Sessions at SXSW Interactive 2012 about Hackers

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Saturday 10th March 2012

• The Dark Side of Social Networks: Malware & Fraud

  by Paul Judge

  The popularity of Twitter and Facebook make them attractive targets for attackers. The viral features and open APIs make it an efficient medium for attackers. In this talk, we discuss the scale and history of malicious activity on Twitter and Facebook. Based on a comprehensive research study, we demonstrate how attackers respond rapidly to the large increases of users driven by celebrity attention. We highlight popular attack techniques across trending topics, URL shorteners, fake accounts, photo tagging, and fake apps. We show how malware has been designed to steal social network credentials and use them to carry out automated attacks. In order to safeguard the future and usefulness of these platforms, the community and industry must combat these threats and control this malicious activity. We explore ways to safeguard individual users and brands. We also suggest approaches that social network providers should take to improve the security of their networks. This session is part of the Big Data Track sponsored by Gemalto.

  • Fraud
  • Hackers
  • Identity
  • Malware
  • Security
  • Social Media
  • Social Networks

  At 5:00pm to 6:00pm, Saturday 10th March

  In Salon FG, Hilton Austin Downtown

Sunday 11th March 2012

• Internet Power: After Cyber-Optimism and Pessimism

  by Richard Boly, Chris Bronk, Mary Joyce and Patrick Meier

  A year ago one could have had an honest argument about whether the Internet was increasing the power of the oppressor or the oppressed. Events in Tunis, Cairo, Daraa, Tehran, Moscow, and Beijing have shown that it can benefit both and that the effect of digital technology on power will be complex and contradictory. What are we to make of freelance hacker orgs, transparency activists and covert cyber war? In the annals of citizen empowerment and institutional vulnerability, democracy and anarchy share an interesting paired history, we intend to ask how the global system may handle this latest disequilibrium.

  • activistism
  • Cyberwarfare
  • Hackers
  • Power

  At 11:00am to 12:00pm, Sunday 11th March

  In Salon E, AT&T Conference Center

  Coverage audio clip

• David Kadavy Book Signing

  David Kadavy signs his book ‘Design for Hackers: Reverse Engineering Beauty’ at the SXSW bookstore.

  • Book Signing
  • Design
  • Hackers

  At 4:45pm to 5:00pm, Sunday 11th March

  In Ballroom G Foyer, Austin Convention Center