In this electrifying episode, we dive deep into the world of hacking, privacy, and offensive security with Ryan Williams, Editor of HVCK Magazine and Director of Smart Cyber Solutions Pty Ltd. Ryan is more than just a cybersecurity consultant—he's a red team enthusiast, blue team strategist, and relentless innovator in the cyber arena.

We explore Ryan's journey from pen tester to publisher, and uncover the vision behind HVCK Magazine—an online publication dedicated to all things hacking, from OSINT and threat intelligence to offensive tooling and real-world exploits. Learn about his contributions to the community with projects like Commander, MxFlex, AllTheThings, and Flight Freaker, and how these tools are helping redefine modern cybersecurity practices.

Whether you're an aspiring hacker, seasoned security pro, or just cyber-curious, this episode is packed with insights, inspiration, and a behind-the-scenes look at the evolving hacking landscape.

Jason Popillion is a CISSP and serves as a CIO/CTO of a SaaS company and Kevin Pentecost is a CISSP, CISM, CEH, CPT, MPCS, MCSE, CCA, ITIL-F and serves as the Information Security Director for a Manufacturing company.

🔐 Tune in to hear:

• How HVCK Magazine is shaping the hacker culture online
• The power of community-driven security innovation
• Red vs. Blue: Ryan’s dual mindset in offensive and defensive ops
• Real talk on bespoke security tooling and Essential Eight uplifts
• And a few unexpected stories from the field...

🧠 Stay sharp. Stay curious. Stay distorted.

Citations:

🔗 Connect with Ryan Williams

• LinkedIn: Explore Ryan's professional background and connect with him on LinkedIn.
• Smart Cyber Solutions: Learn more about his cybersecurity consultancy, Smart Cyber Solutions Pty Ltd, on their Facebook page. ​

📰 Dive into HVCK Magazine

• HVCK Magazine Back Issues: Discover the mission and content of HVCK Magazine in this feature on https://hvck-magazine.github.io/
• HVCK Magazine New Issues: Discover the mission and content of HVCK Magazine in this feature on https://heyzine.com/flip-book/cd19181153.html

• Contributors' Insights: Read about contributors' experiences and articles in HVCK Magazine, such as this LinkedIn post. ​

🎧 Related Media & Community

• YouTube Interview: Watch an in-depth interview with Ryan Williams discussing HVCK Magazine and cybersecurity challenges on YouTube.

🧠 Explore More in Cybersecurity & Hacking

• Phrack Magazine: A long-standing publication in the hacking community, available at phrack.org. ​
• Hakin9 Magazine: Offers articles and resources on IT security and ethical hacking at hakin9.org. ​

In this electrifying episode of the Cyber Distortion Podcast, hosts Kevin Pentecost and Jason Popillion dive into the fascinating crossroads of cybersecurity, health, and molecular science with a very special guest — Dr. Gregory Carpenter. Known worldwide for his pioneering research and groundbreaking work at the intersection of biotechnology and cybersecurity, Dr. Carpenter brings a unique and urgent perspective on the growing risks and innovations tied to DNA hacking and cybersecurity at the molecular level.

Together, they explore how advances in genetics, bioinformatics, and synthetic biology are creating new vulnerabilities — and why protecting health data and even the biological code of life itself has become a critical frontier for cybersecurity professionals. Dr. Carpenter shares real-world insights, discusses current threats and emerging trends, and offers his expert take on where regulation, technology, and human ingenuity must evolve to stay ahead of threats we are only beginning to understand.

Don’t miss this thought-provoking conversation that bridges the digital and biological worlds — and challenges how we think about security in an era where data isn’t just on servers, but in our very cells. Whether you're a cybersecurity expert, a health industry professional, or just fascinated by where technology is taking us next, this is one episode you won't want to miss!

