Since most of you don’t know what GraniteSec is, I’ll tell you what it is and why it’s important to our chapter.

GraniteSec (formerly the New England InfoSec Tweetup) started as a few guys working in InfoSec talking on Twitter and realizing that while going to cons is good and fun, there’s no low-key way for people in InfoSec in our region to get together, shoot the shit, eat some great food, and relax (all good ways to prevent burnout). So we decided to make something happen. The first NEISTU/GraniteSec was on a beach in Kittery, ME. Everyone brought food and the weather was perfect for swimming. We even had Martin McKeay, Network Security Podcast founder and recent Akamai employee (who was visiting the area and decided to to stop in) and Josh Corman (who lives in the area). Overall, it was a great success.

Now on to why GraniteSec matters to TOOOL PWM: As time went on, I picked up a copy of Practical Lock Picking, and started learning to pick locks. I bought a pickset (the infamous PXS-14) from Lockpickshop.com and got hooked. I asked around at the next GraniteSec (and on Twitter leading up to it) and found that a few of others were also involved in lockpicking, but nothing organized. We decided that our choices were to either drive an hour or 2 every month to TOOOL BOS, or make something happen ourselves. We went with option 2, and after our first meeting at a bar in Portland, ME we found a great space (where we still meet) in Portsmouth, NH.

Basically, without GraniteSec, there would be no TOOOL PWM. GraniteSec 8 is this Saturday 11/23 at 3 Ledgewood Hills Drive in Nashua, NH. It is indoors (because it’s November in NH), and there is a good amount of space with tables and a kitchen. If you’re in the area, take a look at www.granitesec.org, RSVP, and hopefully we’ll see you on Saturday.

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