Hackers: An Origin Story
27 October 2026
6:00-7:30pm
Online
Event status:
Closed to new applications
Location:
Online
Dates:
27 October 2026
Study Format:
Online - live
Fees:
£15.00
Hacking in the modern age is more prevalent than ever. But how did society reach this point?
This lecture charts the genesis of hackers, from their mid-twentieth century origins to present incarnations. Our exploration starts in the 1950s at MIT, where the earliest hackers originated. We follow the movement through 1970s phone-phreakers, 1990s cypherpunks, and hacktivists who emerged at the millennium's turn. Finally, we explore the diverse community of hackers today.
This lecture is part of the 'National Security and Cyber: Hackers, Artificial Intelligence and Surveillance' lecture series, taking place on Tuesdays from 27 October to 1 December 2026. You can choose to register for individual lectures or may choose to register for the entire lecture series at a reduced price.
Please note:
- This lecture will close to enrolments at 23:59 BST (UTC+1) on 22 October 2026.
- Due to the nature of the contents of this lecture, it is not suitable for people under 18 years old.
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IT requirements
We will be using Zoom for the livestreaming of this lecture series, and you will be able to submit questions via the Zoom interface. Joining instructions will be sent out prior to the start date. We recommend that you join the session at least 10-15 minutes prior to the start time – just as you might arrive a bit early at our lecture theatre for an in-person event.
Please note that this lecture will not be recorded.
Programme details
6.00–7.30pm
This lecture will last approximately 1 hour, followed by questions.
Please join in good time before each lecture to ensure that you have no connection problems. We recommend joining 10-15 minutes before the start time.
Fees
| Description | Costs |
|---|---|
| Event fee | £15.00 |
Funding
If you are in receipt of a UK state benefit, or are a care-leaver in the UK, you may be eligible for a reduction of 50% of tuition fees. Please see the below link for full details:
Concessionary fees for short courses
Payment
Please see the terms and conditions for our open-access courses.
Dr Craig Jarvis – Tutor
Craig is an independent academic specialising in national security and technology. He lectures at Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial College London, and Royal Holloway. His next book, ‘Cyber Terrorism: Extremism & Hacking’ will be published in 2026. Previous works include ‘CryptoWars: The Fight for Privacy in the Digital Age‘ and contributions to ‘Next Generation Enterprise Security‘. His research also appears in peer-reviewed journals, including ‘Intelligence and National Security’.
Craig holds a PhD in cybersecurity and history and has earned master’s degrees in international security, information security, and classical music, studying at Oxford, King’s College London, and Royal Holloway.
With extensive industry experience, his last permanent role was Chief Technology Officer at DXC Security, then the world’s largest security services provider. At DXC, he founded DXC Security Labs, spearheading advancements in cybersecurity research and development.
Craig remains deeply engaged with the private sector, particularly in finance, where he advises major banks and private equity firms on security strategy, architecture, and cyber due diligence. As a member of the Offensive Cyber Working Group’s College of Experts, he contributes to research and policy development in offensive cybersecurity. He is also the founding chair of the Geopolitics-Cyber Community of London Experts (GeoCyclone), an organisation bringing together business leaders, academics, and policy makers to share knowledge on national security and digital technologies.
He is currently studying Mandarin (HSK4).
Craig is active on LinkedIn, often posting details of upcoming courses and ongoing research.
Please use the ‘Book’ button on this page. Alternatively, please contact us on events@conted.ox.ac.uk to obtain an application form.
You can also register for individual lectures if you do not wish to attend the whole series.
