In episode 44 of Cyber Security America, host Joshua Nicholson sits down with Matthew Waddell, a battle-tested cybersecurity leader with over 25 years of experience in digital forensics, incident response, and ransomware defense.

From conducting “just-in-time forensics” under combat conditions in Iraq and Afghanistan to leading global ransomware investigations for Fortune 100 companies, Waddell shares unmatched real-world insight into how cyber threats have evolved—and what it takes to defend against them.

Topics Covered:

• The evolution of ransomware and why it remains a billion-dollar business

• Real-world stories from digital forensics on the battlefield

• Practical strategies for preventing lateral movement and improving network segmentation

• How AI and large language models (LLMs) are changing cybersecurity and cybercrime

• Why advanced tools like EDR and XDR can fail if humans disable alerts or skip training

• The promise and peril of AI in security operations, hiring, and incident response

Matthew also discusses his upcoming book, Survive Ransomware, a practical playbook for small and medium-sized businesses navigating today’s threat landscape.

If you’re serious about defending your organization—or just curious about how cybersecurity, AI, and human error collide—this episode is packed with lessons, stories, and expert insights. If you are in need of cybersecurity services please visit our sponsor Darkstack7 Cyber Defense at www.darkstack7.com

🎧 Listen, learn, Subscribe, like, and stay secure: http://www.darkstack7.com/media

Video podcast on Youtube: Cyber Security America Video

Host Info:

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

Guest Info:

• Website: www.tacticallysecure.com

• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/matthewwaddell

• Book: surviveransomware.com

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