A declaration of standards in an era of broken ones. The Unofficial Doing It Right Award spotlights the rare people and organizations who correct course, uphold integrity, and keep systems accountable even when no one is watching. This series distills complexity into clarity, exposes the mechanics beneath the narrative, and honors those who still inspect the pipes where trust leaks. It’s a blueprint, a challenge, and a reminder that doing it right isn’t about prestige — it’s about responsibility, transparency, and building systems worthy of the people they serve.
Hunter Storm Presents | Femme Fatale to Federal Whistleblower | ISACA Central Ohio Chapter 2026
A sharp, grounded announcement that frames Hunter Storm’s upcoming ISACA presentation not as a personal saga, but as a rare, experience‑driven masterclass in insider‑threat reality — the kind practitioners never get from textbooks, certifications, or sanitized conference decks. This piece sets the tone for a session built on lived operational insight: how retaliation actually unfolds inside institutions, how systems behave under pressure, and how curiosity, engagement, and early intervention change risk outcomes. It highlights her credibility, the uniqueness of the material, and the practical, forward‑looking value attendees will walk away with, all while reinforcing Hunter Storm’s broader mission of strengthening governance, integrity, and enterprise protection through truth‑telling and real‑world clarity.
Merry Christmas 2025 | A Wish for the People Who Never Fully Get the Day Off
A heartfelt reflection for the people who never truly get holidays off — the ones who keep watch while the rest of the world celebrates. In this Christmas Eve message, Hunter Storm honors the technologists, responders, medical staff, infrastructure operators, and quiet guardians whose work doesn’t pause for the calendar. The piece explores the hidden cost of living “close to the console,” the human reality behind constant vigilance, and why resilient systems matter for giving these professionals even a few real days of rest. It’s a wish for a future where those who protect others finally get to set their phones down and simply be present.
When the “Good Guys” Normalize Theft | Hacking Human Ethics and IP
This article explores how intellectual theft, uncredited reuse, and casual ethical breaches have become normalized in cybersecurity and human‑centered security fields — and why that normalization is dangerous. Drawing from firsthand experience with the widespread, unattributed adoption of the Hacking Humans | Ports and Services Model of Social Engineering framework, it examines the ethical, legal, and organizational risks created when work is reused without consent or attribution. It also outlines why explicit IP protections, documentation, and contractual boundaries are now essential in fields that once relied on trust and restraint. This is a call to restore integrity in disciplines built on responsibility.
User-First Marketing Email Defaults | A Rare Example of Doing It Right
This article highlights a rare moment of user‑respecting design: a major bank configuring email defaults in a way that prioritizes privacy, clarity, and customer intent. Instead of forcing users through opt‑outs and dark‑pattern menus, Chase enables only essential service emails and disables all marketing by default. This simple, thoughtful choice demonstrates how sane defaults reduce friction, protect privacy, and rebuild trust in an industry that often gets these decisions wrong.
The Unveiling of Hacking Humans | The Ports and Services Model of Social Engineering
This article introduces the long‑hidden Hacking Humans | The Ports and Services Model of Social Engineering framework — the first predictive model for human‑layer threat behavior, created by Hunter Storm beginning in 1994 and publicly presented in 2007. Developed decades before modern terminology like human‑layer security or cognitive security existed, the framework anticipated adversarial patterns that define today’s cybersecurity landscape. This page marks the formal release of the original model, its evolution, and its archival materials.
The Ultimate “Everything-Tech” Serenity Prayer
Experts in AI, cybersecurity, quantum, and emerging technologies often know the truth long before the world is ready to hear it. This piece captures the quiet patience, humor, and resilience required to keep speaking, keep leading, and keep building while others “discover” what you’ve known for years. It’s a modern serenity prayer for those who stay ahead of the storm.