FC (FREAKY CLOWN)
The Ethical Hacker Who Robs Banks for a Living
Defending Humans
Co-Founder and Co-CEO, Cygenta
Bestselling author of "How I Rob Banks: And Other Such Places"
Former Head of Offensive Cyber Research, Raytheon Missile Systems
30 years as an ethical hacker and social engineer, assessing physical security for banks, governments, and organizations worldwide
Featured on the BBC, ITV, and Darknet Diaries (Episode 66)
Gaining Physical Access to Financial Institutions
For three decades, FC (known to most of the industry as Freakyclown) has broken into banks, government buildings, and secure facilities around the world, legally, and shown organizations exactly how he did it. In this talk, FC pulls back the curtain on the physical side of security testing: the techniques, disguises, and social engineering tactics real attackers use to walk straight through doors organizations think are locked tight. Drawing on stories from his bestselling book, "How I Rob Banks," and decades spent inside some of the most secure buildings on earth, FC makes the case that no amount of digital defense matters if the front door is still wide open.
FC, better known by his hacker handle Freakyclown, is co-founder and co-CEO of Cygenta, the cyber security company he launched in 2014 with his wife and co-founder, Dr. Jessica Barker. For three decades, FC has worked as an ethical hacker and social engineer specializing in physical penetration testing, breaking into banks, government facilities, and corporate headquarters across the UK, Europe, and beyond (always with permission) to expose the gaps in an organization's real world defenses.
Before co-founding Cygenta, FC served as Head of Offensive Cyber Research at Raytheon Missile Systems, working closely alongside intelligence agencies on national security threats. He is the author of the bestselling book "How I Rob Banks: And Other Such Places," and his work has been featured on the BBC, ITV, and the popular podcast Darknet Diaries.
Outside of client work, FC is a dedicated advocate for cyber security education, having spoken face to face with thousands of schoolchildren about safe and ethical hacking. He and Jessica currently live in Las Vegas with their cat, Bubble.