Search
+
Read. Lead. Succeed. ET Prime - For Members Only
  • Sharp Insight-rich, Indepth stories across 20+ sectors
  • Access the exclusive Economic Times stories, Editorial and Expert opinion

People

Peiter ‘Mudge’ Zatko, hacking icon of the ’90s, is back as a whistle-blower. He wants to fix Twitter.

Peiter ‘Mudge’ Zatko, hacking icon of the ’90s, is back as a whistle-blower. He wants to fix Twitter.
Peiter ‘Mudge’ Zatko, hacking icon of the ’90s, is back as a whistle-blower. He wants to fix Twitter.
Getty Images
From left, Peiter Mudge Zatko testifies before the Senate Governmental Affairs hearing on government computer security in 1998.; Peiter “Mudge” Zatko testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee on data security at Twitter, on September 13, 2022 in Washington, DC.

Synopsis

On May 21, 1998, at the Dirksen Senate Office Building, Peiter Zatko, with his Jesus-like flowing locks, boldly declared the Internet “woefully insecure”. Zatko and his friends succeeded in earning recognition for their community in the Senate. Now, after being employed and later ousted from Twitter, Zatko is back as a whistle-blower, exposing hidden vulnerabilities of the social-media platform.

In 1998, a fearless ’90s hacker, Peiter ‘Mudge’ Zatko, stood before the US Congress, challenging the very foundations of the digital world. His long, brown hair, akin to a rockstar, framed a rebellious spirit that defied the status quo — and he boldly confronted the Congress about the Internet’s vulnerabilities. For three decades, as a hacker, Zatko wore the mantle of a digital daredevil, unmasking the perilous underbelly of the Internet. Fast
  • FONT SIZE
  • SAVE
  • PRINT
  • COMMENT
ET

Uh-oh! This is an exclusive story available for selected readers only.

Worry not. You’re just a step away.

Why ?

  • Exclusive Economic Times Stories, Editorials & Expert opinion across 20+ sectors

  • Stock analysis. Market Research. Industry Trends on 4000+ Stocks

  • Clean experience with
    Minimal Ads
  • Comment & Engage with ET Prime community
  • Exclusive invites to Virtual Events with Industry Leaders
  • A trusted team of Journalists & Analysts who can best filter signal from noise
  • ​Get 1 Year Complimentary Subscription of TOI+ worth Rs.799/-​

The Economic Times