Inverted Podcast #20 — Targeted Attacks: Protecting High‑Risk People and Organizations

Episode notes

️ Inverted Podcast #20 — Targeted Attacks: Protecting High‑Risk People and Organizations ️ What does it really mean to be a high‑risk user—and how are targeted attacks different from everyday phishing and scams? In this episode of the Inverted Podcast , Jeroen Kemperman is joined by co-hosts Dario Salice and Dana Kaufman, with special guest Mike Sager, to break down the world of targeted cyberattacks . Together, they explore how activists, journalists, political candidates, founders, and other high‑value individuals are targeted by well‑resourced adversaries—and why conventional security advice often falls short for these groups. The conversation dives into how nation‑states, organized crime, and sophisticated attackers operate differently from “drive‑by” attackers, investing time and resources to research their targets, craft personalized lures, and escalate attacks until they succeed. The panel discusses real‑world examples like political campaigns, advocacy organizations, journalists, and small consulting teams that become critical entry points for attackers—often without the resources of large enterprises.