47: Accidental Cyber Expert, Katie Paxton-Fear

47: Accidental Cyber Expert, Katie Paxton-Fear

From dnsUNFILTERED by DNSFilter

February 16, 2026 · 51 min

About this episode

In this episode, Mikey Pruitt interviews Katie Paxton-Fear about her unexpected journey into cybersecurity and the intersection of hacking and AI.

Dive into the world where hacking meets AI, led by an accidental cybersecurity expert! In episode 47 of dnsUNFILTERED, host Mikey Pruitt sits down with Katie Paxton‑Fear, a former techie who stumbled into cybersecurity. They unpack the overlap of cybersecurity, AI, and education, exploring how API security often goes unseen and why MCP servers are just rebranded APIs with the same hidden vulnerabilities. Katie shares her first hands‑on hacking moment, the rise of open source projects, and what it takes to keep students engaged in a rapidly changing field. Listens walk away with fresh insights on teaching strategies, transparency, and the future of learning in cybersecurity. Takeaways - A chance encounter can spark a career in hacking and security. - APIs are everyday apps that deserve tighter security focus. - MCP servers mask risks; treat them the same as traditional APIs. - Open source deserves more backing; its security fuels our whole ecosystem. - AI is a valuable tool in class but human mentorship keeps learning real. Want to stay ahead in cybersecurity? Subscribe, share, or drop a comment below!Chapters00:00 Introduction to Cybersecurity and AI Research02:41 Accidental…

People in this episode

Host: Mikey Pruitt

Guest: Katie Paxton-Fear

Topics covered

  • cybersecurity
  • AI
  • education
  • API security
  • open source
  • MCP servers

Keywords

  • cybersecurity
  • AI
  • API security
  • open source
  • MCP servers
  • hacking
  • education

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: DNSFilter

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