Last month I attended Objective For The We (OFTW) v3 in London — a two-day event run by the Objective-See Foundation, aimed at students and early-career people interested in Apple platform security.
How I ended up there#
I didn’t find the event through a search. A speaker from Jamf who I’d connected with at a conference reposted something I’d shared on LinkedIn, and that led to an invite. It was a reminder that showing up publicly — even a small post — creates unexpected paths.
What OFTW is#
OFTW is the more accessible companion to Objective by the Sea (OBTS) — the world’s only dedicated macOS/iOS security conference. Where OBTS is a full multi-day conference with paid trainings and talks from senior researchers, OFTW is free, invite-only, and aimed specifically at students. It’s funded by the Objective-See Foundation and sponsored by companies like Kandji.
The format over two days:
- Day 1: Trainings (hands-on, small groups) + a surprise evening activity in London
- Day 2: Talks + a panel discussion + happy hour
What I took from it#
The technical content was genuinely deep — macOS internals, iOS security, malware analysis approaches I hadn’t seen covered in any university module.
The panel discussion stuck with me more than I expected. A recurring theme: companies hire on curiosity and drive, not technical knowledge. If you can demonstrate genuine passion for a specific area, they’ll teach you the rest. Soft skills — communication, showing up, being visible in a community — carry more weight than grades.
Practical takeaways I wrote down immediately after:
- Start writing publicly about things you’re genuinely interested in — burnout comes from writing about things you don’t care about
- Read deeply in your area — two books properly understood carry more weight with practitioners than a degree
- Attending events consistently signals commitment in a way a CV line can’t replicate
Meeting Patrick Wardle#
Patrick Wardle — founder of Objective-See, creator of macOS security tools like LuLu, KnockKnock, and BlockBlock, and author of The Art of Mac Malware — was there and genuinely accessible. It’s not often you get to talk directly with the person who wrote the book on a subject you’re trying to learn.
What’s next#
OBTS v9 is coming up in Hawaii in November 2026. I’m applying for the student scholarship. OFTW v3 made it clear this is the community and the technical direction I want to keep moving in.