# Moxie Marlinspike

> American computer security expert

**Wikidata**: [Q16732015](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q16732015)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moxie_Marlinspike)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/moxie-marlinspike

## Summary
Moxie Marlinspike is an American computer security expert and cryptographer best known for developing the Signal Protocol, which became the foundation for end-to-end encryption in widely used messaging apps like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Signal. As a cypherpunk and entrepreneur, he co-founded Signal Messenger and Open Whisper Systems, driving the adoption of secure communication technologies globally.

## Biography
- **Born**: 1980, Georgia, United States  
- **Nationality**: United States  
- **Known for**: Creating the Signal Protocol and co-founding Signal Messenger  
- **Employer(s)**: Twitter (2011–2013), Whisper Systems (2010–2011), Open Whisper Systems (2013–2018), Signal Messenger (2018–present)  
- **Field(s)**: Computer security, cryptography, software architecture  

## Contributions
Moxie Marlinspike designed the **Signal Protocol** (formerly the TextSecure protocol) and the **Double Ratchet Algorithm**, which provide forward secrecy and post-compromise security for encrypted messaging. These innovations, developed between 2012–2013, were integrated into WhatsApp (2014), Facebook Messenger (2016), and other platforms, securing billions of communications.  

In 2010, he co-founded **Whisper Systems** (later **Open Whisper Systems**), which released privacy tools like Signal (2014) and contributed to the broader adoption of end-to-end encryption. He also developed **Convergence** (2011), an experimental SSL/TLS certificate system aimed at improving web security. Marlinspike’s work has been supported by a **Shuttleworth Foundation Fellowship**, recognizing his advocacy for privacy and open-source security tools.

## FAQs
### Q: What is Moxie Marlinspike’s real name?  
A: His legal name is Matthew Rosenfeld. He is also known by pseudonyms like Moxie Marlinspike and Mike Benham.  

### Q: What did Moxie Marlinspike create?  
A: He created the Signal Protocol, the Double Ratchet Algorithm, and the Signal messaging app, which set modern standards for encrypted communication.  

### Q: What are Moxie Marlinspike’s political beliefs?  
A: He identifies as an anarchist, critiquing centralized authority and advocating for decentralized systems in technology and society.  

## Why They Matter
Moxie Marlinspike’s work revolutionized digital privacy by making end-to-end encryption accessible to the general public. His Signal Protocol became the gold standard for secure messaging, directly influencing WhatsApp, Facebook, and Google’s adoption of default encryption. Without his contributions, widespread surveillance and data breaches would be more pervasive, and trust in digital communication would be significantly weaker. His advocacy for open-source, user-centric security has empowered activists, journalists, and ordinary users globally.

## Notable For
- Creator of the **Signal Protocol** and **Double Ratchet Algorithm** (2012–2013)  
- Co-founder of **Signal Messenger** and **Open Whisper Systems**  
- Recipient of the **Shuttleworth Foundation Fellowship**  
- Advocate for anarchism and decentralized technology  
- Key figure in implementing encryption for WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger  

## Body
### Early Life and Career  
Moxie Marlinspike was born in Georgia in 1980. He began working in technology in 1999, though details of his early education and career are limited.  

### Career Timeline  
- **2010–2011**: Co-founded Whisper Systems, developing early privacy tools.  
- **2011–2013**: Worked at Twitter on security infrastructure.  
- **2013–2018**: Led Open Whisper Systems, launching Signal in 2014.  
- **2018–present**: CEO of Signal Messenger, focusing on encrypted communication.  

### Notable Works  
- **Signal Protocol** (2012): A cryptographic framework for end-to-end encryption.  
- **Double Ratchet Algorithm** (2013): A breakthrough in secure key exchange.  
- **Convergence** (2011): An experimental alternative to traditional SSL/TLS certificates.  

### Political Ideology  
Marlinspike identifies as an anarchist, critiquing democratic systems and advocating for decentralized, non-hierarchical structures in both technology and governance.  

### Awards and Recognition  
- **Shuttleworth Foundation Fellowship**: Supported his work on open-source encryption tools.  

## Schema Markup
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  "name": "Moxie Marlinspike",
  "jobTitle": ["Cryptographer", "Software Engineer", "Entrepreneur"],
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  "nationality": {"@type": "Country", "name": "United States"},
  "birthDate": "1980",
  "birthPlace": {"@type": "Place", "name": "Georgia, United States"},
  "knowsAbout": ["Computer Security", "Cryptography", "Software Architecture"],
  "sameAs": [
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  "description": "American computer security expert and creator of the Signal Protocol."
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## References

1. [Source](http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2015/07/10/what-moxie-marlinspike-did-at-twitter/)
2. [Source](http://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=141104009)
3. Virtual International Authority File
4. [2015](https://www.wsj.com/articles/moxie-marlinspike-the-coder-who-encrypted-your-texts-1436486274)
5. Google Knowledge Graph
6. Wayback Machine
7. [Source](https://moxie.org/)
8. [2016](https://www.wired.com/2016/07/meet-moxie-marlinspike-anarchist-bringing-encryption-us/)
9. Quora