# Stuart McClure > Cybersecurity Pioneer & AI Entrepreneur — 35+ years building what comes next in security and AI ## About Stuart McClure is a legendary figure in cybersecurity and AI entrepreneurship with 35+ years of experience building innovative companies and shaping the future of security. He is a serial entrepreneur, keynote speaker, prolific author, and investor with a proven track record of founding and scaling transformative companies. **Key Stats:** - 35+ years in technology - 7 companies founded or led - 9 successful exits - 9 patents granted - 13 books authored (including contributing author) - 5 investments (3 exited) - 16 board seats (active + acquired) - Fastest company to $100M ARR (3.25 years at Cylance) - #1 ranked security book author ## Current Companies **Wethos AI** (Founder/CEO, 2024–present) AI-powered platform for understanding and optimizing human potential and team dynamics. https://www.wethos.ai **NumberOne AI** (Founder/CEO, 2021–present) AI incubator and accelerator founded to spawn the next generation of AI-native companies. Raised $13M. https://numberone.ai/ ## Previous Companies & Exits **Qwiet AI** (CEO, 2022–2025) AI-powered application security platform. Acquired by Harness in September 2025. https://qwiet.ai/ **Cylance** (Co-Founder & CEO, 2012–2019) Pioneer in AI/ML-based endpoint security and fastest company to $100M ARR. Acquired by BlackBerry for $1.5B in February 2019. **McAfee** (Global CTO, 2004–2012) Became Global CTO following McAfee's acquisition of Foundstone. McAfee acquired by Intel for $7.8B in 2010. **Foundstone** (Co-Founder, 1999–2004) Security consulting and vulnerability management firm. Acquired by McAfee in 2004. ## Content Sections ### AI Musings Original essays and thought leadership on artificial intelligence including: - The AI Hype Must Die (multi-part series) - The Efficient Compute Frontier - The Human Brain in the Age of AI - System 3 Thinking - Is AI the New Phrenology? - AI, Take My Job. Please. - Human + AI > AI: Reimagining Talent, Work and Hypergrowth - The Cost of the Head Nod - Lead the Future: How AI Is Revolutionizing Team Dynamics - The Creative Generalist: Thriving in the AI Era (ATD) ### Keynotes & Conference Talks 25 keynote presentations including: - Wethos AI Presentation (October 2024) - Hacking Exposed — Canada (October 2004) - Hacking Exposed: The Art of Deterrence - RSA Conference keynotes (2011–2023) - 2014 AT&T Cybersecurity Conference Keynote - NTH Symposium 2017 Keynote - CeBIT 2017: AI in Cybersecurity - 2016 Edison Awards: AI — The Future of Security - FCON: Intersection of AI & Cybersecurity - Gen15: Network Security Complacency - CEO Panel: The Entrepreneur Journey to Scale - IMPACT 23: Prevention as Philosophy - UCI Merage School of Business Commencement Address 2020 - Davos 2017: How AI Can Prevent Attacks - LISA 2001: Hacking Exposed LIVE (USENIX, Jun + Dec 2001) ### Interviews & Press Profiles 30 in-depth interviews including: - Cyber Confessions: Why Your Phone is NEVER Truly Off (Mar 2026) - CBS News: FBI Investigating Cyberattacks (Oct 2016) - World Economic Forum — Davos: Technology Pioneer 2016 - Black Hat Sponsor Interview (Sep 2015) - CBS News/Davos: How AI Can Prevent Attacks - Nightfall AI profile interview - CXOTalk: Adversarial AI & Cybersecurity - CXOTalk: Cybersecurity and Machine Learning - Contrast Security: Company Culture discussion - Matt Stephenson: Personal profile - ZeroToExit 2021 Masterclass - Road Trip Nation interview - Entrepreneur Magazine interview - Help Net Security: President and CTO of Foundstone (Sep 2002) - CNN Newsstand (February 2000) - CNN Morning News (February 2000) - CNNfn Business Unusual (March 2000) ### Podcasts 12 podcast episodes including: - Cyber Confessions with Caitlin Sarian: Why Your Phone is NEVER Truly Off (Mar 2026) - Wethos AI CEO on Predictable Hiring (Jul 2024) - Wethos AI CEO on Cognitive Biases and Future of Work (Jul 2024) - Qwiet AI: Intersection of AI and Application Security (Mar 2024) - Application Security Weekly ASW #291: Producing Secure Code with AI (Jul 2024) - Bare Knuckles and Brass Tacks (GoSec, Sep 2024) - Product Leaders Journey S1E5: AI for High Performing Teams (Jan 2024) - Business of Cyber Podcast: Preventing the