Twitter's renowned hacker, Mudge, assigned as head of security following a season of attacks on the platform
Twitter has made a bold move in the cybersecurity world by hiring Peiter Zatko, also known as 'Mudge,' to join the social media giant as its head of security. This appointment, widely hailed by cybersecurity analysts, is seen as a significant step towards regaining control over the platform.
Zatko will report directly to Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey and have broad authority over information security, platform security, engineering, and other key functions. His extensive experience in the field, which includes leading security at payments platform Stripe, early leadership in a hacking group that targeted Microsoft, and work with the Pentagon's Defense Advanced Research and Projects Agency, makes him an ideal choice for the role.
Zatko's hiring follows Twitter's recovery from a July attack where hackers gained access to the accounts of several high-profile public figures, including Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, rap superstar Kanye West, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, and then presidential candidate Joe Biden. The social media platform has also been under scrutiny for its role in spreading disinformation related to the 2020 presidential campaign.
In an effort to restore security and privacy guardrails at Twitter, the company also hired Rinki Sethi as its new Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer in September. Sethi, who previously worked as the CISO at cloud data management firm Rubrik, will work alongside Zatko to strengthen Twitter's security infrastructure.
Industry veterans view Zatko's hire as a serious and well-thought-out decision, not just a marketing ploy to shift the narrative. Doug Britton, CTO at RunSafe Security, stated that Zatko's hire is good for Twitter because the security issues are both macro and micro, and the platform has become part of the central nervous system of modern social communications.
Kevin O'Brien, co-founder and CEO of cybersecurity firm GreatHorn, echoes this sentiment. He views Zatko's hire as a significant step forward for Twitter's security focus. O'Brien believes that Twitter's hiring of Zatko and Sethi is a response to the threats the platform has been facing and a significant step towards addressing security concerns.
Zatko and O'Brien share a history, having worked together about two decades ago at iconic security firm @stake, which was later acquired by Symantec in 2004. This close working relationship is expected to contribute positively to Twitter's security efforts.
With these strategic hires, Twitter is poised to tackle the challenges it has faced in recent months and emerge stronger in the realm of cybersecurity. The platform's commitment to security and privacy is evident in its proactive approach to addressing these issues, and users can look forward to a more secure Twitter experience.
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