Gregory Schaffer, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, to Keynote Black Hat DC 2010

SEATTLE, Jan. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Black Hat, produced by TechWeb, today announced that Gregory Schaffer will keynote at Black Hat DC 2010, the world's leading information security event. Black Hat DC 2010 will host over 500 digital security experts, bringing together public and private sector security professionals and underground hackers from around the world to dissect the latest security trends. Black Hat DC is taking place February 2 – February 3 at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City in Arlington, Virginia. Registration is now open at http://www.blackhat.com/html/bh-dc-10/bh-dc-10-home.html.

U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano appointed Greg Schaffer as Assistant Secretary for Cybersecurity and Communications (CS&C) last year.  Mr. Schaffer works within the National Protection Program Directorate (NPPD) to lead the coordinated efforts of CS&C and its components, including the National Cyber Security Division, the Office of Emergency Communications, and the National Communications System.   Schaffer engages the public and private sectors as well as international partners to prepare for, prevent, and respond to incidents impacting the nation's strategic cyber and communications infrastructure.

"Today all eyes are on cyber security, and next week all eyes will be on Black Hat," said Jeff Moss, founder of Black Hat and Member of the Homeland Security Advisory Council (HSAC) reporting to DHS director Napolitano. "As part of the most important cyber security conference series of its kind, Black Hat DC welcomes those at the forefront of the latest information security issues. We're expecting big news and advancements happening next week."

Sponsors of Black Hat DC include Platinum Sponsors Novell and Palantir; Gold Sponsors ArcSight, Berico Technologies, Core Security Technologies, Fortify Software, Harris Corporation, Intel SOA Expressway, IOActive, Johns Hopkins Engineering for Professionals, LogLogic, Lookingglass, Microsoft, netForensics, NetWitness Corporation, NitroSecurity, Pico Computing, Qualys, Inc, RedSeal, Research In Motion, Rovi Corporation, Rsignia, Inc., SAINT Corporation, SecureWorks, Solera Networks, Splunk, SRA, StillSecure, TippingPoint, and 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 to be continuously aware of the newest vulnerabilities, defense mechanisms, and industry trends. Black Hat Briefings and Trainings are held annually in Abu Dhabi, Barcelona, Las Vegas and Washington DC. Black Hat also produces a regular webcast series of live web events focusing on what's hot in the infosec space all year long. The third Thursday of every month, Black Hat brings together speakers, independent researchers and leading security experts from the government to the underground to answer questions live. Black Hat is produced by TechWeb. More information is available at http://www.blackhat.com.

Jeff Moss, the founder of Black Hat and DEF CON, was appointed to the Homeland Security Advisory Council (HSAC) in 2009.  Mr. Moss joins 15 other members of the advisory council including the Chairman, William H. Webster, former Director of the CIA and FBI; Judge Louis Freeh, former Director of the FBI; and James R. Schlesinger, former Secretary of Defense and America's first Secretary of Energy.

About TechWeb

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 – TechWeb produces the most respected and consumed brands and media applications in the technology market. More than 14 million business and technology professionals (CIOs and IT managers, Web & Digital professionals, Software Developers, Government decision makers, and Telecom providers) actively engage in TechWeb's communities and information resources monthly. TechWeb brands includes: global face-to-face events such as Interop, Web 2.0, Black Hat and VoiceCon; award-winning online resources such as InformationWeek, Light Reading, and Network Computing; and market-leading InformationWeek, Wall Street & Technology, and Advanced Trading magazines.  TechWeb is a UBM company, a global provider of news distribution and specialist information services with a market capitalization of more than $2.5 billion.

SOURCE TechWeb