Black Hat USA Welcomes Neal Stephenson to Keynote Stage

SEATTLE, Jan. 31, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Black Hat, produced by UBM TechWeb, has announced that renowned speculative fiction writer Neal Stephenson will be interviewed in a keynote Q&A at this year's 15 year anniversary event. Black Hat USA 2012 is expected to host more than 6500 high-level security professionals for the most timely, actionable security presentations of the year. Black Hat is the world's biggest and most important family of information security events, and its flagship USA edition is taking place July 21- July 26 at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas. For more information and to sign up for early-bird registration by February 1, visit https://www.blackhat.com/usa.

Black Hat USA proudly presents Neal Stephenson to the main stage Thursday, July 26, 2012.  Stephenson will delve into a host of writing and technology-related topics, including his brand new novel "REAMDE." The novel explores the exploitation of a massively multiplayer online role- playing game through the release of the REAMDE virus - a virus that encrypts all of a player's electronic files and holds them for ransom. Stephenson will host a special book signing on site after his keynote.

"Boom goes the Dynamite!" says Black Hat Content director Travis Carelock. "Neil Stephenson is one of those rare authors that never fails to ignite the imaginations of geeks and technophiles everywhere.  Most of us grew up daydreaming about his books such as 'Snow Crash' and 'Cryptonomicon.'  It really is fantastic news for our 15th anniversary!"

Stephenson's previous work includes novels such as "Cryptonomicon," "The Diamond Age," "Zodiac," the three-volume "The Baroque Cycle" ("Quicksilver," "The Confusion," and "The System of the World") and "Snow Crash," which was named one of TIME Magazine's 100 all-time best English-language novels. He is known for exploring and redefining genres ranging from cyberpunk to the historical epic.

Black Hat USA 2012 celebrates 15 years as the most significant information security event brand in the world. This year Black Hat welcomes over 6500 digital security experts, public, private sector security professionals and underground hackers in Las Vegas to uncover groundbreaking new vulnerabilities and new security tools debuting for the first time. Sponsors of Black Hat USA include Diamond Sponsors: Microsoft, Qualys; Platinum Sponsors: Accuvant LABS, Cisco, IBM, LogRhythm, Symantec, Terremark - a Verizon Company, Trustwave.

About Black Hat
Black Hat provides briefings and training to leading corporations and government agencies around the world. Black Hat differentiates itself by working at many levels within the corporate, government, and underground communities. This unmatched informational reach enables Black Hat attendees to be continuously aware of the newest vulnerabilities, defense mechanisms, and industry trends. Black Hat Briefings and Trainings are held annually in Abu Dhabi, Amsterdam, and Las Vegas. Black Hat is produced by UBM TechWeb. More information is available at http://www.blackhat.com.

About UBM TechWeb
UBM TechWeb, the global leader in technology media and professional information, enables people and organizations to harness the transformative power of technology. Through its three core businesses – media solutions, marketing services and paid content – UBM TechWeb produces the most respected and consumed brands and media applications in the technology market. More than 14.5 million business and technology professionals (CIOs and IT managers, Web & Digital professionals, Software Developers, Government decision makers, and Telecom providers) actively engage in UBM TechWeb's communities and information resources monthly. UBM TechWeb brands include: global face-to-face events such as Interop, Web 2.0, Black Hat and Enterprise Connect; award-winning online resources such as InformationWeek, Dark Reading, and Network Computing; and market-leading magazines InformationWeek, Wall Street & Technology, and Advanced Trading. UBM TechWeb is a UBM plc. company, a global provider of news distribution and specialist information services with a market capitalization of more than $2.5 billion.

SOURCE UBM TechWeb