T3 Podcast | Cyber World: To Be Nothing More Than 0 or 1 – Mehmet Dursun İnce

In this episode of the T3 Podcast, we welcome Mehmet Dursun İnce, a long-time expert in cybersecurity and co-founder of Prodat. İnce discusses the world of cybersecurity, the identities of white-hat and black-hat hackers, the role of artificial intelligence, and offers advice to young people seeking to enter the field.

Mehmet Dursun İnce argues that the perception of cyber attacks being easy to carry out is misleading. According to him, attacks appear more frequently in the media simply because they are more visible, not because they are easier. However, this does not change the fact that most attacks are complex and require significant effort. İnce emphasizes the philosophy of "either you are one or you are zero", asserting that ethical boundaries in cybersecurity must be clear and that he has always chosen to remain a white-hat.

Addressing one of the most common misconceptions in the field, İnce clearly states that committing crimes is not required to become a white-hat hacker. He highlights that as of 2021, the internet offers abundant free and rich resources, enabling individuals to develop their skills in this domain without engaging in illegal activities.

• Artificial Intelligence: İnce notes that artificial intelligence provides significant value in cybersecurity by modeling attack methods and reducing human error. However, he warns that it is essential to clearly distinguish between privacy and security.
• Internet of Things (IoT): He states that IoT has created a chaotic environment for data security and that individual precautions are often insufficient. İnce mentions that in his personal life, he prefers old-school methods and does not feel the need to connect everything to the internet.
• Metaverse: He considers the Metaverse, still in its early development stage, too premature as a cybersecurity concern, emphasizing that cybersecurity has always lagged behind technological advancement.

Mehmet Dursun İnce offers the following advice to young people seeking a career in cybersecurity:

• English: He stresses that English is the most essential and non-negotiable requirement in this field and urges young people to set serious goals in mastering it.
• Fundamental Knowledge: He explains that cybersecurity is not a destination but a journey, and therefore it is crucial to first learn Linux and at least one programming language.
• Continuous Improvement: He advocates the philosophy of "improving yourself by 1% every day," stating that this approach yields incredible results over time and that the discipline of lifelong learning is critical to success in this field.