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DEF CON 20 - Dead Addict and Gail Thackeray - Before, During, and After

1,078 views · Published 30 October 2013 · 21:45 · Indexed 6 November 2026

Channel: DEFCONConference · 2013 · Science & Technology

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Before, During, and After
Gail Thackeray Former Assistant Attorney General and Special Counsel,
Arizona Attorney General's Office
Dead Addict

When Gail Thackeray first spoke at DEF CON 1 there was no world wide web, state sponsored computer warfare was the stuff of science fiction, and international mafias had yet to become major players in computer crime.Internationally known for her role in Operation Sundevil, the former prosecuting attorney will discuss the changes in the computer security legal landscape since she first spoke at DEF CON. She will also discuss the evolution of the relationship between the computer security researcher community and law enforcement and government.

Twenty years ago, Dead Addict practically begged Gail Thackeray to appear at DEF CON, even though she was actively prosecuting several of his close friends. Since then the government (law enforcement, military, and intelligence community) has actively participated in DEF CON; to the point where we've been given the moniker 'FED CON'. Dead Addict will discuss the evolving relationship between government, the hacker community, and the civil liberties community. While obviously at odds with each other in some areas, there is also shared ground between these groups. This year he was happy to be able invite Gail again, this time not begging as much, and thankfully she isn't prosecuting any of his friends.

Following their talk, Gail and Dead Addict will give a special introduction to our Special Guest Speaker [REDACTED], [REDACTED] of the [REDACTED] and [REDACTED].

Gail Thackeray is a former Assistant Attorney General and Special Counsel recently retired from the Arizona Attorney General's Office. Her career prosecuting electronic crimes included the investigation and prosecution of early infrastructure attacks on a telephone network and a power company, as well as numerous fraud, cyberstalking and intrusion crimes. She participated in the nationwide Secret Service hacker investigation known as "Operation Sundevil" and attended the first Defcon Conference. She currently works at the Arizona Counter Terrorism Information Center as a computer forensic examiner. She has a B.A. from Vassar College, a J.D. from Syracuse University, and earned the CFCE forensics certification from the International Association of Computer Investigative Specialists (IACIS).

20 years ago, Dead Addict helped organize the first DEF CON. He has been part of the staff ever since. In the years since DEF CON began, DA has worked for companies large and small, helping secure mobile platforms, operating systems, and financial infrastructures. In addition to being given the opportunity to speak speak at DEF CON, Shmoocon, Black Hat, Notacon and others, he constantly feels privileged at the company he has been able to keep. He is currently a wandering r?nin and aspiring curmudgeon that can be reached at [email protected] or [email protected]

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