“RSnake” was Robert Hansen, the hacker and blogger behind ha.ckers.org and sla.ckers.org. In a March 26, 2007 report, Dark Reading said Hansen was leading SecTheory, a security consultancy aimed at mid-sized companies. The story also explained why he publicly connected his professional role with his security writing.
Who was RSnake?
Dark Reading identified RSnake as Robert Hansen, a hacker and blogger who founded ha.ckers.org and sla.ckers.org. In 2007, Hansen said he was returning to the security industry as the head of SecTheory, a boutique consultancy.
The article described the firm’s intended audience as companies with 100–1,000 employees. That range was a description of its target clientele, not a measure of the cybersecurity market.
What was SecTheory planning to do?
The 2007 article described several kinds of work the consultancy might undertake:
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- Security architecture assistance
- Writing requirements documents
- Strategic planning
- Vulnerability assessments
Hansen said the firm intended to understand each client’s situation rather than deliver a templated report: “Every company has unique challenges and needs, and I want our company to get to know them and work with them instead of just giving them a templated report.” He also said SecTheory would refer clients elsewhere if it could not provide the work they needed.
These were the firm’s planned services and stated approach as reported in 2007; the article does not establish what SecTheory offers today.
Why did Hansen disclose his role?
Hansen said he wanted readers to know that he had re-entered the security industry and to understand the perspective behind his writing. As the article quoted him: “The reason I felt it necessary to come out of the shadows at all is that I felt it was unfair to keep that information from my readership.” He added, “My readers had the right to know where their information was coming from.”
Dark Reading also noted Hansen’s warning that, after returning to the industry, he could no longer be considered unbiased. That disclosure matters when interpreting security commentary: professional involvement can inform a writer’s perspective, but it can also affect perceived neutrality.
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Did he stop writing on ha.ckers.org and sla.ckers.org?
No. Hansen said he planned to keep posting on both sites “for the foreseeable future,” calling it “a great way to stay in touch with the security world.” That statement describes his intention at the time of the 2007 article, not the sites’ present activity.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the article does—and does not—establish
“RSnake, Unmasked” is a contemporaneous account of Hansen’s identity, his announced leadership role at SecTheory, and his reasons for disclosing that role to readers. It is not evidence of the consultancy’s current operations, current services, or any present referral relationship. The original report appeared in Dark Reading on March 26, 2007.
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