Inside the Mind of a Malware Hunter: Newman Lim's Global Cybersecurity Mission
Before the crowds gather at cybersecurity conferences, Newman Lim is already at work. For him, the field represents an adversarial game—a constant contest of creativity between defenders and those attempting to outsmart them. This dynamic first drew him into cybersecurity and continues to shape his professional life as manager of cyber security at Odam Brown, as well as his global educational initiative, Malware Village.
From Gaming to Global Defense: Lim's Cybersecurity Journey
Lim's path into the industry began at Simon Fraser University, where he developed the technical discipline that would define his career. His early roles at Electronic Arts, working in programming and game testing, helped establish the work ethic and problem-solving mindset he would later bring to cybersecurity.
His first true step into the field came at Incor Networks, where he joined the firewall team as an engineering intern and worked on the 1504 firewall module. This marked his initial experience writing code designed to protect real networks from actual adversaries. When Fortinet later acquired part of Incor Networks, Lim took pride in knowing that some of his early work might continue to live on in modern firewalls.
Today, he leads cyber security at Odam Brown, an investment firm that relies on his ability to navigate a fast-moving threat landscape. However, his impact extends far beyond his day job.
Building Malware Village: A Global Educational Community
Lim founded Malware Village to address a clear problem: newcomers to cybersecurity needed accessible, hands-on education that removed barriers and provided real experience working with malicious code. His mission is straightforward—equip learners with the skills, techniques, and understanding necessary to combat malware, while uniting them through an inclusive community that brings together newcomers, students, intermediate researchers, and seasoned experts.
The workshops delivered by Lim and his team at conferences such as Defcon, BSides, and AVAR reflect this philosophy. Participants are guided by veteran instructors who demonstrate how malware behaves, how it bypasses defenses, and how defenders can analyze it safely and effectively. To make the subject more approachable for younger audiences, Malware Village created Malmons—a series of cartoon-styled malware creatures that transform complex concepts into engaging visuals.
Expanding Beyond Physical Conferences
The community is now expanding beyond physical conferences. Lim is actively developing a Malware Village podcast and creating online coursework in partnership with respected researchers including the Russian Panda, malware jigs, and Patrick Wardell. His goal is to make high-quality malware education available globally, at scale, and without the exclusivity that often surrounds advanced cyber learning.
For Lim, the technical challenge posed by adversaries fuels his passion. He describes moments during investigations when attackers reveal unexpected creativity in how they deploy or conceal malware. These discoveries become valuable learning opportunities and reminders that defenders must continuously evolve. Lim refers to this as the cat-and-mouse aspect of cybersecurity—a dynamic that keeps the work intellectually stimulating and perpetually relevant.
Canada's cybersecurity community is expanding through hands-on education, building global learning networks, and preparing new defenders for an ever-evolving threat landscape. Through Malware Village, Newman Lim is at the forefront of this movement, creating pathways for the next generation of cybersecurity professionals to develop the practical skills needed to protect digital infrastructure worldwide.
