2013.0×0004 (Apr)
April Meeting details
Speaker: Rex Nelson
Cyber Security Researcher and Austin Lead, Raytheon SI Government Solutions
Topic: Vulnerability Research – Where are you Vulnerable?
Date: April 5, 2013
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. with introductions beginning at 11:30 a.m.
Venue: Microsoft Technology Center at Quarry Oaks 2.
Address: 10900 Stonelake Blvd. Suite 225. Austin, TX 78759
Synopsis:
Vulnerability research is an area of cyber security research primarily dedicated to discovering vulnerabilities in binary code. These vulnerabilities in software, firmware, operating systems, etc. usually lead to some sort of an exploit of the target. The VR process includes analyzing binary code using a number of tools and techniques to aid the researcher with the task. It is normally a long process requiring diligence on the part of the researcher.
As followers of Christ, we also have vulnerabilities in our own lives. These vulnerabilities affect our walk with Christ and our testimony. God has provided us a number of tools to discover and “patch” our vulnerabilities during our sanctification. Just like vulnerability research, our personal vulnerability research is a long process requiring diligence in our Christian lives.
Rex has been part of the computer science industry since graduating from East Texas Baptist University in 1983. His degree is in music (which he still enjoys) but he also pursued minors in computer science and math. His first 15 years in the industry were directed at developing network based solutions for companies such as American Airlines, MCI and Jenoptik. During the last 14 years he has been more focused on the cyber security industry. His cyber security work has included vulnerability research, creating fuzzers and penetration testing tools, creating and teaching cyber security classes as well as securing networks. For most of the past 6 years he has worked for Raytheon SI Government Solutions as a Principle Vulnerability Researcher.