Luke McOmie: Pyr0’s Red Team Journey

Summary

In this episode of the Phillip Wylie Show, Phillip Wylie interviews Luke McOmie, also known as Pyro, a prominent figure in the hacker and cybersecurity community. They discuss the value of smaller conferences, Luke's journey into hacking, memorable red teaming experiences, and the importance of community engagement in the cybersecurity field. Luke shares insights on getting started in red teaming, the evolution of the industry, and the significance of building relationships at conferences.

Takeaways

• Smaller conferences foster better relationships.

• Luke's first computer was an AST-486SX.

• Hacking the school district led to early trouble.

• Red teaming involves both physical and digital penetration testing.

• Community engagement is crucial in cybersecurity.

• Training and certifications are essential for aspiring red teamers.

• Physical security assessments are increasingly required by insurance underwriters.

• Networking at conferences can lead to lifelong relationships.

• Urban exploration can provide valuable skills for red teaming.

• The landscape of cybersecurity is evolving with new challenges.

Sound Bites

“I got to play with Commodore 64.”

“I am God.”

“I had a backpack full of data.”

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Hacker Community

03:02 The Value of Smaller Conferences

06:10 Luke's Hacker Origin Story

08:59 Red Teaming Experiences and War Stories

17:57 Close Calls and Getting Caught

24:13 The Unexpected Consequences of Cyber Operations

30:37 Navigating the Path to Red Teaming

35:15 The Evolution of Penetration Testing

38:19 Building Connections in the Cybersecurity Community

Resources

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lmcomie/

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