you [Music]
hackers I’m pretty sure that everyone
hackers I’m pretty sure that everyone here has heard something about hackers
mostly bad but I want you to forget
mostly bad but I want you to forget everything that you thought you knew
everything that you thought you knew
everything that you thought you knew about them forget everything that you
about them forget everything that you
about them forget everything that you heard in the media about them because
heard in the media about them because
heard in the media about them because we’re going to go on a little journey
we’re going to go on a little journey
we’re going to go on a little journey together protecting this country from
together protecting this country from
together protecting this country from unwanted foreign influence was an
unwanted foreign influence was an
unwanted foreign influence was an original intent of the framers of the US
original intent of the framers of the US
original intent of the framers of the US Constitution
Constitution
Constitution in fact in 1788 Alexander Hamilton
in fact in 1788 Alexander Hamilton
in fact in 1788 Alexander Hamilton acknowledged that protecting America had
acknowledged that protecting America had
acknowledged that protecting America had you know had this blade this big ocean
you know had this blade this big ocean
you know had this blade this big ocean and that there was this this this was a
and that there was this this this was a
and that there was this this this was a huge element of our security and that
huge element of our security and that
huge element of our security and that this was of utmost importance however at
this was of utmost importance however at
this was of utmost importance however at the same time he acknowledged that one
the same time he acknowledged that one
the same time he acknowledged that one day with the advancements of technology
day with the advancements of technology
day with the advancements of technology distant nations would become next-door
distant nations would become next-door
distant nations would become next-door neighbors and in no time or place is
neighbors and in no time or place is
neighbors and in no time or place is this more relevant is his wisdom more
this more relevant is his wisdom more
this more relevant is his wisdom more relevant than in the information age of
relevant than in the information age of
relevant than in the information age of today and to no population does it
today and to no population does it
today and to no population does it impact more than hackers and those
impact more than hackers and those
impact more than hackers and those impacted by hackers now you may be
impacted by hackers now you may be
impacted by hackers now you may be wondering what hackers have to do with
wondering what hackers have to do with
wondering what hackers have to do with revolutionary thinkers and the media has
revolutionary thinkers and the media has
revolutionary thinkers and the media has overwhelmed us with imagery and stories
overwhelmed us with imagery and stories
overwhelmed us with imagery and stories about cyber breaches and the black hat
about cyber breaches and the black hat
about cyber breaches and the black hat hackers behind them and this has caused
hackers behind them and this has caused
hackers behind them and this has caused us to construct mental models filled
us to construct mental models filled
us to construct mental models filled with heavy elements of criminal
with heavy elements of criminal
with heavy elements of criminal symbolism but I am here to tell you that
symbolism but I am here to tell you that
symbolism but I am here to tell you that hackers are much more than hat colors
hackers are much more than hat colors
hackers are much more than hat colors and criminals Society is incredibly
and criminals Society is incredibly
and criminals Society is incredibly confused by hackers in fact most of the
confused by hackers in fact most of the
confused by hackers in fact most of the imagery that we see of them
imagery that we see of them
imagery that we see of them includes a dark figure shrouded in a
includes a dark figure shrouded in a
includes a dark figure shrouded in a hoodie and anti-social like mr. robot
hoodie and anti-social like mr. robot
hoodie and anti-social like mr. robot kind of like this person right here and
kind of like this person right here and
kind of like this person right here and to make matters worse if you were to
to make matters worse if you were to
to make matters worse if you were to look up the definition for the word you
look up the definition for the word you
look up the definition for the word you would find strong elements of conflict
would find strong elements of conflict
would find strong elements of conflict on the one hand a hacker someone who’s
on the one hand a hacker someone who’s
on the one hand a hacker someone who’s unskilled and hacks things together on
unskilled and hacks things together on
unskilled and hacks things together on the other hand there’s someone that
the other hand there’s someone that
the other hand there’s someone that leverages their technological prowess
leverages their technological prowess
leverages their technological prowess for illegal gain with both definitions
for illegal gain with both definitions
for illegal gain with both definitions rooted in fear recently someone asked me
rooted in fear recently someone asked me
rooted in fear recently someone asked me what I did for a living and I responded
what I did for a living and I responded
