I've been fighting malware professionally since 2015 at GDATA CyberDefense, a German antivirus vendor, where I work as Principal Malware Researcher. I hold a master's degree in computer science and have a passion for malware analysis.

My interest in malware analysis began as a teenager when my computer was infected, and I received help from strangers on the internet to remove it. Their skills and knowledge intrigued me, and I was fascinated by viruses, which seemed like artifical life to me. Alongside writing my master's thesis on malware detection, I completed a one-year training in malware removal and became a volunteer helper for system disinfection myself.

Every day, more and more people were seeking help for malware infections and we struggled to keep up. It was especially disheartening when dealing with ransomware, where the damage was often irreversible. I realized that I wanted to do more than just help people after their systems were infected; I wanted to prevent infections from happening in the first place. That's why I decided to shift my focus towards more holistic goals: Providing people with the knowledge and tools to help themselves and others.