Send us fan mail!Hello to all our Cyber Daffodils! Host Selena Larson, and guest Host, Tim Kromphardt, sit down with Stuart Del Caliz, Senior Threat Detection Engineer at Proofpoint, to unpack the stealthy world of backdoors, malware detection, and the “secret signals” threat actors use to stay hidden.From magic packets and port knocking to sophisticated backdoors like BPFdoor, Stuart shares how attackers design covert communication methods—and how defenders work to uncover them without overwhelming security teams with noise. The conversation blends deep technical insight with real-world analogies (think speakeasy knocks and undercover “internet cops”) to make complex detection strategies easier to understand.You’ll also hear:How detection engineers balance accuracy and performance when writing IDS/IPS signaturesWhy some advanced malware can remain undetected for years—and whether we’re simply not seeing itHow historic leaks like Shadow Brokers still influence modern attack techniquesThe role of “pattern matching” in identifying evolving malware behaviorsHow file metadata and revoked certificates can reveal threats hiding in plain sightWhy community collaboration and feedback loops are critical to stronger detectionsWhether you’re a security practitioner or deep in the trenches, this episode offers a closer look at the craft of detection engineering—and the constant challenge of writing high-fidelity detections against increasingly evasive threat techniques.Resources Mentioned:https://community.emergingthreats.net/https://www.rapid7.com/blog/post/tr-bpfdoor-telecom-networks-sleeper-cells-threat-research-report/https://www.wired.com/story/nsa-hacking-tools-stolen-hackers/https://github.com/x0rz/EQGRPFor more information about Proofpoint, check out our website. Subscribe & Follow:Stay ahead of emerging threats, and subscribe! Happy hunting!