Posted
07.17.2014

* There’s lots more to the HOPE X hacker fest than just Ellsberg & Snowden

I’m a great admirer of Daniel Ellsberg and the Freedom of the Press Foundation, which he co-founded in 2012. And I have enormous respect for Edward Snowden and the personal sacrifices he has made to bring the truth to the public.

Like everyone, I’m also anxious to hear from them both this Saturday, July 19, when they speak at HOPE X. Ellsberg’s keynote address is at 1 pm EDT. His conversation with Snowden (who will presumably speak live from Russia) follows immediately at 2 pm. Keynotes and other events will be broadcast online via what the organizer, 2600, calls Radio Statler.

But there’s a lot more going on at HOPE X that interests me and which I’ll report on here over the weekend (July 18-20) – and in more depth in coming days.

Here are a few agenda items that stirred my interest (there were too many to list them all here):


Do-it-yourself privacy & security
How the strategy of obfuscation can foil surveillance by misleading or confusing your adversary.


HTTP must Die
How the insecurity of data moving across the web can open the individual to malware or government spying.


Dark Mail

Dark mail

A collaborative effort under way to provide end-to-end secure encryption of e-mail.


I Am the Cavalry

stethoscope

A grassroots effort to ensure the computer security of devices that affect public safety, such as medical devices, cars, home electronics, and public infrastructure.


When You are the Adversary
The information security needs of the 99 percent: The average person, not just whistleblowers, activists, and journalists.


Hacking Money

The history of the technology of money. How to hack on the architecture of trust, verification, value, and credit that we depend on.

The history of the technology of money. How to hack on the architecture of trust, verification, value, and credit that we depend on.


How Poisons Hack the Body

DNA image

How does a tiny amount of poison kill? What happens when the body’s cellular network is disrupted.


Social Engineering

HOPE X  rotary dial

Stories of the magic of social engineering. The panel will demonstrate their technique live over the phone while the audience watches. Plus advice for anyone engaging in social engineering on how to push forward in spite of obstacles and setbacks.

Be sure to read about why I’m going to HOPE X and DEFCONThen check back here again for my take on HOPE X events and detailed analysis afterward.

–Jeff Fox

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