Michael Schearer
{{ infobox scientist | image = Michael-schearer.jpg | name = Michael "theprez98" Schearer | birth_date = | residence = U.S. | citizenship = American | field = Computer security, military | work_institutions = Booz Allen
United States Navy | alma_mater = Georgetown University
Bloomsburg University | known_for = Computer security, military }}
Michael Schearer (born 28 November 1975) is an American computer security researcher and writer who is known for giving presentations on the technology of improvised explosive devices. He is a contributing author to books on computer security, and is a Senior Consultant for Booz Allen Hamilton. In the computer hacker community, he is known as theprez98.
Education
Originally from Reading, Pennsylvania, Schearer currently lives in Glen Burnie, Maryland. Schearer has a Master's degree in national security studies from Georgetown University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Bloomsburg University. Before Booz Allen, he worked for the United States Navy.
Military
From June 1999 until February 2008, Schearer served as a Naval Flight Officer and Electronic Countermeasures Officer (ECMO) in EA-6B Prowler aircraft. During 2003 and 2004, Schearer flew combat missions for VAQ-139 from the USS Abraham Lincoln over Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom, Iraq during Operation Southern Watch, and again over Iraq during the initial phase of Operation Iraqi Freedom. From May 2005 until February 2008, Schearer was a Assistant Professor of Naval Science for the NROTC unit located at the Pennsylvania State University. During that time, he was deployed to Iraq for nine months as an electronic warfare officer tasked to train military forces in the use of counter-IED equipment. After returning from Iraq, Schearer gave several public presentations concerning the technology of improvised explosive devices.
Writings on computer security
In 2007, Schearer was a contributing author to Penetration Tester's Open Source Tookit, Volume 2. In 2008, Schearer contributed to two other books on Netcat and Kismet.
Other writing
Schearer has written several articles published by Naval Safety Center publications Sea & Shore and Approach. He also maintains a weblog, MikeBlog, which focuses on his interests in sports, politics, computer and technology projects, and reading.
Church of WiFi
Schearer is a founding member of the reformed Church of WiFi, a wireless security research group. The Church hosts member-contributed projects related to wireless security issues and has presented research at DEF CON, ShmooCon, and H.O.P.E..
Presentations
Schearer has presented his research at DEF CON, ShmooCon, and Penn State's Security Day.
Publications
- Schearer, Michael. How safe is your neighborhood? Sea & Shore, Fall 2005.
- Schearer, Michael, et al. Penetration Tester's Open Source Tookit, Vol 2, Syngress Publishing, 2007. ISBN 1-597-49213-2
- Schearer, Michael, et al. Netcat Power Tools, Syngress Publishing, 2008. ISBN 978-1-59749-257-7
- Schearer, Michael, et al. Kismet Hacking, Syngress Publishing, 2008. ISBN 978-1597491174