Blog

  • The Circles

    Introduction Not sure you noticed, but people talk sh*t about you. This shouldn’t be a shocker, right? I mean, you didn’t deceive yourself into believing otherwise. Did you? Well, if it’s any consolation, I’m a victim of sh*t talking too! People talk sh*t about me a lot (probably). I hear people talking sh*t about other people all day. OK, maybe not all day, but pretty…

  • Memorial Day 2024

    Nearly 156 years ago (May 30, 1868) John A. Logan, Commander in Chief of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) proclaimed this day as Decoration Day to honor Union soldiers who died in the American Civil War. Since the Civil War, the total number of U.S. military personnel who have died in various wars is estimated to be over 1.1 million. This includes battle…

  • Good Security Leaders Feel the Weight

    You’ve probably heard me say this many times: Information security is NOT about information or security as much as it is about PEOPLE.   When I say this, people usually nod their head in agreement, but beyond that it might seem like nothing more than a catchphrase. It’s not. Pithy catchphrases are mostly useless. This quote is a deep personal truth, rooted in a story….

  • What is Unauthorized Practice of Law (UPL)?

    And why do I care. I’ll go in reverse. Why Do I Care? First, why do I care about UPL? Simple. Because I care about people. From my perspective, people suffer from the brokenness between our legal system and information security. Also, I care because I’m planning to write more opinions about things that are broken between our legal system and information security. In all…

  • About Black Basta Ransomware (Layman’s Version)

    NOTE: I don’t normally write posts like this, but I might have been bored. If you find value in this article, let me know and maybe I’ll write more like it. Introduction Black Basta is a relatively new ransomware group that emerged around April 2022, and they’ve been in the news ever since. This morning, SecurityWeek (and others) announced that Black Basta has hit 500+…

  • Thoughts on Diversity

    Originally posted on my LinkedIn profile. I’ll be honest. If I were adding someone to my team, I wouldn’t choose someone solely because they’re White, Black, American Indian, Asian, or any other race. I also wouldn’t choose them because of their gender, sexual preference, or who they voted for. I would choose them for who they are and what they bring to the team. I…

  • Still Here (and a Little About Me and ADHD)

    For those who know me, you know I’m a squirrel. ADHD has always been a curse, but squirrels have value too dammit! Truth is, ADHD is partly to blame for me neglecting to update this site (evanfrancen.com). Since we’re talking about ADHD. Here’s what Mayo Clinic has to say about the matter (rumor has it, they’re pretty credible). Adult ADHD symptoms may include: Impulsiveness – CHECK Disorganization…

  • Give, and you will receive. A case study.

    “Give, and you will receive” aren’t my words, they were uttered many years ago (See: Bible). People who know me, know that I’m not someone who easily takes advice at face value. If I’m interested enough in the advice, I’ll test it. If I didn’t think the test was conclusive, I’ll test it again. Sometimes I test too much, to my own detriment. Ask my…

  • Family Visit from FRSecure

    What happens in Mexico, stays in Mexico. NOT because anything bad or controversial happens here, far from it. It’s because this is a safe place to be “real”, to let your guard down without being attacked for being you. I’ll share things, but never in detail, protecting those who share things in confidence. ELT in Puerto Vallarta, Q4/2022 Last week, the FRSecure Executive Leadership Team…