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A Hacker’s Mind: How the Powerful Bend Society’s Rules, and How to Bend Them Back (2023) by Bruce Schneier
Bottom Line:
Hall of Fame Candidate; I recommend this nonfiction book for the Cybersecurity Canon Hall of Fame.
Review:
When we think of a hacker, we think of a person wearing a black hoodie with a skull logo on the front. That is because we associate hacking with criminals and technology. However, that is not always the case, according to Bruce Schneier. In his latest book, “A Hacker’s Mind: How the Powerful Bend Society’s Rules, and How to Bend Them Back,” the author, a seasoned security professional, defies this common notion. Schneier explains that hacking does not have to be associated only with technology and criminals. He explains that whenever we bend rules or find loopholes in the system, we are hacking the system…
Nearly 10 Years After Data and Goliath, Bruce Schneier Says: Privacy’s Still Screwed
“In 50 years, I think we'll view these business practices like we view sweatshops today”
It has been nearly a decade since famed cryptographer and privacy expert Bruce Schneier released the book Data and Goliath: The Hidden Battles to Collect Your Data and Control Your World—an examination of how government agencies and tech giants exploit personal data. Today, his predictions feel eerily accurate.
At stake, he argued then, was a possibly irreversible loss of privacy, and the archiving of everything. As he wrote, science fiction author Charlie Stross described the situation as the “end of prehistory,” in that every facet of our lives would be on a computer somewhere and available to anyone who knew how to find them…
Video: The Social Responsibility of the Technologist
Watch the Video on YouTube.com
Technologists have a responsibility to be aware of the impact of their activities. This discussion with Bruce Schneier considers artificial intelligence and democracy, cybersecurity, modern warfare, government data leaks and the internet of things, along with Bruce’s belief that a hacker’s mindset will help people better understand their lives and the world today.
“Have a Good Bullshit Detector,” Advises Computer Security Expert Bruce Schneier
Cyberspace seems more insecure than it has for a long time. In an interview, security guru Bruce Schneier proposes a radical solution: Top-tier managers should have to go to prison if they fail to protect their company networks against hacker attacks.
Summary
- Bruce Schneier, security expert, says improved defense measures against cyberattacks are urgently needed.
- Quantum computers do not pose a fundamental threat to cryptosecurity, Schneier says, but cryptographic agility will be important.
- The main problems in the field of cybersecurity are economic and regulatory, he says, rather than technological shortcomings.
Cybersecurity is facing a tough challenge. Hospitals, schools and companies are constantly falling victim to ransomware attacks. Criminals are draining life savings from unsuspecting citizens through “pig-butchering” attacks. Even American government systems do not seem immune to hackers—Chinese attackers recently penetrated the largest telecommunications networks in the U.S. and …
Researchers Find Some Worry, Some Hope for AI in Democracy
Experts say intense focus on artificial intelligence as a misinformation tool can miss the mark
When it comes to the 2024 election season, the democratic sky didn’t fall because of artificial intelligence, Harvard researchers say, with candidates using the technology to reach voters in helpful new ways. But, they warn, it is still worth keeping a wary eye on some of AI’s most insidious possible applications.
New Englanders may recall the use of artificial intelligence to mimic President Joe Biden’s voice to dissuade voters from participating in the New Hampshire Democratic primary. More than a dozen states, including Massachusetts, have adopted or …
Audio: Does AI Interfere in Our Democracy?
Listen to the Audio on CommonWealthBeacon.com
This week on the Codcast, CommonWealth Beacon’s Jennifer Smith is joined by Bruce Schneier, fellow and lecturer in public policy at the Harvard Kennedy School, and Nathan Sanders, fellow at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society. They discuss how AI has the power to strengthen civic engagement in elections and policymaking, the importance of transparency it its use, and how it can be developed to prioritize democratic values.
Audio: Firewalls Don’t Stop Dragons Episode 100 Special
Listen to the Audio on FirewallsDontStopDragons.com
The first episode of Firewalls Don’t Stop Dragons Podcast aired on March 8, 2017 – almost 8 years ago now. Over that time, I’ve interviewed over 135 unique and amazing people, covered countless cybersecurity and privacy stories, and offered 100s of tips for protecting your devices and data. To celebrate this momentous occasion, world-renowned cryptography guru Bruce Schneier has returned to for our traditional Podcentennial interview! We discuss several timely topics including the Crowdstrike incident, the pager bombing and supply attacks more generally, US election security, the open market for cyber vulnerabilities, US intelligence agencies’ focus on offense versus defense, how AI might actually benefit democracy and much more!…
Video: Supply Chain Security. Recent Attacks Highlight Risks.
Listen to the Audio on YouTube.com
Bruce Schneier, an internationally renowned security technologist, is the New York Times best-selling author of A Hacker’s Mind. In this episode, he joins host Paul John Spaulding to discuss an opinion piece he authored, which was recently published in the New York Times, called “Israel’s Pager Attacks Have Changed the World.” Together, they unpack how international supply chains leave us vulnerable, how geopolitical tensions can lead to increased risk, and more. Read the full story at https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/22/opinion/israel-pager-attacks-supply-chain.html…
Bruce Schneier on AI Security (Interview)
In this interview, Bruce Schneier reflects on the security challenges of artificial intelligence.
View or Download in PDF Format
Bruce Schneier is without question one of the leading computer security professionals alive today. A true renaissance man when it comes to cybersecurity, he has been involved in the creation of a host of cryptographic algorithms (most notably, Blowfish and Twofish) and has written more than a dozen books, including Data and Goliath: The Hidden Battles to Collect Your Data and Control Your World and Click Here to Kill Everybody: Security and Survival in a Hyper-Connected World. Schneier is a lecturer in public policy at the Harvard Kennedy School, a fellow at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society, and a board member of the Electronic Frontier Foundation and AccessNow. This interview resulted from our e-mail exchanges during June and July 2024…
Audio: Technology Regulation is Outdated with Bruce Schneier
Listen to the Audio on EasyPrey.com
Today’s guest is Bruce Schneier. Bruce is an internationally renowned security technologist called The Security Guru by The Economist. He is the author of over a dozen books including his latest, A Hacker’s Mind. He has testified before Congress, is a frequent guest on television and radio, has served on several government committees, and is regularly quoted in the press. He is a fellow at the Berkman-Klein Center for Internet and Society at Harvard University, a lecturer in Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School, a board member of the Electronic Frontier Foundation and AccessNow, and an advisory board member of EPIC and VerifiedVoting.org…
Sidebar photo of Bruce Schneier by Joe MacInnis.