IOActive's Mike Ridpath and Matias Brutti to Present at BSides Portland

IOActive's Security Consultants to present "Covert Calling: Secrets of Social Engineering Revealed!"

Seattle, Wash—September 22, 2011. IOActive, a leading provider of application security, compliance, and smart grid security services, today announced that Mike Ridpath and Matias Brutti, two of their security consultants, will present Covert Calling: Secrets of Social Engineering Revealed! at BSides Portland. Each BSides is a community-driven framework for building events for and by information security community members. The goal is to expand the spectrum of conversation beyond the traditional confines of space and time. It creates opportunities for individuals to both present and participate in an intimate atmosphere that encourages collaboration. It is an intense event with discussions, demos, and interaction from participants—a place where conversations for the next big thing are happening.

Ridpath and Brutti will review the psychology and sociology of social engineering through a “cold call” and share personal techniques that have worked for them in over 100 engagements. They will present their findings on the difference between male and female targets, and play sanitized examples of successful calls to highlight the challenges and advantages of social engineering over a phone, instructing the audience on ways to prevent these attacks on themselves and their companies.

WHAT Covert Calling: Secrets of Social Engineering Revealed!

WHERE Jupiter Hotel, Portland OR

WHEN October 7, 2011. Time TBD.

HOW For more information, visit the BSides Portland website.

About IOActive
Established in 1998, IOActive is an industry leader that offers comprehensive computer security services with specializations in smart grid technologies, software assurance, and compliance. Boasting a well-rounded and diverse clientele, IOActive works with a majority of Global 500 companies including power and utility, hardware, retail, financial, media, aerospace, high-tech, and software development organizations. As a home for highly skilled and experienced professionals, IOActive attracts the likes of talented consultants who contribute to the growing body of security knowledge by speaking at such elite conferences as Black Hat, Ruxcon, Defcon, BlueHat, CanSec, and WhatTheHack. For more information, visit www.ioactive.com.

About Mike Ridpath
Mike Ridpath is has worked for IOActive only two years, but during that time his talent has lead him to become experienced security consultant, working with platinum-level clients on network and application penetration tests, PCI compliance, and general consulting engagements. Prior to working for IOActive, Ridpath was in senior management as a product developer and on governing boards for multiple training and process improvement companies where he worked with risk analysis and various process improvement methodologies. He most recently presented talks at Black Hat USA 2011 and ToorCon Seattle 2011.

About Matias Brutti
Matias Brutti is a Senior Security Consultant at IOActive, where he deploys his deep experience in enterprise-level application and network assessment/consultation. At IOActive he performs penetration testing, identifies system vulnerabilities, and designs custom security solutions for clients in software development, telecommunications, financial services, and professional services. Mr. Brutti has performed security assessments and PCI DSS security support services for companies in the Fortune 100, and has five years' experience working on all manner of compliance projects.

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