Hot Sauce & Hot Takes: Only Malware in the Building Special

First Passwords and Early Tech Habits

• 💡 The first password remembered was likely a last name, used on AOL Instant Messenger, highlighting early internet usage.
• 🔑 A memorable early screen name was "PTA" (pain in the posterior), showcasing youthful humor.
• 🚀 Early tech experiences included using TRS-80 computers and 300 baud dial-up modems to access Bulletin Board Systems (BBS).
• 🎶 Dave Bittner's first username was "Ziggy Stardust," while Keith Mularski's first Hotmail password was "28if" from the Abbey Road album cover.

Cybersecurity Routines and Near Misses

• 📱 Immediate smartphone checks upon waking are common, but the focus shifts to threat modeling and digital security practices.
• 💳 Vigilance on bank accounts and credit cards, especially when traveling, is crucial to detect fraudulent charges.
• 🎣 A common phishing tactic involves texts from friends, like Dave Bittner's experience with a fake Facebook login link, highlighting the danger of trusted sources.
• ⚠️ Keith Mularski narrowly avoided a major security breach when a malware package he was analyzing was backdoored, nearly exposing his undercover identity.

Digital Detox and Work-Life Balance

• 🧠 It's impossible for one person to know everything in cybersecurity; focusing on relevant areas and listening to podcasts for broader awareness is key.
• 📚 Reading physical books and getting nails done are cited as methods for digital detox and self-care to combat burnout.
• 🎧 Dave Bittner manages the daily "bad news" of cybersecurity by relying on experts and building relationships to understand complex topics.
• 🧘 Decompressing involves respecting the need for time off, changing environments, and avoiding screens, especially in the bedroom.

The Hottest Challenge: Scoville Scale Sauces

• 🔥 The "Only Malware in the Building" special features a hot wings challenge with progressively hotter sauces, testing the hosts' limits.
• 🌶️ Sauces ranged from Scoville 0 to over 1 million, with the "Only Maruga in the Building" pepper being the most intense.
• 🥵 The heat from the sauces caused physical reactions, including sweating, watering eyes, and a general feeling of discomfort.

Career Journeys and Tech Beginnings

• 🎤 Selena Larson initially wanted to be a journalist and was not tech-inclined, but discovered a passion for cybersecurity and privacy in San Francisco.
• 💻 Her first computer was a teal "bubble Mac," shared with siblings, highlighting early computing limitations.
• 🕹️ Dave Bittner's tech journey began with TRS-80 computers and programming in BASIC, leading to modem use and early phone phreaking.
• 🏢 Keith Mularski's tech interest grew in college with Apple computers and games, eventually transitioning to cyber division in the FBI after realizing the internet's permanence.