threatpost is a cybersecurity news website that covers the latest threats, vulnerabilities, and trends in the industry.
• The Hacker News provides me with up-to-date information on cybersecurity threats, vulnerabilities, and emerging trends.
• Dark Reading is another reliable source for staying informed about the latest cybersecurity threats, vulnerabilities, and industry trends.

Jennifer Dickey: I begin each day with cybersecurity updates from Bloomberg Law emails, which provide a comprehensive overview of the latest legal and regulatory developments impacting the field. Additionally, I actively engage with my peers on LinkedIn, participating in discussions and sharing insights. This peer-to-peer learning has proven invaluable, offering practical perspectives and firsthand experiences.

Beyond these, I also listen to the Darknet Diaries podcast for stories on cybercrimes and security loopholes, enhancing my understanding of vulnerabilities and the importance of robust cybersecurity measures. Dirty Coms, NSO, and SPY are popular episodes. Reading books such as Sandworm: A New Era of Cyberwar and the Hunt for the Kremlin’s Most Dangerous Hackers by Andy Greenberg offers a deep dive into interesting cyber incidents.

Gabrielle Hibbert: I have been an early subscriber of Charley Johnson’s Untangled newsletter. Johnson’s Substack expertly weaves together the thorny topics of technology, society, and power. Untangled excels at providing an intersectional perspective to emerging tech trends and their possible interactions with security, privacy, and community. My favorite editions have been on synthetic data and algorithmic-based decision systems.

Francisca Opoku-Boateng: Currently, I prioritize a multifaceted approach to staying informed. I find podcasts like Darknet Diaries and Security Now invaluable for their deep dives into real-world cyber incidents and emerging threats. For example, episode 24 of the Darknet Diaries podcast covered the capture of Ross Ulbricht, the founder of the Silk Road and delved into the intricate investigation and subsequent arrest of Ross, shedding light on the various law enforcement efforts involved in bringing down one of the most infamous figures in darknet history.

Additionally, I regularly read industry-leading publications such as Krebs on Security, SecurityWeek, and the SANS Institute blog for timely analysis and expert insights. I also follow influential cybersecurity experts and organizations on social media platforms like LinkedIn, where thought leaders share breaking news, research papers, and engaging discussions about the latest trends and challenges in cybersecurity.

Pavlina Pavlova: Cyber diplomacy plays a key part in my policy work, and I am deeply engaged with initiatives like Let’s Talk Cyber, which serves as a multi-stakeholder platform for debating and analyzing cybersecurity and cybercrime negotiations at the United Nations. I highly recommend subscribing to their monthly newsletter to stay abreast of the latest developments in cyber deliberations as well as upcoming events.

Another favorite resource is the Inside Cyber Diplomacy podcast [from the Center for Strategic and International Studies], which features candid conversations with experts around the world that explore how diplomacy and negotiation have shaped the field. In the latest episode, hosts Jim Lewis and Chris Painter recap the cyber diplomacy developments of 2023. An earlier episode with the U.S. Ambassador at Large for Cyberspace and Digital Policy Nathaniel C. Fick discusses the bureau’s current top priorities and the intricate relationship between technology and foreign policy.

I also frequent the Directions Blog and the Binding Hook. Both platforms gather expert insights on digital and emerging technologies, as well as cybersecurity, providing wide-ranging perspectives that help fuel curiosity and navigate the complex cyber policy landscape.

A recent article I can recommend is “How Tech Giants Turned Ukraine Into an AI War Lab” by Vera Bergengruen at TIME, who explores the collaboration between foreign tech companies and the Ukrainian armed forces that is driving a new kind of experimentation in military AI.

Michael Razeeq: Currently, I’m reading a great book recommended by Lauren Zabierek: The Devil Never Sleeps: Learning to Live in an Age of Disasters by Juliette Kayyem. We live in an age of constant and consistent catastrophe (natural disasters, epidemics and pandemics, cyber attacks, and more), so instead of focusing on prevention, the book advocates focusing on consequence minimization (or in information security terms, cyber resilience). One podcast I listen to weekly and recommend to others is Caveat by N2K Networks, which is great to learn about current issues relating to surveillance, digital privacy, cybersecurity law, and policy.

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