Michael Schearer
Encyclopedia
Michael Schearer is an American
computer security
researcher
and writer
who is known for his research and presentations on the technology of improvised explosive devices, wireless security
, cryptography
, and privacy
. He is a contributing author to multiple books on computer security
, and was formerly an Associate for Booz Allen Hamilton
. He currently works for his own small business, Leverage Consulting & Associates as a penetration tester. In the computer hacker community, he is known as theprez98.
, Schearer currently lives in Glen Burnie, Maryland
. Schearer has a Master's degree
in national security studies from Georgetown University
and a Bachelor of Arts
degree in political science
from Bloomsburg University. Before Booz Allen, he worked for the United States Navy
.
and Electronic Countermeasures Officer (ECMO) in EA-6B Prowler aircraft. During 2003 and 2004, Schearer flew combat missions for VAQ-139
from the USS Abraham Lincoln
over Afghanistan
during Operation Enduring Freedom, Iraq during Operation Southern Watch
, and again over Iraq during the initial phase of Operation Iraqi Freedom. From May 2005 until February 2008, Schearer was an Assistant Professor of Naval Science for the NROTC unit located at the Pennsylvania State University
. During that time, he was deployed to Iraq
for nine months as an electronic warfare
officer tasked to train military forces in the use of counter-IED
equipment. After returning from Iraq, Schearer gave several public presentations concerning the technology of improvised explosive devices.
Power Tools and Kismet Hacking. Most recently, he contributed to the forthcoming book Defense Against the Black Arts: How Hackers Do What They Do and How to Protect Against It by CRC Press.
, computer and technology projects, and reading.
, H.O.P.E.
, Penn State Security Day and ShmooCon
.
Schearer is also a founding member and keyholder of the central Maryland hackerspace Unallocated Space.
, ShmooCon
, and Penn State's Security Day.:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
computer security
Computer security
Computer security is a branch of computer technology known as information security as applied to computers and networks. The objective of computer security includes protection of information and property from theft, corruption, or natural disaster, while allowing the information and property to...
researcher
Researcher
A researcher is somebody who performs research, the search for knowledge or in general any systematic investigation to establish facts. Researchers can work in academic, industrial, government, or private institutions.-Examples of research institutions:...
and writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
who is known for his research and presentations on the technology of improvised explosive devices, wireless security
Wireless security
Wireless security is the prevention of unauthorized access or damage to computers using wireless networks.Many laptop computers have wireless cards pre-installed. The ability to enter a network while mobile has great benefits. However, wireless networking is prone to some security issues...
, cryptography
Cryptography
Cryptography is the practice and study of techniques for secure communication in the presence of third parties...
, and privacy
Privacy
Privacy is the ability of an individual or group to seclude themselves or information about themselves and thereby reveal themselves selectively...
. He is a contributing author to multiple books on computer security
Computer security
Computer security is a branch of computer technology known as information security as applied to computers and networks. The objective of computer security includes protection of information and property from theft, corruption, or natural disaster, while allowing the information and property to...
, and was formerly an Associate for Booz Allen Hamilton
Booz Allen Hamilton
Booz Allen Hamilton Inc. , or more commonly Booz Allen, is an American public consulting firm headquartered in McLean, Fairfax County, Virginia, with 80 other offices throughout the United States. Ralph Shrader is its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. The firm was founded by Edwin Booz in...
. He currently works for his own small business, Leverage Consulting & Associates as a penetration tester. In the computer hacker community, he is known as theprez98.
Education
Originally from Reading, PennsylvaniaReading, Pennsylvania
Reading is a city in southeastern Pennsylvania, USA, and seat of Berks County. Reading is the principal city of the Greater Reading Area and had a population of 88,082 as of the 2010 census, making it the fifth most populated city in the state after Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown and Erie,...
, Schearer currently lives in Glen Burnie, Maryland
Glen Burnie, Maryland
Glen Burnie is a census-designated place in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, United States, and is a suburb of Baltimore. The population was 67,639 at the 2010 census...
. Schearer has a Master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in national security studies from Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
and a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
from Bloomsburg University. Before Booz Allen, he worked for the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
.
