Dan Geer is a computer security analyst and risk management specialist. He is recognized for raising awareness of critical computer and network security issues before the risks were widely understood, and for ground-breaking work on the economics of security.
Career Geer is currently the chief information security officer for In-Q-Tel, a not-for-profit venture capital firm that invests in technology to support the Central Intelligence Agency.Dan Geer leaves Verdasys for In-Q-Tel, by Ryan Naraine, ZDNet, May 28, 2008. Accessed 2008-07-09.
In 2003, Geer's 24-page report entitled "CyberInsecurity: The Cost of Monopoly" was released by the Computer and Communications Industry Association (CCIA). The paper argued that Microsoft's dominance of desktop computer operating systems is a threat to national security. Geer was fired (from consultancy @Stake) the day the report was made public."Critique of Microsoft eyed in firing: Ex-tech officer claims report cost his job", by Jay Fitzgerald, Boston Herald, September 27, 2003. Reprint. Accessed 2008-07-09. Geer has cited subsequent changes in the Vista operating system (notably a location-randomization feature) as evidence that Microsoft "accepted the paper."Dan Geer Helping CIA , CSOonline.com, August 4, 2008.
Geer received a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from MIT, where he was a member of the Theta Deuteron charge of Theta Delta Chi fraternity. He also received a Sc.D. in biostatistics from Harvard, and has worked for:
Health Sciences Computing Facility, Harvard School of Public Health Project Athena, MIT Digital Equipment Corporation Geer Zolot & Associates OpenVision Technologies Open Market Certco @stake (acquired by Symantec in November 2004) Verdasys
In 2011, Geer received the USENIX Lifetime Achievement Award.
References
External links
Dan Geer's home publications page All Geered Up: An Interview With Dan Geer By Richard Thieme
Oh Dan Geer, where art thou? by Ellen Messmer Security of Information When Economics Matters by Dan Geer (PDF format) The Shrinking Perimeter: Making the Case for Data-Level Risk Management by Dan Geer (PDF format) Dan Geer's Convergence Time based security and the convergence of both digital and physical security (PDF format) Dan Geer's April 23, 2007 Testimony to Subcommittee on Emerging Threats, Cybersecurity, and Science and Technology (PDF Format) Geer's nomination to the FTC Advisory Committee Geer's keynote speech at Black Hat USA 2014: Cybersecurity as Realpolitik; video of Geer's keynote