Matteo Meucci is leaving Minded Security after an extraordinary journey that began in 2007, and in his farewell post on LinkedIn, he had some special words for me (Francesco `ascii` Ongaro) as well, recalling the golden age of cybersecurity in Italy. 🚀🔐

There are experiences that leave an indelible mark, defining not only one’s career but also the way one views the world. For me, being part of Minded Security was one of those. An unrepeatable era, an extraordinary team, and a sector—cybersecurity—that in Italy was taking its first steps toward something truly great.

An Extraordinary Team

During the years I had the privilege of being part of Minded Security, there was a special energy in the air: that of constant challenges, relentless research, and the desire to innovate and always raise the bar. We were a close-knit team, composed of brilliant minds, each with their own specialization, but united by a common passion: making software more secure, tackling threats that were still poorly understood by many at the time.

Working side-by-side with Matteo Meucci, Giorgio Fedon, Stefano Di Paola, and many other incredible professionals meant being immersed in an environment that constantly pushed you to improve. It wasn’t just a job; it was a mission. And, above all, it was the fun of tackling complex problems with the right spirit: curiosity, creativity, and the desire to always push further.

The Golden Years of Cybersecurity in Italy

Minded Security was one of the entities that helped write the history of cybersecurity in Italy. Those were the years when people started talking seriously about AppSec, OWASP, and secure coding, when everything was still to be built and the opportunities seemed endless. We were there. And we contributed with research, conferences, innovative projects, and a lot, a lot of passion.

I still remember the long nights spent resolving vulnerabilities, hunting for exploits, and writing articles and tools that would be used by many professionals around the world. There was the awareness of being part of something important, something pioneering, destined to leave a mark. And so it was.

A Thank You to Everyone

Today, I look back with gratitude and pride. Minded Security is not just a chapter of my career; it is a piece of my life that I carry with me. A special thank you to those who made all of this possible, to those who shared this adventure, and to those who continue to grow cybersecurity in Italy and around the world.

Times change, but certain experiences remain. And this, for me, will always remain an unforgettable adventure. 🚀🔥