The Segment: A Zero Trust Leadership Podcast

The Perception of Reality: Lessons from the Original Internet Godfather

Episode Notes

In this eye-opening episode of The Segment, we welcome Brett Johnson—once known as the "Original Internet Godfather" and a former U.S. Most Wanted cybercriminal. Now a reformed expert, Brett works to help law enforcement and organizations stay ahead of digital threats.

Together, we explore the chilling reality of modern cyber threats, deepfake technology, and the manipulation of perception in an increasingly digital world. Brett shares his insights on why “the perception of reality is more important than reality itself,” how AI is fueling new forms of deception, and why personal relationships and trust are more critical than ever in cybersecurity.

In this episode we also discuss:

• Why defenders continue to fall short
• The biggest misconceptions about cybercriminals
• Why billion-dollar security budgets aren’t enough
• The role of regulations in shaping cybersecurity culture
• Why most cyberattacks succeed due to simple oversights, not sophisticated tactics
• How organizations can force attackers to adapt by closing common security gaps
• The importance of layered security and data-driven threat detection

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