James Purtilo
Associate Professor of Computer Science
University of Maryland at College Park
Brendan Iribe Center
8125 Paint Branch Drive #5214
College Park MD 20742
301.405.2706
purtilo @ umd.edu
Research
Academics
... on Computer Science
- There are 10 kinds of people. Those who understand binary, and those who don't.
- People say that if you play Microsoft CD's backwards, you hear
satanic things, but that's nothing, because if you play one forwards, it installs Windows.
- "The problem with quotes on the Internet is that they cannot be verified." -- Abraham Lincoln, 1865
... on College Park
- Institutions of higher learning have no place for free thinkers. In fact, here you must pay a lot to be allowed to think like everyone else.
- What's the opposite of diversity? University.
- He who dares not offend cannot be honest.
... on Everything
- "A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the
subject." -- Winston Churchill
- "Remember that a government big enough to give you everything you want
is also big enough to take away everything you have." -- Davy Crockett
- "Evil preaches tolerance until it is dominant, then it tries to silence good."
-- Charles Chaput
- "If you don't go over the top you can't see what's on the other side."
-- Jim Steinman
- I slept, and dreamed that life is beauty;
I woke, and found that life is duty.
- More quotes, lest we would forget.
- Freedom is not free.
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Commentary, Quotes and Resources
- Minority Report, produced in response to the Computer Science Department's Self-study of February 12, 2022 (2022-05-20)
- 184M Records Exposed, Experts Warn of Impending Attacks (2025-05-28, ClearanceJobs.com)
- The U.S. Space Force Needs Coders to Update Nuclear Weapon Tracking System (2025-04-30, NationalInterest.org)
- NIST Updates Privacy Framework 1.1—Here’s What It Means for AI, Risk, and Compliance (2025-04-21, ClearanceJobs.com)
- Inside Stargate: What You Need to Know About Trump’s $500B AI Infrastructure Plan (2025-01-22, ClearanceJobs.com)
- White House Introduces U.S. Cyber Trust Mark for Internet-Connected Devices (2025-01-10, ClearanceJobs.com)
- Pentagon’s Cyber Intelligence Shift: From ‘Center’ to ‘Capability’—What’s Behind the Change? (2024-12-12, ClearanceJobs.com)
- Google’s LLM Agent Finds and Fixes Real-World Bug in Popular Database (2024-11-08, ClearanceJobs.com)
- Treasury’s AI Tech Stops $4 Billion in Fraud: How Machine Learning Is Changing the Game (2024-10-25, ClearanceJobs.com)
- Cybersecurity Experts Brace for the Next Crisis After the CrowdStrike Near-Disaster (2024-10-11, ClearanceJobs.com)
- 'It’s Not a Bug, It’s a Feature’ – Are Companies Too Complacent with Software Defects? (2024-08-15, ClearanceJobs.com)
- Rust to the Rescue: DARPA’s New Initiative to Eliminate C Language Vulnerabilities (2024-08-08, ClearanceJobs.com)
- Google Seeks to Acquire Cybersecurity Start-up Wiz (2024-07-18, ClearanceJobs.com)
- U.S. Navy NCO Demoted For Setting Up Unsecure WiFi Network on Littoral Combat Ship (2024-06-10, ClearanceJobs.com)
- CIA Adopts Microsoft’s Generative AI Model for Sensitive Data Analysis (2024-04-13, ClearanceJobs.com)
- Guarding Secrets: How Defense Contractors Approach Large Language Models in National Security (2024-03-11, ClearanceJobs.com)
- Deepfakes Have Been A Problem—Taylor Swift Was The Breaking Point (2024-01-27, Forbes.com)
- National Cyber Director Wants to Address Cybersecurity Talent Shortage by Removing Degree Requirement (2024-01-18, ClearanceJobs.com)
- No More Ransom Payments to Cyber Criminals: Global Effort Takes a Stand (2023-11-08, ClearanceJobs.com)
- Donald Trump Jr.’s X Account Hacked – Announced Father's Death (2023-09-20, Forbes.com)
- There Is Now A Deep Fake Video Of Ron DeSantis Dropping Out Of The 2024 Race (2023-09-02, Forbes.com)
- Quantum Technology Advancement: NSF Allocates $38 Million to Propel Research and Education Efforts (2023-08-25, ClearanceJobs.com)
- Arrested Succession Parody On YouTube Features 'Narration' By AI-Generated Ron Howard (2023-05-09, Forbes.com)
