We recently connected with Niels Provos and have shared our conversation below.

Niels, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

Having worked in the computer security sector for the last 25 years, I recognized the talent gap as a major hurdle in safeguarding our data. In an unconventional way to address this, I started a project about two years ago to blend cybersecurity themes with EDM, aiming to create more interest in the security field in an engaging manner. The music is published under the artist name Activ8te. Activ8te’s EDM tracks explore different security challenges, beginning with “Teardrop Falling” that sheds light on censorship and denial of service attacks. The most recent project is “Netrunner,” an EDM track set against the Cyberpunk backdrop, addressing the menace of social engineering. This track is inspired by the Netflix series Edgerunners, with Lucy as the protagonist in both the music and the music video, portraying a narrative of trust, manipulation, and cyber expertise as she navigates through a high-stakes digital landscape.

The creation of “Netrunner” was a collaborative venture with Jake Lizzio of Signals Music Studio. Over an eight-month period, we worked tirelessly to refine the music, ensuring it’s catchy and memorable. Once the music was finalized, I embarked on the demanding task of developing a music video in the Cyberpunk universe, leveraging cutting-edge 3D rendering technologies like Unreal Engine, Houdini, Nuke, and Davinci Resolve. Released a few weeks ago, the reaction has been overwhelmingly positive, which has been incredibly rewarding. I hope it intrigues and entertains you as well. The music video can be accessed at https://bit.ly/NETRUNNER. Through “Netrunner” and the larger Cybersecurity meets EDM series, my goal is to not only entertain but to enlighten listeners about critical cybersecurity issues, hoping to ignite a deeper curiosity and understanding of the security domain.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Hello, I’m Niels Provos, a computer scientist from Northern Germany with a PhD from the University of Michigan. Over a 25-year career in cybersecurity, I’ve worked at Google, Stripe, and Lacework, contributing to projects like bcrypt and Google’s Safe Browsing initiative. My contributions, including co-inventing the password hashing method bcrypt and significantly aiding in the development of Google’s Safe Browsing initiative which protects billions of devices on the Internet.

My passion for music led me to collaborate with Jake Lizzio of Signals Music Studio, forming my musical persona, Activ8te®. Together, we create cybersecurity-themed EDM tracks, aiming to make cybersecurity engaging and accessible, with each track tackling a different security challenge. Tracks like “Teardrop Falling” and “I Am Tracking You” explored denial of service, censorship, and the threat of spyware, while our latest, “Netrunner,” delves into social engineering through the captivating narrative set in the Cyberpunk universe.

Transitioning from a seasoned security practitioner to an EDM producer articulating cybersecurity themes has been an exciting learning journey. It embodies a combination of creativity, technical expertise, and an enduring desire to educate. The overwhelmingly positive reception to “Netrunner” has been a great validation of our efforts. Our ambition doesn’t stop here. We aspire to win a Grammy award, which we believe will provide a broader platform to emphasize the importance of cybersecurity in our daily lives, which are increasingly reliant on digital platforms.

Besides my professional and musical endeavors, I enjoy blackmithing, forging knives, spears, and swords during my free time.

If all this makes you curious, please, explore Activ8te’s cybersecurity themed music on major streaming platforms. Your engagement fuels our creative journey. Feel free to reach out to me with your feedback, suggestions, and ideas.

Can you share your view on NFTs? (Note: this is for education/entertainment purposes only, readers should not construe this as advice)

Sadly, the hype around NFTs seems to overshadow rational judgment. NFTs create a market inclined towards speculation rather than intrinsic worth. This speculative nature of NFTs tends to draw in individuals hoping to make a quick profit, often leading to financial loss due to market crashes and more sellers than buyers. Furthermore, the NFT marketplace has been associated with scams and fraudulent activities, largely owing to its unregulated nature.

NFTs remind me of social networks, while being platforms for connection, they often end up showcasing selective, curated glimpses of individuals’ lives, which can lead to negative mental health outcomes for consumers. The constant comparison and the quest for validation can lead to feelings of inadequacy and depression.

I would much rather encourage everyone to focus on meaningful human relationships. Instead of focusing on the digital realm, it’s much healthier for all of us to nurture communities based on respect, love, and genuine interactions. Unlike the misleading satisfaction from digital likes, shares, or owning digital tokens, real-world relationships provide a deeper sense of belonging, understanding, and mutual growth. Engaging in heartfelt conversations, sharing experiences, and supporting each other through life’s ups and downs contribute to a fulfilling and enriched life.

Invest time and effort in building and maintaining meaningful relationships, participating in communities that promote positive interactions, and focusing on personal growth and the well-being of others. These are the cornerstone of a meaningful life.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

For me, starting on a new musical or blacksmithing project is like stepping onto a path of discovery and learning. While each project starts with an initial idea and desired outcome, as the work progresses, it often morphs and leads to unforeseen yet gratifying outcomes. While each project has its fair share of frustrations, there are often moments of serendipity where all elements come together in ways I could not have foreseen. This unpredictability is a core aspect of the creative process, opening doors to new insights and understanding with every step. I also look at each project as an opportunity to learn and broaden my knowledge, be it mastering a new blacksmithing technique or exploring a fresh musical concept.

The collaborative nature of music production, especially with Jake Lizzio, holds a special place in my creative journey. Our combined efforts not only contribute to great music but also foster a meaningful human connection that extends beyond the realm of music. It’s not just about creating captivating songs, but about the exchange of ideas, learning from each other, and building a shared understanding and appreciation for the art and the message we aim to convey through our music, especially in a domain as complex and vital as cybersecurity.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.provos.org/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nielsprovos/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@activ8te
• Other: https://activ8te.io/ https://activ8te.bandcamp.com/

Image Credits
Panayotis Mavrommatis