Meet Nick Percoco: Insights from the Chief Security Officer at Kraken

Hello, tech enthusiasts! I’m thrilled to introduce myself—I’m Nick Percoco, the Chief Security Officer at Kraken and the founder of SpiderLabs at Trustwave. Additionally, I have had the honor of organizing THOTCON, a prominent hacker conference in Chicago. Today, I invite you to explore the intricacies of cybersecurity, specifically focusing on cryptocurrency hacks, security strategies, and the latest trends in cybersecurity investigations.

With over 25 years of experience in the fields of security and technology, I currently manage Security, IT, and Engineering at Kraken, one of the world’s leading digital asset exchanges. My journey into the realm of cybersecurity began in my childhood, when I first learned to code at the age of seven on a Timex Sinclair 1000. By the late 80s and early 90s, I was fully immersed in the Chicagoland bulletin board systems (BBSs), navigating the digital landscape with my trusty Commodore 64 and, later, an Intel 386 PC running Linux.

Before my tenure at Kraken, I served as the Chief Security Officer at Uptake, an innovative industrial AI company, and held the position of Vice President of Global Services at Rapid7, a top-tier cybersecurity firm. Throughout my career, I have shared valuable insights into security breaches, malware, mobile security, and information security trends at renowned events such as Black Hat, DEF CON, and OWASP. My experience extends to consulting with esteemed organizations, including the Department of Homeland Security, US-CERT, Interpol, and the United States Secret Service.

As a long-standing member of the Chicago hacker community, I have organized THOTCON, which is set to host its twelfth annual conference in 2023. I have also investigated some of the most significant data breaches in history, dedicating the last four years to enhancing security protocols at Kraken to safeguard our platform against cyber threats.

Now, I’m excited to share my knowledge and experiences with you. Whether you have questions about the challenges of cryptocurrency security, best practices for safeguarding your information, or anything else related to cybersecurity, I’m here to help!

Feel free to ask me anything—let’s dive into this fascinating field together.

Update:
Thank you all for the fantastic questions! I enjoyed our discussions and will continue to check in throughout the day to respond to more inquiries. Your engagement means a lot!