Adrian Lamo

About

Adrian Lamo was an American threat analyst and hacker, born on February 20, 1981, in Malden, Massachusetts. He gained notoriety for his grey hat hacking activities, which involved breaking into high-profile computer networks to expose vulnerabilities. Lamo targeted companies like Microsoft, Yahoo, and The New York Times, often offering to fix security flaws without causing damage. His actions were driven by a desire to improve cybersecurity measures, but they led to legal consequences, including a guilty plea for hacking in 2004. Lamo is perhaps best known for reporting Chelsea Manning to the FBI after Manning confided in him about leaking classified documents to WikiLeaks. This decision sparked controversy, with some viewing him as a hero and others as a traitor. Lamo's involvement in the Manning case highlighted his complex relationship with authority and ethical dilemmas. He died on March 14, 2018, at the age of 37, leaving behind a legacy that includes contributions to cybersecurity awareness and debates on the ethics of hacking.