Chris Valasek
Director of Product Security at Cruise (GM) | Famed Jeep Hacker | Autonomous Vehicle & IoT Cybersecurity Expert | DEF CON & Black Hat Speaker
Charlie Miller
Principal Autonomous Vehicle Security Architect, Cruise | Former NSA Hacker | 4x Pwn2Own Champion | Cybersecurity & IoT Expert
Few people on earth have hacked the iPhone, the Android, and a moving car on a highway — Dr. Charlie Miller has done all three. A former NSA operative and four-time Pwn2Own champion, he forced a 1.4 million-vehicle recall with a single live demonstration. His talks give senior audiences an insider view of how attackers think and where real organizational risk lives.
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Charlie Miller biography
Cybersecurity speaker Charlie Miller is one of the most technically accomplished ethical hackers alive — a Ph.D. mathematician turned NSA operative whose career-defining discoveries have forced Apple, Fiat Chrysler, and the entire automotive industry to rethink how they defend their systems. Named by Foreign Policy magazine as one of the most skilled hackers in the world, Dr. Miller holds a doctorate in mathematics from the University of Notre Dame and spent five years as a computer hacker for the National Security Agency before bringing that tradecraft to the private sector.
His track record of high-impact, responsible disclosure is virtually unmatched. He was the first person ever to remotely compromise an iPhone — exploiting an SMS vulnerability that allowed complete device takeover without any user interaction — and replicated the feat on Android on its launch day. He won the Pwn2Own competition, widely regarded as the “Super Bowl” of computer hacking, four times, exposing critical flaws in Apple’s Safari browser and MacBook Air that earned him both prize money and the industry’s respect. Beyond mobile, Miller uncovered vulnerabilities in laptop battery firmware and NFC communications, consistently staying ahead of the threat landscape.
The Jeep Hack That Changed an Industry
Working alongside researcher Chris Valasek at Wired‘s invitation, Dr. Miller demonstrated the most consequential automotive cybersecurity exploit on record: the remote takeover of a 2015 Jeep Cherokee via its cellular-connected infotainment system, with a journalist at the wheel on a St. Louis highway. The pair controlled steering, braking, acceleration, and entertainment — from ten miles away — without ever touching the vehicle. The disclosure forced Fiat Chrysler to recall 1.4 million vehicles and directly triggered new federal attention to automotive cybersecurity standards. It remains the defining moment that elevated vehicle hacking from theoretical concern to urgent industry priority.
Dr. Miller went on to apply that expertise at Twitter, Uber’s Advanced Technology Group, Didi Chuxing, and Cruise Automation, where he serves as Principal Autonomous Vehicle Security Architect. His work has been covered extensively by ABC World News Tonight, The Today Show, NPR, CNN, the New York Times, CNBC, USA Today, and Forbes. He is also co-author of The iOS Hacker’s Handbook, the definitive technical guide to Apple platform vulnerability research.
As a speaker, Charlie Miller translates deeply technical material into urgent, actionable insight for boards, executive teams, and security leaders. His presentations take audiences inside the mind of an attacker — showing not just how breaches happen, but why organizations systematically underestimate risk. Whether addressing enterprise network defense, connected vehicle security, IoT vulnerabilities, or the convergence of AI and cyber risk, Miller’s talks are grounded in real exploits he personally executed, making the threat landscape viscerally real. Senior audiences leave with a sharper understanding of where their exposure lies and what posture changes matter most.
Charlie Miller Speaking Videos
Charlie Miller & Chris Valasek - Remote Exploitation of an Unaltered Passenger Vehicle
Hackers Remotely Kill a Jeep on a Highway
Charlie Miller Keynote Topics
Most cybersecurity strategies are built around compliance checklists — not the reality of how skilled attackers operate. Drawing on his own landmark exploits, Dr. Miller takes audiences inside the attacker mindset: how vulnerabilities are discovered, how systems are mapped, and how organizations consistently leave the same categories of exposure unaddressed. Attendees leave with a fundamentally different view of where their risk actually lives and what defenses move the needle.
The vehicle that proved a car could be hijacked from ten miles away was not a prototype — it was a production model on a public highway. Dr. Miller draws on the famous Jeep Cherokee exploit and his work as Principal Autonomous Vehicle Security Architect at Cruise to examine what secure connected vehicle design looks like, why legacy automotive architecture creates systemic risk, and what the industry must solve before autonomy scales. Essential for automotive, transportation, logistics, and smart infrastructure audiences.
Enterprise networks are defended by people who have rarely tried to break them. Charlie Miller has spent decades doing exactly that — across mobile devices, embedded systems, and complex connected infrastructure. In this session, he walks audiences through the reconnaissance, pivot, and exploitation techniques attackers use against real enterprise environments, translating each step into concrete defensive priorities. The result is a cybersecurity conversation that resonates with both the CISO and the board.
