Carlos Alvarado Quesada
48th President of Costa Rica (2018-2022) | Professor of Practice, The Fletcher School, Tufts | TIME 100 Next | National Geographic Planetary Leadership Award
Samy Kamkar
World-Renowned Security Researcher & Ethical Hacker | Inventor of Evercookie & the Samy XSS Worm | Co-Founder of Openpath | Cybersecurity, Privacy & Hardware Expert
Samy Kamkar is one of the world's most recognized security researchers, a self-taught hacker whose creations exposed critical flaws in global systems, from the most viral XSS worm in history to tools that clone car key fobs. Now a chief security officer and enterprise founder, he gives technical and executive audiences alike a rare inside view of how real attacks are built and how to design systems resilient enough to withstand them.
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Samy Kamkar biography
Speaker Samy Kamkar is one of the most influential cybersecurity researchers in the world, a self-taught hacker, entrepreneur, and privacy advocate whose work has exposed fundamental weaknesses in systems most people assume are secure. From connected vehicles and key fobs to corporate networks and critical infrastructure, Kamkar’s research has repeatedly shown that the attack surface of modern life is far larger than organizations realize, and that understanding how adversaries think is the most powerful defense available.
Cybersecurity speaker Samy Kamkar first gained global attention in 2005 when he released the Samy worm, the fastest-spreading virus in internet history, which infected more than one million MySpace accounts in under 24 hours by exploiting a cross-site scripting flaw. He was 19. What made the event remarkable was not only its scale but what it revealed: major platforms were defending against threats that no longer reflected how real attacks were built. The episode led to his cooperation with federal authorities and ultimately redirected his talent toward building safer systems for organizations worldwide.
In the years that followed, Kamkar engineered a series of landmark demonstrations that became required study in security circles. He created Evercookie, a mechanism showing how websites could track users even after cookies were deleted, spurring international debate about digital privacy. He built SkyJack, a drone capable of autonomously hijacking other drones in flight, and developed tools showing how car key fobs could be cloned in seconds and how everyday devices leak far more data than their owners suspect.
From Exploits to Enterprise: A Career Built on Creative Attack
Kamkar co-founded Openpath Security, a frictionless enterprise access-control company acquired by Motorola Solutions and now part of Avigilon Alta, where he has helped shape secure access technology as a chief security officer and advisor. He has counseled companies across technology, financial services, and defense, working at the intersection of offensive research, hardware hacking, and privacy policy. That combination makes him one of the few voices who can speak credibly to both engineering teams and the C-suite about what real threats look like before they become breaches.
As a speaker, Samy Kamkar brings something few security professionals can offer: the perspective of someone who has built the attacks, not just defended against them. His sessions demystify how sophisticated intrusions actually work, from social engineering and credential theft to hardware exploits and supply-chain risk, and translate that knowledge into a practical security culture for organizations at any level of maturity. Senior audiences leave with a sharper understanding of their risk surface and a clearer framework for investing in resilience.
Samy Kamkar Speaking Videos
Samy Kamkar's Crash Course in How to Be a Hardware Hacker
Samy Kamkar - The day I Realized I Had Superpowers
Samy Kamkar Keynote Topics
Most organizations invest in cybersecurity without understanding how adversaries actually operate. In this session, Kamkar walks audiences through the real mechanics of high-profile attacks — from the Samy XSS worm to drone hijacking to vehicle key fob cloning — using his own work as a lens to expose the creative, methodical thinking behind sophisticated intrusions. Attendees gain a visceral understanding of their actual risk surface and leave better equipped to ask the right questions of their security teams.
The perimeter of a modern organization extends far beyond its network. In this technical-yet-accessible keynote, Kamkar demonstrates how everyday physical objects — access cards, key fobs, garage door openers, connected vehicles — can be compromised using inexpensive hardware and publicly available tools. He explores what this means for enterprise physical security strategy and why the convergence of digital and physical threats demands a new category of organizational thinking.
