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Walk This Way: What Run-DMC & Aerosmith Teach About the Future of Cybersecurity

Jen Easterly

CISA Director Jen Easterly discusses the power of radical collaboration between government agencies and the hacker community, inspired by the 1986 Run-DMC/Aerosmith crossover.

Summary

The Power of Unlikely Collaborations

Just as the 1986 crossover between Aerosmith and Run-D.M.C. revolutionized popular music, modern cybersecurity requires dismantling silos between government agencies and grassroots hackers.

Transforming CISA's Relationship with the Hacker Community

Jen Easterly outlines CISA's commitment to transparency, good-faith research protection, and active engagement with the DEF CON community.

Joint Cyber Defense Collaborative (JCDC) Initiatives

Easterly reviews operational achievements of public-private threat intelligence sharing during major critical vulnerability outbreaks (e.g. Log4j).

Building a Culture of Radical Transparency and Civic Defense

The presentation encourages hackers to collaborate directly with public defenders to secure critical infrastructure and democratic institutions.

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