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Frank Abagnale | Catch Me If You Can | Talks at Google

Talks at Google

2.4M subscribers • 13 videos on Hallway

YouTube
  • Recommended by 9 people: 8 on Hacker News and 1 in engineering communities.
  • A classic. People kept recommending it from 2017 to 2021.
  • Presented by Frank Abagnale, cybersecurity and fraud prevention expert

Beginner. No background in the topic needed.

15M views8 years ago9 recommendations

SecurityWeb and application securityPrivacy and surveillance

Former con man Frank Abagnale shares his life story and offers practical advice on cybersecurity, fraud prevention, and identity theft.

As part of Google's Security and Privacy Month 2017, we heard from the real Frank Abagnale, Renowned Cybersecurity And Fraud Prevention Expert, Bestselling Author & Subject of Catch Me If You Can. Disclaimer: Google does not endorse or condone the content contained within this video, nor does it lay claim to the validity of the actions described herein. The following is presented unaltered as it was recorded on Nov 27, 2017, and remains on the Talks at Google YouTube channel for historical purposes. His transformation from one of the world’s most notorious con men to an international cybersecurity expert trusted by the FBI has been mythologized in film and literature – but the takeaways he shares are the real deal. Frank's contributions to the world of security are immeasurable. He has become a hero to hundreds of public and private sector organizations for his indispensable counsel and strategic insight on safeguarding information systems and combating cyber-fraud. With an eye on the latest techniques developed by high-tech criminals to deceive and defraud, Frank leaves audiences with a deep understanding of today’s evolving security landscape, and more importantly, a vision of how to make the world a safer place.

Why it's here

9 people recommend this, 1 disputes it

What people say. Highly recommended as an incredibly entertaining and insightful talk on social engineering, fraud, and personal security.

Moments people linked to

willvarfaron Hacker News • Recommends

On “Elizabeth Warren's bill would fine the next Equifax for data breach”

I bumped into this talk today: Frank Abagnale: "Catch Me If You Can" link to this video He became an FBI agent and works with data breaches. So after entertainingly describing his life story he does mention the Equifax breach at the 37m mark. He paints a very negative picture of Equifax. Its well worth watching the whole thing, and not just skipping to his FBI Agent opinion of Equifax.

dmcdmon Hacker News • Recommends

On “How A Young Woman Followed Two Hackers' Lies to Her Death”

He did a talk at Google where he asserted basically the same thing: link to this video Great talk by the way, he's an incredibly charismatic and well spoken story teller, also a consultant for the FBI and a successful businessman - which makes you think about just how important likability and charisma are both to being a successful social engineer and being successful in-general. People will let you stray pretty far from reality if they like you - Holmes, Abagnale, and apparently Troy Woody (at least to this poor girl). Eventually reality catches up, one way or another.

ai_iaon Hacker News • Recommends

On “Golden Rules for Making Money (1880)”

Offtopic, Frank Abnegale ( Catch me if you can fame ) also says the same thing in his 1 lecture at Google. The whole lecture is also pretty interesting. One of the best google talks I have seen. 1: link to this video

tchallaon Hacker News • Recommends

On “New book contends that Catch Me If You Can is mostly made up”

Frank Abnagale's Comments on the movie and book (2002) 0. I don't know if his story is true or not. But regardless of his story, his talk at Google is one of the best ones I've heard 1. > I was interviewed by the co-writer only about four times. I believe he did a great job of telling the story, but he also over dramatized and exaggerated some of the story. That was his style and what the editor wanted. He always reminded me that he was just telling a story and not writing my biography. This is one of the reasons that from the very beginning, I insisted the publisher put a disclaimer in the book and tapes. 0 link 1 link to this video

52-6F-62on Hacker News • Recommends

On “Elizabeth Warren's bill would fine the next Equifax for data breach”

…automatically. Beyond that it could just as likely have been a script kiddie who caught wind of the vulnerability on a message board somewhere and went hunting. I wouldn't call that highly sophisticated. XSS protection is the very baseline of internet data security... I'd also like to point to a video posted by another user upthread (willfarvar): link to this video FBI's Frank Abagnale speaks to the Equifax breach at ~37m (as willfarvar says, though, the entire video/talk is great) --- 0 link…

virdeon Hacker News • Recommends

On “Ask HN: What are some of the best technical talks you've heard?”

