core sector communique

Kevin Mitnick Partners With KnowBe4

Kevin Mitnick, at one time the World’s Most-Wanted Hacker, Joins Forces With

Leading Internet Security Awareness Training Company KnowBe4,LLC

CLEARWATER, Fla., June 18, 2012 – Internet Security Awareness Training firm KnowBe4 has joined forces with security expert and former hacker Kevin Mitnick. Once known as the world’s most-wanted hacker, Mitnick now uses his expertise to help organizations identify, correct, and prevent network security vulnerabilities. Mitnick has taken the role of KnowBe4’s Chief Hacking Officer.

“We’re excited to announce our partnership with Kevin Mitnick, who is widely recognized as today’s foremost social engineering and hacking expert,” said Stu Sjouwerman (pronounced “shower-man”), KnowBe4 founder and CEO. “With the revelation that Stuxnet, Duqu and Flame were developed by the U.S. Government and the state of Israel, it is only a matter of time before this cyberweapon will be turned against us. The attack vector that made these powerful cyberweapons effective was social engineering. It is critical that employees be educated and inoculated to resist social engineering attacks. I’m confident that our combined expertise will give organizations the ammunition they need to effectively combat cyberattacks of every kind. We are excited to have Kevin join us as our Chief Hacking Officer.”

Kevin Mitnick gained notoriety for penetrating the complex and highly protected computer systems of companies such as Sun Microsystems, Digital Equipment Corporation, Pacific Bell, and Motorola. Today, he applies his vast knowledge of social engineering, phishing tactics, and network vulnerabilities as a consultant, speaker and writer. He co-authored two books – The Art of Deception and The Art of Intrusion – with William L. Simon, and wrote the New York Times best-seller Ghost in the Wires.

Mitnick recently shared some of his top security tips with CBS News. He warned companies that outgoing network traffic can be as dangerous as inbound because “antivirus software is only 60 percent effective at detecting and eliminating malicious code.” He also cautioned against another commonly overlooked vulnerability: the human factor.

“The biggest risks to information security are the people. Studies have shown that most security incidents start from within, and are usually accidental,” explained Mitnick, citing the use of social engineering tactics by cybercriminals. “All it takes is one person making a bad decision to compromise the entire business. One effective strategy for keeping employees on their toes is simulating phishing attacks – similar to inoculating a person against a virus – using an Internet Security Awareness Training program, which costs about $15 per person per year.”

Companies can get started today by requesting a free phishing security test and a free email exposure check (EEC), which will reveal all corporate email addresses that are publicly available to cybercriminals.

To learn more about KnowBe4’s Internet security awareness training and about security expert Kevin Mitnick, please visit http://www.knowbe4.com.

About Kevin Mitnick

Kevin Mitnick is an internationally recognized computer security expert with extensive experience in exposing the vulnerabilities of complex operating systems and telecommunications devices. He gained notoriety as a highly skilled hacker who penetrated some of the most resilient computer systems ever developed. Today, Mitnick is renowned as an information security consultant, speaker, and has authored three books, including the New York Times best seller Ghost in the Wires. His latest endeavor is a collaboration with KnowBe4, LLC.

About Stu Sjouwerman and KnowBe4

Stu Sjouwerman is the founder and CEO of KnowBe4, LLC, which provides web-based Internet Security Awareness Training (ISAT) to small and medium enterprises. A data security expert with more than 30 years in the IT industry, Sjouwerman was the co-founder of Inc. 500 company Sunbelt Software, an award-winning anti-malware software company that he and his partner sold to GFI Software in 2010. Realizing that the human element of security was being seriously neglected, Sjouwerman decided to help entrepreneurs tackle cybercrime tactics through advanced Internet security awareness training. He and his colleagues work with companies in many different industries, including highly regulated field such as healthcare, finance, and insurance. Sjouwerman is the author of four books; his latest is Cyberheist: The Biggest Financial Threat Facing American Businesses Since the Meltdown of 2008.

* Hess, Michael. “Security tips from a legendary hacker.” CBS News. December 19, 2011