Meet Nick Percoco: A Veteran in Cybersecurity Ready to Answer Your Questions

Hello and welcome! I’m Nick Percoco, and I have dedicated over 25 years of my career to the fields of cybersecurity and technology. Currently, I hold the position of Chief Security Officer at Kraken, one of the world’s leading digital asset exchanges. I’m also the founder of SpiderLabs at Trustwave and a co-organizer of THOTCON, one of Chicago’s prominent hacker conferences.

My Journey in the Cybersecurity Landscape

My journey in technology began at a young age. I first delved into coding at just 7 years old, learning the ropes on a Timex Sinclair 1000 in the early 80s. As I grew older, I immersed myself in the Chicagoland bulletin board systems (BBS) during the late 80s and early 90s, primarily using a Commodore 64 and later an Intel 386 PC running Linux.

Before my tenure at Kraken, I served as the Chief Security Officer at Uptake, a company specializing in industrial AI, and as the Vice President of Global Services at Rapid7, a comprehensive cybersecurity firm. My experiences have allowed me to share valuable insights at renowned cybersecurity events such as Black Hat, DEF CON, and OWASP, as well as with esteemed organizations like the Department of Homeland Security, US-CERT, Interpol, and the United States Secret Service.

A Passion for Cybersecurity

My engagement with the hacker community in Chicago spans several decades, and I have been privileged to host THOTCON, which will celebrate its 12th gathering in 2023. Throughout my career, I have actively investigated some of the most significant data breaches in history. For the past four years at Kraken, I have been focused on building robust programs designed to fortify the exchange against various cyber threats.

Join the Conversation

I invite you to ask me anything about my experiences in the cybersecurity realm, including cryptocurrency hacks, security best practices, and insights into cybersecurity investigations. Whether you are curious about specific incidents or looking for general security tips, I’m here to share what I know.

Feel free to leave your questions and let’s delve into the fascinating world of cybersecurity together!

Update: Thank you for the engaging questions! I look forward to continuing this discussion throughout the day and providing further insights.