We are each here for our own reasons. Each of us has a slightly different story of why we are working the boxen and strengthening the networks. Different things drive different people into network/computer security. From curiosity to enjoyment, 9-5 job or money; there is a drive to be found in each of us. I'm hoping you all will share your reasons and drives behind your involvement in security, and that it may be an influence to the newer members of AO both now and in the future. To know and understand that someone in the security field may be seeing things eye-level with you always makes things a bit more bearable during those tough days.

My story is not focused on curiosity or money, enjoyment or required for a job. I am in network and computer security soley for the ability to protect and inform others that cannot protect themeselves. Recommendations for proper spyware/adware removal, in-depth programming explainations to provide insight on secure code for buisnesses, firewall importance and explaination of it's use for adults to protect their children's information from crackers and script kids. My advice and insight may go to a CEO that just wants to know how he can best prevent possible break-ins from his competition, or to a father who wants to make sure his tax records are not caught up in spyware and sent out across the web, and it may even go to the young teenager who wants a quick-grin of taking out a webserver that... may just have a saving chance if I could sit down and explain the dangers and reasons behind the actions he would want to commit. My story is about informing and protecting others in a field that many of them find too complex and intimidating to protect themselves against, much less have the time to research.

What is your story?