At just 16 years old, Bastien Treptel hacked into a big four bank — all for the price of a pizza. Today, he’s one of Australia’s leading voices in cybersecurity, AI safety, and digital identity protection.
In this Pick My Brain episode, Bastien shares his incredible journey from teenage hacker to purpose-driven tech entrepreneur.
Unpack:
➤ How curiosity led to his infamous hacking story and arrest
➤ The dangers of social engineering and why Australians are prime targets
➤ How AI is reshaping cybercrime and human behaviour
➤ The mission behind his company Ironclad ID, protecting the vulnerable from scams
➤ The future of work, ethics, and humanity in an AI-powered world
A must-watch conversation for anyone curious (or concerned) about the digital age ahead.
Chapters
00:00 – Welcome and Meet Bastien Treptel: from hacker to entrepreneur
04:30 – The pizza that caught a hacker
07:00 – Lessons from getting arrested by the AFP
10:00 – Why kids fall into online crime
13:00 – The rise of social engineering scams
17:00 – How hackers target Australians
20:00 – AI: opportunity or existential threat?
26:00 – Quantum computing, robotics & the future of work
32:00 – What businesses must do to protect themselves
36:00 – Why cutting staff for AI is a big mistake
40:00 – How Ironclad ID protects people & companies
44:00 – The human side of technology
47:00 – Final reflections: embracing AI with awarenes
About Bastien Treptel:
Founder of Ironclad ID and co-founder of CTRL Group, Bastien now partners with law enforcement, boards, and businesses to keep Australians safe online.
About Cuppa.tv:
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