- The U.S. Still Needs Cybersecurity Pros Despite All the Tech Layoffs (2023-01-27, ClearanceJobs.com)
- The Power of ChatGPT Unleashed on Military Technology (2022-12-22, ClearanceJobs.com)
- Russian Software Found in Smartphone App Used by CDC and U.S. Army (2022-11-14, ClearanceJobs.com)
- America Is Already at War with Russia (In Cyber Space) (2022-11-11, 19fortyfive.com)
- Cybersecurity Remains a Top In-Demand Job But Finding Good Help Isn’t Easy (2022-10-21, ClearanceJobs.com)
- Social Media Now Used To Vet Gun Applicants In New York State (2022-09-12, Forbes.com)
- Elon Musk Suggested Possible Layoffs At Twitter (2022-05-10, Forbes.com)
- Professional Development May Be DoD’s Tech Recruiting Advantage (2022-04-04, ClearanceJobs.com)
- White House Office Pushes Move Towards Zero Trust (2022-01-28, ClearanceJobs.com)
- How Can IT and Cyber Candidates Meet DoD 8140 and CMMC Requirements? (2022-01-24, ClearanceJobs.com)
- Cyber Game Needs a Boost: Threats Will Continue in 2022 (2022-01-03, ClearanceJobs.com)
- 2022 Cybersecurity Predictions: Looking Ahead to Next Year’s Threats (2021-12-10, ClearanceJobs.com)
- NSA Investing in Cybersecurity for Smart Devices (2021-10-11, ClearanceJobs.com)
- Lockheed Martin Has Big Plans to Make America's Military 'Hypersonic' (2021-10-06, NationalInterest.org)
- Conspiracy Theories and Your Clearance: Should You Be Worried if You Get Banned from YouTube Like Robert Kennedy Jr (2021-10-01, ClearanceJobs.com)
- Working From Home Isn't Going Away, But It Isn't Getting Safer (2021-09-17, ClearanceJobs.com)
- Washington D.C. Gets Ranked as a Top City for Cybersecurity Jobs (2021-09-03, ClearanceJobs.com)
- The Complicated Relationship Between the Military and Video Game Industry (2021-08-27, ClearanceJobs.com)
- Lockheed Martin's New Skunk Works Might Be China's Worst Nightmare (2021-08-17, NationalInterest.org)
- Joe Biden Thinks a Cyber Attack Could Lead to a 'Shooting War'. Is He Right? (2021-07-29, 19fortyfive.com)
- Responding to Cyber Threats: How Much More Does U.S. Need to Update? (2021-07-23, ClearanceJobs.com)
- Is the Right to Repair Just Wrong? (2021-07-15, NationalInterest.org)
- Critical Infrastructure in the Cyber Crosshairs - Can U.S. Stop More Attacks? (2021-06-07, ClearanceJobs.com)
- The history of social media software (2021-06-03, HackReactor.com)
- Prepare for an Attack: Ransomware Will Continue to be a Problem (2021-05-21, ClearanceJobs.com)
- The EU's Ambitious AI Regulations: Increasing Trust or Stifling Progress? (2021-05-03, ClearanceJobs.com)
- FBI Reports a 69% Increase in Internet Crime in 2020 (2021-04-16, ClearanceJobs.com)
- Is a Dating Site a Security Concern if you Didn't Actually Sign Up? (2021-03-15, ClearanceJobs.com)
- Will Social Media Take Down Politicians Like Andrew Cuomo And Lauren Boebert? (2021-03-09, Forbes.com)
- Why Can't We Hang Up on India's Telemarketing Scams? (2021-03-01, NationalInterest.org)
- Chinese Tech Still in U.S. Networks Two Years After Calls for Removal (2021-02-26, ClearanceJobs.com)
- Your Data is Digital and Vulnerable to Tax Season Scams (2021-02-08, ClearanceJobs.com)
- A Data Savvy Workforce is a Key Strategy Needed This Year (2021-01-12, ClearanceJobs.com)
- The Lasting Headache of a Possible Breach of Classified Data in Capitol Riots (2021-01-11, ClearanceJobs.com)
- Deepfake Star Wars Videos Portent Ways The Technology Could Be Employed For Good And Bad (2020-12-11, Forbes.com)
- Social Media Proved Crucial For Joe Biden - It Allowed Him To Connect With Young Voters And Avoid His Infamous Gaffes (2020-11-17, Forbes.com)
- Cybersecurity Talent Shortage Calls For More Training and Better Hiring Methods (2020-11-17, ClearanceJobs.com)
- Five Eyes Call for Tech World to Weaken Encryption (2020-10-16, ClearanceJobs.com)
- Using Government Devices for Self Enrichment is Illegal: USMC Bans Cryptocurrency (2020-08-27, ClearanceJobs.com)
- Guns protect people from criminals when the police can't (2020-08-12, Baltimore Sun)
- 2020 Serves up a Cruel Summer of Cybersecurity Threats (2020-07-30, ClearanceJobs.com)
- More Cybersecurity Spending Does Not Equal Results (2020-07-08, ClearanceJobs.com)
