Security Fest 2025

Hackers in Fiction: Tropes, Reality, and Friggin' Awesome
06-04, 09:15–10:00 (Europe/Stockholm), Main stage

From cyberpunk novels to blockbuster movies, hacker fiction has captivated audiences with tales of digital rebellion and clever exploits. But how much of it is realistic? Could those hacks work? In this talk, John Wilander explores the intersection of fictional and authentic cybersecurity, drawing from his own work and the classic films that shaped the genre. Expect WarGames (1983), Sneakers (1992), Hackers (1995), and a deep dive into The Matrix (1999).

John Wilander is the author of hacker thrillers Identified (2022) and Submerged (coming soon). Find out more about John at his website (https://hackerfiction.net/) and reach him on Mastodon (mastodon.social/@wilander).