what I did for a living and I responded by saying I’m a professor and a
by saying I’m a professor and a
by saying I’m a professor and a consultant and an ethical hacker this
consultant and an ethical hacker this
consultant and an ethical hacker this person looked at me with a very confused
person looked at me with a very confused
person looked at me with a very confused look and they said wait a minute
look and they said wait a minute
look and they said wait a minute how could you be a professor what
how could you be a professor what
how could you be a professor what company would pay you to do illegal
company would pay you to do illegal
company would pay you to do illegal stuff in what university in the right
stuff in what university in the right
stuff in what university in the right mind would allow you to teach students
mind would allow you to teach students
mind would allow you to teach students how to do illegal things this
how to do illegal things this
how to do illegal things this conversation went on for quite some time
conversation went on for quite some time
conversation went on for quite some time and this person just could not fathom
and this person just could not fathom
and this person just could not fathom that there were good hackers and that
that there were good hackers and that
that there were good hackers and that they would have anything worth sharing
they would have anything worth sharing
they would have anything worth sharing or teaching to others but my friends I
or teaching to others but my friends I
or teaching to others but my friends I want to share with you that hackers are
want to share with you that hackers are
want to share with you that hackers are much more important than you may have
much more important than you may have
much more important than you may have previously thought there are tons of
previously thought there are tons of
previously thought there are tons of problems in our world with regard to
problems in our world with regard to
problems in our world with regard to that require innovation and
that require innovation and
that require innovation and experimentation and this is where
experimentation and this is where
experimentation and this is where hackers excel this is precisely why I
hackers excel this is precisely why I
hackers excel this is precisely why I research hackers and how they think now
research hackers and how they think now
research hackers and how they think now that’s not the entire story I wrote my
that’s not the entire story I wrote my
that’s not the entire story I wrote my first line of code at 10 years old and
first line of code at 10 years old and
first line of code at 10 years old and I’d hacked into my first major
I’d hacked into my first major
I’d hacked into my first major corporation by my 13th birthday
I had a lot of fun but I was an
I had a lot of fun but I was an inquisitive child asked lots of
inquisitive child asked lots of
inquisitive child asked lots of questions usually there were questions
questions usually there were questions
questions usually there were questions that the adults were not ready to answer
that the adults were not ready to answer
that the adults were not ready to answer but that never stopped me from pursuing
but that never stopped me from pursuing
but that never stopped me from pursuing what I thought were the solutions to the
what I thought were the solutions to the
what I thought were the solutions to the problems that interests me we had a lot
problems that interests me we had a lot
problems that interests me we had a lot of books around the house and I
of books around the house and I
of books around the house and I specifically remember reading the basic
specifically remember reading the basic
specifically remember reading the basic physics of radiation therapy in the
physics of radiation therapy in the
physics of radiation therapy in the fourth grade I was really geeky okay
fourth grade I was really geeky okay
fourth grade I was really geeky okay don’t judge me but my willingness and
don’t judge me but my willingness and
don’t judge me but my willingness and interest in asking so many questions
interest in asking so many questions
interest in asking so many questions even when people were not ready to
even when people were not ready to
even when people were not ready to answer them or or maybe didn’t know the
answer them or or maybe didn’t know the
answer them or or maybe didn’t know the answers
answers
answers coupled with the natural proclivity for
coupled with the natural proclivity for
coupled with the natural proclivity for technology led me through various levels
technology led me through various levels
technology led me through various levels of education very life as a hacker with
of education very life as a hacker with
of education very life as a hacker with varying levels of ethics and eventually
varying levels of ethics and eventually
varying levels of ethics and eventually becoming a professor at a university and
becoming a professor at a university and
becoming a professor at a university and an owner of a consulting company who
an owner of a consulting company who
an owner of a consulting company who advises companies on Backer mindset now
advises companies on Backer mindset now
advises companies on Backer mindset now to conduct this research for me to
to conduct this research for me to
to conduct this research for me to explain that story I want to show you
explain that story I want to show you
