Hacking the Mind: Hypnosis, NLP, and Shellcode

Presented at HOPE Number Six (2006), July 21, 2006, 8 p.m. (60 minutes)

The similarities between the methods used to exploit a computer network and the language patterns involved in hypnosis and neuro linguistic programming (NLP) are striking. In this talk, nCircle's director of vulnerability research Mike Murray (who is also a Master NLP practitioner and certified clinical hypnotherapist) will demonstrate the use of hypnotic language patterns, metaphors, and other patterns of influence, as well as showing how a good hypnotist structures inductions in a similar way to the methods of a skilled computer hacker. Hypnotic analogues to buffer overflows, shellcode, and other types of computer attacks will be demonstrated, leaving the audience with a deeper appreciation for language patterns and their effect on the human mind.


Presenters:

  • Mike Murray
    Mike Murray is nCircle's director of vulnerability and exposure research, working out of the company's Canadian headquarters in Toronto. In this role, he oversees the Canadian operations for the company and leads the nCircle VnE research team in both Canada and the U.S. Having joined the company in 2000, Mike previously held several positions within nCircle including acting as the manager of the vulnerability research team and overseeing the company's internal IT and security programs. As manager of the vulnerability research team, Mike played a key role in creating new methods of vulnerability detection, positioning nCircle as an industry leader in the science of detecting known vulnerabilities in end hosts. He has published several articles in publications such as SysAdmin and CISSPWorld and has spoken at industry forums such as Central Maryland Information Systems and Audit Control Association. He has also held positions with FSC Internet Corporation (where he performed security assessments and vulnerability research) and LURHQ Corp (as product manager and the head of the LURHQ Threat Intelligence Group). Mike is a certified information systems security professional and holds a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Toronto.

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