In July 2020, the tragic death of Daniel Anderl, the 20-year-old son of U.S. District Judge Esther Salas, underscored the devastating consequences of unchecked digital exposure. A self-proclaimed anti-feminist attorney, Roy Den Hollander, exploited publicly available information to locate and ambush Judge Salas’s family at their home, fatally shooting Daniel and injuring her husband. This horrific event highlights the alarming vulnerability of public officials and private citizens in an era where personal data is readily accessible online.

This talk, "When Your Digital Footprint Enables a Physical Threat," explores the intersection of cybersecurity, privacy, and personal safety. It examines how the proliferation of online data—property records, social media activity, and professional profiles—can be weaponized by bad actors. Attendees will gain insight into risk assessment, proactive strategies to minimize exposure, and policy considerations to balance transparency with security. Judge Salas’s case serves as a wake-up call, emphasizing the need for enhanced privacy protections and digital hygiene practices to safeguard against escalating threats in a hyper-connected world.