explain that story I want to show you this photo this was a photo that I took
this photo this was a photo that I took
this photo this was a photo that I took driving across Europe because in order
driving across Europe because in order
driving across Europe because in order for me to conduct my research I traveled
for me to conduct my research I traveled
for me to conduct my research I traveled the world to meet some of the best
the world to meet some of the best
the world to meet some of the best hackers and my intent was to understand
hackers and my intent was to understand
hackers and my intent was to understand how they solve problems I met a few
how they solve problems I met a few
how they solve problems I met a few dozen of them that were considered elite
dozen of them that were considered elite
dozen of them that were considered elite by their peers and then I took what I
by their peers and then I took what I
by their peers and then I took what I learned from them and then I surveyed
learned from them and then I surveyed
learned from them and then I surveyed another couple hundred hackers but this
another couple hundred hackers but this
another couple hundred hackers but this journey was not without its personal
journey was not without its personal
journey was not without its personal challenges in fact my employer disproved
challenges in fact my employer disproved
challenges in fact my employer disproved disapproved of my research and I almost
disapproved of my research and I almost
disapproved of my research and I almost lost my job I acquired massive amounts
lost my job I acquired massive amounts
lost my job I acquired massive amounts of debt because I did everything out of
of debt because I did everything out of
of debt because I did everything out of my own pocket and I tore two disks in my
my own pocket and I tore two disks in my
my own pocket and I tore two disks in my back on one of the trips so whenever
back on one of the trips so whenever
back on one of the trips so whenever people ask me about my research I say I
people ask me about my research I say I
people ask me about my research I say I went as far as I could without losing a
went as far as I could without losing a
went as far as I could without losing a kidney but the challenge is that I went
kidney but the challenge is that I went
kidney but the challenge is that I went through or worth it because I learned
through or worth it because I learned
through or worth it because I learned that hackers are significant source of
that hackers are significant source of
that hackers are significant source of innovation our society is filled and
innovation our society is filled and
innovation our society is filled and it’s a changing landscape ever-evolving
it’s a changing landscape ever-evolving
it’s a changing landscape ever-evolving full of complex technologies and lots of
full of complex technologies and lots of
full of complex technologies and lots of poorly understood and challenging
poorly understood and challenging
poorly understood and challenging problems these are precisely the kinds
problems these are precisely the kinds
problems these are precisely the kinds of problems that hackers are a depth at
of problems that hackers are a depth at
of problems that hackers are a depth at solving the hacker ability is a mindset
solving the hacker ability is a mindset
solving the hacker ability is a mindset it’s a mindset that includes various
it’s a mindset that includes various
it’s a mindset that includes various cognitive skills and traits but hackers
cognitive skills and traits but hackers
cognitive skills and traits but hackers leveraging their abilities to solve
leveraging their abilities to solve
leveraging their abilities to solve these ambiguous problems are precisely
these ambiguous problems are precisely
these ambiguous problems are precisely why they are so important to
why they are so important to
why they are so important to world-changing innovation being a hacker
world-changing innovation being a hacker
world-changing innovation being a hacker is a mindset it’s about leveraging
is a mindset it’s about leveraging
is a mindset it’s about leveraging cognitive skills and traits like
cognitive skills and traits like
cognitive skills and traits like creativity and curiosity to understand
creativity and curiosity to understand
creativity and curiosity to understand ambiguity in their environment and then
ambiguity in their environment and then
ambiguity in their environment and then to leverage that understanding and what
to leverage that understanding and what
to leverage that understanding and what we call just-in-time learning
we call just-in-time learning
we call just-in-time learning to eliminate that ambiguity just-in-time
to eliminate that ambiguity just-in-time
to eliminate that ambiguity just-in-time learning requires dynamic shifts in
learning requires dynamic shifts in
learning requires dynamic shifts in thinking patterns and as you hear me
thinking patterns and as you hear me
thinking patterns and as you hear me talk about shifting and thinking
talk about shifting and thinking
talk about shifting and thinking patterns I’ll give you an example what
patterns I’ll give you an example what
patterns I’ll give you an example what that means if you’ve ever seen someone
that means if you’ve ever seen someone
that means if you’ve ever seen someone who speaks maybe 10 languages and they
who speaks maybe 10 languages and they
who speaks maybe 10 languages and they shift in between those languages almost
