Mikko Hypponen

Mikko Hypponen has been working in information security for over 30 years. Currently, he holds the positions of Chief Research Officer at WithSecure and Principal Research Advisor at F-Secure. In 2020, his contributions to the field were recognized when he was selected as the Cybersecurity Person of the Year by CISO Mag.

In his tenure, Hypponen has committed himself to tracking and combating security threats and online crime. His efforts have led him to the formulation of the "Hypponen Law," which articulates that "whenever an appliance is described as being 'smart,' it’s vulnerable." This principle underlines his work and has been featured in numerous publications, including The New York Times, Wired, and Scientific American. Notably, his writings have also been issued in other major outlets such as BetaNews, CNN, and Scientific American.

Hypponen is highly respected in his field and is often invited to share his insights at universities and conferences around the globe. He has lectured at esteemed institutions like Stanford, Oxford, and Cambridge and given keynote speeches at prime security events, including Black Hat, DEF CON, RSA, and TED. His TED talks have garnered a viewership of over 1.5 million people and have been translated into 40 languages.

Further to his research and lecturing roles, Hypponen also contributes to the community as a member of the advisory board of IMPACT (International Multilateral Partnership Against Cyber Threats) and as the Curator for the Malware Museum at The Internet Archive. These involvements underline his dedication to the field and his commitment to actively combating cyber threats.

In 2011, Hypponen was ranked 61st in Foreign Policy's Top 100 Global Thinkers, reflecting his impact and transformative thinking in the field of cybersecurity. His work has been the subject of countless interviews in global TV and print media, including a nine-page profile story in Vanity Fair. Hypponen released his first book, "If It's Smart, It's Vulnerable," in October 2021.