Bruce Schneier, photo courtesy of Gianluca D'Antonio

Boise State University will host an evening with esteemed security technologist and author Bruce Schneier at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 4, in the Special Events Center. The talk is free and open to the public.

Described by The Economist as a “security guru,” Schneier is chief security technology officer of BT Counterpane, a Silicon Valley-based company that manages the security of corporations all over the world. His original cryptographic algorithms and protocols are used in numerous security products, but he is best known as a refreshingly candid security critic/commentator as well as the bestselling author of eight books, including “Applied Cryptography,” “Secrets and Lies” and “Beyond Fear.” His free monthly newsletter, “Crypto-Gram,” has become one of the most widely read forums for freewheeling discussions, pointed critiques and serious debates about security.

At the Boise State podium, Schneier will challenge illusions of security on every level, leaving the audience with fresh insights on how to successfully navigate the maze of modern security demands. While on campus, he also will address students across many disciplines with an interest in the rapidly expanding field of information security. This talk, also free and open to the public, will take place at 1:40 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 4, in the Student Union Lookout Room.

“Bruce Schneier is one of the foremost experts in his field, and we are honored to host his visit to Boise and outreach to our students and the community,” said Doug Bullock, chair of the Math Department at Boise State. “This is a rare opportunity for people to gain insight into the complex issues of the Information Age while interacting with one of its most charismatic champions.”

Schneier has testified on security before the United States Congress on several occasions and has written articles for The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Guardian, Forbes, Wired, Nature, The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Boston Globe and the San Francisco Chronicle. In 2007, he was awarded the Electronic Frontier Foundation Pioneer Award, which recognizes people who make significant contributions to the empowerment of individuals in using computers. In 2008, the Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility, an international public-interest alliance of computer scientists, honored Schneier with the Norbert Wiener Award for his technical achievements and advocacy for privacy, security and civil liberties.

To learn more, visit Schneier’s Web site. (http://www.schneier.com/index.html)

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Media Contact: Erin Ryan, University Communications, (208) 426-4910, erinryan@boisestate.edu

THE NEW U RISING: As the home of the BCS Fiesta Bowl-bound Broncos, Boise State University also is the largest place of higher learning in Idaho with nearly 19,000 students, is ranked among the nation’s “top up-and-coming schools” by U.S. News & World Report and has the state’s fastest growing research program.