From SkyDog...

To the Infosec Community at large.

I’m old. I’ve been playing with computers starting at age 11. That’s 37 years of time invested in something I love. I got involved with BBSes when 300 baud came about.I joined 2600 and attended Phreaknic 2 at about the same time. I’ve been around for new technologies to come out, I’ve seen them fade away. I’m the guy that knows the really esoteric answers to things because I was there when they were a thing. I was around when we gauged who you were by your technical skill, not the color of your skin, or the gender you went by (or not). I have spent years talking to people that I have never, and will never meet in person. Until the advent of facebook and it’s ilk, I had no idea who they really were, male, female or otherwise, as well as nationality or religious background. None of that mattered either. We all talked about our love of technology. It is true, there were rifts and arguments, but they did not seem to be based on anything other than the skills and opinions brought to the conversation.


First up, I have been a member of illmob. I was invited in, and joined my friends there, ones that I have met at many conferences over the years. These are people that I would cross a room to hug when I see them. The members of illmob are a subset of the people I know. After 20 years of conferences, attending, working, and putting them on, I know a lot of people.

Recently, as you all know, a journalist produced a story that showed conversations from the private illmob Facebook group. These screenshots were taken from a much larger collection of posts, but let’s be honest, some of them were pretty rough. Things were said about individuals in our community, unkind things. Personal opinions were stated in those posts, in a private group. While I do not agree with some of the characterizations in some respects, what I do support is Freedom of Speech. As a leader (I have been told) in the infosec community, I often do not agree with everything that is being said, but I respect the right for individuals to speak their mind. That does not always make them right, and does not always sway my own thoughts and beliefs.

In 2017, Jayson Street spoke at my conference, SkyDogCon. He and I, as well as a small group of people had a conversation about what his talk was about. While Jayson and I differed on some points, I believe that he had a right to stand in front of the crowd at my con, and speak about what he was passionate about. I did not censor him, cancel his talk, or accidentally not record it. It was published to our youtube channel as any other talk was, and he was properly credited. I was able after the fact to watch the entire talk without interruption, and form my own thoughts and opinions on it. What Jayson had to say needed to be said. Despite my stature in the community, I had no right to impose my opinions upon him, and gave him a platform to speak as he saw fit. If there were reprisals, I would stand behind him in support, regardless of the outcome.

In regards to the current illmob debacle.. Should I have stood up and said no, we should not be talking about these people like this? Probably so. Did I? I did not. Should I be accused of being a mysogynist because I was in this group? That is for everyone to decide for themselves by researching the facts, contemplating, and forming your own opinion. Listening to others scream at the top of their lungs is not the way to be informed, and it never will be. The point is this: I have spent many years helping people in the community, holding conferences and helping others hold them. I’ve been there when people wanted to rant, tell someone about their newest project, or literally break down and cry because of what was going on in their lives. I did my time, and then some, working to further the community, give people a place to meet, and helping people get their start in infosec. If you believe that I am wrong, and should be condemned because I was a member of this group, then I cannot change your mind with mere words. The actions of my past, while not perfect, have shown that I support those in the community. Am I above reproach? Not at all. Growing up, you make mistakes, do stupid things, and have regrets. I would not, nor would any of my friends, describe me as perfect. I got to where I am in life by making mistakes and learning from them. I just happened to live this long to tell the tale.

Secondly. The other members of illmob. Should everyone in that group be deemed as mysogynists? I personally don’t believe so. Some members said some pretty harsh things. You, dear reader, are required to sit down and think about what has happened and form your own opinion. I would request that as you do so, think about your life. Have you said something about someone else that would have hurt them? Have you done things yourself that you wish you could turn the clock back and change? Everyone has, and if you say that you have not, you really need to take time for introspection, because you’re telling yourself that you have never made a mistake. If that’s the case, I’d love to meet you and talk, because i’ve never met a human that has never made a mistake, said something unkind, or even done something intentional or not, that was wrong. You dear reader, would be the mythical unicorn. The mass of the people that make up the members of ill mob are just normal people. Some in security, some not. The group was a place to joke around, learn something new, or find out something that would help you do your job better. It was also a place where people could express their opinions, good or bad. The fact that some of these posts, a very select subsection of them, made them into the public eye casts a dim light on the group as a whole. Were they bad? Yes. Were the terrible? In my opinion, yes they were. Were they the collective opinions of all 500 members? Certainly not.

Those that made comments that were bad will feel the repercussions of what they said. There are consequences to everything you do in life, and certainly, they will feel this one. Do I personally feel that they should be strung up and burned? No, but I also know that from my interactions with them, they are human. Their thoughts and beliefs are their own, and their mistake was putting them into the world in a way that could be seen. I believe that they have the right to believe as they do. I also believe that everyone is entitled to their opinion, much in the way that certain people on the internet are gathering the pitchforks and torches. Do I believe that getting them fired from their job is right or just? No I don’t, but that is my opinion. Dear reader, are you prepared to lose your job if you say something that someone disagrees with? How will you deal with being called into the HR department to be told someone sent your executive staff an email and you should be fired?

I’m not a religious person, although I was raised Southern Baptist. I decided to live my life by Karma. What goes around, comes around. Put good out into the world, and it will come back to you. Put negativity out, and it too will come back at you. What unfolds over the next day, week, or lifetime will be as it will be.

If you have read to this point, thank you for taking the time, I appreciate it.