It seems that at every con nowadays there is at least one talk dedicated
to physical security. Our servers and data can be encrypted and
passworded with the latest algorithms, but that doesn't do the trick if
someone marches them out the door when we're not looking. In the past,
many physical security talks have focused on passive defense: locks that
resist picking, safes which resist cracking, etc. However, sometimes an
intrusion is detected while in progress... and such intrusions ? even
physical ones ? may require immediate countermeasures.
Many of us in the security community own firearms, but few have ever had
to use them in a defensive situation. Others have considered gun
ownership but lack any experience or foundation in this area. This
panel of experts will provide a comprehensive overview of this
highly-charged and often-misunderstood topic. Bring any questions you
have about hardware, ammunition, tactics, and the law.
"Deviant Ollam is a frequent speaker on the topic of physical security. A
graduate of the New Jersey Institute of Technology's "Science,
Technology, & Society" program, he is always fascinated by the interplay
that connects human values and social trends to developments in the
technical world. A gun-owning peacenick, Deviant disdains violence but
believes in being prepared to confront it. He has given physical
security presentations at DefCon, ShmooCon, HOPE, and at various
colleges and universities, including the United States Military Academy
at West Point.
Noid is a recognized member of both the hacking world and the firearm
community. A shooting enthusiast who has handled just about every
manufactured style of firearm, his encyclopedic knowledge of guns
results in a constant barrage of questions from individuals who are
considering the purchase of a new piece of steel. During particularly
stressful days at the office, Noid considers hanging up his INFOSEC
spurs and becoming a range master or armorer for the Feds.
Frank Thornton (a.k.a. Thorn) runs his own consulting firm, Blackthorn
Systems, which specializes in wireless networks. In addition to his
computer interests, Frank was a law enforcement officer for many years.
He has investigated thousands of crimes, been in numerous armed
confrontations, and been directly involved in several shootings.
Combining both professional interests, he was a member of the workgroup
that established ANSI Standard "ANSI/NIST-CSL 1-1993 Data Format for the
Interchange of Fingerprint Information."