Telspace Systems is spearheading a charity drive at this year's ITWeb Security Summit, with all proceeds going to Johnny Long's Hackers for Charity.
"Telspace Systems has purchased t-shirts that will be handed out for the duration of the Security Summit (6 to 8 May) to delegates. For every person that wears a t-shirt, we will donate a set amount to Hackers for Charity," explains Dino Covotsos, executive member of Telspace Systems, who will be presenting at the summit.
Hackers for Charity is an initiative started by Johnny Long, author of Google Hacking, who is also a keynote speaker at the event.
"On a recent trip to Uganda with my wife, I found that by using even the most basic of my computer skills, I could literally save lives," says Long. "By repairing and installing computer networks and maintaining computers, staff at AIDS Orphans Education Trust were able to process more child sponsorship applications in a shorter amount of time."
On his return to the US, he says, he felt his work was not impacting lives as significantly. "Hackers for Charity was born as a result of that. The idea was to connect the skills of the hacker community with charitable organisations that need those skills."
Its projects focus on charities operating in developing countries, specifically those in sub-Saharan Africa that have been devastated by poverty and HIV/AIDS.
The initial project was launched last year at the Defcon hacker conference in Las Vegas, says Long.
As for bringing it to the summit, Covotsos is excited at the prospect of doing something fun, while raising money for a good cause at the same time. "As far as I am aware, it is the first time a charity drive such as this has happened locally."
Covotsos says Telspace Systems would like to sustain this type of charity drive at future Security Summits.
Hackers for Charity's accomplishments so far include:
1. Revamped the www.aoet.org Web site.
2. Moved the Web site to a new platform that allows for easier maintenance.
3. Providing the Web site with free hosting for life.
4. Designed and implemented an online child sponsorship system allowing Web visitors to view profiles for children that desperately need sponsorship.
5. Implemented a computer lab in Uganda using donated equipment and materials.
6. Used donation money to put glass in the windows, buy keyboards and mouses and implement power protection devices to protect the equipment from dangerous power fluctuations.
7. Hand-delivered thousands of pens, pencils and bags to Uganda as part of the "swag for charity" campaign.
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