- Could Iran Wage a Cyber War? (2020-06-20, NationalInterest.org)
- Top 9 software engineer movies of all time (2020-06-04, Hack Reactor)
- Air Force Makes Classified Information Accessible for Teleworkers (2020-05-19, ClearanceJobs.com)
- The U.S. Military Might Have a New Way to Beat Iran's Missiles in a War (2020-04-28, NationalInterest.org)
- How White Hat Hackers Keep Military Systems Safe (2020-04-19, ClearanceJobs.com)
- Tech Industry Calls Out DoD's Cybersecurity Efforts (2020-04-10, ClearanceJobs.com)
- Do Government Agencies Have the Bandwidth to Handle Telework? (2020-03-26, ClearanceJobs.com)
- COVID-19 and Computer Security, Part 1: Telecommuting Risks (2020-03-12, TechNewsWorld.com)
- The Dark Art of Turning Mountains of Stolen Data Into Cash (2020-02-28, TechNewsWorld.com)
- How DoD's New Cybersecurity Rules Affect Government Contractors (2020-01-17, ClearanceJobs.com)
- TikTok's Deepfakes Just The Latest Security Issue For The Video Sharing App (2020-01-07, Forbes.com)
- Tech Skills in Highest Demand in 2020 (2020-01-02, ClearanceJobs.com)
- Top Security Breaches of 2019: Another Bad Year for Cybersecurity (2019-12-30, ClearanceJobs.com)
- Your Smart TV Could Give Hackers a Window on Your World (2019-12-06, E-Commerce Times)
- On Facebook A Military History Book Is Too Political (2019-11-27, Forbes.com)
- Does Negativity Drive Users Off Social Media? (2019-11-15, Forbes.com)
- NSA Wants to Help Private Sector, Increase Focus on Commercial Products (2019-10-21, ClearanceJobs.com)
- Adopt a Maintenance Mindset: Protect IT (2019-10-18, TechNewsWorld.com)
- Get Serious About Cybersecurity: Take Ownership of Your Personal Data (2019-10-04, TechNewsWorld.com)
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The Rise of T-1000: Artificial Intelligence on the Battlefield (2019-09-09, ClearanceJobs.com)
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Multi-Cloud Strategy May Pose Higher Security Risk: Study (2019-09-06, TechNewsWorld.com)
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Can Nanotechnology Protect Military Equipment in Transit? (2019-08-13, ClearanceJobs.com)
- When Technology Makes Life Harder (2019-08-09, TechNewsWorld.com)
- U.S. Mayors Make Pledge Not to Pay Ransomware Hackers (2019-07-22, ClearanceJobs.com)
- Baltimore Held Hostage in 2nd Ransomware Attack (2019-05-10, TechNewsWorld.com)
- Military and Contractors Call in the Ethical Hackers: White Hat Hackers Still in it for the Money (2019-04-12, ClearanceJobs.com)
- Phishers Bait Hooks for Netflix, Amex Users (2019-03-22, TechNewsWorld.com)
- Is There Really a Cybersecurity Talent Shortage? (2019-03-21, ClearanceJobs.com)
- The Biggest Cybercrime Threats of 2019 (2019-01-11, E-Commerce Times)
- What to do in Case of a Cyber Attack (2019-01-01, NOLN.net)
- AWS Thinks Inside the Box With Outposts Data Center Revival (2018-11-30, E-Commerce Times)
- Not All Tech Employees Are Information Tech Employees (2018-08-15, ClearanceJobs.com)
- Microsoft, Facebook, Oracle Among 34 Firms to Join Cybersecurity Tech Accord (2018-04-18, The Guardian USA)
- Atlanta Works to Break Ransomware Hold (2018-03-30, TechNewsWorld.com)
- IT Opportunities in Government Agencies Could Increase Thanks to Modernization Effort
(2018-01-12, ClearanceJobs.com)
- Ominous Processor Vulnerabilities Could Put Most Computers at Risk
(2018-01-04, TechNewsWorld.com)
- Tech to Watch in 2018: Cryptocurrency, AI, Wearables
(2018-01-02, TechNewsWorld.com)
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2017 in Tech: The Year of Foreshadowing Big Things to Come
(2017-12-29, TechNewsWorld.com)
-
Border Patrol Phone Searches Unconstitutional, Lawsuit Claims
(2017-10-31, Heartland.org)
- Telecommunications Jobs with a Security Clearance (2017-10-19, ClearanceJobs.com)
- HBO Cyberattack Driven By
Mysterious Motives (2017-08-04, TechNewsWorld.com)
- Millions May Have Picked Up
FalseGuide Malware at Google Play Store (2017-04-26, TechNewsWorld.com)
- WikiLeaks Exposes CIA's Device
Surveillance Tricks (2017-03-23, ECT News)
- Do
IT Certifications Pay Off and What are the Best Certifications to Have?
