Hacker Movies Then vs Now [Threat Vector]

CyberWire Daily

N2K Networks, Inc.

Daily News, Tech News, News, Technology

4.6 • 1K Ratings

🗓️ 27 November 2025

⏱️ 45 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

We dive into a nostalgic yet revealing journey through classic hacker films, from WarGames to The Net and beyond, to assess what they got right, what they wildly imagined, and what those stories say about culture, fears, and cyber reality today. David Moulton, Senior Director of Thought Leadership for Unit 42 talks with Ben Hasskamp, Global Content Leader at Palo Alto Networks, who has been writing deeply on this intersection of media, tech, and risk. Together, we’ll examine how cinematic depictions of hacking have shaped public perception, influenced policy, and sometimes eerily foreshadowed modern cyber threats. Expect a blend of film critique, security insight, and cultural reflection. Join the conversation on our social media channels: Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Threat Research:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/LifeatPaloAltoNetworks/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/unit42/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@paloaltonetworks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/PaloAltoNtwks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ About Threat Vector Threat Vector by Palo Alto Networks is your premier podcast for security thought leadership. Join us as we explore pressing cybersecurity threats, robust protection strategies, and the latest industry trends. The podcast features in-depth discussions with industry leaders, Palo Alto Networks experts, and customers, providing crucial insights for security decision-makers. Whether you're looking to stay ahead of the curve with innovative solutions or understand the evolving cybersecurity landscape, Threat Vector equips you with the knowledge needed to safeguard your organization. Palo Alto Networks Palo Alto Networks enables your team to prevent successful cyberattacks with an automated approach that delivers consistent security across the cloud, network, and mobile.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠http://paloaltonetworks.com.⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	You're listening to the Cyberwire Network, powered by N2K.
0:12.4	Welcome to Threat Factor, the Palo Alto Network's podcast, where we discuss pressing cybersecurity threats and resilience and uncover insights in the latest industry trends.
0:21.8	I'm your host, David Moulton, Senior Director of Thought Leadership for Unit 42.
0:26.0	It's like finding out like the one thing protecting Fort Knox is like an unlocked screen door.
0:32.4	Like it, you know, to get into like the Whopper system is a little ludicrous.
0:38.7	So like that was a little bit implausible.
1:03.3	So, like, Today I'm speaking with Ben Hascam, global content leader for Palo Alto Networks,
1:08.6	and the author of the Control Alt delusion series, which revisits hacker films.
1:13.7	Ben has spent years examining the stories that we tell about technology and how they reflect, distort, or anticipate real risk.
1:18.4	Today we're going to talk about how classic hacker movies stack up to modern reality,
1:23.2	their technical accuracy, their lasting cultural impact,
1:26.7	and what we can learn today from their triumphs and delusions.
1:37.1	Ben, welcome to ThreatVector.
1:39.3	I've been looking forward to having this conversation.
1:42.0	It's a little different, a little lighter, and a lot more fun
1:44.6	than some of the real serious topics that we jump into on Threat Factor. Yeah, no, I'm excited to be here.
1:50.9	I know we talked about this a long time, so I'm happy to be here with you.
1:55.7	So start us off. Tell me how this whole idea began, the control-alt delusion series.
2:02.1	And then why did you choose old hacker films as something that you wanted to examine through today's lens?
2:10.2	Yeah, I mean, I think, you know, when I started here, I had an idea to launch a thought leadership hub for executives.
2:17.4	And we did that under perspectives.
2:20.8	And one of the mandates that I was given was, you know, hey, we should do like a letters
	...

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