Christopher Hadnagy is a global security expert and master hacker. As a pioneer in the field of social engineering, he specializes in understanding how malicious attackers exploit principles of human communication to access information and resources through manipulation and deceit.In 2009, Chris established the world's first social engineering penetration testing framework, providing an invaluable repository of information for security professionals and enthusiasts. That site grew into a dynamic web resource including a podcast (The Social Engineer Podcast) and newsletter, which have become staples in the security industry. Chris also created "Advanced Practical Social Engineering," the first hands-on social engineering training course and certification for law enforcement, military, and private sector professionals.Chris has been invited to the Pentagon to debrief military and government officials on social engineering and its national security implications. As founder and CEO of Social-Engineer, LLC, he helps global companies and governments test their secure facilities to expose vulnerabilities and keep them safe from bad actors. A highly sought-after writer and speaker, he has spoken at events such as RSA and Black Hat and given numerous presentations for corporate and government clients.

He is the bestselling author of four technical books for security professionals: Social Engineering: The Art of Human Hacking, Unmasking the Social Engineer: The Human Element of Security, Phishing Dark Waters: The Offensive and Defensive Sides of Malicious Emails, and Social Engineering: The Science of Human Hacking, 2nd Edition.He is also the founder, executive director, and board member of the Innocent Lives Foundation, which works to stop child sex trafficking by unmasking anonymous child predators and assisting in bringing them to justice.