Insights from a Cybersecurity Veteran: An Introduction to Nick Percoco

Hello, and welcome to my blog! I’m Nick Percoco, the Chief Security Officer at Kraken and the founder of SpiderLabs at Trustwave. Additionally, I have the honor of organizing THOTCON, a prominent hacker conference held in Chicago. Today, I invite you to engage with me by asking anything related to cryptocurrency hacks, security strategies, and cybersecurity investigations.

With over 25 years of experience in security and technology, my journey has been both enlightening and rewarding. Currently, I manage Security, IT, and Engineering at Kraken, a leading global platform for digital asset trading. My role allows me to dive deep into the complexities of securing cryptocurrency transactions, a rapidly evolving landscape that holds immense importance in today’s digital economy.

Before joining Kraken, I served as the Chief Security Officer at Uptake, an advanced industrial AI company, and held the position of Vice President of Global Services at Rapid7, a well-regarded cybersecurity firm. Throughout my career, I have shared valuable insights on topics such as security breaches, malware threats, mobile security, and evolving information security trends. I’ve presented at major cybersecurity conferences, including Black Hat, DEF CON, and OWASP, and I have collaborated with various private audiences, including the Department of Homeland Security, US-CERT, Interpol, and the United States Secret Service.

My fascination with technology began at an early age. I started coding at just seven years old on the Timex Sinclair 1000 and was heavily involved in Chicagoland bulletin board systems (BBS) during the late 80s and early 90s, using a Commodore 64 and later an Intel 386 PC with Linux.

Having been entrenched in the Chicago hacker community for decades, I founded THOTCON, which is gearing up for its twelfth conference in 2023. My investigations have turned the spotlight on some of the most significant data breaches in history. Over the past four years at Kraken, I have focused on building robust programs designed to fortify our cryptocurrency exchange against potential threats.

I’m excited to share my experiences and insights with you. If you have questions about my journey, the industry, or anything related, feel free to reach out and ask!

P.S. I look forward to interacting with you all and will make an effort to respond to your inquiries throughout the day. Thank you for joining me on this journey!