Stephen T Cobb

Stephen Cobb

Cobb in 2012
Born (1952-10-17) October 17, 1952
Coventry, England
Nationality U.S.
Education University of Leeds, U.K.
Occupation Computer Security Professional, Author
Employer ESET
Home town Coventry
Board member of CompTIA IT Security Executive Council, Board of Advisors - FHOOSH,
Spouse(s) Chey
Relatives Michael 'Mike' Cobb
Website Computer security articles

Stephen Cobb (born October 17, 1952 in Coventry) is an expert on security, privacy, and related topics.[1]

Widely published as a technical author in the 1980s, Cobb became known for his efforts to educate consumers and companies in data privacy and information security. In 1996, Cobb became one of the first people to earn the Certified Information System Security Professional (CISSP) qualification. He later co-founded two information security startups that were sold to NASDAQ listed companies, contributing the development of ground-breaking anti-spam technology that is still in use today.[2] Cobb has been cited as an information security expert by national media and in congressional testimony.[3]

Written work

After authoring more than a dozen textbooks on how to use spreadsheets, databases, and other software applications, Cobb's first book on PC and LAN Security was published in 1991.[4] In 2002, Cobb published a primer on privacy for businesses.[5] As co-author and editor of the Trusted Email Open Standard Cobb helped present this proposal for securing email to the Federal Trade Commission in 2003. After a brief hiatus from privacy and security research, during which he produced an independent documentary on racial inequality in America (Dare Not Walk Alone, 2006), Cobb co-authored a peer-reviewed paper on the dangers of malicious code use by governments, which he termed "righteous malware".[6] Cobb's historical analysis of cybercrime surveys was presented at Virus Bulletin 2015.[7]

Entrepreneurial activities

Cobb co-founded two information security startups that were sold to NASDAQ listed companies. The first was InfoSec Labs, acquired by Rainbow Technologies in 1999. The second was a company known as ePrivacy Group that created the TurnTide anti-spam technology.[8] This technology was acquired by Symantec in 2004 was still in use a decade later as the Symantec Traffic Shaper.[9]

Security awareness and education

Cobb served for four years on the IT Security Executive Council of CompTIA (2012-2015). He frequently represents Security Our eCity, a non-profit community-wide security awareness organization based in San Diego.[10] In that role, he helped organize annual Cyber Boot Camps for middle school and high school students that have received national attention.[11] Cobb has been an invited speaker on information security and data privacy issues in a dozen countries.[12] He is also a TEDx speaker.[13] As a security researcher with ESET, Cobb has tracked the effects of security breaches on economic activity. For example, in the wake of the Snowden revelations he documented a drop in online shopping and banking.[14]

References

  1. ↑ ReadWrite interview at RSA
  2. ↑ ACM Ubiquity, Volume 2006 Issue July
  3. ↑ Committee on Homeland Security, House Of Representatives, 114th Congress, 2/25/15
  4. ↑ Library of Congress
  5. ↑ Research Gate
  6. ↑ Proceedings of CyCon 2014: 6th International Conference On Cyber Conflict
  7. ↑ Virus Bulletin, 2015
  8. ↑ Internet Archive
  9. ↑ Symantec
  10. ↑ Securing Our eCity
  11. ↑ Los Angeles Times
  12. ↑ HIMSS Conference 2015
  13. ↑ TEDx San Diego 2015
  14. ↑ Wall Street Journal
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