shift in between those languages almost
shift in between those languages almost seamlessly almost without thinking about
seamlessly almost without thinking about
seamlessly almost without thinking about it or people who have experienced
it or people who have experienced
it or people who have experienced multiple cultures and they shift in
multiple cultures and they shift in
multiple cultures and they shift in between those cultures in those
between those cultures in those
between those cultures in those countries and those boundaries almost
countries and those boundaries almost
countries and those boundaries almost without thinking about them this is what
without thinking about them this is what
without thinking about them this is what we referred to as shifting thinking
we referred to as shifting thinking
we referred to as shifting thinking patterns and the best hackers are able
patterns and the best hackers are able
patterns and the best hackers are able to shift thinking patterns across
to shift thinking patterns across
to shift thinking patterns across technologies across languages across
technologies across languages across
technologies across languages across systems across people understanding
systems across people understanding
systems across people understanding people and behaviors
now in the cybersecurity community we
now in the cybersecurity community we have a saying that it’s not a question
have a saying that it’s not a question
have a saying that it’s not a question of if hackers will get in it’s a
of if hackers will get in it’s a
of if hackers will get in it’s a question of wing that’s because to
question of wing that’s because to
question of wing that’s because to hackers there’s no such thing as failure
hackers there’s no such thing as failure
hackers there’s no such thing as failure everything is just a revision and
everything is just a revision and
everything is just a revision and hackers apply this mindset to all of
hackers apply this mindset to all of
hackers apply this mindset to all of their problems of interest this is
their problems of interest this is
their problems of interest this is precisely why hackers are changing the
precisely why hackers are changing the
precisely why hackers are changing the world around us we’re seeing the hacker
world around us we’re seeing the hacker
world around us we’re seeing the hacker movement take place in lots of places
movement take place in lots of places
movement take place in lots of places consider for a moment civic hacking
consider for a moment civic hacking
consider for a moment civic hacking biohacking life hacking and now even
biohacking life hacking and now even
biohacking life hacking and now even space exploration we’re seeing this all
space exploration we’re seeing this all
space exploration we’re seeing this all over the world where many different
over the world where many different
over the world where many different companies are leveraging the hacker
companies are leveraging the hacker
companies are leveraging the hacker mindset to challenge the status quo to
mindset to challenge the status quo to
mindset to challenge the status quo to ask the question what would happen if
ask the question what would happen if
ask the question what would happen if that really exists at the core of the
that really exists at the core of the
that really exists at the core of the hacker mindset and because of this we’re
hacker mindset and because of this we’re
hacker mindset and because of this we’re seeing many of our top advancements in
seeing many of our top advancements in
seeing many of our top advancements in society being created by hackers that’s
society being created by hackers that’s
society being created by hackers that’s exactly why we say that being a hacker
exactly why we say that being a hacker
exactly why we say that being a hacker is a mindset and not a technical skill
is a mindset and not a technical skill
is a mindset and not a technical skill Marie Curie Galileo Leonardo da Vinci
Marie Curie Galileo Leonardo da Vinci
Marie Curie Galileo Leonardo da Vinci Nikola Tesla and many more they were all
Nikola Tesla and many more they were all
Nikola Tesla and many more they were all hackers pushing the boundary having the
hackers pushing the boundary having the
hackers pushing the boundary having the audacity to push the boundaries further
audacity to push the boundaries further
audacity to push the boundaries further to challenge what we believed were the
to challenge what we believed were the
to challenge what we believed were the intersections of different levels of
intersections of different levels of
intersections of different levels of intellect and at the core of all of this
intellect and at the core of all of this
intellect and at the core of all of this is our relentless curiosity our playful
is our relentless curiosity our playful
is our relentless curiosity our playful exploration are adventurous creativity
exploration are adventurous creativity
exploration are adventurous creativity and this is what’s necessary for the
and this is what’s necessary for the
and this is what’s necessary for the innovation that we’re seeing today now I
innovation that we’re seeing today now I
innovation that we’re seeing today now I want you to take a good look at this
want you to take a good look at this
want you to take a good look at this photo take note of the address okay
photo take note of the address okay
photo take note of the address okay because we’re going to come back to it
because we’re going to come back to it
