Bishop Fox CEO Vinnie Liu on His Path from NSA Red Teamer to Ethical Hacker
Summary
Bishop Fox CEO Vinnie Liu discusses his early interest in computers, NSA red-team work beginning at 17, and later roles in penetration testing and company leadership. He reflects on hacker intent and the difference between exploration and harm.
Key points
- Liu says he joined the NSA as a full-time employee at 17 in 1999, first working on its red team.
- He describes hacking as finding ways around controls or security systems, and says intent distinguishes exploration from attempts to cause harm.
- After leaving the NSA, Liu worked in security consulting at Ernst & Young and led Honeywell’s global penetration-testing team with Fran Brown.
- Liu and Brown co-founded the firm that became Bishop Fox; the article says it was rebranded under that name in 2014.
- Liu says he now spends more time managing the company, though he still considers himself a hacker.
Article Details
- Topic
- Profile of Vinnie Liu’s career in ethical hacking and offensive security, from his early work at the NSA to co-founding and leading Bishop Fox.