David Chiu

Last night I watched “Catch Me If You Can” starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks. I LOVED this movie! It’s all about social engineering! It’s based on the true life story of Frank Abagnale how he conned $2.5mil by forging checks and lived the life of an airline pilot, doctor and lawyer all before his 21st birthday.

This movie was great inspiration of creative thinking and personal confidence (not that I engage in, or condone illegal activities, but this kid was brilliant). He, like many ex-hackers, is now a security consultant who makes millions of dollars legitamately by helping banks, governments and other institutions protect themselves from fraud.

I’ve always been fascinated by this type of applied creative thinking. That’s why I’m drawn to similar subjects such as:

•Computer hackers (Kevin Mitnick)
•Computer Security
•Martial Arts
•Magic

All of these subjects deal with analyzing some system and creatively finding ways to “exploit” it. What’s more interesting is the subject of martial arts and magic. Martial arts is the art of creatively analyzing the reaction and response of a person when attacking or defending and finding ways to manipulate their “system” to diffuse and divert their attacks. It deals with psychology, physics, awareness, and manipulation of physical attributes. Magic is the art of misdirection and deception and deals also deals with psychology, physics, awareness and manipulation of all these systems to make people believe something that is not true. It’s all very fascinating.

“What one invents, one will discover” - Sherlock Holmes

Did I get too deep for ya?