MySpace had a serious secret weapon when it came to fighting the bad guys – Director of Security Enforcement E.J. Hilbert. Hilbert, a former Cyber and Counterterrorism Special Agent for the FBI, defended MySpace against spammers, scammers, hackers, virus spreaders and other lowlife from 2007 until earlier this month when he left the company.
Our understanding is that he resigned, and was not part of the mass layoffs last week. Either way, it was a real loss for MySpace. His name was brought up repeatedly by MySpace staffers over the years with a sort of awe – he was the defender of the castle, their FBI agent in the back room watching over everyone. And right now, with Hilbert gone, the MySpace castle is in desperate need of a defender.
Hilbert never claimed to be able to get rid of all the spam on MySpace – but his team was able to cut 98% of it. Spam king Scott Richter/Media Breakaway was one of his favorite targets and the subject of a MySpace lawsuit in 2007/2008 ($ 4.8 million in damages and $ 1.2 million in attorney’s fees was awarded to MySpace). His team also fought phishing experts Sanford Wallace and Walter Rines, and MySpace won a $230 million judgement in that case (I don’t believe that was ever paid though).
The rumor around MySpace is that the real value of Hilbert and his team was fighting the even darker stuff that a site of MySpace’s size had to deal with. Little of that ever made it to a press release.
Hilbert has started a new yet-to-launch company called Online Intelligence to help clean up the online advertising world (which desperately needs it). If I were Facebook, I’d just make Hilbert an offer he couldn’t refuse. Spam, phishing and advertising fraud are all common on the site. My guess is Hilbert could tackle those problems better than anyone else in the world.
The beauty of these organisations is that while temporarily it might be a setback losing a person like him, the organisation will come back strong again.
I think what MySpace is doing is rational and they need to get rid of the extra fat to increase their profitability (or maybe reduce losses). MySpace indeed can not become like Facebook in the near future atleast, so the next logical thing is that they are trying to stay afloat and then grow. Losing Hilbert would definitely hurt but I am certain some other Superman would emerge
The WSJ just wrote a piece on how the Obama Administration is appointing a military command around cyber security, which they now consider a major national security issue – EJ should head THAT up
http://online.w...6278644449.html
Here is the memo
http://www.docs...ry-Command-Memo
He left on his own. Really good guy.
that makes a lot more sense. thanks. still need to verify that though.
Interesting to hear about behind the scene guys that have an impact like this.
Remember that each and every time you participate in a Sys Admin’s performance and salary review.
Anybody knows his next job at a startup?
Thanks for the leet urls sir
Myspace = basketcase
Don’t play with security.
if mySpace is hacked it will be a disaster for their reputation.
We will soon see if this move will effect MySpace or not…
Facebook know that loads of their ads are on the more questionable level
It would be easy just not to approve them, it’s an active choice that Facebook makes looking for more revenue from ads
Honestly, MySpace needs to quit the social networking scene and pick up on the independent music scene. Its still the go to site for musicians on the internet. Forget connecting teenagers, just connect musicians with the bands, give bands some extra features
It would be great if he worked for Facebook. They need the help in controlling hacks and flaws.
Fraudsters are making billions online, so you can bet that someone like E.J. Hilbert is worth is weight in gold.
Problem is that many who need it like the credit card companies, banks and others don’t always want to pay for high end services. Companies look at $$$$ coming in vs. cost of services to defend and don’t buy the ROI. They frequently put a band-aid on it. Mostly they spend money on convincing the public that they are safe when their not. But if Hilbert is starting his own business, I’m sure he’ll find companies that are concerned enough to do the right thing. Best of luck to him!
Mike – appreciate your great enthusiasm in covering and reporting news about MySpace, but it seems like you so often take great and almost twisted pleasure when it comes to reporting negative news about MySpace. It seems to get rather personal and subjective when it comes to the subject matters of everything MySpace.
Despite the current challenges, MySpace remains one of the biggest sites on the internet; the founders and the team at MySpace built a massive community and created a cultural phenomenon–albeit in a very short period of time–that no internet companies had been able to replicate. The achievements thus far should not be taken lightly in spite of the current turmoil and tough time.
As a long time reader of Techcrunch, I would like to request, very sincerely, your earnest decency–and your utmost professional journalism–when it comes to MySpace.
Many thanks.
Kudo this!
A lot of it seemed based on fact… Seems like most of the things that were reported actually happened.
Admittedly, there was a time I might have shared your sentiment. That is, back when Dewolf was still at the helm and MySpace was still in a recoverable state, despite its lacking the self-awareness to take any initiative on that end.
However, over the last few months, it is my opinion that MySpace and their collective new exec lineup are showing the world how NOT to run a social networking company, or more appropriately how to run one into the ground.
Being one of the many employees that were cut, and one with three years of tenure, I can safely say that there were many folks dropped from this team that should not have been. And too many of them, engineers. There was no discernable or clear rational for the criteria used to determine who stayed and who went. I guarantee it had nothing to do with tenure or performance or work ethic, that’s for sure.
So with all these bad decisions, I must ask you, why wouldn’t anyone want to hear about this trainwreck as it unfolds? Because I for one would love to hear how this one ends and all the events leading up to this inevitable demise.
So Michael Arrington, I say please continue reporting. Becuase if Miller, van Natta and co. cannot provide this level of transparency to their own team and the rest of the world, we need someone who will.
Wow. EJ is a really intelligent person. I’m sure he will be fine. He helped me so many times. Without EJ and without my team (my entire team was cut)…I am concerned with the safety of the site. I for one and deleting my page.
I was so excited when I heard Owen was coming in. I really thought things would get better…but I think they are only going to get worse. I heard some of the things that are being talked about….I think those that are left are too scared to speak up, or just completely clueless. I have stories that would make most people vomit.
Do tell. Some of the remaining peeps would like to know.
It’s hard for me to believe that everyone is so insensitive to the massive job losses that have occurred at MySpace in the past week. “trim the fat” is a statement I find offensive. I worked at MySpace for over 3 years- I came in and worked my butt off everyday despite illness or personal losses. And to say that MySpace needs to trim the fat is offensive to everyone laid off due to this BS recession. Greedy people getting more greedy- I realize the logistics of this mass “trimming” as you say- though it still won’t pay my bills or keep my home. None of us got a nice cushy package like those new execs. Have some respect.
Mr. Arrington,
Thank you. You have been overly kind in this post and unfortuantely did not give credit where credit is due.
MySpace employees one of the best security abuse and enforcement team in the field and it was my pleasure to work with them. The significiant decrease in spam and phishing on MySpace is a result of the hard work and innovations of the whole team.
So as much as I would like ot take credit for the work done, the praise above should be lauded on those working in the trenches more so then me.
Unfortunately a number of those have lost their jobs but the team left behind is more than capable to protect MySpace’s user base
E.J.
Team ClickFacts wishes you luck in your newest venture and happy that you are still leading the cyber crime charge. If there is ever time for a super hero, I would say it is about now. We are seeing that the cyber criminals keep raising the bar. Keep up the good fight.
Bea,
Most journalism is bias, subjective and personal. Granted myspace has made leaps and bounds and made huge headwaves but myspace cannot rest on their laurels.
Cutting the fat??? No fattening their wallets at the expense of people. when owen met with us in the el segundo office he promised us this is the team they wanted and all this shit that sounded really good and gave us hope and a false sense of security and then shortly after people are losing their jobs and now more lay offs..
It was probably EJ best move to bounce before the ship sink.
That’s my teacher!! We love you Hil-berrrrt.
Beck and Jenn
and to think, I spoke with him multiple times :[