because we’re going to come back to it but many of the world’s most successful
but many of the world’s most successful
but many of the world’s most successful companies are leveraging the hacker
companies are leveraging the hacker
companies are leveraging the hacker mindset for that success Tesla Facebook
mindset for that success Tesla Facebook
mindset for that success Tesla Facebook Twitter square the list goes on and on
that’s why the world’s most successful
that’s why the world’s most successful companies are being run by hackers in
companies are being run by hackers in
companies are being run by hackers in fact when Facebook went public
fact when Facebook went public
fact when Facebook went public Mark Zuckerberg wrote a letter to the
Mark Zuckerberg wrote a letter to the
Mark Zuckerberg wrote a letter to the shareholders thanking them for their
shareholders thanking them for their
shareholders thanking them for their support but telling them we will not run
support but telling them we will not run
support but telling them we will not run this company like a traditional company
this company like a traditional company
this company like a traditional company we are going to run it using the hacker
we are going to run it using the hacker
we are going to run it using the hacker way and if you remember where the
way and if you remember where the
way and if you remember where the headquarters are on one hacker way now I
headquarters are on one hacker way now I
headquarters are on one hacker way now I want you to take in what we’re talking
want you to take in what we’re talking
want you to take in what we’re talking about here right I want you all to
about here right I want you all to
about here right I want you all to question what it means to be a hacker
question what it means to be a hacker
question what it means to be a hacker and I want you all to strive to have a
and I want you all to strive to have a
and I want you all to strive to have a better understanding of the hacker
better understanding of the hacker
better understanding of the hacker mindset and a better understanding of
mindset and a better understanding of
mindset and a better understanding of yourselves and the world that you exist
yourselves and the world that you exist
yourselves and the world that you exist in and identify things in your world
in and identify things in your world
in and identify things in your world worth hacking for the children who are
worth hacking for the children who are
worth hacking for the children who are asking questions that it seems that no
asking questions that it seems that no
asking questions that it seems that no one else is interested in continue to
one else is interested in continue to
one else is interested in continue to ask those questions for the parents who
ask those questions for the parents who
ask those questions for the parents who are confused by their child’s interests
are confused by their child’s interests
are confused by their child’s interests try encouraging them they may one day
try encouraging them they may one day
try encouraging them they may one day surprise you by sharing their ideas with
surprise you by sharing their ideas with
surprise you by sharing their ideas with the world and don’t be afraid to ask
the world and don’t be afraid to ask
the world and don’t be afraid to ask what would happen if I think that we
what would happen if I think that we
what would happen if I think that we should all strive to be hackers because
should all strive to be hackers because
should all strive to be hackers because hacking is an artful form of expression
hacking is an artful form of expression
hacking is an artful form of expression in fact hacking is an artful form of not
in fact hacking is an artful form of not
in fact hacking is an artful form of not problem-solving but solution finding and
problem-solving but solution finding and
problem-solving but solution finding and I encourage you all to find things in
I encourage you all to find things in
I encourage you all to find things in your world in your community to hack
your world in your community to hack
your world in your community to hack whether it be Civic hacking whether it
whether it be Civic hacking whether it
whether it be Civic hacking whether it be life hacking and if you’re unfamiliar
be life hacking and if you’re unfamiliar
be life hacking and if you’re unfamiliar with these terms look them up you may be
with these terms look them up you may be
with these terms look them up you may be surprised
I want to encourage you to leverage
I want to encourage you to leverage hacking the way that many of these
hacking the way that many of these
hacking the way that many of these companies are in the renewal of our
companies are in the renewal of our
companies are in the renewal of our world in the reinvention of our society
world in the reinvention of our society
world in the reinvention of our society the way we communicate our lives and I
the way we communicate our lives and I
the way we communicate our lives and I want you to open yourselves up and
want you to open yourselves up and
want you to open yourselves up and welcome the idea of thinking like a
welcome the idea of thinking like a
welcome the idea of thinking like a hacker my name is Tim and hacking is my
hacker my name is Tim and hacking is my
hacker my name is Tim and hacking is my art thank you so much
art thank you so much
art thank you so much [Applause]
”
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