Brutkey

MzBlackwood :heart_cybre:
@MzBlackwood@infosec.exchange

Finally home. Hurray for my bed! A week away is too many days.

MzBlackwood :heart_cybre:
@MzBlackwood@infosec.exchange

One of my key takeaways from #hackersummercamp has been how quickly companies can move on a security flaw, that they previously felt wasn’t a priority, once the researcher gets a talk accepted at #BlackHat or #defcon.

It’s stupid that it works that way. But that’s capitalism for you. More important to protect the brand than it is the user or the data. . .

MzBlackwood :heart_cybre:
@MzBlackwood@infosec.exchange

Hack the planet.

MzBlackwood :heart_cybre:
@MzBlackwood@infosec.exchange

Despite my anxiety and other general issues with this trip to #hackersummercamp, I will say that #Defcon has definitely reinforced to me that I need to get back into learning mode. So many smart people doing interesting things. I gotta catch back up.

It’s also reinforced that I get overwhelmed and exhausted easier these days, especially in this heat and after this long of a trip. 🤣😂

The whole week is for folks with more stamina than I.

MzBlackwood :heart_cybre:
@MzBlackwood@infosec.exchange

Based on today’s anxiety attack (easily the worst I’ve had in the past 6 years), I won’t say coming out to summer camp was a bad idea, but I will say it was a hard lesson learned. 🤣😂

Let’s hope the poorly wired meat network that is my brain cooperates better the rest of the week!

MzBlackwood :heart_cybre:
@MzBlackwood@infosec.exchange

Ok, time for one of these #introduction toots. . .

I’m a #transgender woman who spent 38 years deep undercover playing the role of a nerdy dude and I’ve spent the past 8 years as the genuine me, a nerdy lady.

Joined my first BBS when I was 13. Started my high schools’ first computer club (and co-modded their first BBS and helped connect them to the Interwebnets).

I’ve worked helpdesks for Apple, IBM, Adaptec, and HP. Been a K-12 Sysadmin for 2 different districts. Was a technical account manager at HP and IBM. Worked in sales ops, sales, and project management for HPE. Worked a half dozen contract positions for SMBs.

Survived and thrived through Y2K consulting. Used to know COBOL, Fortran, Pascal, Basic, and a smidge of assembly.

Now I’m very lucky to be back in K-12 IT on an Infosec team for a fairly large district with a pretty mature (for the sector) security program.

From AS400 to Cloud first systems, and so much in between, I’ve seen a couple things.

I’m a suicide survivor, managing recurrent major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and #CPTSD.

Therapy is good. Go get some.

I play video games off and on. Play #MTG when the opportunity presents itself. Enjoy dumb fun movies. Am currently OBSESSED with actual play shows.

I’m #anticapitalist, pro-union, believe the workers of the world have more in common with each other than they do with the owners of their countries.

I love stories and great storytelling.

I believe most people are just doing what they can, with the knowledge and the biases and trauma they have, to get through each day. And I believe a lot of people, including me, have a lot of work to do to be the people Mr. Rogers believed we can be. And we have to choose to do that work. And it is hard.

Also some people are just selfish and terrible. Like all billionaires, and those who seek out power.

Ok that was long. But now you pretty much know what I’m about.