How Ethical Hackers are Changing the Game in Australia’s Missing Persons Cases: Future Secured EP 15

On average, 150 Australians go missing every day.

Research by missed.org shows that when someone goes missing, 12 people are directly impacted - financially, emotionally and psychologically.

Only one event brings ethical hackers from across Australia to gather open-source intelligence and find new leads on real missing person cases.

In episode 15 of Future Secured, Tom Finnigan and Jason Murrell sit down with Linda Cavanagh, the Founder of the National Missing Persons Hackathon (NMPH).

www.missingpersonshackathon.com.au/2024-event

https://missed.org.au/

How did a simple idea evolve into a nationwide movement, bringing together ethical hackers and open-source intelligence (OSINT) experts to help solve real missing person cases across Australia?

About 38,000 reports of missing persons are received by police across Australia each year.

While most of those missing people are found within a short period of time, there are about 2,600 people who have been missing for more than three months.

The episode explores how cyber security professionals, students, and volunteers use OSINT techniques to gather vital clues in these missing persons investigations. Linda also tells us about the Hackathon’s evolution, its growth from a local event in Canberra to a nationwide initiative, and the exciting new features for 2024.

Key Themes:
The Evolution of the NMPH: Linda details how the Hackathon started as a small-scale event and has since grown into a national movement across multiple locations.
The Power of Ethical Hacking: How participants use OSINT to uncover leads and assist law enforcement with real missing person cases.
Community and Collaboration: The NMPH fosters a strong sense of community, bringing together people from all walks of life, ages, and backgrounds to contribute to a vital cause.
2024 and Beyond: Linda shares her vision for the future of the Hackathon, including a focus on quality over quantity, the Introduction of new training programs, and expanding the event’s impact through year-round initiatives.

Takeaways:
The National Missing Persons Hackathon is a unique event that uses ethical hacking and OSINT to help solve missing person cases in Australia.
Participants come from all walks of life, united by a shared purpose to make a real difference.
The Hackathon’s focus on real cases, real data, and real impact highlights its crucial role in assisting law enforcement and promoting cyber security skills.
The 2024 edition will introduce new training programs, enhanced participant engagement, and a stronger focus on supporting Australian law enforcement in their investigations.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction to the National Missing Persons Hackathon
03:13 The Evolution and Impact of the Hackathon
04:20 Understanding Ethical Hacking and Open Source Intelligence
06:18 The Digital Footprint and Finding Missing Persons
09:27 Getting Involved and Supporting the Hackathon
16:01 The Importance of Funding and Community Support
19:24 Building a Community and Creating a Sense of Purpose
22:35 Getting Involved and Supporting the Hackathon
24:49 Introduction to the National Missing Persons Hackathon
27:07 The Scale of the Missing Persons Issue in Australia
28:31 The Importance of Regulatory Framework and Oversight
31:35 Webinars: Purpose and Changes for the Year
33:00 Introduction to the New Platform and Focus on Quality
35:46 Kickoff and Analysis of Missing Person Cases
37:32 Recognition and Announcement of Winners
39:36 Acknowledgements and Call to Action