Cyber Crime Junkies
Cyber Crime Junkies

Higher Education under Cyber Attack. Clemson CISO John Hoyt.

January 17, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

🎙️ The Voices & The Context

  • The Format: Structured interview with host-led questions, blending personal anecdotes, career advice, and cybersecurity insights.
  • The Key Players:
    • Guest: John Hoyt, CISO at Clemson University – fascinating for his 25-year IT-to-cyber climb, pioneering a student-run SOC, published author, speaker, and Marine Corps cyber auxiliary volunteer. Passionate mentor launching students into cyber careers.
    • Host: David Morrow – Energetic interviewer from Cybercrime Junkies, drawing out stories with rapport and timely plugs for sponsors/news.
  • The Vibe: Educational yet fun and optimistic – insider cyber talk feels accessible, with humor on Y2K fears, student parking scams, and "Batman" defenders vs. villains.

🗝️ Key Themes & Topics

The episode dives into cyber risks in higher ed, career paths in cybersecurity, hands-on education/mentorship, and the need for collaboration amid evolving threats like AI phishing.

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What you'll learn

  • 1 (00:00) **🎙️ Introduction: John Hoyt**
  • 2 (04:18) **Early Career Spark: Ethical Hacker Incident**
  • 3 (08:55) **Top Cyber Risks in Higher Education**
  • 4 (14:41) **Social Engineering Training for Students**
  • 5 (17:28) **Student-Targeted Job Scams**
  • 6 (20:29) **US Marine Corps Cyber Auxiliary Role**
  • 7 (24:49) **Threat Actors and Lack of Consequences**

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Show Notes

John Hoyt, the CISO of Clemson University, shares his journey into cybersecurity and discusses the top cyber risks in higher education. He recounts his first experience with an ethical hacker and how it sparked his interest in the field. Hoyt emphasizes the importance of cyber resiliency and preparedness in the face of evolving threats. We discuss topics including how is higher education targeted for cyber crime, top tactics used in social engineering, cost effective practices to limit cyber liability, how intelligence gathering is critical to security, Importance of visibility into operational risk, most common hacking tactics and a new approach to build a security culture.

Takeaways

  • Cybersecurity in higher education faces unique challenges 
  • Social engineering, particularly through job scams and impersonation, is a significant threat in higher education.
  • Cyber resiliency and preparedness are crucial in mitigating cyber risks 
  • Education and awareness are key 
  • Collaboration and information sharing between organizations are essential 
  • Creating a student-run SOC can be a valuable initiative

Breaking into cybersecurity requires passion, interest, and a willingness to continuously learn and adapt.

 

Chapters


  • 00:00 Introduction and Background
  • 01:30 First Experience with Ethical Hacker
  • 06:32 Transition to Cybersecurity at Clemson University
  • 07:00 Cyber Risks in Higher Education
  • 09:04 Cyber Resiliency and Preparedness
  • 11:18 Cyber Risks Faced by College Students
  • 15:06 Social Engineering and Cyber Education
  • 19:48 Collaboration and Information Sharing in Cybersecurity
  • 22:12 Challenges of Cybercrime and Law Enforcement
  • 28:15 Top Cyber Threats in Higher Education
  • 30:11 Threats and Vulnerabilities
  • 34:25 Creating a Student-Run SOC
  • 38:02 Breaking into Cybersecurity
  • 46:03 The Broad Scope of Cybersecurity
  • 5

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