August 23, 2019

DEF CON 27 Hacker Convention 2019 – Insights from Cybersecurity Expert Shane Morris

Posted on August 23, 2019April 18, 2024 by Staff Writer

From August 8^th through the 11^th this year, over 30,000 “hackers” converged in Las Vegas for DEF CON 27. Founded in 1993 as a grassroots convention, DEF CON 27 has become an integral part of the hacker community scene. In fact, it has achieved increasing notoriety as cybersecurity threats have gained national and international attention. This year, NSA Director General Keith Alexander was even in attendance trying to recruit hackers for federal assistance. Certainly, the relationship between hackers and the government have come a long way in the last two decades.

From this perspective, DEF CON 27 has attained a higher level of respect from those in the cybersecurity arena. Among those include Shane Morris, a veteran consultant in cybersecurity who headed information services at DEF CON 27. This position might sound rather routine, but it is far from it. Morris not only organized and recruited others to help provide information to DEF CON 27 attendees, but he also provided detailed information to a very sophisticated group of participants. Because of this, and his tremendous background in cybersecurity, Bold Business asked Morris to share some of his insights.

DEF CON 27 was a A huge success with more than 30 thousand people in attendance.

Bold Business Interview with Cybersecurity Expert Shane Morris

Bold Business: What is bold about DEF CON 27 and what has DEF CON achieved since its inception?

Morris: The bold thing about DEF CON 27 is to spread the idea of security awareness and information sharing. Since DEF CON’s inception back in 1993, the idea has been to bring like-minded individuals into the Nevada desert to share information. Yes, it may be viewed as a “hacker” conference, but the goal is and continues to be the sharing of information. One person may discover a flaw in some piece of technology, and another will be able to provide the information on how to resolve the flaw.

Bold Business: Which events at DEF CON 27 did you want highlighted? Which ones were top-billed?

Morris: I think the Skytalks were worth attending. They were given by security researchers, and these talks were not allowed to be recorded. If you missed one of the talks, there was no way to obtain the information. The Voting, Car Hacking, and Lockpick Villages were also worth visiting. I did manage to make it to the aviation and car hacking villages. Both are very interesting and can be scary when you learn how easy it is to take over the computer in cars and airplanes.

There were around 30K people in attendance this year. With the event spread across four hotels, it made it hard to see and attend all of the activities being offered. Also with the event being spread out, it is harder to see friends/colleagues. Overall I think the event went really well. As a department head, I didn’t get to attend many/if any talks. I tend to watch all the talks later when they are released on video.

The goal of DEF CON 27 is to share information.

Bold Business: How has DEF CON contributed to the development of the cybersecurity industry?

Morris: I think DEF CON started something great by trying to make the community aware of the security issues and how to mitigate them. It is not all about a person saying, “This is how I broke into this one computer.” It is about the same person saying, “This is how I broke into this computer, and this is how you can prevent it from happening to you or your company.” It is really about making the community aware of the issues and how they can be resolved. It is about all of us working together to make things better.

Bold Business: Help us understand a little bit more about the role that you played at DEF CON.

Morris: I was the department head for the information booth (IB) and information services. As the lead, my volunteer job was to recruit people to work the information booths and provide information to the attendees. With the exception of DEF CON 27 leadership, all of the people who worked at the conference were volunteers.

Bold Business: Tell us more about yourself. Which companies, institutions, and groups have you been a part of and at what capacity?

Morris: With a Master’s degree in Computer Science Computer Systems Security, I have been involved in numerous projects. I’ve been a cybersecurity consultant for over ten years. And I’ve been involved in computer security for two decades. Prior to being a consultant, I was a Security Lead in a utility organization. Likewise, I have worked in various industries including retail, government, commercial, financial, health care, and service provider. Also, I have taught classes on vulnerability assessments for the National Security Agency (NSA). And along the way, I have attained numerous certifications and affiliations related to information systems security. Indeed, I have seen so much in such a short time regarding cybersecurity and evolving security threats.

Bold Business: What are the biggest challenges related to cybersecurity that industries are facing today?

Morris: Overall, systems processing, transmission, and/or storage of critical data have changed greatly. Critical data is now in numerous places, such as smartphones, tablets, laptop computers, and the cloud. This presents additional challenges on how to protect the critical data when it may be located in several locations on several different devices. For example, China’s Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) groups pose serious threats to cloud infrastructures. Once these APT groups gain access into the cloud provider’s network, they are able to access all of the companies using the cloud provider’s services. This has led to several companies losing critical data. Finally, another challenge is the Internet of Things (IoT). IoT devices such as coffee pots, thermostats, doorbells, smart locks, and others have little to no built-in security. This presents an additional threat landscape if used in the corporate environment.

