Bruce Schneier (born 15
January 1963) is an American cryptographer, computer security
specialist, and writer. He is the author of several books on computer
security and cryptography, and is the founder and chief technology
officer of BT Counterpane, formerly Counterpane Internet Security,
Inc.
Education
Originally from New York City, Schneier currently lives in
Minneapolis, Minnesota. Schneier has a Master's degree in computer
science from American University and a Bachelor of Science degree in
physics from the University of Rochester. Before Counterpane, he
worked at the United States Department of Defense and then AT&T Bell
Labs. In August 1999, Schneier founded Counterpane Internet Security.
Counterpane was acquired by BT in October 2006, and is now known as BT
Managed Security Solutions. Schneier is currently the Chief Security
Technology Officer of BT.
Writings on cryptography
Schneier's Applied Cryptography is a popular reference work for
cryptography. Schneier has designed or co-designed several
cryptographic algorithms, including the Blowfish, Twofish and
MacGuffin block ciphers, the Helix and Phelix stream ciphers, and the
Yarrow and Fortuna cryptographically secure pseudo-random number
generators. Solitaire is a cryptographic algorithm developed by
Schneier for use by people without access to a computer, called
Pontifex in Neal Stephenson's novel Cryptonomicon.
However, Schneier now denounces his early success as a naive,
mathematical, and ivory tower view of what is inherently a people
problem. In Applied Cryptography, he implies that correctly
implemented algorithms and technology promise safety and secrecy, and
that following security protocol ensures security, regardless of the
behavior of others. Schneier now argues that the incontrovertible
mathematical guarantees miss the point. As he describes in Secrets and
Lies, a business which uses RSA encryption to protect its data without
considering how the cryptographic keys are handled by employees on
"complex, unstable, buggy" computers has failed to properly protect
the information. An actual security solution that includes technology
must also take into account the vagaries of hardware, software,
networks, people, economics, and business. Schneier is now referring
people trying to implement actually secure systems to his new book
with Niels Ferguson, Practical Cryptography.
Writings on computer security and general security
In 2000, Schneier published Secrets and Lies: Digital Security in a
Networked World. In 2003, Schneier published Beyond Fear: Thinking
Sensibly About Security in an Uncertain World.
Schneier writes a freely available monthly Internet newsletter on
computer and other security issues, Crypto-Gram, as well as a security
weblog, Schneier on Security. The weblog started out as a way to
publish essays before they appeared in Crypto-Gram, making it possible
for others to comment on them while the stories were still current,
but over time the newsletter became a monthly email version of the
blog, re-edited and re-organized.[1] Schneier is frequently quoted in
the press on computer and other security issues, pointing out flaws in
security and cryptographic implementations ranging from biometrics to
airline security after the September 11, 2001 attacks. He also writes
"Security Matters", a regular column for Wired Magazine.[2]
Other writing
Schneier and his wife, Karen Cooper, write restaurant reviews for a
number of Minneapolis papers, including the Star Tribune.[3]
Schneier and Cooper were nominated in 2000 for the Hugo Award, in the
category of Best Related Book, for their Minicon 34 Restaurant Guide,
a work originally published for the Minneapolis science fiction
convention Minicon which gained a readership internationally in
science fiction fandom for its wit and good humor.[4]
Individual-i
Schneier invented the "individual-i" symbol and released it into
public domain to promote individual rights.
In popular culture
Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines. (January
2008)
The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and
removing inappropriate ones.
Schneier's name appears in the novel The Da Vinci Code:
Da Vinci had been a cryptography pioneer, Sophie knew, although he was
seldom given credit. Sophie's university instructors, while presenting
computer encryption methods for securing data, praised modern
cryptologists like Zimmermann and Schneier but failed to mention that
it was Leonardo who had invented one of the first rudimentary forms of
public key encryption centuries ago.[5]
Schneier is featured on the Everybody Loves Eric Raymond website in a
parody of Chuck Norris Facts called Bruce Schneier Facts, featuring
such "facts" as "Most people use passwords. Some people use
passphrases. Bruce Schneier uses an epic passpoem, detailing the life
and works of seven mythical Norse heroes." Schneier has noted his
approval.[6]
Publications
Schneier, Bruce. Applied Cryptography, John Wiley & Sons, 1994. ISBN
0-471-59756-2
Schneier, Bruce. Protect Your Macintosh, Peachpit Press, 1994. ISBN
1-56609-101-2
Schneier, Bruce. E-Mail Security, John Wiley & Sons, 1995. ISBN
0-471-05318-X
Schneier, Bruce. Applied Cryptography, Second Edition, John Wiley &
Sons, 1996. ISBN 0-471-11709-9
Schneier, Bruce; Kelsey, John; Whiting, Doug; Wagner, David; Hall,
Chris; Ferguson, Niels. The Twofish Encryption Algorithm, John Wiley &
Sons, 1996. ISBN 0-471-35381-7
Schneier, Bruce; Banisar, David. The Electronic Privacy Papers, John
Wiley & Sons, 1997. ISBN 0-471-12297-1
Schneier, Bruce. Secrets and Lies: Digital Security in a Networked
World, John Wiley & Sons, 2000. ISBN 0-471-25311-1
Schneier, Bruce. Beyond Fear: Thinking Sensibly about Security in an
Uncertain World, Copernicus Books, 2003. ISBN 0-387-02620-7
Ferguson, Niels; Schneier, Bruce. Practical Cryptography, John Wiley &
Sons, 2003. ISBN 0-471-22357-3 |
|
|