Jason Popillion is a CISSP and serves as a CIO/CTO of a SaaS company and Kevin Pentecost is a CISSP, CISM, CEH, CPT, MPCS, MCSE, CCA, ITIL-F and serves as the Information Security Director for a Manufacturing company.

🔗 Citations and Related Links:

• Biomalware: Malware Encoded in DNA
  Wired – https://www.wired.com/story/malware-dna-hack/
• Scientists Hack a Computer Using DNA
  MIT Technology Review – https://www.technologyreview.com/2017/08/10/150013/scientists-hack-a-computer-using-dna/
• Healing the Body with Sound Frequencies
  Donovan Health – https://www.donovanhealth.com/blog/healing-the-body-with-frequencies-the-basics-explained
• Dire Wolves and Woolly Mammoths: Concerns About Resurrecting Extinct Species
  BBC Future – https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20250425-why-scientists-fear-attempts-to-resurrect-extinct-animals-may-backfire
• DEFCON Conference (Official Site)
  https://defcon.org/
• CRISPR and the Threat of Biohacking
  Harvard International Review – https://hir.harvard.edu/crispr-and-the-threat-of-biohacking/
• Cyberbiosecurity: An Emerging New Discipline to Help Safeguard the Bioeconomy
  Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology – https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2019.00020/full
• The Growing Threat of Biosecurity Risks in Synthetic Biology
  RAND Corporation – https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR3027.html

In this thought-provoking episode of the Cyber Distortion Podcast, we’re joined by Wes Kussmaul, a visionary in the realm of secure online identities and the founder of Delphi Internet Services Corporation—the company behind the Kussmaul Encyclopedia, the world’s first computerized encyclopedia and one of the earliest forms of hypertext. With over three decades of experience building secure online spaces, Wes brings a unique blend of historical perspective and forward-thinking innovation to the conversation around privacy, authentication, and identity protection.

As digital threats evolve, so must our understanding of how we prove who we are online. Wes breaks down the role of public and private key cryptography in securing not just our communications, but our very identities and intellectual property. Through vivid analogies and real-world examples, he illustrates how Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) can serve as the backbone of a more trustworthy internet—one where authenticity and privacy aren’t afterthoughts, but foundations.

We also explore his groundbreaking work with Reliable Identities, an initiative focused on reestablishing digital trust in an age of phishing, spoofing, and identity theft. Wes shares why the current system of usernames and passwords is fundamentally flawed—and how we can replace it with something far more secure and future-proof.

Whether you're a cybersecurity expert, a tech enthusiast, or simply curious about the future of online trust, this episode will reshape how you view identity in the digital world. Tune in to hear from one of the internet’s earliest innovators on how we can protect who we are—and what we create—online.

Wes is the author of several books about privacy and authenticity, including Quiet Enjoyment (2004), Own Your Privacy (2007), The Future Needs You (2007), and Don’t Get Norteled (2014). He is also an individual adherent of the International Union of Latin Notaries and has been appointed a Notary Ambassador by the National Notary Association.

Wes received his BS in Physics from the University of Central Missouri in 1971 while serving in the US Air Force at Whiteman Air Force Base (SAC).

Jason Popillion is a CISSP and serves as a CIO/CTO of a SaaS company and Kevin Pentecost is a CISSP, CISM, CEH, CPT, MPCS, MCSE, CCA, ITIL-F and serves as the Information Security Director for a Manufacturing company.

CITATIONS:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/weskussmaul/

Wes’ Personal Website: https://weskussmaul.com/about-wes/

Authentiverse: https://authentiverse.net

Authenticity Alliance:

https://www.whatisauthenticity.com/

City of Osmio:

https://www.osmio.ch/our-name.html

Buy Wes’ Books:

https://www.pkipress.com/

The Authenticity Institute:

https://www.authenticityinstitute.com/index.html

More information on Sutton Smith (a.k.a. Sutton Love):

https://www.reversecanarymission.org/person/sutton-smith-66936d96d1a13a06fe312995

Sutton’s Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/sutton.loves/