Global experts to tackle cyber security hot topics at Hack In The Box (HITB) Security Conference in Dubai

Dubai:– Several key figures in the global cyber security industry will be speaking at the Hack In The Box (HITB) Security Conference, which takes place from 25^th to 28^th November 2018 at the Grand Hyatt Dubai.

Opened by DESC Director General, His Excellency, Yousuf Hamad Al Shaibani, HITB2018DXB will include keynote presentations by Luta Security founder and CEO Katie Moussouris, an information security veteran who has offered her expertise to both the US Government and European Parliament; and F-Secure Chief Research Officer Mikko Hypponen, a worldwide authority on computer security, whose accolades include being listed in Foreign Policy Magazine’s Top 100 Global Thinkers list.

Keynote presentations will also be offered by local experts Dr. Manar Abu Talib, the Assistant Dean of College of Sciences at the University of Sharjah, and Dr. Qassim Nasir, Associate Professor at University of Sharjah. Other prominent speakers are ElcomSoft CEO, Vladimir Katalov, Oracle’s Marc Schoenefeld, and also members of Qihoo360’s car hacking team; among many others.

HITB2018DXB is organized by HITB in association with Dubai Electronic Security Center (DESC), the official government department entrusted to make Dubai the safest city in cyber space, and local partner DarkMatter Group, the region’s first and only fully-integrated digital transformation, defense and cyber security consultancy and implementation firm. Being held at the Grand Hyatt Dubai, it marks a return of the popular conference series to Dubai and the Middle East after an 8-year hiatus.

HITB Founder and CEO, Dhillon Kannabhiran said: “This level of participation by world famous speakers reflects the global community’s embrace of Dubai as a major hub for cyber security in the Middle East. We have held HITB conferences every year in Asia and Europe, and have had some of the most respected names in the computer security industry deliver cutting-edge presentations on some of the most pressing issues being faced by our industry today. We look forward to bringing the same calibre of speakers to Dubai, which has made great strides in the field, and continues to reinforce its position as a regional leader.”

Moussouris’ company Luta Security specializes in government and multi-party supply chain vulnerability coordination. She was recently asked to testify as an expert on bug bounties and the labor market for security research for the US Senate, and has been called upon for European Parliament hearings on dual-use technology. Ms. Moussouris was also invited by the US State Department to help renegotiate the Wassenaar Arrangement, where she successfully helped change the export control language to include technical exemptions for vulnerability disclosure and incident response.

Hypponen is a hugely respected name in the global cyber security community. He has written on his research findings for the New York Times, Wired, and Scientific American, and has lectured at the universities of Oxford, Stanford, and Cambridge.

HITB Security Conference will also feature HITB’s popular Capture The Flag (CTF) competition, which will see over 20 international teams battle it out on 27 and 28 November in the kick off leg for the 2019 HITB CTF competition series. It will continue in Amsterdam next year, and then in Singapore and beyond. Winning teams are flown to compete in the next leg of the game, therefore the reigning winners from HITB’s 2018 Amsterdam CTF will also be participating. The competition is an ideal opportunity for UAE’s local security talents to show off their skills alongside and against some of the world’s top-ranked players. In addition to the professional-level CTF game, HITB will also be hosting an edu-level CTF competition for undergraduate and high school students aimed at motivating UAE’s younger talent.

Individuals attending the event will also be able to participate in numerous contests including a Car Hacking Village run by China’s Qihoo360 Radio Team; a Wireless Capture the Signal contest, an IoT Village run by Independent Security Evaluators who run the same event at the world's oldest and largest hacking conference DEFCON; an area run by DEFCON’s Car Hacking Village; and a Security Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) CTF contest by South Korea-based NSHC Security.  

Free and kid-friendly, this HITB CommSec area will also feature other hands-on activities at the AI Village, Soldering Village, Badge Village, Career Zone, a Hack In The Class for children, and the Armory – a security tools demonstration zone. HITB is also collaborating with BSides Dubai to feature a series of free 30-minute talks that will also be livestreamed.

To sign up for the CTFs or find out more about the other hands-on activities, visit the event website at https://conference.hitb.org/hitbsecconf2018dxb/ .

Follow @HITBSecConf on Twitter for the latest event updates or search for the #HITB2018DXB hashtag.

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Press Contact:

For further enquiries, please contact:

Tariq Khonji

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Email: tariq@perceptions.me  

About Hack In The Box

Hack In The Box (HITB) is a series of network security and hacking related conferences held annually around the world. HITB conferences offer cutting-edge hardcore technical talks delivered by some of the most respected names in the computer security industry.

Since 2003 when the first HITB Security Conference was held in Kuala Lumpur, HITB conferences have grown to become an annual must attend event in the calendars of security researchers and professionals around the world. Held annually in Asia and Europe, they are among the foremost platforms for the discussion and dissemination of next generation computer security issues. 

About Dubai Electronic Security Center:

The Dubai Electronic Security Center (DESC) is the official government department entrusted to make Dubai the safest city in cyber space. The center was established under decree number 11 of 2014 by H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister of UAE and the Ruler of Dubai.

The Center’s objectives include safeguarding information, communications networks and governmental information systems in the Emirate of Dubai in addition to enhancing, adjusting and implementing the necessary methods in the realm of cyber security and raising efficiency by which information is maintained and circulated among the governmental entities in the Emirate. Additionally, the center is also responsible for developing strategic plans to confront any risks or threats to the government information in coordination with all concerned government authorities.

To learn more about DESC visit our site at: desc.dubai.ae 

For media queries please email us at: relations@desc.gov.ae  

About DarkMatter Group

Headquartered in the UAE, DarkMatter Group is the region’s first and only fully-integrated digital transformation, defence and cyber security consultancy and implementation firm.

Our mission is to be the leading provider of smart and safe digital transformation to our stakeholders; with innovation and research being at the core of our advancement and practices.

DarkMatter Group enables businesses and governments to harness and maximise the benefits of the digital world safely and effectively through four main divisions:

• DarkMatter is the Cyber Security and Secure Communications practice which focuses on security, safety, and resilience for businesses.
• DigitalX1 is the Digital Transformation and Applied Technologies practice which helps businesses and governments harness advanced technologies in pursuit of operational excellence.
• DigitalE1 is the Education practice which seeks to advance knowledge transformation by embedding digital talent in the company’s services.
• Government Solutions is the practice dedicated to helping governments strengthen their defence and security posture through bespoke technologies.

DarkMatter Group provides bespoke solutions for a selection of vital sectors including defence, intelligence, civil government, financial services, transportation, energy, and telecommunications.

For further details, visit www.darkmatter.ae 

© Press Release 2018