For many years now, computer security conferences have been a common way for researchers, hackers, and security experts to meet and discuss the latest industry developments. In addition to the security talks, these conferences offer training courses, certifications, and other special challenges.
Due to increased popularity and industry growth, a lot of conferences have grown exponentially. As a result, more and more speakers are coming forth to present their talks and be heard by fellow security professionals. However, since there is only so much time allotted for these talks, many of them are rejected, and thus quite a few noteworthy presentations are never heard.
Welcome BSides, a community –driven event started for this very reason. Originating back in 2009, BSides was started when many potential Black Hat talks were rejected due to these same time constraints and schedule conflicts—not because of a lack of quality. Originally started in the USA, today BSides events are occurring worldwide every few months, with new expansions in Africa and Brazil just last year. BSides events present an open and flexible model that provides additional opportunities for security experts to collaborate and share research.
Here at Malwarebytes we recognize conferences like BSides that allow community experts to network and engage. Talks given at BSides will promote communication on key security topics while encouraging innovation at the same time. In addition, they provide a focal point for experts to discuss growing industry trends, and provide a platform for media attention to raise awareness on them.
Like BSides, we are also part of a community dedicated to improving computer security for everyone. Because we’re always looking for ways to give back to the community, this year we’ve decided to be a contributing sponsor for the fourth BSides San Francisco on February 24th and 25th. We have also made a significant donation to the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), a nonprofit organization that helps protect personal freedoms in today’s digital world.
Our contribution to BSides doesn’t stop here—Malwarebytes is also giving two talks at BSides on the 24th. The first will take place from 11am-12pm and is about Ransomware, one of the most prevalent malware threats of last year that’s preventing people from using their computers. The speakers presenting will be Malwarebytes’ own Adam Kujawa and Jerome Segura. The next talk is from 3pm-4pm and is about Basic Malware Analysis, also given by Adam. This talk serves to educate those who are just getting their feet wet in the world of malware.
There’s sure to be a lot of great talks at the conference from experts abroad. Malwarebytes is also giving out some free gifts at this event, so make sure to keep your eyes peeled. It ought to be a great experience, we hope to see you there!
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Joshua Cannell is a Malware Intelligence Analyst at Malwarebytes where he performs research and in-depth analysis on current malware threats. He has over 5 years of experience working with US defense intelligence agencies where he analyzed malware and developed defense strategies through reverse engineering techniques. His articles on the Unpacked blog feature the latest news in malware as well as full-length technical analysis. Follow him on Twitter @joshcannell
