New Video from @LiveOverflow: Interview with Cybersecurity Prodigy Jonathan Jacobi

In this video, LiveOverflow interviews Jonathan Jacobi, a 24-year-old cybersecurity prodigy with an already impressive career. Jonathan is a highly successful Capture The Flag (CTF) player, a founding member of Perfect Blue, and has worked as a vulnerability researcher at Checkpoint and Microsoft. Currently, he is part of the CTO team at the cybersecurity startup Dash IO. Jonathan shares his journey from his childhood in Israel, where he showed an early interest in computers. At the age of 9 or 10, he got his first computer and quickly developed a passion for video games, then for game hacking and creating private servers.

This passion led him to enroll in a special university program at the age of 13, where he began studying computer science alongside his secondary education. At 15, Jonathan discovered CTF competitions, which played a crucial role in his development as a hacker. Although he initially struggled to solve the challenges, his perseverance and determination helped him progress. He joined CTF teams and attended conferences, allowing him to meet influential people in the field of cybersecurity. Jonathan shares anecdotes about how he used social networks and conferences to connect with experts and obtain opportunities.

For example, he sent messages to members of the Boston team on LinkedIn for advice and attended conferences like Cybertech and Blue Hat, where he met key industry figures. These interactions opened doors for internships at Checkpoint and Microsoft, where he worked on vulnerability research projects. A highlight of his career was his presentation at the Chaos Communication Congress (CCC) in 2018, where he spoke about his journey from "zero to zero day." This experience made him realize the importance of stepping out of his comfort zone and exposing himself to more complex challenges.

Jonathan also discusses his experience in the Israeli army, where he served for five and a half years. Initially passionate about vulnerability research, he discovered a new dimension of his work by becoming a commander in a cybersecurity course. This experience taught him the importance of teamwork, managing responsibilities, and understanding human needs. After his military service, Jonathan joined the startup Dash IO, attracted by the opportunity to work with talented people and contribute to building an innovative product. He emphasizes the importance of using all the "cards" at his disposal, whether technical skills, networking, or project management, to achieve his goals. In summary, Jonathan Jacobi illustrates how the combination of technical skills, networking, and determination can lead to a successful career in cybersecurity. His journey shows the importance of staying open to new opportunities and not being afraid to take risks to achieve one's goals.