Stephen T. Cobb

Stephen Cobb
Stephen Cobb
	File:Formal headshot of Stephen Cobb.jpg Cobb in 2012
Born	17 October 1952 (age 71); Coventry, England
Nationality	U.S.
Education	University of Leeds, University of Leicester, U.K.
Occupation	Computer Security Professional, Author
Employer	ESET
Board member of	CompTIA IT Security Executive Council, Board of Advisors - FHOOSH,
Spouse	Chey
Relatives	Michael 'Mike' Cobb
Website	Computer security articles

Stephen Cobb (born 17 October 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, one of which developed innovative anti-spam technology that is still in use today (both firms were sold to NASDAQ listed companies).^[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] Cobb holds a master of science degree in security and risk management from the University of Leicester where his dissertation addressed aspects of the cybersecurity skills gap.^[15]

References

External links

[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

[15] ResearchGate

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