Freaks of the Wireless: The Story of the First Wireless Hack

Last month I went to BSides Leeds to talk about security history . . .

Talk synopsis

In 1901 a grand rivalry formed between the famous magician Nevil Maskelyne and Guglielmo Marconi, the father of radio. Over the following years the conflict intensified, stern words were exchanged, egos were bruised, and reputations crushed. The experiments they conducted during the early development of wireless telegraphy and their mutual disdain led to the first wireless hack, the first bug bounty, the first hacker pseudonym, and the first denial of service attack . . . well . . . probably.

This talk will cover an examination of Maskelyne, the key events during his rivalry with Marconi, and the commercial considerations that ultimately led to Marconi’s  success over his competitors.