Hacker and author of "Google Hacking for Penetration Testers" Johnny Long entertained ITWeb Security Summit 2008 delegates with Hollywood's most "leet" (elite) hacks, while raising awareness for his charity campaign.
One of Long's objectives in speaking at the summit is to promote a humanitarian effort called Hackers for Charity, aimed at providing technology learning centres for impoverished children. His presentation inspired delegates to support a worthwhile initiative.
In conjunction with Telspace systems, Long handed out T-shirts that would be counted by an official for a donation to the charity organisation.
"Even in the world's most remote areas, computer skills (especially word processing) provide an extremely viable source of sustainable income. By providing relevant, marketable skills training, students are empowered, providing them with a bright future in which they can support themselves and their families, without the need for charitable hand-outs," said Long.
Another aspect to the charity is to engage volunteer hackers and use their skills in short projects to help charities that cannot afford technical assistance from larger organisations. The idea, he noted, is to build the credibility of hacker skills and to advance the technical abilities of the charities supported.
Hollywood hacks
Long took delegates on a ride through Hollywood's most ridiculous ideas of what security technology, or the hacking community, is about.
From films like Hackers, made in 1995, to screen super hits such as Swordfish, Long discussed the possibilities - or impossibilities - of what movie producers perceive as security technology. Using the most interesting and sometimes farfetched examples, the hacker urged delegates to decide whether the screen-scripted security breeches were good or bad.
Long works for the penetration testing team at Computer Sciences Corporation, known as the Strike Force. However, according to an earlier interview, he has his sights set on a job consulting to movie studios.
"Hollywood gets quite a bit wrong, and that's frustrating, especially to those in the know," he said.
"Insiders know that truth is much cooler than fiction, but Hollywood thinks it needs to be 'dumbed down' or spiced up to be cool. Modern movies are getting better, but there's a lot of room for improvement. Hollywood should hire technology consultants that have credibility, and pay them lots of money."
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