Talk:Moxie Marlinspike

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what's WPA?

... runs a cloud-based WPA cracking service ...

WPA = Wi-Fi Protected Access, or something else? —Tamfang (talk) 20:10, 5 September 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Name

As with other well known celebrities, Mr. Marlinspike’s “real name” and birth date (and other biographical information) should be listed. Simply because he is a “security researcher” – a polite term for “hacker” – does not mean he has a special opt-out for accurate Wikipedia data. 132.3.65.68 (talk) 15:38, 8 September 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Content

I think we seriously need to discuss the content of this article which is a Biography of a Living Person. In the current (as of 9 Sep, 1700 PST) the version is fairly truncated from what is was, and I think this is a better version... Why?

The previous version had (essentially) two sections that are now gone:

One: A section about Whisper Systems and a fairly long random list of fairly random and unknown software projects apparently produced by Whisper Systems.

The problem here is that not only does Whisper Systems not even have a Wikipedia entry, but the software mentioned is not widely known or even used, being very niche. These things being so, I question the notability and thus the appropriateness of such a lengthy inclusion. Talking about Marlinspike's involvement with Whisper Systems and perhaps a brief discussion of what Whisper Systems produces might be warented, but not to the degree of the original text.

Two: A section comprising a fairly random list of lecture synopses for talks that Marlinspike has given at fairly random security conferences.

Here's the thing: Marlinspike is an active lecturer. Are we to add a new entry every time he gives a lecture? I mean, who he is and the very subject of his area of focus means there will be a lot of people there and it will probably get a fair amount of press in the appropriate trade rags / web sites and so on. Do each of his appearances rise to the level of notability that get a Wikipedia entry?

I think what the article needs is a paragraph that helps readers get a good feel for what it is that Marlinspike does, and maybe - if relevant to the article - some reference to his most notable publications, if they can be worked in to the discussion of what it is he does.

Also, yes, I do not think Marlinspike was born with this name (though it is of course possible), and as a biography, this article should have his birth date and birth name. Simply because he is a Blackhat Hacker (or if you prefer White/Greyhat Hacker or even "Security Researcher") does not mean he should be exempt from basic biographical information.

However, the way the article use to read before it was truncated was pretty random and almost a geeky fanboy / vanity page. Marlinspike IS notable, but it should follow the same established rules and form of other well written BLP articles here. Yes?

Thanks ~//~ 76.22.32.86 (talk) 00:05, 9 September 2011 (UTC)[reply]