Uploaded July 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
"Getting Into Cybersecurity" is a series where Tib3rius interviews several people about breaking into the industry. In this episode, PortSwigger's Director of Research, James Kettle talks about how he got started in security research, and how you can pivot into this rare but worthwhile role.
James' links:
Website: jameskettle.com
PortSwigger Research: portswigger.net/research
0:00 Intro
0:38 What initially drew you into Cybersecurity?
2:28 How did bug bounty experience ultimately shape your path?
3:49 How would you define the role of security researcher, and what does your day generally look like?
9:14 Has there ever been a random two minute thing you spotted that just completely ballooned into a Black Hat talk?
12:46 How do you personally handle these dead ends in your research? How do you stay motivated when something doesn't pan out?
15:46 What foundational skills or knowledge areas should people interested in security research focus on first?
18:16 For people looking to get into security research, is collaboration a good thing?
20:15 What are some common mistakes or misconceptions you see among newcomers to security research, and what advice would you give to help them avoid those pitfalls?
22:47 What advice would you give people if they’re looking for a full-time, paid position?
24:55 How do you personally stay current with latest developments? What resources would you recommend, especially to newcomers?
29:37 With the rise of AI, how do you see it influencing security research, both in terms of new vulnerabilities, but also as tools for researchers?
31:52 Outro
Edited by @JakeP726 @HackerCatProductions
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"Getting Into Cybersecurity" is a series where Tib3rius interviews several people about breaking into the industry. In this episode, PortSwigger's Director of Research, James Kettle talks about how he got started in security research, and how you can pivot into this rare but worthwhile role.
James' links:
Website: jameskettle.com
PortSwigger Research: portswigger.net/research
0:00 Intro
0:38 What initially drew you into Cybersecurity?
2:28 How did bug bounty experience ultimately shape your path?
3:49 How would you define the role of security researcher, and what does your day generally look like?
9:14 Has there ever been a random two minute thing you spotted that just completely ballooned into a Black Hat talk?
12:46 How do you personally handle these dead ends in your research? How do you stay motivated when something doesn't pan out?
15:46 What foundational skills or knowledge areas should people interested in security research focus on first?
18:16 For people looking to get into security research, is collaboration a good thing?
20:15 What are some common mistakes or misconceptions you see among newcomers to security research, and what advice would you give to help them avoid those pitfalls?
22:47 What advice would you give people if they’re looking for a full-time, paid position?
24:55 How do you personally stay current with latest developments? What resources would you recommend, especially to newcomers?
29:37 With the rise of AI, how do you see it influencing security research, both in terms of new vulnerabilities, but also as tools for researchers?
31:52 Outro
Edited by @JakeP726 @HackerCatProductions
https://x.com/hackercatprod
hackercatproductions.com
X: https://x.com/0xTib3rius
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tib3rius.bsky.social
Twitch: twitch.tv/0xTib3rius
InfoSec Exchange: https://infosec.exchange/@tib3rius
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/tib3rius
Courses: courses.tib3rius.com
Udemy: udemy.com/user/tib3rius
Discord: discord.com/invite/4qrvKMh
TikTok: tiktok.com/@0xtib3rius
Instagram: instagram.com/0xtib3rius
Threads: threads.net/@0xtib3rius
Facebook: facebook.com/0xTib3rius