The proliferation of connected devices — from factory floors to smart buildings to consumer electronics — has dramatically expanded the attack surface available to adversaries. Dr. Miller examines how IoT and AI-enabled systems introduce new classes of vulnerability, how attackers are already exploiting them, and what organizations must prioritize as their environments grow more interconnected. A forward-looking session for technology, operations, and executive leadership audiences navigating digital transformation.
FAQs on Booking Charlie Miller
Why Charlie Miller?
Booking Charlie Miller for your event is a decision that places one of the most credible voices in cybersecurity on your stage. Dr. Miller does not speak in abstractions — he hacked the iPhone before most people knew what a smartphone vulnerability was, forced a 1.4 million-vehicle recall with a single demonstration, and spent five years executing classified operations for the NSA. His presentations are built on exploits he personally engineered, giving executive and technical audiences alike the rare experience of understanding the hacker mindset from the inside. For organizations navigating rising cyber threats, connected infrastructure, autonomous systems, or IoT risk, Miller offers strategic clarity that no theoretical framework can match. Contact Aurum Speakers Bureau to check Charlie Miller's availability for your next event.
What is Charlie Miller best known for in cybersecurity?
Dr. Miller is best known for two landmark exploits. First, he was the first person to remotely hack an iPhone — compromising it entirely through a malicious SMS with no user interaction — making global headlines and prompting Apple to overhaul its mobile security architecture. Second, alongside Chris Valasek, he demonstrated live remote control of a moving Jeep Cherokee via its cellular connection, manipulating brakes, steering, and acceleration from miles away. That single demonstration triggered a 1.4 million-vehicle recall by Fiat Chrysler and became a watershed moment for automotive cybersecurity regulation. He has also won the Pwn2Own hacking competition four times, exposing critical vulnerabilities in Apple's Safari and MacBook Air hardware.
What is Charlie Miller's academic and professional background?
Dr. Miller holds a Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of Notre Dame. After graduating, he joined the National Security Agency as a computer hacker, spending five years conducting offensive operations. He subsequently held security roles at Twitter, Uber's Advanced Technology Group, Didi Chuxing, and Cruise Automation, where he serves as Principal Autonomous Vehicle Security Architect. He is also the co-author of The iOS Hacker's Handbook, a widely used technical reference in the security community.
What topics does cybersecurity speaker Charlie Miller cover?
Speaker Charlie Miller's keynotes span offensive and defensive cybersecurity, covering network defense from an attacker's perspective, mobile device vulnerabilities, automotive and connected vehicle security, IoT risk, and the emerging intersection of AI with cyber threats. His talks are tailored to executive audiences who need to understand the strategic implications of digital risk, as well as technical teams who benefit from his hands-on exploit methodology. Aurum Speakers Bureau can help you customize the right program for your event — reach out today to discuss availability and speaking fees.
How to book Charlie Miller as a keynote speaker?
Aurum Speakers Bureau can help you book Charlie Miller as a speaker for your next event, conference, or board meeting. Simply fill out our contact form to inquire about Charlie Miller's availability for a speaking engagement. One of our booking agents will respond to your request immediately and contact the speaker to let them know you want to hire them. We will assist you with obtaining speaking fees, booking information, and confirming availability for Charlie Miller or any other top keynote speaker or celebrity of your choice.
How much is Charlie Miller speaking fee?
Charlie Miller speaking fees are determined by several factors, including the event's date, whether it's a virtual or in-person event, the duration, format, preparation required for their speech, and more. The same applies to the cost to hire any other top expert speakers and celebrities. The Speaker Fee Range listed on our website is simply a guideline and is subject to change without notice. If you would like to hire Charlie Miller to deliver a keynote speech for your event, please fill out the contact form or email us at info@aurumbureau.com with as much detail as possible. One of our experienced agents will get in touch with you and let you know exactly how much it will cost to book Charlie Miller.
How can I contact Charlie Miller?
We only work with Charlie Miller on paid speaking engagements. Aurum Speakers Bureau can assist you in booking Charlie Miller and will handle all negotiations, contracts, and logistics associated with having Charlie Miller speak at your event. We will be your sole point of contact throughout the process. Get in touch with Aurum Speakers Bureau today, and we will reach out to any motivational speaker or celebrity you want to enquire about speaking at your event. If you wish to contact Charlie Miller for any other reason, we will be unable to assist you as we are not authorized to provide personal contact information.
Can I book Charlie Miller for a virtual keynote?
Yes, Charlie Miller is available for virtual keynotes and webinars. To book Charlie Miller for a virtual event, please complete the contact form or send us an email to inquire about the special fees for virtual engagements.
