Bsides Security Conference

Today and tomorrow is Bsides PDX - an annual IT security conference:

BSides Portland is a tax-exempt charitable 501(c)(3) organization founded with the mission to cultivate the Pacific Northwest information security and hacking community by creating local inclusive opportunities for learning, networking, collaboration, and teaching.

Bsides has typically been at Smith Memorial Union at PSU.

I attended the kickoff keynote (pictured) and it was a little odd sitting with hundreds of people in a giant auditorium with the speaker on a virtual presentation - not sure if there were some logistical difficulties this year getting the speaker to appear in person.

This year’s speaker is Perri Adams:

Perri Adams is a fellow at Dartmouth’s Institute for Security Technology Studies (ISTS) and former Special Assistant to the Director at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), where she advised stakeholders at the agency and across the U.S. government on the next generation of AI and cybersecurity technology.

I didn’t stick around long for the keynote speaker, but checked out a couple sponsor booths. I spoke with some folks at Conductor One, who provide identity security, and are based out of same location at Revolution Hall (one of my favorite music venues in Portland). I also caught up with Christian at the EFF (Electronic Frontier Foundation) booth, who handles a lot of their membership and blog duties on the website. You can volunteer for EFF here! Look for local chapters in your city.