Dear Colleague:

I invite you to the USENIX Security Symposium. This is the place where you will hear, discuss, then put to use the latest research, well-thought-out approaches, and tools and techniques for practical system security. Take home lessons from real-world security practice on how to assess what needs protecting, from whom, and how best to go about it.

As the 7th USENIX Security Symposium approaches, we find ourselves in exciting times. More and more companies are realizing the importance of securing their networks, their data and their computers. Long-awaited electronic commerce is becoming a reality, and people are actually making money on the net. The advent of Java and other platform-independent languages has enabled computational models that only existed in theory to be rapidly developed and deployed. The inherent security risks have jump-started researchers into action.

The conference kicks off with your opportunity for in-depth study. Choose among tutorials led by Bruce Schneier, Carl Ellison, Daniel Geer, Jon Rochlis, Brad Johnson, Jim Duncan, Gary McGraw, and Rik Farrow, all experienced, respected instructors. You'll master both theory and effective approaches and techniques in areas you need: Security on the Web; Windows NT Security; Certification; Java Security; Handling Security Incidents; Network Security Profiles; Introduction to Cryptography; and Internet Crypto Protocols.

Expect to hear about the latest research. The Program Committee had the pleasure of selecting the best among 65 high-quality submissions. These reports of research and new implementations cover a wide range, including:

	Security of mobile code
	Electronic commerce in actuality: how money is being made on the net
	Intrusion detection: implementations of superior new systems
	Security of the world wide web

Alongside the refereed papers, you'll find an incredible line-up of invited speakers: Bill Cheswick; Daniel Geer; Arjen Lenstra; Alfred Menezes; Clifford Neuman; JoAnn Perry; Marcus Ranum; and Shabbir Safdar. This is your chance to hear it from the real pioneers of our field.

Meet colleagues with similar interests at the Tuesday Birds-of-a-Feather Session or present your own on-going research in the Work-In-Progress Session. You'll want to check out the Exhibition where vendors will be demonstrating products they hope will help you practice security more efficiently and effectively. Give them your feedback on what works and what is still needed.

Please join us. I hope to see you in San Antonio on January 26-29, 1998.

Aviel D. Rubin, Program Chair AT&T Labs - Research For the Security Symposium Program Committee

PS: Register early for tutorials - they often fill up fast. You can use our on-line registration form.