Introduction
Dave Kleiman (1967 – April 26, 2013) was a noted computer forensics expert, an author/coauthor of multiple books and a noted speaker at security related events. Various sources point to Kleiman as Satoshi Nakamoto, the pseudonym used by the creator of Bitcoin.
Background
At the age of 21, Dave Kleiman was named U.S. Army Soldier of the Year.He received the Army Achievement Medal and a commendation signed by the Secretary of the Army. The commendation said in part, "Appearance, knowledge of general military subjects, current events and other subjects covered coupled with your strong dedication to duty, never failed to produce anything but outstanding results."
After distinguished service in the Army, Dave returned to his hometown and became a sworn law enforcement officer for the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office (PBSO).In 1995, a motorcycle accident left him paralyzed, requiring the use of a wheelchair. The life-altering disability did not slow him down for long. He continued working at PBSO and attained the rank of detective. He also worked as a System Security Analyst in the Computer Crimes Division and helped configure the Computer Forensics Lab.Dave went on to work at a number of high tech companies before becoming a partner in a computer forensics business. Kleiman died in his home on April 2013 seemingly of natural causes related to complications from a MRSA infection.
Computer Security & Cryptography
Some of Dave's most notable work took place at S-doc where his role was Chief Information Security Officer.While there he developed a Windows encryption tool that surpassed NSA, NIST, and Microsoft Common Criteria Guidelines. This technology was used at NASA, U.S. Dept. of Treasury, Office of the Inspector General, and the US Post Office. Cryptography was routinely used at S-doc to develop several products, broadly aimed at reliable and verifiable transmission of data and messages, centered around the idea of an "unalterable, encrypted audit log system".
Dave was also a regular contributor to Cryptography and Security mailing lists where discussions included technical aspects of cryptosystems and the politics of cryptography.Kleiman was a long-time member of the same Metzdowd Cryptography mailing list where Satoshi Nakamoto first announced Bitcoin on Oct. 31, 2008.
Kleiman held the following certifications:Information Systems Security Management Professional (ISSMP®), Information Systems Security Architecture Professional (ISSAP®), Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP®), Certified Information Forensics Investigator™ (CIFI), Certified Information Security Manager (CISM®), Certified Anti-Terrorism Specialist (CAS), Certified Computer Examiner (CCE®), a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE).
For multiple years, Dave was awarded Microsoft MVP for Windows – Security.
Bitcoin involvement
In 2011 Kleiman founded W&K Info Defense Research LLC (“W&K”) in Florida as a company to mine bitcoins.
On December 2015 Gizmodo reported that Dave Kleiman may have been involved in the invention of bitcoin based on information uncovered in several leaked documents.
In May 2016, The Economist article had Craig Steven Wright claiming he (under the pseudonym of Satoshi Nakamoto) and Dave Kleiman were behind the invention of bitcoin.
In February 2018, a brother of Dave initiated a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida on behalf of the Kleiman estate against Wright over the rights to more than $5,118,266,427.50 worth of bitcoin, claiming Wright defrauded the estate of bitcoins and intellectual property rights. The estate alleged that Kleiman was one of the early bitcoin pioneers and worked with Craig Steven Wrighton its establishment as a cryptocurrency. The estate also alleges that on January 12, 2009, Kleiman, Wright and two other people performed a recorded bitcoin transaction. The lawsuit claims that between 2008 and 2013 Kleiman and Wright mined over a million bitcoins. According to Craig Wright, Kleiman lost money due to US government seizing of Costa Rica-based Bitcoin exchange called Liberty Reserve leading to Kleiman's poverty.
Publications
- Co-author: Microsoft Log Parser Toolkit; Syngress Publishing; ISBN 1-932266-52-6
- Co-author: Security Log Management: Identifying Patterns in the Chaos; Syngress Publishing; ISBN 1-59749-042-3
- Technical editor: Perfect Passwords: Selection, Protection and Authentication; Syngress Publishing; ISBN 1-59749-041-5
- Technical editor: Winternals Defragmentation, Recovery, and Administration Field Guide; Syngress Publishing; ISBN 1-59749-079-2
- CD and DVD Forensics: Technical Editor, ISBN 1-59749-128-4
- How to Cheat at Windows System Administration: Contributing Author, ISBN 1-59749-105-5
- Enemy at the Water Cooler: Real Life Stories of Insider Threats, Technical Reviewer, ISBN 1-59749-129-2
- Rootkits for Dummies: Technical editor, ISBN 978-0-471-91710-6
- Windows Forensic Analysis Including DVD Toolkit: Technical Editor, ISBN 1-59749-156-X
- The Official CHFI Study Guide (Exam 312-49): Co-Author, ISBN 1-59749-197-7