Sheep in wolf’s clothing: How white hat hackers and pen testing help stop hacks

Sheep in wolf’s clothing: How white hat hackers and pen testing help stop hacks

From Cross-Examined by The Law Institute of Victoria

May 18, 2026 · 22 min · Season 1 · Episode 8

About this episode

This episode discusses how ethical hackers and penetration testing can help law firms secure against cyber attacks.

Episode Summary: Many law firms make a heavy investment in cybersecurity tech, and yet attackers can simply walk straight through their front door. This episode exposes how ethical (and criminal) hackers think and act, revealing why human trust and everyday routines are often a real vulnerability attackers’ exploit. This episode pulls back the curtain on penetration testing, and the white hat hackers who help firms fix weaknesses before criminals can exploit them. Guest : • James Thompson, Director, principal cybersecurity consultant and penetration tester, Malware Security • More than 20 years’ experience testing government, defence and critical infrastructure networks • Specialist in offensive security, social engineering and red team engagements • www.linkedin.com/in/cyberjt • www.malsec.com.au Host: • Jayne Gurton, Law Institute of Victoria • podcasts@liv.asn.au | https://www.linkedin.com/company/law-institute-of-victoria Episode Overview: Securing a law firm from cyber attacks must take into account not just technology, but the physical environment as well. In this episode, penetration testing expert James Thompson explains what really happens when an organisation hires a…

People in this episode

Host: Jayne Gurton

Guest: James Thompson

Topics covered

  • cybersecurity
  • penetration testing
  • ethical hacking
  • social engineering
  • law firms
  • vulnerabilities

Keywords

  • cybersecurity
  • penetration testing
  • ethical hackers
  • social engineering
  • law firms
  • vulnerabilities
  • red team engagements

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Malware Security, Law Institute of Victoria

More episodes of Cross-Examined

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Cross-Examined podcast page.