Unpreventable (Feb 2023) - Incubating the Future: Solving Global Challenges with Predictive AI (Dec 2023) - InnovationAus Podcast: Founder & CEO of Cylance (Apr 2019) - Risky Business #455: What a Mess — WannaCry (May 2017) - Distilling Philanthropy Podcast (2024) ### News & Press Articles 15 press features including: - Meet the $1 Billion Startup Busting Cybersecurity's Greatest Myth (Forbes) - Duelling Unicorns: CrowdStrike vs Cylance (Forbes) - Airline Disaster Gave McClure the Genesis for Cylance (OC Register, 2016) - Cylance Bought by BlackBerry for $1.4 Billion (OC Register, 2019) - Cylance Founder Stuart McClure Leaves BlackBerry (SecurityWeek, 2019) - NumberOne AI Launches (PR Newswire) ### Op-Eds & Analysis (Blogs) 32 cybersecurity editorial and analysis pieces including: - The Creative Generalist: Thriving in the AI Era (ATD, Aug 2025) - Navigating Developer Fatigue in the Cybersecurity Battlefield (Fast Company) - A.I. for Good - Modern AppSec at AI Speed - Utilizing AI to Improve Application Development - Safeguarding from Lurking Threats in Business Logic Flaws ### Articles 30 published articles in major outlets including: - The Gift of a Second Chance: "The Faulty Latch" (Memoir, Mar 2026) - OC500 2025: Stuart McClure (OCBJ, Nov 2025) - Experts Reveal How Agentic AI Is Shaping Cybersecurity (Security Journey, Feb 2025) - Moving Beyond Detect & Respond: How GenAI Is Revolutionizing Cybersecurity (Fast Company) - Cylance Founder Stuart McClure Finds Success In Slowing Down (Fast Company, 2012) - McAfee Names Stuart McClure Worldwide CTO (SecurityWeek, Dec 2011) - McClure: Hacking Exposed (Dark Reading, Jan 2014) - Meet the Man Who's Making Your Computers Safer (Irvine Standard, May 2018) - Ackcent Above and Beyond in Spain with Cylance (May 2019) ### Books Author of 13 books: 8 founding Hacking Exposed editions (seven network security editions plus Web Hacking: Attacks & Defense), 3 co-authored editions (Hacking Exposed: Windows 1st–3rd), 1 contributing author (Guardians of the Machine Age: Security in the Digital Era, 2026). Plus 6 forewords for industry publications. The "Hacking Exposed" series is the #1 ranked security book worldwide, with multiple editions published from 1999 through 2012. ### Patents 9 US patents spanning: - System and Method for Network Vulnerability Detection and Reporting (US 7,152,105 B2, Dec 2006) - Network Vulnerability Detection Continuations II-V (US 8,135,830 / 8,615,582 / 8,621,060 / 8,621,073, 2012–2013) - Network-Based Asset Operational Dependence Scoring (US 8,997,234 B2, Mar 2015) - Application Execution Control Utilizing Ensemble Machine Learning (US 10,235,518 B2, Mar 2019; Continuation US 10,817,599 B2, Oct 2020) - Automated Systems for Generative Multimodel Multiclass Classification (US 11,657,317 B2, May 2023) ### Exits 9 acquisitions (4 as founder/CEO, 5 as board/advisor): - Cylance → BlackBerry ($1.5B, February 2019) - McAfee → Intel ($7.8B, 2010) — as CTO - Qwiet AI → Harness (September 2025) - Foundstone → McAfee (2004) - Demisto → Palo Alto Networks ($560M, 2019) — as investor - MightyID → Semperis (~$20M, February 2026) — as advisor - CyberGRX → ProcessUnity (2023) — as advisor - JASK → Sumo Logic (2019) — as investor/board - Digital Shadows → ReliaQuest (2022) — as board ### Investments 5 investments in security and AI startups: - TechLok Solutions — Lead Investor & Advisor (2024) - Nightfall AI — Series A (2022) - Soluble — Investment (2021, exited via Lacework) - JASK — Angel Investment (2017, exited via Sumo Logic) - Demisto — Series A (2016, exited via Palo Alto Networks for $560M) ### Board Seats 16 board positions (4 active boards, 5 active advisor, 7 acquired/former): Active Boards: 1. Wethos AI — Founder/CEO & Board (2024–Present) 2. NumberOne AI — Founder/CEO & Board (2022–Present) 3. Globus AI — Board of Directors (2020–2022) 4. NetRise — Board of Directors (2022–Present) Active Advisor: 5. TechLok Solutions — Board of Advisors (2024) 6. Fast Company Executive Board — Member (2023) 7. Hyperwise Ventures — Board of Advisors (2020–Present) 8. ClearSky Ventures — Board of Advisors (2014–Present) 9. Ten Eleven Ventures — Board of Advisors (2012–Present) Acquired/Former: 10. MightyID → Semperis — C-Suite Advisory Board (2024–2025) 