Hacker Linked to Epstein Removed from Black Hat Conference: Vincenzo Iozzo Scrubbed from the Website
Published
Key Takeaways
- Conference Removal: Cybersecurity veteran Vincenzo Iozzo was removed from the review board websites of Black Hat and Code Blue following revelations of his ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
- Document Release: Department of Justice files released in January 2026 contain over 2,300 mentions of Iozzo, including emails exchanged with Epstein between 2014 and 2018.
- Hacker Denial: Iozzo admitted to a professional acquaintance with Epstein but firmly denied allegations of wrongdoing, while a Code Blue spokesperson said the website update timing was a coincidence.
Prominent cybersecurity figure Vincenzo Iozzo has been removed from the Black Hat website, a leading information security event, amid growing controversy surrounding cybersecurity conferences. Until recently, Iozzo was listed as a member of the Black Hat review board, a position he held since 2011. His name was similarly removed from the Code Blue website, a Japanese security conference.
While Black Hat has not issued a formal statement explaining the sudden change, the removal coincides with the release of court documents linking Iozzo to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Epstein-Linked Hacker Allegations
The unsealed Department of Justice documents reveal correspondence between Iozzo and Epstein. The records include emails dating from 2014 to 2018, some of which indicate Iozzo sought meetings with Epstein at his New York residence even after public allegations of Epstein’s abuse of women had surfaced.
The controversy deepened following a report from an FBI informant claiming Epstein employed a "personal hacker." While the informant's document is redacted and unconfirmed, identifying details have led some media outlets to connect this description to the Epstein-linked hacker.
Code Blue spokesperson Ken-ichi Saito confirmed to TechCrunch that the conference removed Iozzo and two other review board members “who had not been active” and that the timing was a coincidence.
Iozzo Denies Wrongdoing
In response to the removal, Iozzo denied any involvement in Epstein's criminal activities. He acknowledged knowing Epstein for "professional reasons" related to startup fundraising but expressed regret for the association.
Iozzo stated he "foolishly accepted the narrative" presented by others that minimized Epstein's actions. Regarding the "personal hacker" claim, Iozzo refuted the allegation, asserting that his interactions were limited to legitimate business discussions that never materialized into deals.
Last month, pcTattletale Spyware App founder pleaded guilty in a federal stalkerware case, and a Tennessee man was scheduled to plead guilty in a 2023 U.S. Supreme Court hacking case.
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