Drawing on his work exposing tracking mechanisms like Evercookie, Kamkar explores the privacy implications of modern data collection practices — and makes the case that privacy is not a compliance burden but a strategic asset. This session helps executive audiences understand the gap between what their systems actually collect and what users and regulators expect, and outlines a framework for building products and policies that earn trust rather than erode it.
Security culture is not built by policy documents and annual training — it is built by organizations that understand why attacks succeed and empower every employee to be part of the defense. Kamkar translates his research experience into a practical framework for embedding security thinking across teams, reducing the human attack surface, and positioning cybersecurity investment as a driver of business resilience rather than a cost center.
FAQs on Booking Samy Kamkar
Why Samy Kamkar?
Booking Samy Kamkar for your event is a decision that puts one of the world's most credible and compelling cybersecurity voices in front of your audience. Unlike typical security consultants who speak from a defensive posture, Kamkar brings the perspective of someone who has actually built the exploits — the XSS worm, the drone hijacker, the key fob cloner — and can explain with precision how sophisticated attackers think and operate. This is not theoretical risk management: it is lived, demonstrated expertise. Organizations in financial services, technology, defense, and any sector handling sensitive data will find his sessions profoundly clarifying. His ability to make complex technical material accessible to non-technical executives while retaining depth for engineering audiences is rare and exceptionally valuable. Aurum Speakers Bureau can help you tailor his session to your event's specific security priorities.
What is the Samy XSS worm?
The Samy worm, created by Kamkar in 2005, was a cross-site scripting (XSS) exploit targeting MySpace that became the fastest-spreading virus in internet history. Within 24 hours of its release, it had infected over one million accounts — adding Kamkar's name to users' profiles and replicating itself to their friends. The worm was not designed to steal data or cause lasting harm, but its scale and speed exposed a critical category of web vulnerability that the industry had largely underestimated. It marked a turning point in how the security community understood XSS attacks and accelerated adoption of stricter input validation practices across major platforms.
What is Evercookie and why does it matter?
Evercookie is a JavaScript API developed by Kamkar that demonstrated how websites could persistently track users even after they cleared their browser cookies. By storing identifying data across multiple browser storage mechanisms simultaneously — including HTTP cookies, Flash cookies, ETags, and others — Evercookie could "respawn" a user's identity even after deletion. Its release sparked significant debate among privacy advocates, regulators, and browser developers, contributing to the broader conversation around user consent and data persistence that has since shaped privacy legislation in the EU and beyond.
What topics does cybersecurity speaker Samy Kamkar cover?
Samy Kamkar covers a wide range of topics at the intersection of offensive security, privacy, and technology risk. His keynotes address real-world attack methodologies (including hardware hacking, XSS, credential theft, and supply chain vulnerabilities), the psychology of adversarial thinking, how organizations can build a culture of proactive security rather than reactive compliance, and the privacy implications of modern data collection practices. He also speaks to leadership audiences on translating technical risk into boardroom strategy. Aurum Speakers Bureau can help you select the session format and topic focus that best serves your audience — from large keynote presentations to smaller executive workshops.
How to book Samy Kamkar as a keynote speaker?
Aurum Speakers Bureau can help you book Samy Kamkar as a speaker for your next event, conference, or board meeting. Simply fill out our contact form to inquire about Samy Kamkar'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 Samy Kamkar or any other top keynote speaker or celebrity of your choice.
How much is Samy Kamkar speaking fee?
Samy Kamkar 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 Samy Kamkar 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 Samy Kamkar.
How can I contact Samy Kamkar?
We only work with Samy Kamkar on paid speaking engagements. Aurum Speakers Bureau can assist you in booking Samy Kamkar and will handle all negotiations, contracts, and logistics associated with having Samy Kamkar 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 Samy Kamkar for any other reason, we will be unable to assist you as we are not authorized to provide personal contact information.
Can I book Samy Kamkar for a virtual keynote?
Yes, Samy Kamkar is available for virtual keynotes and webinars. To book Samy Kamkar for a virtual event, please complete the contact form or send us an email to inquire about the special fees for virtual engagements.
