David Harley
Encyclopedia
David Harley BA CITP FBCS CISSP is an IT security researcher, author/editor and consultant living in the United Kingdom, known for his books on and research into malware
, Mac security, anti-malware product testing and management of email abuse.
in London, and in 1989 went to work for the Imperial Cancer Research Fund (now merged into Cancer Research UK
), where he held administrative and IT support roles and eventually moved into full-time security. In 2001 he joined the National Health Service
where he ran the Threat Assessment Centre. After leaving the NHS in 2006 to work as an independent consultant, he worked closely with the security company ESET
where since 2011 he holds the position of Senior Research Fellow, working with the Cyber Threat Analysis Center. Since 2009 he has been a Director of the Anti-Malware Testing Standards Organization
(AMTSO). He runs the Mac Virus website, and has an undefined executive role in AVIEN
. He is a Fellow of the British Computer Society
.
and Urs Gattiker) of Viruses Revealed, and technical editor and principal author of The AVIEN Malware Defense Guide for the Enterprise.
He has also contributed chapters to a number of other security-related books, and sometimes writes for specialist security publishers such as Virus Bulletin
and Elsevier
. He often presents papers at specialist security conferences including Virus Bulletin
, AVAR, and EICAR
and blogs for ESET
, Infosecurity Magazine, SC Magazine, (ISC)2, SecuriTeam
, Mac Virus, and Small Blue-Green World. His Geek Peninsula metablog, though sporadically maintained, lists most of his current output including media mentions.
White Papers page.
Malware
Malware, short for malicious software, consists of programming that is designed to disrupt or deny operation, gather information that leads to loss of privacy or exploitation, or gain unauthorized access to system resources, or that otherwise exhibits abusive behavior...
, Mac security, anti-malware product testing and management of email abuse.
Career
After a checkered career that included spells in music, bar-work, work with the mentally handicapped, retail and the building trade, Harley entered the IT field in the late 1980s, working initially in administration at the Royal Free HospitalRoyal Free Hospital
The Royal Free Hospital is a major teaching hospital in Hampstead, London, England and part of the Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust....
in London, and in 1989 went to work for the Imperial Cancer Research Fund (now merged into Cancer Research UK
Cancer Research UK
Cancer Research UK is a cancer research and awareness charity in the United Kingdom, formed on 4 February 2002 by the merger of The Cancer Research Campaign and the Imperial Cancer Research Fund. Its aim is to reduce the number of deaths from cancer. As the world's largest independent cancer...
), where he held administrative and IT support roles and eventually moved into full-time security. In 2001 he joined the National Health Service
National Health Service
The National Health Service is the shared name of three of the four publicly funded healthcare systems in the United Kingdom. They provide a comprehensive range of health services, the vast majority of which are free at the point of use to residents of the United Kingdom...
where he ran the Threat Assessment Centre. After leaving the NHS in 2006 to work as an independent consultant, he worked closely with the security company ESET
Eset
ESET is an IT security company head-quartered in Bratislava, Slovakia that was founded in 1992 by the merger of two private companies. The company was awarded as the most successful Slovak company in 2008, 2009 and 2010...
where since 2011 he holds the position of Senior Research Fellow, working with the Cyber Threat Analysis Center. Since 2009 he has been a Director of the Anti-Malware Testing Standards Organization
Anti-Malware Testing Standards Organization
Anti-Malware Testing Standards Organization is an international non-profit organization set up in 2008 to address a perceived need for improvement in the quality, relevance and objectivity of anti-malware testing methodologies.- Stated Objectives :...
(AMTSO). He runs the Mac Virus website, and has an undefined executive role in AVIEN
AVIEN
AVIEN is nominally an acronym for Anti-Virus Information Exchange Network, although that expansion is rarely used.- History :The group arose out of discussions following a presentation by Robert S...
. He is a Fellow of the British Computer Society
British Computer Society
The British Computer Society, is a professional body and a learned society that represents those working in Information Technology in the United Kingdom and internationally...
.
Writing
Harley is co-author (with Robert SladeRobert Slade
Robert Michael Slade, also known as Robert M. Slade and Rob Slade, is an information security consultant, researcher and instructor from North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. He is the author of Robert Slade's Guide to Computer Viruses, Software Forensics, Dictionary of Information Security...
and Urs Gattiker) of Viruses Revealed, and technical editor and principal author of The AVIEN Malware Defense Guide for the Enterprise.
He has also contributed chapters to a number of other security-related books, and sometimes writes for specialist security publishers such as Virus Bulletin
Virus Bulletin
Virus Bulletin is a magazine about the prevention, detection and removal of malware and spam. It regularly features analyses of the latest virus threats, articles exploring new developments in the fight against viruses, interviews with anti-virus experts, and evaluations of current anti-malware...
and Elsevier
Elsevier
Elsevier is a publishing company which publishes medical and scientific literature. It is a part of the Reed Elsevier group. Based in Amsterdam, the company has operations in the United Kingdom, USA and elsewhere....
. He often presents papers at specialist security conferences including Virus Bulletin
Virus Bulletin
Virus Bulletin is a magazine about the prevention, detection and removal of malware and spam. It regularly features analyses of the latest virus threats, articles exploring new developments in the fight against viruses, interviews with anti-virus experts, and evaluations of current anti-malware...
, AVAR, and EICAR
EICAR
EICAR, the European Institute for Computer Antivirus Research, was founded in 1991 as an organization aiming to further antivirus research and improving development of antivirus software...
and blogs for ESET
Eset
ESET is an IT security company head-quartered in Bratislava, Slovakia that was founded in 1992 by the merger of two private companies. The company was awarded as the most successful Slovak company in 2008, 2009 and 2010...
, Infosecurity Magazine, SC Magazine, (ISC)2, SecuriTeam
SecuriTeam
SecuriTeam is a free and independent computer security portal, covering both security news and the most recent threats, with a database dating back to 1998...
, Mac Virus, and Small Blue-Green World. His Geek Peninsula metablog, though sporadically maintained, lists most of his current output including media mentions.
Family life
Harley hardly ever talks publicly about his private life, but a biographical article for Virus Bulletin, and the dedications page to Viruses Revealed indicate that he has a daughter. He lives with his third wife in Shropshire, in the UK.Papers
Harley's recent white papers, conference papers and presentations, and on-line articles are available on or linked from the ESETEset
ESET is an IT security company head-quartered in Bratislava, Slovakia that was founded in 1992 by the merger of two private companies. The company was awarded as the most successful Slovak company in 2008, 2009 and 2010...
White Papers page.