NSPW

The New Security Paradigms workshop (NSPW) is unique among conferences, focusing on work which directly challenges long-held beliefs about security, or which challenges attendees to look at problems -- and their solutions -- in entirely new ways. This year's papers continue this tradition, with work that touches on many of the major challenges facing computer security today. Software Diversity, Policy, Insider Threat... all these problems were examined, as well as less mature fields, such as the role of a Cyber Warrior and security entrepreneurship. We even had a paper which explored what we could learn from the war on drugs! Each paper in some way challenged previously-held assumptions, and forced attendees to carefully examine their beliefs.

As is the case for most security conferences, we had a solid group of submissions. We received 32 proposals, from which we accepted 13 papers and one panel.

As one might expect, reviewing papers that are designed to be provocative was a non-trivial undertaking. Our thirteen program committee members (to whom we are extraordinarily grateful) each reviewed approximately eight papers, and then began a vigorous discussion on the merits each submission -- a discussion with lasted up to (and beyond) the workshop! Once consensus had been reached, shepherds were assigned to each accepted paper, in order to help authors prepare for the workshop experience.

As a participant, the NSPW experience is unusual. Attendees agree to a "psychological contract", where each person agrees to try and foster new thought, attend all sessions (without having one's nose buried in a laptop!), and, above all, engage in the discussion. Presentations quickly deviate from their script as presenters respond to questions and comments from the audience, and it is not unheard of for the vast majority of each talk to be filled with a two-way conversation with the audience rather than a one-way transfer of information. Despite this vigorous discussion, however, NSPW remains above all a nurturing venue, and one in which we are happy (and proud) to place students as presenters.

As should be clear, NSPW thus required a significantly larger time and energy commitment from program committee members, authors, and participants than is the norm for security venues. We believe their effort was worthwhile; after reading this proceedings, we hope you will agree.