Cyber Uncut

In this episode of the Contested Ground Podcast, host Phil Tarrant sits down with co-host Major General (Ret'd) Dr Marcus Thompson to unpack the second-order effects of the ongoing Middle East conflict – and what it could mean for Australia's security environment.
The latest Contested Ground Podcast explores how the Middle East conflict could affect Australia, with a focus on cyber disinformation and proxy activity.
Tarrant highlights that influence operations are most likely to arrive online rather than on our shores, while Thompson notes the growing role of AI-driven deepfakes, synthetic media, and coordinated social media campaigns in shaping public perception.
Both hosts question Australia's preparedness to counter foreign interference, warning that disinformation could inflame social and political divisions. They also flag economic impacts, including rising fuel prices and supply chain pressures, as likely long-term effects.
A central theme of the discussion was resilience. Australians need to critically assess the information they consume, recognising that modern conflict extends well beyond traditional battlefields and into the digital domain.
Enjoy the podcast,
The Contested Ground team

In this episode of Cyber Uncut, David Hollingworth and Daniel Croft unpack the week's cyber and AI developments, from local artificial intelligence news to age verification wrinkles, and cyber conflict overspilling from the war in Iran.
The pair kick off the podcast discussion by taking a look at the latest AI news out of the Commonwealth Bank, and this time, it's good news, as the bank deployed a pair of security agents. The pair then take a look at the Australian Defence Force and its own work in integrating AI into its battle management programs.
After that, it's time for cyber security! The Handala hacking group has turned its gaze far abroad and targeted a medical technology company, disrupting surgeries and supply chains, while a mysterious hacker has targeted a Kiwi healthcare organisation with a bizarre – and disruptive – cyber attack. The pair also discuss the effectiveness of injunctions and how non-publication orders may seem like a useful tool for victims of cyber attacks but are easily ignorable by the criminals themselves.
Finally, Hollingworth and Croft finish things up by looking at the rise of VPNs in the wake of new age verification laws and discussing the new sanctions levied against Chinese and Iranian hackers by the European Union.
Enjoy,
The Cyber Uncut team

In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, host Steve Kuper speaks with financial intelligence expert and author, Keith Bulfin as they unpack the intricacies of the global financial systems and the weaponisation of the institutions by organised crime, terrorist and state-backed networks.
The pair discuss a range of subjects including the ramifications of lax regulation and enforcement, that has resulted in significant funding, resources and technology making its way to organised crime and rogue regimes, especially Iran.
Mr Bulfin's experience working for the US Department of Justice and consulting with law enforcement and intelligence communities on the financial networks of organised crime organisations like the Mexican cartels and their overlap with terror organisations.
The interconnected ecosystems linking organised criminal enterprises, paramilitary and terror groups through hubs in the Middle East, particularly via hubs in Iran, the UAE, Asia and Africa.
The diverse areas of growth focus for these organisations as they seek to collaborate and circumvent traditional law and intelligence countermeasures to expand their operational impact and revenue streams.
The challenges presented by the growing symbiotic relationship between traditionally isolated organisations, that now share common objectives and means for furthering their business, or political reach.
The continuing flow of "black money" from nations like China and India, that continue to flow into Australia, exposing our economy to major vulnerabilities across areas like real estate, consumer goods and services.
Enjoy the podcast,
The Contested Ground Team

In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast miniseries following the outbreak of the latest conflict in the Middle East, hosts Steve Kuper and Major General (Ret'd) Dr Marcus Thompson are joined by Air Vice-Marshal (Ret'd) John Blackburn AO to discuss the implications of the Iran conflict on Australia's energy system.
The trio begin by discussing the Australian government's rhetoric around the nation's liquid fuel supplies, its access to the global energy markets and the immediate ramifications of the ongoing throttling of oil flows out of the Middle East.
As part of this, they unpack the state of Australia's liquid fuel stockpiles, the challenges governments face in moving to "calm" the Australian public and prevent a run on the nation's limited crude oil reserves.
They also discuss the decline in the nation's refining capacity, our dependence on foreign refined fuel imports from south-east Asia and the implications for national security and resilience.
Finally, they unpack the policy and regulatory challenges and opportunities that face Australia's policymakers and the immediate steps we can take to build national resilience.
Enjoy the podcast,
The Contested Ground team

This week on Cyber Uncut, David Hollingworth and Daniel Croft unpack the week's cyber and AI news and entertain some very special guests in the studio to break down how insider threats work and how CISOs can defend against them.
The pair kick off the podcast discussion by breaking down Meta's move to buy agentic AI chat platform Moltbook and how its developers have now become senior Meta AI staff, before moving on to have a look at how Pornhub has responded to eSafety's new age verification measures.
Hollingworth then welcomes three fantastic guests to the podcast: Brenton Steenkamp, lead partner, heading up law firm Clayton Utz's cyber security practice; Andreas Ostenfeldt, director in Clayton Utz's risk advisory practice; and their guest, Lou Bladel, the global director of insider threat at Uber and a former FBI agent. Cyber Uncut's guests go into detail covering how insider threats work, what motivates insiders to go bad, and how CISOs can outline the challenge to their boards. Hollingworth also asks Bladel to outline his thoughts on cyber threats emerging from the fighting in Iran, before a quick chat about the risks that agentic AI can pose.
Hollingworth and Croft then close out the podcast looking at the UK government voting down a move to introduce Australian-style social media age verification laws – for now.
Enjoy,
The Cyber Uncut team