InSecurity Podcast: Scott Schober on Why Cybersecurity is Everybody’s Business
Do you read books? The newspaper? Watch TV?
Why?
Ever watch a YouTube video?
Why?
If your vacuum cleaner stops working, do you fix it? Take it to be fixed? Or do you just buy a new one?
There are people out there who are great at what they do and who want to share their knowledge with anyone who needs it.
Today’s question: If you are an expert, how can you share your knowledge with the people who need it, when they need it, where they need it? Or, to flip the question around – where do you go to get information to make your life better?
For those of us who are of an older generation, the answer is probably “read a manual.” But for most people today, YouTube is the go-to place to learn new skills. A quick search on almost any subject will confirm that there are millions of people out there who are great at what they do, and they are keen to share this knowledge and expertise with anyone who needs it.
On this podcast, we are fortunate to have one of these people. If you are a regular listener, he will need no introduction. Scott Schober is the President and CEO of Berkeley Varitronics Systems, a 40-year-old New Jersey-based privately held company and leading provider of advanced, world-class wireless test and security solutions.
Scott’s work is focused on sharing breaking insights and the latest news in cybersecurity, with audiences who may not have any other source for this information. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, he explains, he was faced with a dilemma: how to continue his mission in a world that is slowly (and then quickly) locking down.
Scott speaks about the difficulties he faced when first delivering speeches and sharing his knowledge via videos, and then the discovery that the pandemic might actually be good news for the dissemination of knowledge. Before he knew it, he says, he was getting calls from all over the world, and from people who he never would’ve got the chance to speak to otherwise.
It is, of course, difficult to maintain the same audience connection in the age of COVID-19, and this personal connection is very important for Scott.
Scott takes the view that most of us have been victims of cybercrime in one way or another, and that knowledge of how to avoid this should be communicated to everyone. Cybercrimes such as phishing and malware have risen dramatically as hackers have exploited the chaos created by the pandemic. In other words, businesses and individuals alike are at greater risk this year than they have been in years prior, but most people also are not aware of the best cybersecurity practices that they can implement on a daily basis.
This is precisely why cybersecurity education needs to focus on simplifying what is often obscure and convoluted to most people. Fortunately, Scott tries to avoid talking in acronyms and confusing people. Instead, he breaks down the technical issues he is an expert on, and explains them in a way that is accessible and actionable for everyone.
Scott’s books offer an accessible, informative, and above all entertaining way for readers to get into the world of cybersecurity. Amidst the backdrop of major breaches, Scott shares the best cybersecurity tips and practices that everyday consumers, workers, and business owners can use to protect their privacy. Most importantly, he shares his own story of being hacked repeatedly and how he has come to realize that the only thing as important as his own cybersecurity is that of his readers and viewers.
He shares his views on how you can protect yourself, your colleagues, and your data in this unmissable podcast.
About Scott Schober
Scott Schober (@ScottBVS) is the President and CEO of Berkeley Varitronics Systems, a 40-year-old New Jersey-based privately held company and leading provider of advanced, world-class wireless test and security solutions. As an experienced software engineer, Scott also invents BVS’ cell phone detection tools, used to enforce a ‘no cellphone policy’. These instruments are effectively used around the globe to find contraband cell phones smuggled into correctional as well as secure federal facilities
Schober is a highly sought-after subject expert on the topic of cybersecurity for media appearances and commentary. He is often seen on ABC News, Bloomberg TV, Al Jazeera America, CBS This Morning News, CCTV America, CNBC, CNN, Fox Business, Fox News, Good Morning America, Inside Edition, MSNBC and many more. His precautionary advice is heard on dozens of radio stations such as National Public Radio, Sirius XM Radio, Bloomberg Radio, and The Peggy Smedley Show. He regularly presents on visionary issues at conferences around the globe discussing wireless technology and its role in the current Cybersecurity breaches along with his vision for best practices to stay safe in the future. Scott has been interviewed in WSJ, Forbes, Fortune, Success, NY Daily News, Newsweek, USA Today, and The New York Times.
Scott educates businesses around the world on how to prepare for a future of cybersecurity and corporate espionage, opening their eyes to this ever-deepening black hole of liability. He also shares his insights into covert cell phone detection and creates awareness to the subtle but powerful influence of drones. He has spoken at ShowMeCon, GovSec, Counter Terror expo, ISS Americas, Espionage Research International, Connected World, ConstrucTech, IEEE, GSM World Congress and many more events.
About Hacked Again
Hacked Again details the ins and outs of cybersecurity expert and CEO of a top wireless security tech firm, Scott Schober, as he struggles to understand the motives and mayhem behind his being hacked.
As a small business owner, family man, and tech pundit, Scott finds himself leading a compromised life. By day, he runs a successful security company and reports on the latest cyber breaches in the hopes of offering solace and security tips to millions of viewers.
But, when a mysterious hacker begins to steal thousands from his bank account, go through his trash, and take over his social media identity, Scott stands to lose everything he has worked so hard for.
Amidst the backdrop of major breaches, Scott shares tips and best practices for all consumers. Most importantly, he shares his own story of being hacked repeatedly and how he has come to realize the only thing as important as his own cybersecurity is that of his readers and viewers.
About Matt Stephenson
Insecurity Podcast host Matt Stephenson (@packmatt73) leads the Broadcast Media team at BlackBerry, which puts him in front of crowds, cameras, and microphones all over the world. He is the regular host of the InSecurity Podcast and video series at events around the globe.
Twenty years of work with the world’s largest security, storage, and recovery companies has introduced Stephenson to some of the most fascinating people in the industry. He wants to get those stories told so that others can learn from what has come before.