Ep18: The Illusion of Expertise: Are YouTube's Security Gurus Really in the Trenches?

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Hey there, you incredible humans of the Byte-Sized Security community!

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Marc David here, and have I got

a spicy topic for you today.

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We're turning on the heat and

cooking up some truth bombs about the

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world of YouTube's self-proclaimed

cybersecurity 'experts.'

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Now, let's rewind a few years.

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Picture me, knee-deep in my Information

Tech job, hungry for a shift into the

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dynamic landscape of Information Security.

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What did I do?

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I did what we all do:

went on a YouTube binge.

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Video after video, short after

short, promising the "Top 5

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Essential Skills," or the "Ultimate

Pathway to a Cybersecurity Career."

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And man, these videos had

views ... Like, astronomical numbers!

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But here's where it gets interesting.

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These videos, as flashy and

keyword-stuffed as they were, felt

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like they were all sizzle and no steak.

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The advice was so...

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fluffy.

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You know, the kind of fluff that

makes you go, "Well, that was a good

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show, but what did I really learn?"

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And this got me thinking: When

did cybersecurity get its own

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version of fitness influencers or

arketing gurus from the early: 2000

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You know, the ones who pitch you a

'life-changing' course every two minutes?

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Views and subscribers can

create the illusion of

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credibility, but let's get real.

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Numbers alone don't make you an expert.

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Just because someone can put together

a snazzy thumbnail and recite buzzwords

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doesn't mean they're down in the

trenches, navigating the complex

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terrains of real-world cybersecurity.

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So today, Byte-Sized Security fam,

we're diving deep into the myths, the

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illusions, and the harsh realities of

this YouTube 'expertise' ecosystem.

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Buckle up, because it's going to

be a reality-check rollercoaster!

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Alright, let's dive right

into our first core argument:

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The infamous "Content Mill."

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You know what I'm talking about.

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It's that hamster wheel of content

creation where YouTubers are cranking

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out new videos faster than you

can say "zero-day vulnerability."

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I mean, they're more consistent than my

morning coffee, but is that a good thing?

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Let's lay it out.

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Many of these 'gurus' are pushing out

daily, or heck, even twice-daily videos.

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And here's the million-dollar question:

If they're churning out content at

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the speed of light, when are they

actually practicing cybersecurity?

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When do they have the time to keep

their skills razor-sharp, engage in

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real-world projects, or, you know, sleep?

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Imagine this.

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Say you're a full-time chef.

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If you spent all your time filming

cooking tutorials, when would you actually

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serve customers in a real restaurant?

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See where I'm going with this?

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We all know that cybersecurity

is an ever-evolving field.

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I mean, the threat landscape changes

faster than the YouTube algorithm itself!

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So how can someone who is constantly

feeding the content beast stay

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up-to-date on the latest threats,

solutions, and technologies?

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And here's another kicker: The

YouTube algorithm loves frequency.

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The more you post, the

more visibility you get.

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But let's not confuse

visibility with credibility.

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It's a myth, a dangerous myth.

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So, the next time you come across a

'Cybersecurity Guru' on YouTube who has

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a new video out every day, ask yourself:

Are they an expert in cybersecurity, or

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are they an expert in content creation?

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Because, those are two

very different skill sets.

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Now that we've disarmed the Content

Mill trap, let's slide into the next

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hot topic: The Business of YouTube.

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Yep, you heard that right.

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YouTube isn't just a platform; it's

a full-blown, money-making machine.

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We're talking AdSense, affiliate

links, sponsorships, and the pièce de

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résistance, courses and merchandise.

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Ever noticed how many of these

'Cybersecurity Gurus' will interrupt their

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"10 Best Security Practices" video to

pitch you a VPN service or an exclusive

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"Master Cybersecurity in 30 Days" course?

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It's like we've gone from

learning about ransomware to

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participating in a live infomercial.

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And let's be honest, who can blame them?

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If you've got thousands, or dare I

say, millions of subscribers hanging on

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your every word, why not monetize it?

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After all, clicks lead to cash.

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But here's the crux of it all: How much of

that content is tailored to meet Google's

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algorithmic demands versus meeting the

actual educational needs of the audience?

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Are they being paid to say what they

say or do they work for the company?

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This is the point where we have to

separate the YouTuber from the expert.

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Being good at SEO, keywords,

and thumbnails—that's marketing,

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my friends, not cybersecurity.

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And hey, there's nothing wrong with

being a brilliant marketer, but don't

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dress it up as expertise in a field as

critical and evolving as cybersecurity.

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So here's my mic-drop moment for this

segment: While YouTube might be a

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business for these 'gurus,' cybersecurity

is a livelihood for many of us.

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It's a responsibility.

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And that responsibility should

never, ever be overshadowed by

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the glitz and glamour of high view

counts and affiliate commissions.

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When it comes to genuine expertise,

revenue is not the most reliable KPI.

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It's like saying the most expensive

antivirus software must be the

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best, spoiler alert, it's not.

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So, the next time you're engrossed

in a YouTube video pitching the next

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"game-changing" cybersecurity tool,

ask yourself: Is this for me, or

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is this for the YouTuber's wallet?

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Let's get into our final core

argument, and it is it a big one.

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Missing Practical Experience.

