Meet Nick Percoco: A Leader in Cybersecurity and Cryptocurrency Protection
Hello readers!
I’m thrilled to introduce myself—I’m Nick Percoco, the Chief Security Officer at Kraken, one of the leading global platforms for digital assets. My journey in cybersecurity has spanned more than 25 years, during which I’ve cultivated a deep expertise in security, technology, and investigative operations.
Before my current role at Kraken, I served as the Chief Security Officer at Uptake, an industrial AI firm, and held the position of Vice President of Global Services at Rapid7, a prominent cybersecurity company. Throughout my career, I’ve had the privilege of speaking at major cybersecurity conferences like Black Hat, DEF CON, and OWASP, sharing my insights on various topics including security breaches, malware, mobile security, and overarching InfoSec trends. I’ve also consulted with numerous agencies, such as the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), US-CERT, Interpol, and the United States Secret Service.
My interest in technology ignited at an early age; I started coding when I was just seven years old—back in the ’80s on a Timex Sinclair 1000. The late ’80s and early ’90s saw me diving into the vibrant Chicagoland bulletin board systems (BBS) using a Commodore 64 and transitioning to an Intel 386 PC with Linux. This passion steered me into the thriving hacker scene in Chicago, where I’ve been an active member for decades and even founded THOTCON, our local hacker conference, which is set to host its 12th iteration in 2023.
Over the past four years at Kraken, I’ve been dedicated to developing and implementing security programs to safeguard our cryptocurrency exchange from potential attacks and vulnerabilities. My experience in investigating some of the largest data breaches in history has equipped me with insights that I’m eager to share.
Whether you’re curious about cryptocurrency-related breaches, need security tips, or want to discuss cybersecurity investigations, I’m here to address any questions you might have.
Feel free to engage with me—I look forward to our conversation!
Thank you for joining me today!
Proof of Engagement Activity: You can find a recap of a recent discussion on Twitter.
Edit: I’ve truly enjoyed answering your questions and appreciate the engaging dialogue. I’ll be checking back throughout the day to respond to more inquiries.
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Hi Nick, thank you for sharing such an in-depth overview of your extensive experience in cybersecurity and cryptocurrency protection. Your background, spanning from early coding days to leading security initiatives at Kraken, provides valuable insights for the community.
If you or others encounter security challenges related to cryptocurrency exchanges or need guidance on safeguarding digital assets, consider implementing multi-factor authentication (MFA), regular security audits, and staying updated with latest threat intelligence. Ensuring your infrastructure is patched and monitored continuously can also mitigate many common vulnerabilities.
Additionally, engaging with community events like THOTCON helps strengthen collective knowledge and awareness in the hacking and security domains. If you have specific technical issues or require tailored security recommendations, feel free to detail them here—I’ll do my best to assist!