Bold Business: How has cybersecurity evolved in recent years?

Morris: Cybersecurity has evolved in recent years by shifting from a defined perimeter security boundary to a constantly changing security boundary. Having critical data being processed, transmitted, and/or stored by mobile devices and the cloud has demanded this evolution. The goal of cybersecurity to protect the company’s critical data has not changed. But the manner in which this now accomplished has changed a great deal. At DEF CON, security awareness and privacy protections continued to be the hot topics. But the growth in collaborations trying to achieve these goals is evidenced by the variety of people who attended DEF CON.

Bold Business: What do you see happening in the cybersecurity space and DEF CON over the next five to ten years?

Morris: The goal for cybersecurity will still be the same over the next five to ten years. But I think the threat landscape will continue to change requiring cybersecurity to evolve with it. I see DEF CON continuing to grow and continue with its cybersecurity and threat awareness message. This year was the inaugural year of DEF CON in China. This is a great example of how DEF CON will continue to expand and broaden its impacts.

Bold Business: What message would you want to share to the readers of Bold Business?

Morris: Cybersecurity is not all about checking the box to pass an audit. Cybersecurity identifies a company’s critical data and ensures the proper controls and protections of that data are in place. Likewise, cybersecurity is a business enabler so that business can be conducted in a safe and secure manner. That will require cybersecurity professionals to be solution seekers and part of a business’ critical thinking team. And it will require enhancing skills in communication so that all audiences, and not just cybersecurity “geeks”, pay attention. In short, everyone needs to understand the threats and participate in cybersecurity solutions in order for companies to truly excel.

Collaborative Initiatives Already in Place at DEF CON 27

As Morris pointed out, there is an increasing need for collaboration when it comes to cybersecurity threats. Going along with this concept, assessments by independent auditors is one way to advance this type of thinking. At DEF CON 27 this year, for example, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) asked hackers to help. They introduced their own open-source services hardware platform and allowed DEF CON 27 attendees opportunities to identify flaws and issues. This is a perfect example of how independent assessments by cybersecurity auditors can enhance a business’ position against threats.

Attendees at DEF CON 27 are among those who may be ideal at fulfilling these types of auditing services. For example, Morris is part of Bold’s Intelligence Threat Service helping companies mitigate cybersecurity risks and protect critical data. As he noted, cybersecurity threats will continue to evolve and change. And businesses will need to adapt along with these threats in order to survive. Employing qualified cybersecurity professionals to perform independent auditor assessments is a great way to achieve this. When it comes to hackers, the best way to beat them may be to have one join you.

Bold Leader Spotlight: Andrew Carnegie – From Steel Magnate to Peace Arbitrator

Posted on August 23, 2019April 18, 2024 by Imelda Rabang

In 1914, Andrew Carnegie called upon his peers to fulfill their duties to use their wealth towards benevolent and philanthropic purposes. He urged the powerful men of his time to shun a life of ostentatious display and to provide for the legitimate needs of those who depended on them. At the time, the steel magnate was doing everything in his power to stop a war from occurring. The world will later know how the failed attempts to avert the war, left the philanthropist heartbroken. Carnegie also had high hopes, and he was prepared to give up all his wealth. But the efforts to prevent the “foulest blot upon our civilization” from ravaging humanity failed.

From a penniless Scotsman to a steel magnate to a peace arbitrator, Carnegie’s life story is a tale worth telling. Bold Business shines the Bold Leader Spotlight on Andrew Carnegie – The Patron Saint of Libraries, the Star-spangled Scotsman and the proponent of the Gospel of Wealth.

Would the principle of Andrew Carnegie still apply to modern society?

The Humble Beginnings of Andrew Carnegie

Andrew Carnegie was born in 1835 to parents Will and Margaret. Will Carnegie is a skilled weaver, and the Carnegies were one of the working-class families in Dunfermline, Scotland. The industrial revolution of the 19th century left hundreds of manual loom-weavers unemployed. The introduction of steam-powered looms in Scotland left a lot of families displaced. They immigrated to the US in search of opportunities. In 1848, the Carnegies moved to the US and settled in the bustling industrial city of Pittsburgh.

Andrew began working at 13 years old. He started as a bobbin boy changing spools in a cotton factory. In the succeeding years, he moved from various jobs – from messenger boy to telegraph operator to secretary. Along the way, Andrew also met mentors who helped him learn the ropes of the trade, such as management, cost control, trading, and shares. One of his mentors, Thomas A. Scott of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, helped the young entrepreneur with his first investments in the railroad business. Slowly, he began building his wealth.

