Suelette Dreyfus
Encyclopedia
Suelette Dreyfus is an Australian-American technology journalist and researcher, and author of the 1997 cult classic Underground: Hacking, Madness and Obsession on the Electronic Frontier. The book describes the exploits of a group of Australian, American, and British black hat
hackers
during the late 1980s and early 1990s, among them Julian Assange
, who is credited as researcher for the book.
She and Assange are friends, and in 2009 she was described by Wired magazine as being on the Wikileaks advisory board.
Dreyfus says she first went online in 1994 when a friend introduced her to a Bulletin Board System
(BBS). "When I was on a BBS," she told The Age newspaper, "I met up with some people who told me stories about Melbourne hackers breaking into NASA and other sites. It intrigued me and so I struck up a friendship with these people and was eventually introduced to them."
Dreyfus was also associate producer for the Frontline documentary series Hackers in 2001, and was associate producer for the documentary In the Realm of the Hackers
, inspired by Underground, in 2003. She is a regular contributor to The Independent
and The Age
, as well as to radio programs like the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
's Late Night Live with Philip Adams.
Dreyfus is a researcher at the University of Melbourne
, where she is described as having particular interest in digital whistleblowing, health informatics, computer security, hacking, mobile computing security and organisational change.
She received her BA from Columbia University
in 1987 and her PhD from Monash University
in 1998. While at Columbia, she won the Teichmann Prize for excellence and originality in writing.
Black hat
A black hat is the villain or bad guy, especially in a western movie in which such a character would stereotypically wear a black hat in contrast to the hero's white hat, especially in black and white movies....
hackers
Hacker (computer security)
In computer security and everyday language, a hacker is someone who breaks into computers and computer networks. Hackers may be motivated by a multitude of reasons, including profit, protest, or because of the challenge...
during the late 1980s and early 1990s, among them Julian Assange
Julian Assange
Julian Paul Assange is an Australian publisher, journalist, writer, computer programmer and Internet activist. He is the editor in chief of WikiLeaks, a whistleblower website and conduit for worldwide news leaks with the stated purpose of creating open governments.WikiLeaks has published material...
, who is credited as researcher for the book.
She and Assange are friends, and in 2009 she was described by Wired magazine as being on the Wikileaks advisory board.
Dreyfus says she first went online in 1994 when a friend introduced her to a Bulletin Board System
Bulletin board system
A Bulletin Board System, or BBS, is a computer system running software that allows users to connect and log in to the system using a terminal program. Once logged in, a user can perform functions such as uploading and downloading software and data, reading news and bulletins, and exchanging...
(BBS). "When I was on a BBS," she told The Age newspaper, "I met up with some people who told me stories about Melbourne hackers breaking into NASA and other sites. It intrigued me and so I struck up a friendship with these people and was eventually introduced to them."
Dreyfus was also associate producer for the Frontline documentary series Hackers in 2001, and was associate producer for the documentary In the Realm of the Hackers
In the Realm of the Hackers
In The Realm of the Hackers is a 2003 Australian documentary directed by Kevin Anderson about the prominent hacker community, centered in Melbourne, Australia in the late 80's to early 1990...
, inspired by Underground, in 2003. She is a regular contributor to The Independent
The Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
and The Age
The Age
The Age is a daily broadsheet newspaper, which has been published in Melbourne, Australia since 1854. Owned and published by Fairfax Media, The Age primarily serves Victoria, but is also available for purchase in Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory and border regions of South Australia and...
, as well as to radio programs like the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
's Late Night Live with Philip Adams.
Dreyfus is a researcher at the University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
, where she is described as having particular interest in digital whistleblowing, health informatics, computer security, hacking, mobile computing security and organisational change.
She received her BA from Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
in 1987 and her PhD from Monash University
Monash University
Monash University is a public university based in Melbourne, Victoria. It was founded in 1958 and is the second oldest university in the state. Monash is a member of Australia's Group of Eight and the ASAIHL....
in 1998. While at Columbia, she won the Teichmann Prize for excellence and originality in writing.