Trust is the new attack surface, with ThreatLocker APAC director of operations Emile Barakat

Cyber criminals and nation-state actors are no longer relying on malware alone – they're exploiting trust. Here's what you need to know to fight back.

ThreatLocker's Emile Barakat joins Cyber Daily's David Hollingworth to help Australia's business leaders understand how threat actors target professionals on platforms like LinkedIn – and how it needs to be addressed.

Whether it's a fake recruiter, consultant, or business partner, attackers invest weeks or months in building credibility before asking victims to open a file, run code, or share sensitive information. The old advice of "don't click suspicious links" is no longer enough – employees must learn to question suspicious opportunities just as much as suspicious emails.

Traditional security awareness training also needs an overhaul. Quarterly phishing exercises remain important, but modern attacks increasingly hide behind legitimate-looking software, trusted open-source tools, and highly personalised AI-driven social engineering.

The message for business leaders is simple, says Barakat: assume your organisation is a target, regardless of its size.

Enjoy,
The Cyber Uncut Team