ATMs hacked to spit out $20s on stage, overriding pacemakers and insulin pumps via laptops – these are just a few of the demonstrations by enterprising hackers at Black Hat, but these presentations often help enterprises more than they hurt.
Black Hat, by its name, seems ominous. What was once a conclave of hackers in 1997 has become a fast-growing global conference series focused on the business of cyber security and includes technical presentations on vulnerabilities and solutions. Black Hat and its attendees have grown up, representing and protecting enterprises from cyber risk and threats. Past demonstrations have included hacked ATM’s spitting out $20s on the stage, using a laptop to override a pacemaker and cause a fatality (not an actual, live demo- thankfully) and later, similar fates via insulin pump.
But these threats and vulnerabilities were first shared with and mitigated by the at-risk enterprises before being presented. The value connection to business risk has led to a strong expo sponsored by major organizations including Cisco, Microsoft and Deloitte. Indeed, two groups that would never acknowledge each other in high school have come together. One in suits, the other in cargo shorts are now conversing and doing business.