BSidesNoVA 2021 | Ell Marquez | How Hackers Saved My Life

Starting in security, the motto that got me through was, "It's Okay To Be New." However, I'll tell you a secret, which is that I didn't always believe it. I was deeply involved in the security community, but it was through volunteer work, not technical aptitude. I felt my motto should have been, "The impostor is strong in this one." Although the journey has not been easy, the more I learn, the stranger the journey becomes. Why? Because the principles I am learning: pivoting, code reuse, malware, and yes, even social engineering, have helped me see beyond the unknown and find my path. Even more surprising, the help I needed most came from those we were taught to fear the most. While "How Hackers Saved My Life" may sound like an exaggeration, the truth is that it may be an understatement. Join me as we explore how our lives are a series of functions that we execute in an endless loop. And how you can hack the code for a better life, a better career, and a better community. You don't have to get unplugged to be Neo.