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The Pest Who Shames Companies Into Fixing Security Flaws (wired.com)
95 points by pier0 on Dec 4, 2011 | hide | past | favorite | 14 comments



No comments yet about how government agencies don't like being made to look like fools? Nothing about how the FBI seized his computer for pointing out a flaw that makes the millions spent on homeland security look like a gigantic waste?


He is less a "pest", more a "hero". This guy "fights for the user", to quote Tron.


I am so glad there are people like this who are effective at holding companies and government agencies accountable. I certainly don't have the courage.


"They’re not going to want someone who has a track record of speaking truth to power using their soapbox to point out their flaws." This guy is wise. I liked the emphasis on the their.


> Them: You can’t take these on board. They’re liquids.

> Me: No. They’re solid foods. The hummous is more of a paste than a liquid.

Minor nit: the ban is on liquids, gels and pastes. (Yes, I know it's stupid.)


Actually they only added the "paste" part fairly recently.

(I had the same argument about whether my cheese counted as a liquid.)


So basically, you don't have to be a great security researcher to create change, you need to be great at PR. The hacker in the shadows finding vulns for fun and getting companies to make patches is still the unsung hero.


Egh, I realize this isn't really on topic, but what's with the creepy photo?

A quick search reveals a few pictures in which this guy looks perfectly normal, and one other which is similarly bizarre, and that other one is ALSO on a (different) Wired article.

Does Wired have some sort of creepyphoto fetish I just haven't noticed before?


I don't find it creepy it all. Actually, I think it's an good portrait. The viewer is definitely drawn to the eyes. Perhaps because it's in black and white that you find it so?


I must admit I find this quite funny - how Wire nitpickingly picked the 2 photos of his that looked a bit creepish.

Maybe they wanted to associate the security hacker meme wit creepines?

Definitely looks like they have a penchant for shock/media value.


The son of a friend of mine. Helluva family.


In what way?


My bad. They're a very talented, gifted bunch.


EDIT: Something about Bradley Manning, double standards, journalistic integrity, grudge hacking and PR. Sorry.




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