In this episode of the Malspace Podcast, I sit down with Cris Kittner, Senior Manager of Threat Research Engineering at Proofpoint, for a deep and personal conversation about her remarkable journey through the world of cyber threat intelligence.

From growing up in Brazil during times of political unrest to working her way into the U.S. defense sector, Cris shares how her passion for understanding violent extremism and security evolved into a career at the forefront of cybersecurity — including over a decade at Mandiant, Google Cloud, and now Proofpoint.

Together, we explore:

• ​How curiosity and persistence shaped Cris’s unconventional path into cyber intelligence
• ​Lessons from working with legendary figures in APT research at Mandiant
• ​The growing overlap between nation-state and e-crime operations — and why breaking down silos is vital for modern threat analysis
• ​Her leadership philosophy around psychological safety, mentorship, and preventing burnout
• ​How human connection — and even friendship bracelets — can strengthen cybersecurity teams

It’s an inspiring conversation about adaptability, empathy, and the evolving landscape of threat intelligence — told through the lens of one of the field’s most passionate voices.

In this episode, Julien sits down with Chi En (Ashley) Shen, a distinguished threat researcher at Cisco Talos.

Ashley shares her fascinating journey from hacking forums in Taiwan to leading threat intelligence at global giants like Google and Mandiant.

Together, they explore the rising trend of compartmentalized cyberattacks, the evolving role of Initial Access Brokers (IABs), and Ashley’s proposed enhancements to the Diamond Model. The episode also dives into her work promoting diversity in cybersecurity through initiatives like HITCON Girls and Raclette.

Links:

• Ashley on Bluesky

• Ashley’s podcast Hacks Between Us (我們之間的駭)

• Blog article: Redefining IABs: Impacts of compartmentalization on threat tracking and modeling
• Diamond Model
• HITCON Girls
• Raclette Switzerland (Cybersecurity Community)
• Ashley’s upcoming talk at Black Hat USA

On this episode, Mark Parsons, Senior Threat Hunter at Sophos MDR, discusses his team's investigation into Operation Crimson Palace, which uncovered Chinese state-sponsored cyberespionage targeting a Southeast Asian government. Mark explains how they identified three distinct clusters of activity using advanced malware and evasion techniques, including previously unreported tools like CCoreDoor and PocoProxy.

Show Notes

• ​Operation Crimson Palace: Sophos threat hunting unveils multiple clusters of Chinese state-sponsored activity targeting Southeast Asian government
• ​Surfacing a Hydra: Unveiling a Multi-Headed Chinese State-Sponsored Campaign Against a Foreign Government
• ​Crimson Palace returns: New Tools, Tactics, and Targets