Dan Geer

{{short description|American computer scientist}}

{{Infobox scientist

| name = Daniel Earl Geer Jr.

| image = Dan Geer - Freedom to Connect 2015 (16109600123).jpg

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| caption = Dan Geer, 2015

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| citizenship = USA

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| field = Computer Scientist

| work_institution = MIT
CertCo
SystemExperts
In-Q-Tel

| alma_mater = Harvard University (SC.D. Biostatistics)
MIT (SB EECS)

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| known_for = Project Athena
Open Market
CertCo

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Dan Geer is a computer security analyst and risk management specialist. He is recognized for raising awareness of critical computer and network security issues before the risks were widely understood, and for ground-breaking work on the economics of security.

Career

Geer is currently the chief information security officer for In-Q-Tel, a not-for-profit venture capital firm that invests in technology to support the Central Intelligence Agency.[https://web.archive.org/web/20080529025426/http://blogs.zdnet.com/security/?p=1196 Dan Geer leaves Verdasys for In-Q-Tel], by Ryan Naraine, ZDNet, May 28, 2008. Accessed 2008-07-09.

In 2003, Geer's 24-page report entitled [http://cryptome.org/cyberinsecurity.htm "CyberInsecurity: The Cost of Monopoly"] was released by the Computer and Communications Industry Association (CCIA). The paper argued that Microsoft's dominance of desktop computer operating systems is a threat to national security. Geer was fired (from consultancy @Stake) the day the report was made public."Critique of Microsoft eyed in firing: Ex-tech officer claims report cost his job", by Jay Fitzgerald, Boston Herald, September 27, 2003. [http://cryptome.org/cyberinsecurity.htm Reprint]. Accessed 2008-07-09. Geer has cited subsequent changes in the Vista operating system (notably a location-randomization feature) as evidence that Microsoft "accepted the paper."[http://www.csoonline.com/article/441013 Dan Geer Helping CIA] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210216210005/https://www.csoonline.com/article/2123038/dan-geer-helping-cia--enjoying--gee-whiz--moments.html |date=2021-02-16 }}, CSOonline.com, August 4, 2008.

Geer received a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from MIT, where he was a member of the Theta Deuteron charge of Theta Delta Chi fraternity. He also received a Sc.D. in biostatistics from Harvard, and has worked for:{{cite web|url=http://www.veracode.com/board-of-advisors/daniel-earl-geer-jr.-sc.d.html |title=Daniel Earl Geer, Jr., Sc.D. |work=veracode.com |year=2013 |accessdate=19 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131026144414/http://www.veracode.com/board-of-advisors/daniel-earl-geer-jr.-sc.d.html |archivedate=26 October 2013 }}

In 2011, Geer received the USENIX Lifetime Achievement Award.{{cite web |url= https://www.usenix.org/about/flame |title=Flame Award : USENIX |first= |last= |work=usenix.org |year=2013 |accessdate=19 June 2013}}

References

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