Military
From June 1999 until February 2008, Schearer served as a Naval Flight OfficerNaval Flight Officer
A Naval Flight Officer is an aeronautically designated commissioned officer in the United States Navy or United States Marine Corps that specializes in airborne weapons and sensor systems. NFOs are not pilots per se, but they may perform many "co-pilot" functions, depending on the type of aircraft...
and Electronic Countermeasures Officer (ECMO) in EA-6B Prowler aircraft. During 2003 and 2004, Schearer flew combat missions for VAQ-139
VAQ-139
Electronic Attack Squadron 139 , also known as the "Cougars", is an EA-6B Prowler squadron of the United States Navy. They specialize in electronic attack and are currently stationed at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington.-1980s:...
from the USS Abraham Lincoln
USS Abraham Lincoln
Various ships have borne the name Abraham Lincoln, in honor of the 16th President of the United States.-United States Navy:* The , was a ballistic missile submarine.* The , is an aircraft carrier currently in service.-Fictional:...
over Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
during Operation Enduring Freedom, Iraq during Operation Southern Watch
Operation Southern Watch
Operation Southern Watch was an operation conducted by Joint Task Force Southwest Asia with the mission of monitoring and controlling airspace south of the 32nd Parallel in Iraq, following the 1991 Gulf War until the 2003 invasion of Iraq.-Summary:Operation Southern Watch began on 27 August 1992...
, and again over Iraq during the initial phase of Operation Iraqi Freedom. From May 2005 until February 2008, Schearer was an Assistant Professor of Naval Science for the NROTC unit located at the Pennsylvania State University
Pennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
. During that time, he was deployed to Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
for nine months as an electronic warfare
Electronic warfare
Electronic warfare refers to any action involving the use of the electromagnetic spectrum or directed energy to control the spectrum, attack an enemy, or impede enemy assaults via the spectrum. The purpose of electronic warfare is to deny the opponent the advantage of, and ensure friendly...
officer tasked to train military forces in the use of counter-IED
Improvised explosive device
An improvised explosive device , also known as a roadside bomb, is a homemade bomb constructed and deployed in ways other than in conventional military action...
equipment. After returning from Iraq, Schearer gave several public presentations concerning the technology of improvised explosive devices.
Writings on computer security
In 2007, Schearer was a contributing author to Penetration Tester's Open Source Tookit, Volume 2. In 2008, Schearer contributed to two other books: NetcatNetcat
Netcat is a computer networking service for reading from and writing network connections using TCP or UDP. Netcat is designed to be a dependable “back-end” device that can be used directly or easily driven by other programs and scripts...
Power Tools and Kismet Hacking. Most recently, he contributed to the forthcoming book Defense Against the Black Arts: How Hackers Do What They Do and How to Protect Against It by CRC Press.
Other writing
Schearer has written several articles published by Naval Safety Center publications Sea & Shore and Approach. He also maintains a weblog, MikeBlog, which focuses on his interests in sports, politicsPolitics
Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the...
, computer and technology projects, and reading.
Organizations
Schearer is a founding member of the reformed Church of WiFi, a wireless security research group. The Church hosts member-contributed projects related to wireless security issues and has presented research at DEF CONDEF CON
DEF CON is one of the world's largest annual computer hacker conventions, held every year in Las Vegas, Nevada...
, H.O.P.E.
H.O.P.E.
HOPE is a conference series sponsored by the hacker magazine 2600: The Hacker Quarterly. Held biennially in the summer, there have been eight conferences to date with the next scheduled for 13 - 15 July 2012.- HOPE: Hackers On...
, Penn State Security Day and ShmooCon
ShmooCon
ShmooCon is an American hacker convention organized by The Shmoo Group. There are typically about 35 different talks and presentations, on a variety of subjects related to computer security and cyberculture.-History:...
.
Schearer is also a founding member and keyholder of the central Maryland hackerspace Unallocated Space.
Presentations
Schearer has presented his research at a number of conferences including DEF CONDEF CON
DEF CON is one of the world's largest annual computer hacker conventions, held every year in Las Vegas, Nevada...
, ShmooCon
ShmooCon
ShmooCon is an American hacker convention organized by The Shmoo Group. There are typically about 35 different talks and presentations, on a variety of subjects related to computer security and cyberculture.-History:...
, and Penn State's Security Day.:
- The Church of WiFi Presents A Hacker in Iraq ShmooConShmooConShmooCon is an American hacker convention organized by The Shmoo Group. There are typically about 35 different talks and presentations, on a variety of subjects related to computer security and cyberculture.-History:...
3 March 24, 2007 - The Church of WiFi's Wireless Extravaganza (with Thorn and Renderman) DEF CONDEF CONDEF CON is one of the world's largest annual computer hacker conventions, held every year in Las Vegas, Nevada...
15 August 3, 2007 - The Church of WiFi Presents: Hacking Iraq DEF CONDEF CONDEF CON is one of the world's largest annual computer hacker conventions, held every year in Las Vegas, Nevada...
15 August 4, 2007 - Wireless (In)security Penn State Security Day October 17, 2007
- Can Mathematics and Computers Really Solve Crimes? ShmooConShmooConShmooCon is an American hacker convention organized by The Shmoo Group. There are typically about 35 different talks and presentations, on a variety of subjects related to computer security and cyberculture.-History:...
