In this thought-provoking episode of the Cyber Distortion Podcast, we’re joined by Wes Kussmaul, a visionary in the realm of secure online identities and the founder of Delphi Internet Services Corporation—the company behind the Kussmaul Encyclopedia, the world’s first computerized encyclopedia and one of the earliest forms of hypertext. With over three decades of experience building secure online spaces, Wes brings a unique blend of historical perspective and forward-thinking innovation to the conversation around privacy, authentication, and identity protection.

As digital threats evolve, so must our understanding of how we prove who we are online. Wes breaks down the role of public and private key cryptography in securing not just our communications, but our very identities and intellectual property. Through vivid analogies and real-world examples, he illustrates how Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) can serve as the backbone of a more trustworthy internet—one where authenticity and privacy aren’t afterthoughts, but foundations.

We also explore his groundbreaking work with Reliable Identities, an initiative focused on reestablishing digital trust in an age of phishing, spoofing, and identity theft. Wes shares why the current system of usernames and passwords is fundamentally flawed—and how we can replace it with something far more secure and future-proof.

Whether you're a cybersecurity expert, a tech enthusiast, or simply curious about the future of online trust, this episode will reshape how you view identity in the digital world. Tune in to hear from one of the internet’s earliest innovators on how we can protect who we are—and what we create—online.

Wes is the author of several books about privacy and authenticity, including Quiet Enjoyment (2004), Own Your Privacy (2007), The Future Needs You (2007), and Don’t Get Norteled (2014). He is also an individual adherent of the International Union of Latin Notaries and has been appointed a Notary Ambassador by the National Notary Association.

Wes received his BS in Physics from the University of Central Missouri in 1971 while serving in the US Air Force at Whiteman Air Force Base (SAC).

Jason Popillion is a CISSP and serves as a CIO/CTO of a SaaS company and Kevin Pentecost is a CISSP, CISM, CEH, CPT, MPCS, MCSE, CCA, ITIL-F and serves as the Information Security Director for a Manufacturing company.

CITATIONS:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/weskussmaul/

Wes’ Personal Website: https://weskussmaul.com/about-wes/

Authentiverse: https://authentiverse.net

Authenticity Alliance:

https://www.whatisauthenticity.com/

City of Osmio:

https://www.osmio.ch/our-name.html

Buy Wes’ Books:

https://www.pkipress.com/

The Authenticity Institute:

https://www.authenticityinstitute.com/index.html

More information on Sutton Smith (a.k.a. Sutton Love):

https://www.reversecanarymission.org/person/sutton-smith-66936d96d1a13a06fe312995

Sutton’s Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/sutton.loves/