Topic: Social Enterprise

Geohot reportedly now works for Facebook (update: Facebook confirms)

Summary: Facebook has reportedly hired George Hotz, also known as geohot, although it's not clear what his role is at the company.

By Emil Protalinski for Friending Facebook | June 27, 2011 -- 06:06 GMT (23:06 PDT)

Follow @emilprotalinski

Update: Although Facebook would not give a full statement, a Facebook spokesperson did confirm to me that Hotz is employed at the company.

George Hotz, also known as geohot, now reportedly works for Facebook. Multiple sources confirm this information, including a post from Hotz himself.

It all started with a comment from Joshua Hill, a member of the Chronic-Dev Team also known as P0sixninja, during a recent MyGreatFest interview. Hill challenged Hotz to find a bootrom exploit for the iPad 2, and this news quickly spread on Twitter. As you can see in the video above (via TechUnwrapped), Hill said the Hotz was mad at him because he doesn't want that much attention and backed out of the challenge to work at his day job… at Facebook.

Gave Rivera, the creator of Techmeme, did some sleuthing. He then posted the following two messages on Twitter (one, two)

Interesting: based on http://t.co/iOXRtAt Geohot works at Facebook now (note Facebook network + friends). So http://t.co/P5Afx0y was right. @pspfano @sebastienpage He started in May and announced it on 6/17/11: facebook.com/geohot?sk=wall

Indeed, Hotz's Facebook profile (over at facebook.com/geohot) reveals quite a bit. He is part of the Facebook network, in addition to RIT, Bergen County Academies, and Google. Furthermore, his most recent public post, which was made at 9:36AM on June 22, 2011, reads as follows: "George Hotz is Facebook is really an amazing place to work...first hackathon over."

Hotz is a young American hacker born on October 2, 1989. He is known for unlocking the iPhone, as well as hacking the PlayStation 3 and subsequently being sued by Sony.

It's not clear what Facebook will challenge Hotz with, but I would be surprised if there wasn't some type of hacking involved. Speculation is already running rampant that he is involved in Project Spartan, Facebook's rumored HTML5 platform that will take on Apple's App Store.

Topic: Social Enterprise

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RE: Geohot reportedly now works for Facebook

It's a good idea. Just like hiring burglars to find out how to break into a place and how best to protect yourself. You are never 100% safe from burglars or hackers - but hiring these guys can help your defense.

cathy.odom@...
27 June, 2011 09:59

Reply Vote
Umm...Houston I think The World Is Retarded!!!

First off, how can he be commenting on July 22nd, 2011? I know he fancies himself quite the hacker but thats time travel. Secondly, have we gone to caring so little about whats running the tools we use ...he is one thing and on thing alone. He used his skills to bust open the PS3 so other illicit users could entice/endanger young kids. Thats right I said it. If it was purely over the removal of install other OS , then he would not have been involved until they actrually took it from us yet he has been a main contributor to hacking the PS3 almost since the homebrew project started.

Its like watching Sony stocks recover even though they have done little in the actual security of its users ...but more in their own departments security foundation. I stand on the fact if the consoles had better protections themselves Gee-So-Not would still be cracking out, trying to impress some poor kid thru call of duty cheats.
And I am officially retarded so dont get all political on me either. I am therefore I can admit to the existance of it in what I see.

Double Aught Code
27 June, 2011 12:20

Reply Vote
Can't really blame him

After facing the possibility of lawsuits from Sony that could ruin his life for decades, I can't blame Geohot for getting a legitimate job. Hacking PS3s doesn't pay, and we all gotta make a living. Tens of thousands of brilliant programmers make the same choice to go with start-ups and only a few extreme open-source advocates chastise them as sell-outs.

zackers
27 June, 2011 15:13

Reply Vote
Fry the bastard

Fry the little bastard. Who cares about what finacial grief he inccurs as sony sues him. Let it ruin him forever. Make an example out of him. Put him in prison and take all tech from him with no chance of getting out period. Dish it to him to the max.

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29 June, 2011 06:49

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RE: Geohot reportedly now works for Facebook

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RE: Geohot reportedly now works for Facebook

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14 December, 2011 13:43

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RE: Geohot reportedly now works for Facebook

oops duplicate comment

thetermy
14 December, 2011 13:43

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