Apple snags another high profile industry exec: Ivan Krstić from OLPC

Seth Weintraub
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May 13, 2009
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Ivan Krsti, the former security architect for the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) project is now working for Apple according to a post on his blog today. 

...I have — at long last — found my new adventure. After a great deal of deliberation, I moved to California and joined the local fruit vendor. Today was my first day on the job, and I couldn’t be more thrilled.

Krstić is known for his work on Bitfrost, an application that sequesters every program on the computer in a separate virtual operating system, preventing any program from damaging the computer, stealing files, or spying on the user.  He's coming off of a year of work at MIT and other research projects.

I spent much of the last year devoted to my own research. I spun down various commitments, and took up a few others: I joined the advisory board for the Anti-Malware Testing Standards Organization, became a member of the technical working group for Harvard Berkman’s StopBadware, and joined the Security Response Team for Python, my programming language of choice.

His role at Apple is, as of yet, uncertain.  However, it isn't hard to see him working in a possible netbook group, in OSX security or even with education and emerging markets sales.  He's also looking to buy a vowel for his last name.

Update: He's working in Core Security according to the about me page (thanks commenter).

"I work on core security for a California fruit vendor."

Comments (17)

5to9Mac Noob (not verified) | May 13, 2009 - 4:52pm

I wouldn't be surprised if he works on improving security in Mac OS X. Apple has been attacking (very appropriately I might add) Windoze's crashes, freezes, and viruses. So Apple needs to walk the walk now and in the future, security-wise.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | May 14, 2009 - 8:34am

Sure he's working on core security for Apple, it's written in the 'about me' page on his blog.

http://radian.org/

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | May 13, 2009 - 5:25pm

apple is really on fire with all of these hirings, im anxious to see what happens in the future

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | May 13, 2009 - 6:10pm

The guy already has a vowel in his last name =)

There are five vowels in the english language: a,e,i,o and u.

TowerTone (not verified) | May 13, 2009 - 6:44pm

...don't forget 'y' and 'w'...sometimes.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | May 14, 2009 - 1:16am

I have an old y in my basement he could use at the beginning of his name. 1 carefull owner.vgc. A few small surface abrasions. Original welsh import so of the highest acoustic quality.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | May 13, 2009 - 6:35pm

Wow, this is huge(thats what she said). This is great for the future of Apple software.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | May 13, 2009 - 7:28pm

Ya she did say that but not to you.

(couldn't resist)

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | May 13, 2009 - 7:26pm

Croatian sensation... ;)

Dan Birchall (not verified) | May 13, 2009 - 8:50pm

Is it just me, or is Apple all of a sudden looking like Google used to?

I remember a few years back, Google was basically hiring the smartest people out there, from a variety of different places, and it was big news. Google may still be doing it (and just not being noticed for doing the same thing they've always done) but it's interesting to see Apple snapping up a bunch of reasonably high-profile types, some of them apparently scarily brilliant, in fairly short order.

Maybe this is step 2 of the continuity plan if Steve decides to just move to Maui and let his uber-talented deputies run it: hire as much genius as possible. :)

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | May 13, 2009 - 8:53pm

He's actually Albanian.

ix (not verified) | May 14, 2009 - 12:52am

I saw him speak once. It was the most MS/Windows bashing stuff I have ever heard - he'll probably fit right in at Apple. Although, given his free-software antics, his choice is interesting indeed - as truth be told, Apple's platform (OS/iPhone) is way more "closed" than Windows ever was.

ix (not verified) | May 14, 2009 - 12:53am

I saw him speak once. It was the most MS/Windows bashing stuff I have ever heard - he'll probably fit right in at Apple. Although, given his free-software antics, his choice is interesting indeed - as truth be told, Apple's platform (OS/iPhone) is way more "closed" than Windows ever was.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | May 14, 2009 - 6:51am

He'a a Serb offcourse!

Mac User | May 14, 2009 - 7:35am

 IMO: if he has worked on running each application in its own "virtual environment" (if i may) could this possibly allow us Mac users to run all application on Mac regardless of OS? say you bought a copy of word 07 or a PC game, you open it up, then it runs in it's own "virtual windows environment" that uses less resources then VMWare Fusion or Parallels.  yay or nay anyone?

Mac User

"Once you go Mac, you'll never go back"

 

MacBook Pro (early 2008)

2.4ghz, 4g RAM, Leopard 10.5.6

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | May 14, 2009 - 8:18am

It's a good particle to post that Apple has hired him, but he is far from a "high profile industry exec." He is a young, very smart person. He does not hold a high management position at Apple. He is a very good hire. Take a note from every other site running this story, Apple Insider, Mac Rumors, etc. No one is calling him an executive except this site, because it isn't true.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | May 14, 2009 - 8:37am

Sure he's working on core security for Apple, its written on the 'about me' page of his blog.

http://radian.org/