The conversation delves into the world of evasive VPN clients and the Living Off the Tunnel project, shedding light on the real-world impact of these tools and the importance of defender awareness. Darren Smith, a threat research expert, shares insights into the development of the project and the significance of detecting evasive VPN tools.

Takeaways

• Evasive VPN clients can pose a significant threat to enterprise network security.
• Awareness and concrete strategies are crucial for defending against threats posed by evasive VPN tools.

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to Vancouver Island Security Research Society
• 01:36 Guest Introduction and Background
• 02:17 Path to Threat Research and Detection Engineering
• 04:05 Evasive VPN Clients and Living Off the Tunnel Project
• 06:14 Forensic Toolkit for Evasive VPN Clients
• 08:20 Real-World Impact of Evasive VPNs
• 09:38 AI Agents and Defender's Radar
• 10:06 Key Takeaways and Conclusion

JOIN US AT BSIDES VANCOUVER ISLAND 2026

BSides Vancouver Island is a community-driven, grassroots cybersecurity conference bringing together security practitioners, researchers, students, and technology enthusiasts to learn, connect, and share knowledge.

Friday, September 25, 2026
Victoria Conference Centre — Victoria, BC

This year marks our fifth anniversary*, with *two talk tracks for the first time.

🎟️ Tickets and conference details: https://bsidesvi.com