ISSA LV Q4/2026 Chapter Meeting @ Narrative

Presentation by Nick Rosario "MasterChen":

What really separates a hacker from an information security professional?

Join ISSA Las Vegas for an engaging look into hacker culture and the mindset that can set hackers apart from traditional information security professionals.

Our speaker, Nick Rosario “MasterChen,” is a hacker, phone phreak, and social engineer who has spoken at DEF CON and its associated villages for more than a decade. Nick approaches technology as a generalist while continually exploring the intersection of psychology and technology, with much of his research focused on OSINT, anti-stalking efforts, and what he calls “Digital Self Defense.”

This presentation explores the differences in motivation, mindset, and understanding of technology between hackers and information security professionals. While the two may be closely connected, they can approach technology—and the problems they are trying to solve—from very different perspectives.

Whether you're just beginning your cybersecurity career or have been in the industry for years, this conversation offers a chance to look beyond job titles and certifications and consider what we can learn from hacker culture, how hackers think, and what those differences mean for today's security professionals.

Come curious. Leave with a different perspective on the people, psychology, and motivations behind cybersecurity.