11. Qwiet AI → Harness — CEO & Board (2020–2025) 12. Optiv → KKR — Board of Directors (2015–2016) 13. Digital Shadows → ReliaQuest — Board of Directors (2015) 14. JASK → Sumo Logic — Board of Directors (2017) 15. Foundstone → McAfee — Founder & Board (1999–2004) 16. Cylance → BlackBerry — Co-Founder & Board (2012–2019) ### Campaigns 5 major cybersecurity campaigns: 1. Operation NightDragon (2006–2011) — Led McAfee campaign exposing Chinese state-sponsored cyber espionage targeting energy companies 2. Operation Aurora (2009–2010) — Landmark Chinese state-sponsored cyberattack on Google and 20+ corporations 3. Operation Cleaver (2014) — Cylance-led campaign exposing Iranian state-sponsored hackers 4. Iranian Hackers Infiltrate Airport & Airline Security (2014) 5. OPM Cyber Breach (2016) — Analysis of the massive government data breach ### Testimony 4 congressional reports including: - House Oversight Committee report (2016): "The OPM Data Breach: How the Government Jeopardized Our National Security for More than a Generation" — citing Cylance's cutting-edge preventative technology - S.Hrg. 115-140: The Promises and Perils of Emerging Technologies for Cybersecurity (Mar 2017) - America Is Under Cyber Attack: Why Urgent Action Is Needed (Apr 2012) - H. Rept. 112-522: House Committee on Homeland Security (Jun 2012) ### Awards & Recognition 8 awards including OC500 (2025, 2024, 2019, 2018), EY Entrepreneur of the Year (2016), Hoag Innovators (2024), and Cybersecurity Excellence Awards. ### Academic 5 appearances including: - Naval Postgraduate School lecture - UCI Paul Merage School of Business Commencement Speaker (2020) ### Philanthropy 3 initiatives: - Omada Foundation - Clavis Foundation (CHOC children's hospital, endowed chair for integrative medicine at Rady Children's, Jan 2026) ### United Flight 811 6 items documenting the personal connection to aviation safety that inspired Stuart's preventative approach to cybersecurity. Featured in National Geographic's Air Crash Investigation, Smithsonian Channel's Air Disasters, and Mayday ACI episodes. Includes memoir "The Gift of a Second Chance." ### Actor Credits 5 credits including: - Viceland's "Cyberwar" documentary series - National Geographic's "Air Crash Investigation: United Flight 811" - Smithsonian Channel's "Air Disasters: Terror Over the Pacific" - Mayday ACI: "Terror Over the Pacific" - IMDb profile: nm13245399 ### InfoWorld Security Watch 132 columns and articles from Stuart's "Security Watch" column in InfoWorld (1997–2003), one of the first regular cybersecurity columns in mainstream tech media. ### Webinars 9 webinar episodes including: - AI Exposed: The Hype Must Die! Parts I–IV (Jan–Dec 2025) - Human + AI > AI: Reimagining Talent, Work and Hypergrowth (Jun 2025) - Coach at Scale: Know and Grow Every Employee (Aug 2025) - AI, Take My Job. Please. (Aug 2024) - Lead the Future: How AI Is Revolutionizing Team Dynamics (Oct 2024) - Hacking Exposed: Live — GSM Hacking (May 2012) ## Key Links **Companies:** - Wethos AI: https://www.wethos.ai - NumberOne AI: https://numberone.ai/ - Qwiet AI: https://qwiet.ai/ **Social & Professional:** - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mcclurestuart - X / Twitter: https://x.com/stuartmcclure - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stuartmcclure99/ - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@stuartmcclureYT - Crunchbase: https://www.crunchbase.com/person/stuart-mcclure - IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm13245399/ - Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/32724.Stuart_McClure - Amazon Books: https://www.amazon.com/Books-Stuart-Mcclure - RSA Conference: https://www.rsaconference.com/experts/stuart-mcclure **Blogs:** - Wethos AI Blog: https://blog.wethos.ai/wethos/author/stuart-mcclure - BlackBerry Blog Archive: https://blogs.blackberry.com/en/author/stuart-mcclure ## Personal - Location: Irvine, California - Family: Father of 4 - Endurance cyclist - Survivor of United Airlines Flight 811 (February 24, 1989) ## Contact For inquiries about speaking, advisory roles, investments, or collaboration, use the contact form on the website or reach out via LinkedIn. --- *Updated March 2026. 22 content categories, 380+ cards, 266 article pages.*