The Rise of a Steel Magnate

After the Civil War of 1865, Carnegie began investing in ironworks trade and eventually forming the Keystone Bridge Works and the Union Ironworks. He opened and acquired more companies along the way, further building his wealth. In 1875, Carnegie opened his first steel company in Braddock, Pennsylvania. He called the company Edgar Thomson Works – named after one of his mentors. He also invested in a coal-based fuel company owned by Henry Frick. By 1883, Carnegie acquired Homestead Works Steel Works which will become the final piece to complete the Carnegie Steel Company. Eventually, Carnegie sold the Carnegie Steel to JP Morgan Chase in 1901 for $480 million, making the steel magnate the richest man on earth.

Living According to the Gospel of Wealth

With the publication of the Gospel of Wealth in 1889, Carnegie contends that men of wealth have the moral obligation to redistribute surplus wealth back to the community. In this essay, Carnegie offers specific steps on how the wealthy can bestow charity. The Gospel of Wealth asserts, “In bestowing charity, the main consideration should be to help those who will help themselves; to provide part of the means by which those who desire to improve may do so.” Consequently, Carnegie created a path of philanthropy that many others will later follow.

With the establishment of the Carnegie Institution in 1902, Carnegie was able to provide funds for research for American colleges and universities. The steel magnate also began donating funds to various causes such as the teachers’ pension fund, movements for international peace and justice. He sent aids to health organizations and scientific research funding across the globe. He also earned the nickname “Patron Saint of Libraries for founding a total of 2,509 libraries all over the world in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. By 1911, Carnegie has already given away 90% of his wealth.

While the western world was at the brink of war, Carnegie has been funding peace conferences and donating funds to create peace treaties. In 1913, he built the Palace of Peace in Hague which houses the Church Peace Union to avert the war.

There is no honor in dying rich.

The Bold Leadership of Andrew Carnegie

A Bold Leader recognizes that he cannot do it alone.

Carnegie believed that men who build great fortunes had to rely on the community and workers to execute their goals. For this reason, he was an advocate of workers’ right to organize into unions. In 1886, he published an essay in Forum Magazine defending unions. He was also the publisher of Triumphant Democracy, a periodical that celebrated democracy and capitalism.

A Bold Leader empowers and helps those who help themselves.

Carnegie did not believe in handouts. He frowned at the indiscriminate charity. For the philanthropist, it would be better if “the millions of the rich were thrown in to the sea than so spent as to encourage the slothful, the drunken, the unworthy.” With Carnegie’s Charitable Institutions, recipient communities were obligated to contribute to the cause to encourage a continuing interest in the project.

A Bold Leader with a mission to give others a chance in life.

Carnegie was born in an era of hyper economic growth. As a man of vision and ambition, he took this as an opportunity to grow his wealth. However, he was also aware that the more he accumulates, the greater his responsibility to give away. After the sale of Carnegie Steel in 1901, he stated, “I must follow my beliefs and begin the hard task of giving my money away for the good of all.”

Carnegie’s Gift of Philanthropy

The life of Andrew Carnegie is depicted in two prevailing themes. These are the accumulation of wealth and its redistribution back to the community. Because of intelligence, abilities, and charisma, Carnegie was able to build an immense fortune. But the resolve and determination to give back is Carnegie’s greatest gift to humanity.

Carnegie deftly fulfilled his mission to give away his wealth to improve the lives of others. He established numerous organizations, trust funds, and libraries. When the steel magnate turned peace advocate passed away on August 1919, he had given away a total of $356 million. Without a doubt, Carnegie gave so much back to the community. By setting an example, Carnegie was able to pave a path of philanthropy.

The Gospel of Wealth and Rebirth of Philanthropy in the Digital Age

Posted on August 23, 2019April 18, 2024 by Imelda Rabang

“The man who dies thus rich dies disgraced.” So said Andrew Carnegie, in his provocative essay titled “Wealth” or more commonly known as the “Gospel of Wealth.” At the time of its publication, industrialization was in its heyday, driving rapid economic growth. While such growth was “essential for the progress of the race,” it unequivocally widened the wealth gap between the rich and the poor. Through the Gospel of Wealth, Carnegie entreated the wealthy “Robber Barons” of his time to address this imbalance through philanthropy.

Today, a new wave of industrialization sweeps across the globe. Once again, there is a renewal of significance of the Gospel of Wealth. With the rising wealth inequality and growing social ills, a question resonates: How are the billionaires and the ultra-rich entrepreneurs of the modern-day Gilded Age responding to the call of giving while living?