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If you've been nodding along so

far, this is where you'll want to

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turn up the volume because we're

going straight for the jugular.

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So you've watched a dozen tutorials on

how to set up a firewall, configure a

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VPN, or even conduct a penetration test.

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Fantastic, right?

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Wrong!

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Anyone can follow a script, but how

many of these YouTube gurus have

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actually set up an enterprise-grade

firewall or led a red-team operation?

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See, there's a chasm as wide as

the Grand Canyon between talking

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the talk and walking the walk.

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Cybersecurity is more than a listicle

of "Top 10 Best Practices"; it's

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about solving real-world problems,

often under tremendous pressure.

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You won't learn incident

response from a 10-minute video.

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You won't understand the

intricacies of risk management

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from a neat slideshow presentation.

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Heck, you can't even grasp the

complexity of ethical hacking

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from a '5 Easy Steps' guide!

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And yet, many of these YouTubers

present themselves as all-knowing gurus.

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Why?

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Because practical experience is

hard to verify on a platform where

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the loudest voice often drowns

out the most knowledgeable one.

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Rewind and listen to that again.

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So here's my challenge to you.

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The next time you stumble upon

a video that claims to have all

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the answers, dig a little deeper.

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What's their real-world experience?

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Have they been in the trenches,

or have they been too busy

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building their YouTube empire?

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Let's stop mistaking presentation

skills for practical skills.

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Cybersecurity is a field that

demands both theoretical knowledge

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and hands-on experience, and you

can't fake the latter, no matter how

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charismatic or SEO-savvy you are.

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I can already hear the keyboards

clicking away, drafting up some

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passionate counter-arguments.

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And hey, that's what Byte-Sized Security

is all about, open, honest dialogue.

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So let's take a moment to address some

of the arguments that you might be

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formulating in your heads, or you know,

already posting in the comments section.

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First up, the Value of

Educational Content.

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Look, I get it, not every

YouTuber claiming expertise in

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cybersecurity is a charlatan.

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Some are genuinely committed to educating

the public, and that's commendable.

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These platforms can be excellent

starting points for people who

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are curious about the field.

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After all, who doesn't

love a good how to video?

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Next, we've got what I like to call

The Digital Age of Self-Made Experts.

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The internet has democratized education,

and YouTube is a big part of that.

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It's entirely possible for someone

to become highly knowledgeable

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in a subject like cybersecurity

solely through online resources.

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I mean, some of our brightest

minds are self-taught, so let's

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not completely dismiss that route.

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And hey, let's not forget the Platform

for Networking and Community Building.

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YouTube can be a wonderful place

to connect with like-minded

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individuals, share ideas, and even

get that elusive foot in the door.

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Many YouTubers collaborate with

industry professionals, bringing

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multiple perspectives to the table.

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But here's the kicker.

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None of these counter-arguments negate

the need for practical experience,

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nor do they make up for the potential

conflicts that arise when content

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creation becomes a business model.

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The point is, while YouTube can

supplement your cybersecurity education,

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it shouldn't replace real-world

experience or formal training.

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We've navigated the labyrinthine

world of YouTube cybersecurity

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gurus, from content mills to business

models, and the all-important missing

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element of practical experience.

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If you've stuck with me till now,

give yourselves a pat on the back

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because this, my friends, is the type

of conversation that needs to be had!

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Now, it's easy to get swept up in the

allure of quick tips and catchy titles.

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Hey, we're only human.

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But let's remember: cybersecurity isn't

a game; it's a discipline that impacts

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every facet of our digital lives.

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The next time you click on a video

claiming to offer 'Expert Cybersecurity

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Advice,' let's be discerning consumers.

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Ask questions, demand

qualifications, and most importantly,

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cross-reference that info.

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Don't just take it at face value

because it's presented with slick

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graphics and a charismatic host.

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I'll leave you with this:

expertise isn't defined by

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subscriber counts or ad revenue.

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It's defined by a commitment to

learning, practical experience, and

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a genuine desire to make the cyber

world a safer place for everyone.

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Thank you for being a

part of today's deep-dive.

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If you've got something to

say, you know the drill.

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Leave a comment, share this

episode, and let's keep this

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crucial conversation going!

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But the conversation doesn't end here.

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We're launching a community poll right

on our YouTube channel at byte sized

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security dot show, forward slash, youtube.

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Look for the Community section.

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I want to hear your take.

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The question we're posing is:

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"How do you vet the credibility of

a cybersecurity expert on YouTube?"

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Your options are:

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1: Subscriber Count.

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Does a big following mean

they know their stuff?

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2: Content Depth.

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Are you swayed by the level

of detail in their videos?

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3: Real-world Experience.

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Do you look for signs

they've been in the trenches?

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4: Community Engagement.

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Does their interaction with the

community influence your view?

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5: Other.

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Got a different yardstick?

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We're all ears!

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Head on over to the poll right

now on our YouTube channel at byte

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sized security dot show, forward

slash, youtube and cast your vote.

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I'll be diving into the results

in an upcoming episode, and

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who knows, your input might

just spark our next big debate!

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So go ahead, click on that poll, and

let's keep this cyber-dialogue buzzing!

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I'll drop some links and

resources mentioned in this

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podcast into the show notes.

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Until next time, stay safe, stay

informed, and remember: the best

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firewall is a critical mind.