WOPR Was Right
Mon Jan 12 2026
Recently and over the past few years, world events may have included cybersecurity components in their enactment. So, Brian, Erik, and Dan started talking about the role of security in critical infrastructure protection, asking questions about the ethics and thresholds for government and corporate roles in cyber retaliation, whether we as security practitioners have a role (or an obligation, or even a liability) to close vulnerabilities that can be used in primary or retaliatory scenarios. How much of human nature makes cyber retaliation a foregone conclusion, or can we find ways to reduce the need or use or availability of ways in via the technology. From Stuxnet to Iran to Caracas, using cybersecurity is a prevalent vector of retaliation, but does it always have to be that way? Or will it end with WOPR’s recognition that the only way to win the game is not to play at all?
It’s hard to talk about modern cybersecurity and not bring in current events, and even harder to keep it from turning political. We tried very hard to do a good job in the latter as we talked about the former.
Thanks for being part of the debate!
Show Notes:
Caracas Invasion - https://abcnews.go.com/International/explosions-heard-venezuelas-capital-city-caracas/story?id=128861598Stuxnet Explained - https://www.csoonline.com/article/562691/stuxnet-explained-the-first-known-cyberweapon.htmlBook Recommendation: Countdown to Zero Day: Stuxnet and the Launch of the World’s First Digital Weapon - https://geni.us/swbNSan Bernardino vs Apple - https://epic.org/documents/apple-v-fbi-2/Movie Recommendation: Real Genius - https://geni.us/abYUYTBook Recommendation: The Creature from Jekyll Island: A Second Look at the Federal Reserve - https://geni.us/SL21aCIA Triad - https://cybersecuritynews.com/cia-triad-confidentiality-integrity-availability/Book Recommendation: Atomic Habits - https://geni.us/Nn2GSYrMichigan Council of Women in Technology -https://mcwt.orgCritical Infrastructure (Sectors) - https://www.cisa.gov/topics/critical-infrastructure-security-and-resilience/critical-infrastructure-sectorsShadowbrokers - https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2017/05/shadow-brokers/527778/AI Prescriptions (Utah) - https://www.politico.com/news/2026/01/06/artificial-intelligence-prescribing-medications-utah-00709122 Japanese Omoiyari - a...
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Recently and over the past few years, world events may have included cybersecurity components in their enactment. So, Brian, Erik, and Dan started talking about the role of security in critical infrastructure protection, asking questions about the ethics and thresholds for government and corporate roles in cyber retaliation, whether we as security practitioners have a role (or an obligation, or even a liability) to close vulnerabilities that can be used in primary or retaliatory scenarios. How much of human nature makes cyber retaliation a foregone conclusion, or can we find ways to reduce the need or use or availability of ways in via the technology. From Stuxnet to Iran to Caracas, using cybersecurity is a prevalent vector of retaliation, but does it always have to be that way? Or will it end with WOPR’s recognition that the only way to win the game is not to play at all? It’s hard to talk about modern cybersecurity and not bring in current events, and even harder to keep it from turning political. We tried very hard to do a good job in the latter as we talked about the former. Thanks for being part of the debate! Show Notes: Caracas Invasion - https://abcnews.go.com/International/explosions-heard-venezuelas-capital-city-caracas/story?id=128861598Stuxnet Explained - https://www.csoonline.com/article/562691/stuxnet-explained-the-first-known-cyberweapon.htmlBook Recommendation: Countdown to Zero Day: Stuxnet and the Launch of the World’s First Digital Weapon - https://geni.us/swbNSan Bernardino vs Apple - https://epic.org/documents/apple-v-fbi-2/Movie Recommendation: Real Genius - https://geni.us/abYUYTBook Recommendation: The Creature from Jekyll Island: A Second Look at the Federal Reserve - https://geni.us/SL21aCIA Triad - https://cybersecuritynews.com/cia-triad-confidentiality-integrity-availability/Book Recommendation: Atomic Habits - https://geni.us/Nn2GSYrMichigan Council of Women in Technology -https://mcwt.orgCritical Infrastructure (Sectors) - https://www.cisa.gov/topics/critical-infrastructure-security-and-resilience/critical-infrastructure-sectorsShadowbrokers - https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2017/05/shadow-brokers/527778/AI Prescriptions (Utah) - https://www.politico.com/news/2026/01/06/artificial-intelligence-prescribing-medications-utah-00709122 Japanese Omoiyari - a...