(2017-02-21, ClearanceJobs.com)
- Is
a Master's Degree Worth the Cost? (2017-02-20, ClearanceJobs.com)
- iPhone Call Logs Easy Pickings
on iCloud, Says Russian Security Firm (2016-11-17, TechNewsWorld.com)
- Tech on TV: A Little Realism
Goes a Long Way (2016-10-27, TechNewsWorld.com)
- Senate Leadership Rebuffs
Cruz's Shutdown Threat Over Internet Control (2016-09-23, TechNewsWorld.com)
- Cybersecurity
for Recruiters (2016-10-12, ClearanceJobs.com)
- Human
Resources Cybersecurity (2016-10-19, ClearanceJobs.com)
- WhatsApp Shaves Off a Little
More Privacy (2016-08-25, E-Commerce Times)
- Spies and iPhones - Why the Apple, FBI Showdown Has Been a Long Time Coming (2016-04-17, ClearanceJobs.com)
- Why College Park Doesn't Lead
in Computer Science Education (2016-03-25, Faculty Voice)
- TalkTalk Attacked, Hit With Ransom Demand (2015-10-23, TechNewsWorld.com)
- Ashley Madison could be a sticky honeypot for the military (2015-09-02, Fortune.com)
- Google works to rank sites based on 'truthfulness' (2015-03-05, Fox News)
- Cyber Legislation, Education, and A Healthy Dose of Realism (2015-01-19, Cyber Frontiers)
- Brief Amici Curiae of Experts in Computer Science,
In re: National Security Letter, Under Seal v. Holder
(2014-04-01, United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit; amicus unsealed 2014-05-30)
- House vote limits NSA data collection, but experts say it won't stop government snooping
(2014-05-23, redOrbit.com)
- Multi-Disciplinary Approach to Cybersecurity, Security Technologies, and the Privacy Issues Surrounding Us All
(2014-04-19, Cyber Frontiers)
- NSA snoops extend ops to
online games (2013-12-09, E-Commerce Times)
- Judge cuts Google no slack in
wiretap case (2013-09-27, E-Commerce Times)
- What passes for 'business as usual' on this campus can be over the
top (2013-09-26, Fox News) To the Honors Director's assertion "This year,
we learned that it is legal to hunt down and kill American children in Florida." No. It's not.
- Whither Excellence?
(2013-09-21) A 2011 invited essay on our trajectory at College Park that the Faculty Voice will
neither accept, reject, request a revision or explain its silence.
- Cheating is rife in colleges - by admissions officers (2013-08-12, Hyperbolic)
On the smokescreen created by campuses in order to maintain an unjust business-as-usual.
- The expansion of
contingent faculty: Precarious working conditions in the house of intellectual enlightenment (2013-03-30, Faculty Voice)
- Raytheon May Know Where You've Been - and Where You're Going (2013-02-11, TechNewsWorld.com)
- Comments on UM's proposed strategic plan for information technology (2012-11-10)
- Underneath the surface: Some observations on promotion and tenure (2012-10-31, Faculty Voice)
- Maryland's tech education effort does not compute (2012-07-17, Baltimore Sun)
- Brief of Scholars of Economics and Statistics as Amici Curiae in Support of Petitioner, in the matter of Fisher v. Texas (2012-05-29, US Supreme Court)
- Support and opposition dig in as CISPA clears house (2012-04-27, TechNewsWorld.com)
- Guns on college campuses (2011-08-11, C-SPAN Public Affairs Event, National Press Club, Washington DC)
- Activists and politicians discuss the right to carry concealed weapons on college campuses (2011-08-11, Chronicle of Higher Education)
- Conservative media link affirmative action to illegal immigration (2011-05-19, Chronicle of Higher Education)
- University insiders: illegal immigrants get affirmative action (2011-05-17, FoxNews.com)
- The Halperin legacy
(2010-05-17) Years of neglect made the case for merging one declining college with one weak college in hopes of salvaging one winner. This article sketches what an objective review might have found had campus leaders followed their own rules before making new appointments and organizational changes.
- Back in CS -- with personal honor intact (2010)
- State of the CMPS Undergraduate Office: Issues of Today and Recommendations for Tomorrow (2009-09-07) A report that
lays out the history of undergraduate office efforts on behalf of students and what we sought
permission to try in the future.
(Also available is a transmittal
letter which summarizes recommendations given in this report.) See for yourself how
many of
these concerns turned out to be well-justified by later developments, and how many remain issues today in the merged colleges.
- Data woes in CMPS
(2009-08-18) A report to the dean which documents how much the college policy of willful ignorance
on data and analysis costs us in student outcomes.
- To really lie you need Wikipedia (2007) Consumers already know to be wary of random assertions they find on the web. The Wikipedia entry for "John Lott" gives a classic example of why consumers should be not only careful to check the assertions they find on the web, but also the quality and policies of the source.
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