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Ed Skoudis, Security Consultant, International Network Services
Ed Skoudis is a security consultant with International Network Services. Ed's expertise includes hacker attacks and defenses, the information security industry and computer privacy issues. He has performed numerous security assessments, designed secure network architectures and responded to computer attacks for clients in the financial, high-technology, healthcare and other industries. Ed is a frequent speaker on issues associated with hacker tools and defenses and has published several articles on these topics, as well as the Prentice Hall books, Counter Hack: A Step-by-Step Guide to Computer Attacks and Effective Defenses and Malware: Fighting Malicious Code. Additionally, Ed conducted a demonstration of hacker techniques against financial institutions for the United States Senate. His prior work experience includes Bell Communications Research (Bellcore) and SAIC. Ed received his Master's Degree in Information Networking at Carnegie Mellon University.
Learn more about Ed...
How did you get started in security? I was working at Bellcore on Operator Services and payphones, both of which have lots of security implications. I then moved into data communications security, because this Internet thing seemed like it might be cool someday.
What non-IT related job experience have you had? I was an engraver at a jewelry store back in high school and college. I loved it.
What work-related accomplishment are you most proud of? Having composed much of SANS Track 4, GIAC Incident Handling certification training materials. People are really using this stuff in their jobs to improve security, as well as advancing their careers. It's an honor to have helped out!
Who are your security "heros," in other words who has influenced you most as a security professional? Gene Schultz, Berkeley; Alan Paller, SANS and Stephen Northcutt, SANS
What is your favorite piece of hardware or software? Linux on VMWare on my Thinkpad
What are your hobbies? Computer security (sorry, but it's true) and raising my kids.
What one book would you like to be stranded with on a desert island, and why? Can't I just have high-speed Internet access on the island? I'm pretty sure the Professor on Gilligan's Island implemented a TCP/IP stack and a crude browser using coconuts. Although, come to think of it, maybe I dreamed that episode.
What do you like the best about your job? Writing security challenges and including quirky little jokes or hidden messages in them.
What do you like least? E-mail glut. Also, security programs that don't compile until you practically rewrite them.
What words of wisdom do you give to other security professionals? If you get hacked, don't take it too personally or get too down. I've seen many information security people get really depressed or even freak out when they are under a cyberattack. Use these incidents as an opportunity to learn. You'll be much more successful if you pour your energy into incident response from a positive perspective and not grudgingly. It's not the end of the world, after all!
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