Through the Eyes of a Pentester: Simulating Real-World Attacks

In this episode of #AndSecurityForAll, host Kim Hakim sits down with Robert McCurdy, Senior Engineer of Security Engineering & Offensive Operations at Abira Security, for a deep dive into the evolving world of penetration testing, offensive security, and red team operations.

From real-world attack simulations to the growing impact of AI on cybersecurity, Robert shares firsthand stories from the field, lessons learned from years in offensive security, and what organizations are still getting wrong when it comes to protecting their environments.

Topics include:

• How modern pentesters simulate real-world attacks
• The biggest security gaps organizations still overlook
• AI’s growing role in offensive security and automation
• Why visibility is critical for defending today’s environments
• The challenges of testing cloud, web, and enterprise systems
• How attackers are evolving faster than ever before
• The importance of proactive security, not reactive security
• What businesses should understand before hiring a pentesting team

Whether you’re a security leader, practitioner, business owner, or simply curious about how ethical hackers think, this episode offers an inside look at the mindset, tools, and realities of modern penetration testing in 2026 🎧