Technically not a tech talk but since it was at Talks at Google, this one: Frank Abagnale: "Catch Me If You Can" | Talks at Google - YouTube link to this video

fatlineon Hacker News • Recommends

On “I just had over a thousand Euros stolen and Revolut is siding with the thief”

very sorry to hear that. Debit cards are convenient etc, but they don't offer much in terms of fraud protection. The general suggestion is to always use a credit card instead so that you don't expose your own money to theft, but the bank's. This is among the most important learnings you can get from Frank Abagnale's talk at Google ( link to this video )

chris_fon Hacker News • Recommends

On “I tracked down my impostor”

This is an interesting talk by Frank Abagnale (the real life person the story was based on) at Google. link to this video

u/8483in r/netsec • Recommends

"There will be no more passwords in the next 24 months" - Frank Abagnale (Catch Me If You Can) talks about Trusona
1View on Reddit

olivermarkson Hacker News • Disputes

On “‘Catch Me If You Can’ conman Frank Abagnale Jr. lied about his lifetime of lies”

Abagale would make a perfect US politician, major league bullshitter who sticks to his stories for gain. link to this video

yourapostasyon Hacker News • Mentions

On “The diabolical genius of the baby advice industry”

Frank Abagnale's ("Catch Me If You Can" protagonist) take on divorce gives some insight into his life story 1, and is an interesting counterpoint. A transcript for those who hate watching videos. The transcript starts from the link and transcribes 132 seconds of his speech, up to the 23:57 mark. --- BGN --- I was one of those few children that got to grow up in the world with a daddy. Now, the world is full of fathers. But there are very few men worthy of being called daddy by their child. I had a daddy; loved his children more than he loved life itself. Steven Spielberg told Barbara Walters the more I've researched Frank's youth, without having met Frank, I couldn't help but put his fathe…

rgoulteron Hacker News • Mentions

On “Investigators who know you’ve faked your death”

FWIW, Frank Abagnale Jr (the guy depicted in the movie "Catch Me If You Can") was asked whether he thought it'd be harder for him to do what he did with technology as it is today. link to this video He suggested that technology makes it easier for the fraudster to come up with the right details, whereas he often had to bluff when he was defrauding people.

mhh__on Hacker News • Mentions

On “CEO of Cyber Fraud Startup NS8 Arrested by FBI, Facing Fraud Charges”

Frank Abagnale has worked for the FBI for 40 years now. He still has an Ego, but he has turned down several offers of pardons for his past crimes and is now very much on the light side of the force. link to this video

est31on Hacker News • Mentions

On “Tech companies are clamoring to give you credit cards”

Here is an FBI employee explaining the difference between the two when a breach happens: link to this video A more general article: link

vngzson Hacker News • Mentions

On “Experian’s credit freeze security is still a joke”

If I buy coffee, I buy it on a credit card. Every daily purchase uses a credit card. Why? I want a buffer between me and the purchaser. I don't want them to be able to take money from my bank. link to this video Now, if I shop online, I used to put it on a credit card. Now I generate a virtual debit card using an online service and pay with that. The logic is the same.

yesenadamon Hacker News • Mentions

On “Ads Don't Work That Way (2014)”

He did a Google talk in 2017 link to this video "For Google's Security and Privacy Month, we are honored to present the real Frank Abagnale, Renowned Cybersecurity And Fraud Prevention Expert, Bestselling Author & Subject of Catch Me If You Can. His transformation from one of the world’s most notorious con men to an international cybersecurity expert trusted by the FBI has been mythologized in film and literature – but the takeaways he shares are the real deal." ...