Conferences

Stop Hacklore: when bad advice overshadows good advice

Accompanied by Alexis-Dorais Joncas and Fanny Tan

Does a single day go by without a new cybersecurity incident making headlines? Another leak of personal information, another organization falling victim to ransomware, a supposedly revolutionary technique that bypasses the most advanced security systems… And each time, these news stories are accompanied by advice intended to help prevent such attacks.

This advice is generally good in itself. However, some more questionable or downright harmful comments persist in the public sphere. To counter this trend, former Yahoo and DNC CISO Bob Lord launched the “Stop Hacklore” campaign, endorsed by a hundred renowned cybersecurity experts.

A combination of “hacking” and “folklore,” the campaign aims to separate myth from reality and avoid dramatic advice worthy of the best James Bond films, refocusing the discourse on actions that will have a real positive impact on the security of the identities and devices of “ordinary people,” all based on facts and concrete data.

This presentation is intended to be a discussion of these famous myths and the role we can all play as cybersecurity experts in spreading appropriate advice.

About the speaker

Jean-Philippe Décarie-Mathieu has been working in information technology and cybersecurity for over 25 years. Originally a developer, he has since worn many hats: network security analyst, systems administrator, and security operations center (SOC) manager.

Co-founder of Crypto.Québec, a recognized educational organization, he has made it his mission to demystify the often opaque issues of mass surveillance, information security, and privacy protection. Throughout his career, Jean-Philippe has helped SMEs, Fortune 500 companies, citizens, and public decision-makers strengthen their cybersecurity posture and manage their technological risks.

An international speaker and analyst frequently sought after by Quebec media outlets, Jean-Philippe is known for his ability to decode technological news with rigor, nuance, and critical thinking. He is currently a senior analyst at CyberQuébec, the college technology transfer center at CÉGEP de l’Outaouais, and a columnist on the program Le 15-18 on ICI Première.