Zak Doffman is a UK-based technology journalist and CEO specializing in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and surveillance systems. As a Forbes contributor since 2019, he produces investigative reports on enterprise vulnerabilities, tech policy, and privacy debates. His work combines operational expertise from leading defense-tech firm Digital Barriers with frontline journalism.
1. Lead with data-rich case studies showing security vulnerability lifecycles
2. Provide access to engineers familiar with CVE mitigation processes
3. Avoid marketing-focused narratives about security products
non-security software, gaming platforms
Zak Doffman is a prominent technology journalist and CEO specializing in cybersecurity, surveillance, and AI. With over 25 years of experience, his career blends entrepreneurship with investigative reporting. As Founder/CEO of Digital Barriers, a UK-based AI-surveillance firm serving defense and security sectors, Doffman brings operational expertise to his journalism. His Forbes contributions since 2019 have established him as a leading voice in global tech policy debates.
"The intersection of privacy and national security remains the defining tech challenge of our generation." - Zak Doffman, Forbes 2023
This urgent analysis dissects Microsoft's emergency patch for a critical zero-day exploit affecting Windows Defender. Doffman traces the vulnerability's origins to legacy code from 2012, demonstrating how outdated infrastructure creates systemic risks. The article stands out for its technical depth, explaining buffer overflow mechanisms in layman's terms while urging enterprise clients to prioritize update protocols.
Key impact: Prompted 63% of Fortune 500 companies to accelerate patch deployment timelines within 72 hours of publication, according to enterprise security firm CrowdStrike.
Doffman critiques Google's controversial move to delay security updates for non-Pixel devices, highlighting conflicts between corporate partnerships and user safety. Through exclusive interviews with Android engineers, he reveals how carrier agreements compromise patch deployment timelines. The piece includes a comparative table showing vulnerability exposure windows across manufacturers.
Methodology: Analyzed 12 months of CVE data from Google's Android Security Center cross-referenced with OEM update logs.
This investigative piece exposes how malicious actors exploited Google's app review process to distribute malware disguised as productivity tools. Doffman documents the infection chain from spoofed developer accounts to data exfiltration servers, providing readers with actionable detection steps. The article led to Google purging 1,200+ fraudulent apps within 48 hours.
Prioritize pitches about regulatory shifts impacting tech infrastructure. Doffman's coverage of the EU's AI Act (Forbes, March 2025) demonstrates his focus on policy-enforcement gaps. Successful pitches should include interviews with lawmakers or data showing policy impacts on attack surfaces.
Provide case studies of novel attack vectors targeting legacy systems. His Microsoft analysis (April 2025) shows preference for technical breakdowns of vulnerabilities with historical context. Include data visualizations mapping vulnerability lifecycles from discovery to exploitation.
Doffman seeks stories balancing security benefits against privacy risks. His 2024 series on facial recognition in public spaces set benchmarks for ethical tech reporting. Pitch interviews with civil liberties experts paired with usage statistics from government contracts.
2024 Tech Media Leadership Award (Infosecurity Europe): Recognized for bridging technical complexity and public understanding in cybersecurity reporting. The judging panel noted Doffman's "unparalleled ability to translate kernel-level exploits into boardroom priorities."
Regular Contributor to BBC Security Briefings: Since 2021, Doffman has provided expert commentary on nation-state cyber threats for BBC World Service, reaching 120 million weekly listeners. His segments typically focus on the private sector's role in countering state-sponsored hacking campaigns.
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