Oral history interview with Daniel J. Edwards

Abstract

In this oral history, computer security pioneer Daniel Edwards discusses his long-term career as a computer security researcher at the National Security Agency (NSA). He discusses Trojan Horse attacks, a term he introduced in the computer security field to describe a particular type of computer security vulnerability of hidden malicious code within a seemingly harmless program. He provides perspective on the evolving relationship of communications security (COMSEC) and computer security (COMPUSEC) at the NSA. Edwards became part of the NSA’s National Computer Security Center and was principally involved with the development of the NCSC’s/DOD’s Trusted Computer System Evaluation Criteria (TCSEC) and elaborates on the processes and considerations in developing and refining this influential set of computer security standards.

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 1116862, “Building an Infrastructure for Computer Security History.”