Negotiating in the dark: Insights from a Ransomware Negotiator
Imagine logging into your system only to be greeted by the chilling message: “You’ve been hacked.” In today’s digital age, this nightmare scenario is all too real. Cybersecurity breaches are escalating at an alarming rate, with hackers becoming increasingly sophisticated in their methods.
The aftermath of a cyber attack is chaotic, with organizations scrambling to regain control of their networks and salvage their reputation. That’s where Geert Baudewijns from Secutec comes in. Armed with over 20 years of experience in cybersecurity, Geert has negotiated numerous ransomware cases for companies and institutions in Belgium and beyond. He undertakes the delicate task of brokering deals with hackers to minimize the damage, on all levels. He understands the nuances of each criminal organization, from amateur hackers to highly professional ransomware groups.
In this session, Geert elaborates on commonly used cybercrime tactics and trends, delving into the hacking process and his negotiation strategies. He guides you through a journey where psychological manipulation, stall tactics, and threat intelligence are employed to shift the advantage in favor of the defenders. And, most importantly, he discusses proactive measures to stay one step ahead of cyber threats.
Geert Baudewijns is a cybercrime specialist with a passion for leveraging technology to combat digital threats. He founded Secutec in 2005 after working as a Benelux Sales Representative and Account Manager for McAfee products. With over 20 years of experience in cybersecurity, he has led numerous high-profile investigations and negotiations, contributing significantly to the apprehension of cybercriminals and the advancement of cybersecurity practices. Through his work, he has become a trusted advisor to government agencies, corporations, and law enforcement entities worldwide.
Marijke Verhavert
Director
TomorrowLab
Miguel de Bruycker
Managing Director General
Centre for Cyber security Belgium
Bjørn Watne
Senior Vice President and Chief Security Officer
Telenor
Anastasiya Tretyak
Senior Cyber Security Consultant
EY Belgium
Dave Maasland
Owner & CEO
ESET Netherlands
Margo Cronin
Principal Solution Architect, Securtiy & Compliance
Amazon Web Services
Anthony Green
Co-Founder
OpenRep
Ivana Butorac
EU Compliance Manager
Sopra Steria
Luigi Rebuffi
Secretary General
European Cyber Security Organisation (ECSO)
Stefaan Hinderyckx
Senior Vice President – Cybersecurity
NTT Ltd.
Jean-Noël de Galzain
Founder & CEO
WALLIX Group
Dieter Van Den Bosch
Founder
ThreatExposure
Cindy Wubben
Chief Information Security Officer Public Segment
Visma
Karel Baert
Chief Executive Officer
Febelfin
Lesley Kipling
Chief Security Advisor
Microsoft
Claudio Solano
EA, ICT & Security Architect
Jan Populaire
Director
Psybersafe
Geert Baudewijns
Chief Executive Officer & Founder
Secutec
Andrew Rose
Chief Security Officer
SoSafe
Marc Laliberte
Director of Security Operations
WatchGuard Technologies
Rob van Dun
Chief Executive Officer
Calculus
Christo Butcher
Executive consultant
Fox-IT
Alexandru Lazar
Program Officer
CyberPeace Institute
Jean-François Simons
VP EMEA
Aviation ISAC