In this episode, we catch up with Mike Monnik, CTO of DroneSec, offensive security professional and Co-organiser of SecTalks Melbourne.

Mike was advised early in his career to pick up a specialist area. That area turned out to be drones, and a passion was formed. Starting as a side hustle and whilst working as a penetration tester, Mike started building a (not-for-profit) drone security company. This eventually turned into a business and Mike walks us through this story and what the drone security industry looks like.

He discusses what the future could look like for the industry and how others who share a similar passion could pivot into a full-time role in drone security.

Here are some resources Mike recommends:

• DroneSec UAV Threat Intel Platform: https://dronesec.com/pages/notify

• CREST ASSURE Program: https://www.crest-approved.org/assure/index.html

• Christchurch Mosque shooter used drones to surveil target site: https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/christchurch-shooting/122232602/christchurch-mosque-terrorist-used-drone-over-mosque-before-march-15-attack

• ISIS fighter killed by own drone: https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/9797095/isis-fighter-killed-by-drone-bomb/

• Gangs using drones to infect pig pens: https://www.businessinsider.com/chinese-gangs-are-spreading-african-swine-fever-to-profit-2019-12?r=AU&IR=T (editors note: swine flu not bird flu as mentioned in the podcast)

• Pig pen farms disrupt aviation with drone jammers: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-swinefever/commercial-pig-farm-in-china-jams-drone-signal-to-combat-swine-fever-crooks-idUSKBN1YO0JE

• Cartels using drones as temporary airstrips: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2020/07/05/guatemala-cocaine-trafficking-laguna-del-tigre/

• A journalist uses a drone to exfiltrate hard drives: https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-49689833

• Researchers use drone projectors to disrupt smart vehicles: https://thenextweb.com/cars/2020/02/05/teslas-autopilot-dangerously-fooled-by-drone-mounted-projectors/

• DJI Bug Bounty Program: https://security.dji.com/policy