Phishing, Ransomware & Email Security | Ctrl-Alt-Secure S3E12 ft. Bennet Hammer

In this episode of Ctrl-Alt-Secure, Valentina Flores sits down with Dr. Bennett Hammer, founder and president of Hammer IT, for a deep dive into one of today’s most common yet misunderstood risks: email security. They break down the evolving threat landscape, from the rise of phishing and ransomware to the ways AI is now being used by both attackers and defenders.

The conversation explores why email remains one of the most effective entry points for cybercriminals, how remote and hybrid work environments have expanded the attack surface, and the practical steps organizations can take to strengthen their defenses. Dr. Hammer highlights the importance of proactive measures, continuous user education, and building a culture where employees are empowered to question suspicious activity.

A handful of valuable takeaways:
 • Phishing and ransomware continue to top the list of email-based threats
 • AI is accelerating both offensive and defensive capabilities in cybersecurity
 • Remote work has created new vulnerabilities in email workflows
 • User training and awareness remain essential for preventing breaches
 • Strong filtering, verification protocols, and layered defenses make a measurable difference

To explore more of Dr. Hammer’s work or try his free tools, visit hammeritconsulting.com, hammersecure.com, or HammerSpam, his spam email analyzer.

Ctrl-Alt-Secure is brought to you by Red Sentry, a human-led, tech-powered pentesting firm helping companies identify and fix vulnerabilities before attackers can exploit them.

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