Moxie Marlinspike

Moxie Marlinspike
Marlinspike in 2013
Citizenship	American
Fields	Computer security, Software architecture
Known for	Open Whisper Systems (founder), (co-author), Convergence (author)
Website moxie.org

Moxie Marlinspike (pseudonym) is an American computer security researcher and cypherpunk. His research has focused primarily on techniques for intercepting communication, as well as methods for strengthening communication infrastructure against interception. Marlinspike is the former head of the security team at Twitter and founder of Open Whisper Systems. He is the author of a proposed SSL authentication system replacement called Convergence, co-author of the , and a member of the Institute for Disruptive Studies. He runs a cloud-based WPA cracking service and manages a targeted anonymity service called GoogleSharing.

Originally from the state of Georgia, Marlinspike moved to San Francisco in the late 1990s. He then worked for several technology companies, including enterprise infrastructure software maker BEA Systems Inc. During the mid-2000s, Marlinspike bought a derelict 27-foot Catalina sailboat and, along with three friends, refurbished it and sailed around the Bahamas while making a documentary about their journey called Hold Fast.

In 2010, Marlinspike was the chief technology officer and co-founder of Whisper Systems, an enterprise mobile security startup company. In May 2010, Whisper Systems launched TextSecure and RedPhone. These were applications that provided end-to-end encrypted SMS messaging and voice calling, respectively. The company was acquired by the social-media firm Twitter for an undisclosed amount in late 2011. The acquisition was done "primarily so that Mr. Marlinspike could help the then-startup improve its security". During his time as head of cybersecurity at Twitter, the firm made Whisper Systems' apps open source.