4 February 17, 2008 - BackTrack 3 and Wireless (In)security Booz Allen HamiltonBooz Allen HamiltonBooz Allen Hamilton Inc. , or more commonly Booz Allen, is an American public consulting firm headquartered in McLean, Fairfax County, Virginia, with 80 other offices throughout the United States. Ralph Shrader is its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. The firm was founded by Edwin Booz in...
June 26, 2008 - Pen Testing the Web with Firefox (with John "DaKahuna" Fulmer) The Last H.O.P.E.H.O.P.E.HOPE is a conference series sponsored by the hacker magazine 2600: The Hacker Quarterly. Held biennially in the summer, there have been eight conferences to date with the next scheduled for 13 - 15 July 2012.- HOPE: Hackers On...
July 20, 2008 - Wireless (In)security Booz Allen HamiltonBooz Allen HamiltonBooz Allen Hamilton Inc. , or more commonly Booz Allen, is an American public consulting firm headquartered in McLean, Fairfax County, Virginia, with 80 other offices throughout the United States. Ralph Shrader is its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. The firm was founded by Edwin Booz in...
July 23, 2008 - Pen Testing the Web with Firefox Central PA Open Source Conference October 19, 2008
- Solve This Cipher and Win! ShmooConShmooConShmooCon is an American hacker convention organized by The Shmoo Group. There are typically about 35 different talks and presentations, on a variety of subjects related to computer security and cyberculture.-History:...
5 February 8, 2009 - Pen Testing the Web with Firefox HackCon February 17, 2009
- Investigating the Web with Firefox Maryland Investigators & Security Association April 13, 2009
- Pen Testing the Web with Firefox Central Maryland Technical Exchange Forum July 20, 2009
- Pen Testing the Web with Firefox CONFidence 2009/2.0 November 19, 2009
- SHODAN for Penetration Testers ShmooConShmooConShmooCon is an American hacker convention organized by The Shmoo Group. There are typically about 35 different talks and presentations, on a variety of subjects related to computer security and cyberculture.-History:...
6 Firetalks February 5, 2010 - Attacking Internet Kiosks (based upon the work of Paul Craig) HackCon February 18, 2010
- Black Hat Webcast: Pen Testing the Web with Firefox Black Hat Webcast March 18, 2010
- SHODAN for Penetration Testers QuahogCon April 24, 2010
- SHODAN for Penetration Testers The Next H.O.P.E.H.O.P.E.HOPE is a conference series sponsored by the hacker magazine 2600: The Hacker Quarterly. Held biennially in the summer, there have been eight conferences to date with the next scheduled for 13 - 15 July 2012.- HOPE: Hackers On...
July 16, 2010 - How to Pwn an ISP in Ten Minutes or Less DEF CONDEF CONDEF CON is one of the world's largest annual computer hacker conventions, held every year in Las Vegas, Nevada...
18 Skytalks July 30, 2010 - SHODAN for Penetration Testers DEF CONDEF CONDEF CON is one of the world's largest annual computer hacker conventions, held every year in Las Vegas, Nevada...
18 August 1, 2010 - Net Neutrality, the FCC, and the End of the Internet as We Know It ShmooconShmooConShmooCon is an American hacker convention organized by The Shmoo Group. There are typically about 35 different talks and presentations, on a variety of subjects related to computer security and cyberculture.-History:...
7 Firetalks January 29, 2011 - WTF Happened to the Constitution?! The Right to Privacy in the Digital Age DEF CONDEF CONDEF CON is one of the world's largest annual computer hacker conventions, held every year in Las Vegas, Nevada...
19 August 5, 2011 - Net Neutrality Panel DEF CONDEF CONDEF CON is one of the world's largest annual computer hacker conventions, held every year in Las Vegas, Nevada...
19 August 5, 2011 - Contractors, Clearances, and Chaos: Tales from the Crypt DEFCONDEFCONA defense readiness condition is an alert posture used by the United States Armed Forces. The DEFCON system was developed by the Joint Chiefs of Staff and unified and specified combatant commands. It prescribes five graduated levels of readiness for the U.S...
19 Skytalks August 6, 2011
Publications
- Schearer, Michael. How safe is your neighborhood? Sea & Shore, Fall 2005.
- Schearer, Michael, et al. Penetration Tester's Open Source Tookit, Vol 2, Syngress Publishing, 2007. ISBN 1-597-49213-2
- Schearer, Michael, et al. Netcat Power Tools, Syngress Publishing, 2008. ISBN 978-1-59749-257-7
- Schearer, Michael, et al. Kismet Hacking, Syngress Publishing, 2008. ISBN 978-1597491174
- Schearer, Michael, et al. Defense Against the Black Arts: How Hackers Do What They Do and How to Protect Against It, CRC Press, 2011. ISBN 978-1439821190