{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Threat Talks - Your Gateway to Cybersecurity Insights","title":"From Hacker to Hero","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":2718,"description":"What if your next great cyber defender is a teenager gaming in their bedroom right now?In this Threat Talks episode, Lieuwe Jan Koning and former FBI Supervisory Special Agent William McKean (founder of The Redirect Project) explore how young digital natives go From Hacker to Hero.They chart the journey from gaming and online communities to risky first hacks and real-world intrusions. Then they show how to redirect that curiosity away from cybercrime and into ethical hacking, cyber defense, and a Zero Trust mindset at home and at work.You’ll get practical questions to ask kids, simple “safe word” tactics, and concrete steps security leaders can use to grow defenders instead of future attackers.Key Topics CoveredFrom gamer to attacker: How curiosity, gaming communities and digital “mentors” funnel kids into cybercrime, and how to redirect that path toward ethical hacking.Psychology of recruitment: Why belonging, status and rewards override an undeveloped moral compass, and how grooming patterns mirror terrorism and gang recruitment.Parent & educator playbook: Practical ways to talk about online life, spot early warning signs, use “safe words,” and apply a Zero Trust mindset at home.Diversion, not destruction: How programs like The re_direct Project, HackShield, re_B00TCMP, Hack_Right, and The Hacking Games turn justice-involved kids into defenders instead of life-long offenders.Additional ResourcesON2IT & Threat Talks• ON2IT – Zero Trust Innovators: https://on2it.net/• Zero Trust as a Service: https://on2it.net/zero-trust/• Threat Talks podcast hub: https://threat-talks.com/ Episode Guest & Projects Mentioned• The re_direct Project (youth cyber diversion & mentorship): https://www.redirectproject.org/ • HackShield (elementary school cyber game): https://www.hackshieldgame.com/ • Dutch Police re_B00TCMP “Reboot Camp”: https://www.politie.nl/informatie/re_b00tcmp.html • Hack_Right juvenile cyber program: https://www.om.nl/onderwerpen/cybercrime/hack_right • The...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/zxiRQtIn39fLuEqIC458HdYTjdufBy-QMdJtCYFz97Y/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS8xN2Q1/NGE1NjBhYWY0ZmY5/NzEyODA5OGU3NDdi/MmNmYi5qcGc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}