Cybersecurity Today A Hacker Tells His Story
Dec 28, 2025
Brian Black, Head of Security Engineering at Deep Instinct and a former black hat hacker, shares his compelling journey from hacking to cybersecurity. He reflects on the early curiosity that led him to break into systems and discusses the evolution of hacker culture. Brian reveals the alarming effectiveness of AI in crafting zero-day exploits, stressing the importance of preemptive AI defenses. He also advocates for continuous learning in C-suite environments and explains how companies can effectively test their security through red teams, while reminding us to assume breaches will occur.
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From Childhood Curiosity To White-Hat Career
- Brian Black began hacking as a child and escalated to high-profile intrusions through his twenties and early thirties. He retired in 2009 and returned briefly in 2015 before switching to legitimate security work by 2015.
How Hacker Groups Organized Online
- Brian describes meeting collaborators on IRC channels like Fnet and Dalnet, which served as hubs for recruitment and proof-of-skill. He notes modern equivalents exist on the clear web and dark web with probationary channels.
Encourage Curiosity, Channel It Legally
- Encourage a child's interest in hacking but steer it into legal training, games, and formal education. Provide safe learning paths like CTFs, coding games, and courses to channel curiosity productively.