It’s not often that I find myself in a lift with someone prettier than myself. What’s even more impressive is that I was able to walk out with out a harassment case being filed against me. But then again one tends to be on their best behaviour when that someone else in the lift is Jennifer Leggio aka mediaphyter. Yes, the very same social media expert who founded the Security Twits, manages the Security Bloggers Meet-Up at RSA Conference and also writes about security and social media for ZDNet.

Knowing that the lift journey would end quickly, I wasted no time.

Tell me about your career and how you got to where you are today?

I started out in print journalism, working at two large daily newspapers in my early 20s. I abandoned my Pulitzer dreams and went into public relations / marketing almost 10 years ago. Most of that 10 years was spent working with network security companies.

The best thing about infosec is:

I think security is the most exciting space in technology. I’ve worked in business intelligence, CRM, storage, and obviously social technologies, but nothing beats security in terms of sexiness, interest and importance.

The worst thing about infosec is:

Being a marketer in a very tech snobby industry. There’s definitely a stigma against marketers in this space; whether there should be a stigma or not is an entirely different conversation. Marketing absolutely has its place and its necessities. I’d rather have people like me in the industry whose job is to market, than watch technical geniuses get distracted from working on problems because they are too busy building their brands.

The biggest misconception about infosec is:

That technology can fix everything. That’s not true. There is no god box, no silver bullet. The biggest security risk is the unaware user, and technology can’t fix that.

Your favourite saying is:

“Die when you can do more damage” — It’s Superjoint Ritual lyric from the song “F*** Your Enemy.” I’m a big believer in making an impact, and only stopping when you have nothing left that you can do or say.

Three people you want to have dinner with:

Well, Walter Cronkite was at the top of that list until very recently. RIP, Uncle Walter.

Bob Woodward is up there. We’re actually Facebook friends, but that’s probably the closest I’ll ever get to Mr. Woodward. There are hundreds of topics upon which I’d love to pick his brain.

Luciano Leggio, I’m obsessed with the mafia (but no, I won’t play Mafia Wars with you on Facebook). He’s passed away as well. Darnit. Apparently I want to dine with a lot of dead men.

Infosec’s greatest weakness is:

Ego.

Never go into a meeting without:

A pen and paper. A laptop or smart phone is not needed in every meeting. Sometimes good old-fashioned paying attention works.

The weirdest security question you’ve ever been asked was:

“When do you think hackers will give up and go away?” More of a stupid question than a weird question.

It never ceases to amaze you how:

Many users think they can take a chance “this one time” and then are shocked when they are pwn3d.

If there’s one thing you can’t stand it’s:

Did I mention ego?

The last time you were truly amazed was:

TRULY amazed? Andrea Bocelli’s singing of “Nessun Dorma” at the Hollywood Bowl.

Lying in bed at night you often wonder:

I’m not thinking about infosec, I’ll tell ya that much.

You’d be lost without your:

GPS. No really? Pandora Radio.

What have you never been interested in:

Education. To me it’s a means to an end. I did what I had to do to get to where I wanted to go, but I’d rather hire someone with great real-world experience than someone whose only proven to me they can do assignments on time.

What are you fascinated by:

Passionate people, no matter what their passions might be.

When you’re am angry you:

Get really sarcastic. More than usual.

Describe Infosec in three words:

A necessary evil.

The most common assumption people make about you is:

They think I am angry because I am so cynical. I’m actually a pretty happy person. I just call ‘em like I see ‘em, and sometimes realism is scary to people who live in a bubble.

I can relate to that *laughs*

*uncomfortable silence*

To know more about you or to contact you:

Follow me on Twitter @mediaphyter