# Jacob Appelbaum

> American computer security researcher (born 1983)

**Wikidata**: [Q10070](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q10070)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacob_Appelbaum)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/jacob-appelbaum

## Summary
Jacob Appelbaum is an American computer security researcher, journalist, and Internet activist, born on April 1, 1983. He is best known for his work with The Tor Project and WikiLeaks, as well as his contributions to the fields of Internet privacy and investigative journalism. Appelbaum has been a prominent voice in digital rights, frequently speaking at global conferences on surveillance and security.

## Biography
- **Born:** April 1, 1983 in California, United States
- **Nationality:** United States
- **Education:** Eindhoven University of Technology; Santa Rosa Junior College
- **Known for:** Computer security research, investigative journalism, Internet activism
- **Employer(s):** The Tor Project, Inc; WikiLeaks
- **Field(s):** Computer security, investigative journalism, Internet privacy
- **Residence:** Berlin (recorded in 2015)
- **Languages:** English (native), German

## Contributions
Jacob Appelbaum has contributed significantly to the discourse and technology surrounding Internet privacy and security. As a core member of The Tor Project, Inc, he worked on technologies designed to protect users' anonymity online. His technical expertise spans several areas of computer security, evidenced by his presentations at the Chaos Communication Congress (CCC) events.

Appelbaum has delivered numerous technical talks, including "Advanced memory forensics: The cold boot attacks" (25C3), "Modern disk encryption" (22C3), and "Unlocking FileVault" (23C3). He has also addressed broader issues of censorship and surveillance, such as in his talk "How governments have tried to block Tor" (28C3) and "Communication in a world of pervasive surveillance."

In the realm of investigative journalism, Appelbaum has worked with WikiLeaks, contributing to the organization's mission of publishing classified or restricted information. His work intersects with LGBTQ rights activism, advocating for privacy and security for marginalized communities. He was awarded the Henri Nannen Award in 2014 for his contributions to journalism and public discourse.

## FAQs

### Q: What is Jacob Appelbaum known for?
A: Jacob Appelbaum is known for his work as a computer security researcher and Internet activist, particularly his involvement with The Tor Project and WikiLeaks. He is also recognized for his journalism and public speaking on surveillance and privacy.

### Q: Where did Jacob Appelbaum receive his education?
A: He attended Santa Rosa Junior College and Eindhoven University of Technology in the Netherlands.

### Q: What awards has Jacob Appelbaum received?
A: He received the Henri Nannen Award in 2014.

### Q: Has Jacob Appelbaum held any significant organizational memberships?
A: Yes, he was a member of the hacker group Cult of the Dead Cow until June 7, 2016.

### Q: What are some topics Jacob Appelbaum has spoken about?
A: He has spoken on topics including disk encryption, memory forensics, government blocking of Tor, and state surveillance at various Chaos Communication Congress events.

## Why They Matter
Jacob Appelbaum matters because he represents a critical intersection of technical expertise and activist journalism. His work with Tor has directly aided individuals in circumventing censorship and protecting their digital privacy under repressive regimes. By bridging the gap between deep technical research—such as cold boot attacks and disk encryption—and public advocacy, he has made complex security concepts accessible to a broader audience. His role in high-profile organizations like WikiLeaks highlights the volatile and impactful nature of modern digital whistleblowing. Appelbaum's career underscores the vital importance of cybersecurity in protecting civil liberties in the digital age.

## Notable For
- **Key Contributor to Tor Project:** Worked extensively on anonymity tools.
- **WikiLeaks Affiliate:** Served as an employee and representative.
- **Henri Nannen Award Recipient:** Won the prestigious journalism award in 2014.
- **Prolific Speaker:** Featured orator at 22C3, 25C3, 28C3, 29C3, 30C3, 32C3, and 37C3.
- **Advocacy:** Active in LGBTQ rights and Internet privacy activism.

## Body

### Early Life and Education
Jacob Appelbaum was born on April 1, 1983, in California, United States. He attended Santa Rosa Junior College before pursuing further education at the Eindhoven University of Technology in the Netherlands. He is a native English speaker who also speaks German.

### Career and Activism
Appelbaum is a computer scientist and Internet activist who has served as an employer for The Tor Project, Inc and WikiLeaks. He was a member of the Cult of the Dead Cow from an unspecified date until June 7, 2016. His professional focus lies in computer security, investigative journalism, and Internet privacy.

He has resided in Berlin, Germany, and identifies as non-heterosexual and an atheist. Appelbaum maintains a significant online presence, notably through his Twitter handle `ioerror`, which had over 80,000 followers as of February 2023.

### Public Speaking and Research
Appelbaum is a frequent speaker at the Chaos Communication Congress (CCC). His presentations cover both technical and socio-political topics:
- **22C3 (2005):** "Modern disk encryption"
- **23C3 (2006):** "Unlocking FileVault"
- **25C3 (2008):** "Advanced memory forensics: The cold boot attacks"
- **28C3 (2011):** "How governments have tried to block Tor"
- **29C3 (2012):** "Not my department"
- **30C3 (2013):** "Sysadmins of the world unite" (with Julian Assange)
- **32C3 (2015):** "State of the Onion"
- **37C3 (2023):** Participant

His research includes the publication of a Ph.D. thesis titled "Communication in a world of pervasive surveillance" from Eindhoven University of Technology.

### Recognition and Identifiers
Appelbaum has been recognized under various authority control identifiers, including the Library of Congress (no2013007463), ISNI (0000000399913573), and VIAF (295663464). His image is archived on Wikimedia Commons, and he has an IMDB ID (nm3335834). He received the Henri Nannen Award in 2014 for his work in journalism.

## References

1. [Source](https://jappelba.win.tue.nl/Communication_in_a_world_of_pervasive_surveillance-phd-thesis.pdf#page_351)
2. [Source](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/wikileaks/8247850/US-government-orders-Twitter-to-release-WikiLeaks-activists-details.html)
3. [Source](https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/the-american-wikileaks-hacker-238019/)
4. CiNii Research
5. MusicBrainz
6. [Source](https://gnunet.org/tor2013tum-video)
7. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
8. Virtual International Authority File
9. [Source](https://mastodon.online/@linuzifer@chaos.social/111666135992044870)
10. [Source](https://media.ccc.de/v/25c3-2922-en-advanced_memory_forensics_the_cold_boot_attacks)
11. [Source](https://media.ccc.de/v/22C3-1112-en-modern_disk_encryption)
12. [Source](https://media.ccc.de/v/29c3-5385-en-not_my_department_h264)
13. [Source](https://media.ccc.de/v/23C3-1642-en-unlocking_filevault)
14. [Source](https://media.ccc.de/v/28c3-4800-en-how_governments_have_tried_to_block_tor)
15. [Source](https://media.ccc.de/v/cccamp07-en-1893-monochroms_Taugshow)
16. [Source](https://media.ccc.de/v/30C3_-_5397_-_en_-_saal_1_-_201312292245_-_sysadmins_of_the_world_unite_-_julian_assange_-_jacob)
17. [Source](https://media.ccc.de/v/32c3-7307-state_of_the_onion)
18. CONOR.SI
19. [Which PGP keys sign which packages](https://www.torproject.org/docs/signing-keys.html.en)