Kristina Balaam (she/her)

Kristina is a Security Intelligence Engineer at Lookout where she reverse engineers mobile malware. Prior to Lookout, she worked as a Mobile Application Security Engineer at Shopify, securing the company’s Android applications. Kristina graduated with a Bachelor of Computer Science from McGill University in 2012 and is currently pursuing a MSc. in Information Security Engineering from the SANS Institute of Technology. She blogs about computer security on Instagram, Twitter, and Youtube under the handle @chmodxx.

1. What does cybersecurity and crypto mean to you? What is something you think people should know about this space?

To me, cybersecurity means the freedom to safely innovate on products that have a significant positive impact on people’s lives. Securing the applications and products we build is vitally important; these products can do so much harm without adequate security measures in place. I think it’s important that people understand that the security of our data and technology may not excite some people the way new features do, but it’s a necessary part of being able to live in a networked, connected world.

2. If you could wave a magic wand and solve one problem in tech, what would it be?

Bias against those underrepresented in the industry.

3. What is a piece of advice that you have found especially useful? This can be either related or unrelated to tech.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions. I meet so many people who feel they need to know everything in their industry or niche. Those who belittle others for asking questions aren’t worthwhile mentors. You stunt your growth by being afraid to raise your hand.

4. What’s a challenge you’ve faced, and how did you deal with it?

Believing I was competent — I would second-guess myself constantly. I still struggle with it sometimes, but I’ve learned to gather empirical evidence and use it to silence the “imposter syndrome” side of my brain.

5.What is your favorite source of inspiration?

Cybersecurity professionals sharing their stories of making the world a better, safer place.

Yansi Keim (she/her)

Yansi (she/her) is a Ph.D. student specializing in Cyber Forensics at Purdue University. She researches cybercriminals and profiles their behavior, which helps to understand their deviancy.

Yansi attended her first BlackHat conference this year on scholarship and is also a recipient of the RSA Conference Scholar Class of 2020 and WiCys (Women in Cybersecurity) Scholarship 2020. Yansi is a former technical investigator for the Delhi Police’s Crime Branch and aspires to become a research scientist at Google.

1. What do cybersecurity and crypto mean to you?

As a doctorate candidate in this field, I tend to educate people on the correct meaning of “cybersecurity”: it’s about putting security controls in action against all your IT assets. These assets could range from a printer in a high school to a supercomputer at an enterprise facility. “Crypto” (cryptography) is about encrypting your digital information so that only the desired person can decrypt it. In layman’s terms, it’s making your information gibberish to everyone but the intended receiver.

The myth that “I never did bad to anyone, hence nothing bad will happen to me” should be the starting point to cybersecurity. As a research assistant, I’ve seen elderly people get scammed and children receive disturbing emails containing pornography. My intention is not to incur dread, but awareness: no age group is secure if unaware of the most basic cyber hygiene. Start today and uninstall unnecessary apps from your mobile phone. Put a webcam cover on your computer. Never use public computers for making an online transaction.

2. If you could wave a magic wand and solve one problem in tech, what would it be?

To all the Santa minions at work, please arrange an 11"-long holly phoenix feather core. Once I possess that, I’d like to take on all the pending cybercrime cases in the world. It’s ironic how we secure ourselves with anonymity on the Internet, and at the same time, people use it to commit cybercrime. With all these cyber offenders at large, researchers work hard to come up with better digital forensic methodologies, procedures, and tools — which in turn takes months, even years, to implement.

3. What’s a piece of advice you’ve found especially useful?

My uncle Ajay Mishra once told me, “Wasting time is a crime and so is thinking low. Think wisely, choose the best.” He made me realize it’s not an option to be mediocre in this world; one must always strive to be the best version of themself.

4. What’s a challenge you’ve faced, and how did you deal with it?

Coming from a lineage where no one ever stepped outside my home country, the cultural changes of moving to the US have been the biggest challenges in my life so far. I applied to Purdue, got a scholarship, now here I am among some of the brightest minds of all time.

5. What‘s your source of inspiration?

My family, without a doubt. The fact that they never stopped believing in me makes me feel very special. I believe with family by your side, your motivation doubles, and your strength triples. I want to be a big person for them, if not for myself. Besides them, I am inspired by Alan Turing and Vint Cerf.

6. What’s your favorite movie?

My all-time favorites are The Imitation Game, The Matrix, The Theory of Everything, Inception, and A Beautiful Mind.

Yansi is a Women in CyberSecurity (WiCyS) member.