Money is not the only reason why wealthy people should be thankful.

Contemporaries Who Heeded the Call: The Philanthropist of the Gilded Age

The Gospel of Wealth postulates that the biggest problem of the time is the proper management of wealth. Carnegie abhorred indiscriminate charity and believed that handouts would do more harm than good, both for the people and society. In the essay, Carnegie proposed for the men of wealth to become overseers in the distribution of surplus wealth. He further implored the “possessors of wealth” to be administrators by supporting worthy social causes.

Oil titan John D. Rockefeller was one of the first to heed the call. Inspired by Carnegie’s example, Rockefeller gave away a total of $500 million in support of various educational, religious, as well as scientific causes. Later on, industrialist Henry Ford followed with philanthropic works towards health care and historic preservation. He also built foundations meant to assist farmers and support peacekeeping. On the other hand, Russell Sage’s widow, Margaret Olivia, used her inheritance to champion women’s rights and promote female higher education.

The Gospel of Wealth and Philanthropy in the Era of Digital Revolution

The Gospel of Wealth has undoubtedly paved the way for a tradition of philanthropy. Entrepreneurs in the generations to come will follow this path. From Andrew Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller, Henry Ford, and Margaret Olivia Sage – the list of benefactors continues to grow.

1. Bill and Melinda Gates were named as the most generous givers in the U.S. The couple has donated a total of $36 Billion through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Focusing on global health, access to education, and alleviating poverty, the couple has been actively partnering with various foundations.
2. Warren Buffet, chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, has donated a total of $46 billion since the year 2000. Recently, he announced to donate $3.6 Billion in Berkshire Hathaway shares to five foundations. The prudent billionaire has been supportive of causes that promote education, children, health and economic development, and community services.
3. Michael Bloomberg has already given away $8.2 Billion, including his most recent donation to Johns Hopkins for $1.8 Billion. Bloomberg is the sixth richest person in the United States and ninth richest person in the whole world with a net worth of $62.1 Billion. Bloomberg made a vow through The Giving Pledge to “nearly all of my net worth will be given away in the years ahead or left to my foundation.”
4. Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan built the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, which focuses on personalized learning, curing diseases, connecting people, and building strong communities. The couple also pledged to give 99% of their Facebook shares in their lifetime to advance these causes.
5. Marc Benioff is one of the most generous entrepreneurs in the US. He founded Salesforce.com Foundation, which integrates philanthropy with corporate strategy. The billionaire’s most recent donation of $30 million will be used to help end San Francisco’s homelessness problems.

George Soros is the founder and chairman of Open Society Foundations – an organization that dedicates itself to promoting tolerance, transparency, and open debate. OSF has a presence in 120 countries and supports various causes. Some of these causes include upholding democratic rights, children’s education, equality, and human rights. To date, Soros has already donated over $32 Billion to the OSF.
The Walton Family, who owns about 51% of the retail chain Walmart, are generous givers. Through the Walton Family Foundation, the descendants of the founders have been creating opportunities to various communities. The family-led foundation also invests heavily in education and preserving the environment.
Pierre Omidyar, while keeping it low-key with his philanthropic efforts, has spawned several non-profit organizations. One of them is The Omidyar Network, a foundation working on issues around digital identity, education, responsible technology, and worker empowerment. On top of this foundation, Omidyar has spawned other organizations such as Democracy Fund, HopeLab, and Humanity United.
Charles Koch, founder and, chairman of Koch Industries, has given more than $1 Billion to various philanthropic causes. With a focus on education and alleviating poverty, the billionaire funded the Charles Koch Foundation. The main goal of the foundation is to create opportunities through education and also help individuals to transform their lives and improve society.
Chuck Feeney is the “billionaire who gave it all away”. And all of the $8 Billion – he gave all away through his foundation The Atlantic Philanthropies. Growing up in a modest background, Feeney admits that Carnegie’s Gospel of Wealth inspired him. The philanthropist once stated, “It’s a lot more fun to give while you’re alive than to give while you’re dead.”

The Inspiration of Generations

Carnegie was a wealthy man at the age of 33. But the pull from the realization that there is more to life than material triumph was also strong. The wave of awareness moved Carnegie to devote his time as well as resources to causes that benefit the community. His example inspired others to also make a difference. Clearly, the Gospel of Wealth significance rests on the fact that Carnegie inspired generations of men and women to follow the same path boldly.

Something Fishy Infographic

Posted on August 23, 2019February 5, 2024 by Staff Writer